REVIEW: BLACK LIGHTNING - SEASON 3, EP. 4: "The Book Of Occupation - Chapter Four: Lynn's Ouroboros"
I will say this about Agent Odell---he is one shrewd bastard. He certainly has taken to his role as the ultimate Puppet Master of Freeland. Aside from initiating Martial Law in the town, he's also got the people scared about the Markovian threat, rounding up all the metahumans "for their own protection", and, of course, turning Khalil into a true killing weapon. On top of ALL that---danging the Pierce family on strings like marionettes. This episode shows just how sadistic he truly can be. And the Pierce's are paying for it. Meanwhile, Gambi FINALLY has a lead on his attackers...all too familiar as well.
Odell has done a MARVELOUS job this season getting the most out of the pieces on the chessboard before him. He's got Tobias rotting away in a cell, trying to obtain the briefcase that is currently in the hands of Tobias' rival, the Tattoo Man. He's got his agents swarming Freeland under martial law, rounding up anyone and EVERYONE that doesn't pass their metahuman detectors. Such is the case with one of Jennifer's schoolmates, Tayvon, who's taken into custody as a meta right in front of her. And when the principal tries to warn off the ASA guards, he gets popped in the mouth for his troubles. This is oppression at its finest. Something Jennifer was willing to turn a blind eye to, since Jefferson was so willing to allow himself to be taken into ASA custody to be poked and prodded. The young man Jennifer gave the grand tour of Garfield last week, was highly opposed to the ASA, saying that it didn't matter WHERE, WHO, or WHEN....terrorism is terrorism. Of course, during the course of this episode, Odell plays upon Jennifer's fears and naivte' in regards to the bigger picture...in order to use her in his war against Markovia. We see him send her a clip of the Markovian Army committing acts of terror, getting her to sway his way. At the end of this episode, we see him give her a revamped suit with no limitations as to the barrier around Freeland. We see, at the end---something isn't right. Does she finally see through the veneer of Odell?
Anissa is dealing with Grace, and their relationship, as Grace is still having issues. Things don't get better when Jefferson makes an appearance at her new pad, finally meeting Grace firsthand. He's not happy to know that Grace knows all about Anissa's secret, and that Anissa's running around as Blackbird, making her mark on the streets. She has to reiterate to her father that she is NOT responsible for that, but for the renegades smuggling meta's OUT of Freeland. They have a heated debate, which causes Grace some grief. Jeff was unaware that Grace was a meta. Anissa kicks him out, and consoles her girlfriend, saying that, no matter what, they're in this together.
Jefferson has a hard time readjusting to the outside world after being in ASA custody. He witnesses firsthand the brutality of the ASA soldiers, as Jennifer dismisses it during their trip to school. He finds out through the principal that he's now the guidance counselor...with a raise...which pisses the principal off even more. To add onto that, he and Lynn STILL aren't talking, as she's spending MORE time at the lab, and the aforementioned argument with Anissa. He DOES manage to be in touch with Gambi, who finds a way to nullify the tracker in Jeff's watch. Gambi is still looking as to who tried to kill him, and has been working even more covert than before. Along with Jeff, he concocts a plan to get into the Pit...but also, along the way, work with Anissa to help Tayvon and the others escape. Henderson and his officers lend a hand---by doing nothing---as Jefferson, Anissa, and Gambi help the refugees escape. Odell warns Jefferson that if he has ANYMORE involvement with the escape of metas...he will take his girls and experiment on them.
Odell isn't happy that ASA weapons are being hijacked, and sends Painkiller on a mission to find out the guilty party. He tracks down a man named Sinzale, whom he kills...along with two men from the ASA who took a payoff from him.
Odell has one other hand to play in this episode against Jefferson...and it's against Lynn herself. In her desperation to try and find a cure for the Meta Virus, she was using Green Light, and extracting certain properties from it...much like how CBD oil is made, and giving it to the patients. She noticed that anyone with Green Light in them showed high brain activity...so she tries the serum on herself. It gets to be so bad that she becomes completely dependent on it. She may be having a higher brain function, but she hasn't slept, and while she's seeing progress in her results, she's now become an addict to Green Light herself. As it turns out....it was all the work of Odell---who had spiked her drink, who had layered subliminal messages to get her to take Green Light. He has EVERY angle covered...outside of grabbing Blackbird...whom he has NO IDEA is Anissa. But he now has the Pierce family dangling...and nothing Jefferson can do to stop him at this point.
This show is really hitting on all cylinders right now. High drama, some really great action, a VERY cunning and devious villain in Odell (let's face it, the son of a bitch IS the villain), and a story that can very much reflect ANY society on this planet right now. The heightened fear of the citizens, the overzealousness and abuse of power by the ASA agents (the female leader to takes over the precinct in this episode---don't like her at all), to Odell's overlord mentality. It hits a little close to home in what can potentially happen in this country when a leader gets too powerful, and enslaves its own citizens for what THEY believe is the "common good". Using propaganda (as Odell did with Jennifer), to curry public opinion to their cause with fear. There's a very realistic fear in this show, outside of the superhero aspect of it.
This has GOT to be my favorite season of the series so far...and we haven't even gotten into the Markovian side of it yet. But right now...this is the show worth watching if you have been sleeping on it.
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Until next week...the Power is OUT!
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