Black Lightning - Season Premiere Review
This review of the Season Premiere of Black Lightning is spoiler-free!
Anyone whose has read anything I've done with superheroes would know that I have a special place for the Arrowverse in my television viewing habits. I've watched all of the shows involved since the beginning (including the ill-fated Supergirl, I know it's not over but it's terrible). The Arrowverse is unique because it manages to create stories for its own characters but comes together once a year in true comic book fashion. While Black Lightning isn't, at this point, a part of the Arrowverse, it still is on the CW, and I can't help but think at some point down the line it will come to pass that it connects with the other shows. Black Lightning promises a more human story than the others currently have, and I'm ready to talk about it!
Black Lightning's story is about a father, who after years of fighting crime as the hero Black Lightning, hung up the costume and has become a normal man. He works as the principal at his daughter's school and has managed to create a safe haven for the students who go there. In the time without Black Lightning crime has risen, with the 100 gang causing crime all over the city. Murders have risen and the calls for his return are coming quicker and quicker. Finally, an issue with his daughter has drawn him back out of the normal life and into his suit. Honestly, it's not too different from the usual story of superhero television, but having the main character be an older soul than the young and attractive heroes of the other Arrowverse series makes it quite unique in that universe alone. The plot itself is also rather generic in terms of story, but there are other elements that make it stand out from the other pilots in superhero TV. Like the main character.
Truthfully, Black Lightning so far has seemed like a one-trick pony style show. The story is entirely focused on Cress Williams's Jefferson Pierce and his family. This isn't necessarily a problem though, as it allows for a more focused story. And speaking of Cress Williams, I'd venture to say that through one episode he has the best acting chops of any of the main characters in this universe. Sure he has times where he sounds like he's deepening his voice to sound more heroic (even when he's not Black Lightning), but it's OK in the grand view of things. Throughout the episode, I can't truly point out anyone as a standout character, but I can see a good future for his daughter Jennifer. She has an interesting moment at the end of the pilot but also manages to make some predictably bad choices to bring Jefferson back to his crime-fighting persona. Overall, this is Black Lightning's show.
There are a few things that my friends have mentioned as negatives, and I wanted to discuss them. Obviously, the show features a near completely black cast, which I think is great for the series and universe. Having someone who can stand for a group of people who aren't really represented well on TV be the main character is excellent. I know that it may seem heavy-handed to push an agenda like that for some, but I simply say welcome to the new world. I have no problem with this cast and it's choices for the theme as it creates a great story. If you can't accept a black cast you should not be enjoying this show. I praise the creators and writers for creating a world that matches the current global climate well and doesn't shrink when it comes to showing just how some people struggle. All in all, while Black Lightning will be a series for some that may seem more like a means to push an agenda, we have to recognize that good TV comes in all kinds, and those that mirror reality are sometimes greater than those that don't.
I didn't mention it in my previous paragraphs, but I wanted to quickly mention the look of this series. The pilot looked absolutely stellar. No other show on the CW has managed to look as good as Black Lightning, costumes and overall cinematography included. Having mentioned this in my previous Shows to Watch article, the show's shorter season may allow for a better spread of budget in these departments. Thinking all the overall package, I am very happy with what we got in the pilot. Sure it felt generic, but sometimes pilots have to be in order to establish the characters and tone so I can let that slide. Jefferson Pierce is a stellar new type of character for this universe and if you haven't found a means to enter the Arrowverse, this would be your way! Check out Black Lightning every week on the CW!
