BLACK LIGHTNING - SEASON 3.11

REVIEW:  BLACK LIGHTNING - SEASON 3, EP. 11: "The Book of Markovia Chapter Two:  Lynn's Addiction"


The story is now beginning to pick up the pace on this show, as we see the Pierce family up against the wall.  The ASA is closing in, the Markovians are still lurking about, and there's also the personal turmoil that is within the family dynamic itself.  Sprinkle in a few new wrinkles into the fabric of what we know so far, and we've got a show running like a well oiled machine.  Action, drama, some humor, and a few twists are making this season of Black Lightning the best one yet....and we're only about halfway through.  



We find ourselves with Sgt. Grayle, who had helped out last week in setting Jennifer and Brandon free.  He's making a video, explaining the reasons he had joined the ASA--to protect the innocent, defend the Constitution, and so forth.  However, with what he's been witnessed to, he isn't on board anymore.  So, he's giving a full account of what Odell has been doing in Freeland, and should anything happen to him, they'll see this video.  

Jennifer and Brandon are hiding out in an abandoned house, when there's a knock at the door...it's Jefferson.  Jen introduces him to Brandon, and she pulls him aside for a private chat.  She says that Odell played them, and that he had her working for him.  He not only gave her a new suit, but gave her a phone to contact her with while her dad was in the Pit.  She also fesses up about him manipulating her with anti Markovian propaganda, and had her run missions for him, such a destroying a Markovian compound where they did cyberhacking.  Jeff wonders whether or not she killed anyone, and she says she might've.  He's upset at this, and she says she learned her lesson, but that she felt that he and her mother were holding her back.  He says they did it to protect her.  She says Odell let her USE her powers.  She is, however, convinced that Odell has to die.  Jeff tells her that he needs to be stopped...but not killed.  He said for her to lay low until he figures something out.  He also issues a VERY stern warning to Brandon about staying away from Jen.  She just rolls her eyes.  He leaves, and Brandon comments that he's intense, to which Jen tells him that he doesn't know the half of it.

Anissa and Grace are having some private time at the compound of the Peredi.  Grace wants to come home, but Anissa says that she needs to control her powers.  Grace says she's gotten ahold of them, and the reason they'd get out of control were because of her feelings of abandonment.  She's ready to be with Anissa.  Just then, Anissa gets a call from her dad, informing her she needs to come back to Freeland.  She's going to head out, and Grace tells her she's coming along.

Gambi finds Lynn, and comments that she looks terrible.  She says she's fine, just not getting enough rest.  He gets to the point---he needs a vial of her stabalizer to help a metahuman kid.  She says she's down to only one vial, but that's all he needs.  He says that he's and original pod kid, and Lynn is surprised, and asked how he got there.  Gambi says he put him in there.  He thought he was doing right by the kid, saving him as he did the others...so he thought.  But the metahuman experiments went wrong, and that's why he left the ASA.  He can't go back and change what happened, but at least he can save one kid's life.  Lynn gives him the vial and says to make it count.  However, she needs something from him:  She needs equipment to gain access into The Pit.  She needs to get access to the other kids in The Pit.  Get a chance to save them.  He offers his help, but she says she has it.

Odell is in his office, and for HIM, he's pissed off.  He's giving Major Grey the third degree about losing several metas from the Pit, having lost a good portion of her agents, and failed on getting Jennifer Pierce back to their side, and now he knows she's coming for him.  He says he can't go back to Gotham in failure.  Grey offers a solution:  chip the remaining kids, move Tobias up to the medical ward, where they can extract more of his marrow, make more of the stabalizer, and prep them.  He gives her the authorization.

Grayle shows up at Lynn's room, with her bag.  He said he would've looked through it, but didn't.  He says he'd ask how she managed to get ahold of him, but thought better of it.  She says she needs to get back to the Pit, and get Tobias out, that way they can't make more stabalizer without her.  He asks if she's got a plan, and she does.  Then excuses her self, so she can load up on Green Light.

Lala is back, as we check in on him, hanging on his turf, doing business.  He's got a huge henchmen who's been doing some work for him.  He talks about the guns they've been selling to the Resistance, among other things.  He tells Lala that he found a hacker to get into the suitcase he took off Tobias, but he tells the goon to park that job for now.  He's discovered that someone's set up shop on the East Side, and haven't paid him any respect.  He wants him to go find out who's in charge, so that he can get his cut.

Gambi is back with TC, and administers the stablizer to him.  TC is feeling better.  TC says why would he do this for him, and Gambi says that no one gets through this life alone.  He's just helping a young man out.  Jeff then burst in, and informs Gambi that Odell used Jen for murder against the Markovians.  In his rage, Jeff's powers are causing electrical issues in the Sanctum.  He mellows out, and sees TC, asking who he is.  Gambi tells him, and TC says hello.  Jeff then says he needs Gambi's help.  

Lynn has accessed her files from the ASA using Gambi's system to hack in.  She has managed to get the resources needed to take from the podkids, their powers, and inject it into someone.  Grayle offers himself up, and she says it's dangerous.  He's been with the ASA, so it doesn't bother him.  She administers the blood from a meta known as "Chameleon".  It takes a bit after injection, but it works.  Grayle begins to blend into his environment and seemingly disappear.  It succeeds.  

Anissa and Grace are enjoying time at home, when Shondra calls out to Anissa that her father has arrived.  Grace leaves to give them some privacy.  Anissa lets her father in, and he tells her that they're going after Odell.

Lynn checks up on Grayle, who is back to normal, all his vitals check out.  She says that the serum grants powers, but only for about an hour.  They then discuss how they're going to get Tobias out.  She says she's going to go in, and he's going to be there at the ready to escape.  She is going to give the serum to Tobais.

Jen is growing restless because she isn't able to do anything.  After awhile, she becomes fed up, and is going out there to help her dad.  Brandon offers to come with, but she says this isn't his fight.  He begs to differ, and says she still needs to help him find Jace, so he's coming with her.  However, she says that he's going to have to keep hush on some things when he finds out about her life.

TC is up and around...a tad weak, but better.  Gambi is about to run point on the Odell Operation with Jefferson.  TC says he wants to show Gambi who it was that paid for the hit on his life, by tracing the bitcoin trail.  He shows Gambi the picture of Lady Eve.  He tells TC that her goons took a year to get the funds from offshore and to find him and do the job.  TC wonders why, and Gambi tells him that she's dead.  Gambi then returns his attention to the mission, and gives Jefferson Odell's coordinates.

We see Odell's convoy heading down a highway, when Black Lightning lands, and fires at the lead humvee...bringing it to a halt.  the vehicle behind it slams into it.  Odell is stunned a bit.  The agents get out, and being attacking Black Lightning, but Thunder shows up, and the fight is over before it really starts.  Black Lightning rips off the door to Odell's vehicle and grabs him.  They have him in a remote place, and he's tied to a chair.  Gambi comes in, to which Odell calls him "Agent Esposito", and wonders what he's doing.  Gambi says he's going to tourture him...he should be familiar with it.  He's going to hammer a nail into his foot...and keep hammering until he talks.  Odell says they all made a mistake, and that they'll be locked up for what they're going.  Jefferson says that Odell made the mistake when he reneged on his deal, and took advantage of Jen, and turned her into a killer.  He then goes into this aria about being a patriot, a soldier, beings quoting Martin Luther King, to which Jefferson and Anissa aren't impressed by.  Jeff tells Gambit to hit him, and Odell stars quoting the 23rd Psalm...to which Jeff blasts him with his powers.  Odell keeps talking and fessing up to what he did.  He says to them to do their worst.  Jeff asks whether or not they got it, and Gambi said they did.  They recorded the entire conversation.  Just for good measure, Jeff zaps Odell agian...but isn't letting up until Odell is out, and Gambit calls him off.

Major Grey goes to Painkiller, and says that the Pierce family is a threat.  He says he's got Black Liighting's heat signautre in his memory.  She says that all of the Pierce family is to be killed, and they're going to rescue Agent Odell.  

Jen arrives at the Sanctum, and goes to suit up.  Brandon looks around, and notices the suit designs for the team.  He discovers their secrets, and is surprised.  She tells him yes, her dad is Black Lightning.  She's finishing suiting up, and he looks at a monitor, asking Jen if that's the guy who they tried to take out the other night.  She's upset when she finds Odell on camera tied up.  She knows her dad was invovled, and is pissed.  She uses the tracker to pinpoint the location.  Meanwhile, Brandon is wondering when he can get his super suit, and thinks of a name...Geo-Force.  She stops the talk of that immediately, and tells him to stay put, while she goes after Odell.  And not to touch anything.  

Lala's henchman shows up at this very nice whorehouse, and pays the hostess for a couple of ladies.  He then pays them a tidy sum to get started without him.  While they go do their business, he goes and starts taking pics with his cellphone of the players that are involved.  he catches a couple of gentlemen having their fun, and he spots a lady talking to some of her employees.  She's a heavy set black woman.  He nabs a picture of her.  He goes back to Lala, and shows him what he took on recon, and mentions a woman.  Lala sees the pic and instantly recognizes her--it's LADY EVE!  Back from the dead.  He tells his man to pack up, they're going to pay a visit.  

Lynn and Grayle go over their plan one final time, making sure Lynn gets in undetetected to get to Tobias.  It's now showtime.

Gambi is working on a hologram of Odell himself, making sure it's used to order the ASA away.  Once that's done, they can take him in.  Jeff is impressed.  All of the sudden, Jen bursts in, pissed off that her dad didin't wait for her, and while he's trying to explain, she's saying she can't trust him, then a gas cansiter appears in the room, and everyone scatters.  The ASA with Major Grey and Painkiller show up to rescue Odell, and take out the Pierce family.  Once Jen sees Khalil, she's in shock...she can't believe he's alive.  Khalil and Black Lightning do battle, with Thunder warning him about not letting Painkiller touch him.  Black Lightning manages to put him down, but Lighting stops her dad and sister from doing anything else, having been very confused at what's going on.  She feels even more lied to.  Both her dad and sister tell her that Khalil is dead, and that's not him anymore.  While all this is happening, Major Grey is grabbing Odell, and taking him out of there.  Painkiller turns his attention to Lightning, and calls her a pain in the ass.  As he heads for her, she uses her powers to lay him out.  He unconscious...but alive.

Lynn makes her way into the medical lab, and Tobias is his usual manipulative self.  She gives Tobias the serum, and she says that he has to hold onto her at all times.  He professes that he isn't going anywhere, he's got Black Lightning's wife.  He feels that SHE is HIS meal ticket.  

Lala and his boys pay a visit to the whorehouse, and asks the hostess for Lady Eve.  She denies knowing a Lady Eve, and Lala isn't there to play games.  If she doesn't produce her in about a minute, things are going to get ugly.  Lady Eve does show up, and she and Lala go and have a talk.  He's impressed with her set up, and she figures he wants a cut.  Lala isn't having that.  He says he's taking over, and there isn't anything she can do about it.  She says you'd be amazed.  He's giving her 48 hours....it's deal or die.  He walks out with his men.  The hostess asks what Lady Eve wants to do about it.  She says that have to give in...for now.

TC is looking over Khalil as he was brought back to the Sanctum.  TC can hear the chip inside Khalil's head.  Meanwhile, Jeff knows that Odell is now making his way back to Gotham City.  Jen is still not going to forgive her dad and Anissa for keeping Khalil's being alive from her.  They felt they were trying to protect her, since he was manipulated and controlled by Odell.  TC then walks in and asks who Jen is.  When Jen speaks up, TC says that Khalil still loves her.  When asked how he knows, TC says that he told him.  

Lynn and Tobias make their way through the woods, escaping ASA detection.  They manage to make it to the highway, awaiting for Grayle to pick them up.  Tobias feels that now is the time to make good on his escape, as the powers wear off.  He goes to hit Lynn, but she shrugs off his blow.  She tells him does he honestly think she'd give him powers, and not give herself any...and promptly knocks him out cold.  She then sees Grayle pull up in a van, and looks at an unconscious Tobias.  Lynn says she had to resort to Plan B.  They load Tobias into the back of the van, and are about ready to shut it, when they're approached from behind by a man, who zaps them unconscious.  He then calls his bosses, saying that he's caputred three people, and they're ready for pickup.  He's speaking in Markovian.  


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I've said quite a few times, and I'll keep saying it:  The writers of this show are in a groove.  This story has been well paced, the acting superb, and the action has been awesome.  Plus some twists and turns we hadn't really seen coming.  

It took 11 episodes, but we FINALLY got to see an Agent Odell unnerved and visibly upset.  Bill Duke is an amazing actor, who can deliver a serious role with complete emotionless delivery.  Precisce and on point.  So, with Odell, he's calm, cool, and collected.  But when his plans are falling apart at the wayside, we have finally seen the cracks in the armor...and taking it out on Major Grey....who didn't seem to enjoy the ass chewing one bit.  Also...was NOT aware that he had come from Gotham City---interesting to know.  Makes me wonder what ties he as there?  And has he crossed paths with Batman?  And will he ever cross paths with Batwoman?  Something to think about.  And to see how he handles being a prisoner at the hands of the Pierce family and Gambi---he goes right back to being calm and collected.  Still trying to make them feel like he's got the upper hand.  It felt good to see Jefferson get a little payback by zapping him a couple of times.  

Jennifer was one unhappy camper this episode.  While she felt good getting off her chest the news of Odell's backstabbing and manipulating, but in telling her dad about that, she was upset that while HE and Lynn confined her to home, and not to use her powers, Odell let her explore her powers, and she felt free because of it.  Jeff said what they were doing was for protection, but often times with parents---it's a negative.  Can't shelter your kids all their lives.  When her and Brandon are in the Sanctum (you ever notice that with these shows?  All their hideouts or headquarters all have some kind of fancy name?  Flash has STAR Labs, and---on a couple of occaisions---the now Hall of Justice.  Arrow has had the Bunker, Supergirl has had the DEO, but NOW...thanks to J'Onn J'Onzz...The Tower, and the Legends have the Waverider, and formerly the Time Bureau), he saw the Pierce family secret.  He wondered if HE could get a super suit...which led to him looking for a cool superhero name like Geo-Force (see...what did I TELL you all?!  From the second I saw his powers, I KNEW there was going to be a Geo-Force on this show!).  She felt betrayed that her dad and Anissa went after Odell, and kept him out of the loop.  The final blow was when she saw Khalil, alive and well, and her family knew about it.  But she finally saw WHY they kept it a secret when he went to attack her.  Now, I thought at the end, TC was going to be able to extract the chip in Khalil's head, but he didn't.  However, he DID manage to talk to the tech inside Khalil, and found out that he does still love Jen.  This will make an interesting dynamic in the episodes to  come is what will happen with him.

Glad to see Grace back on the canvas, and that the writers didn't forget about her.  Was cool to see her and Anissa together.  They're a cute couple.  And also glad that Grace seems to have her powers under control.  I still have a feeling she might be useful to the team before the seaon is over with.

Sgt. Grayle is offically on the side of the good guys.  That was apparent last episode, and how Lynn managed to get ahold of him, we're unsure, but we know that he was VERY instrumental in executing Lynn's plan to get Tobias out of the Pit.  Tobias, as usual, thought he could be slick, but I'll give Lynn some love this episode---she thought and planned ahead.  Clocking Tobias, and putting his lights out had to feel good a LITTLE BIT to Lynn.  Sadly, though, Lynn and Grayle weren't smart enough to avoid the Markovians, who now have them in their custody.  Time to see how the other half lives--so-to-speak.  The other bad thing, though:  She ws going through withdrawls, and was sick...but it looked like she might kick the habit.  Grayle unbeknownst to him, however, got her purse, and she was RIGHT back on the Green Light.  THAT little issue is coming to a head, no doubt.  

I have to admit---it's been faaaar too long since we had a Lala appearance.  He's still looking to run Tobias' turf as his own, and now has to deal with a VERY much alive Lady Eve...which I didn't see coming...but I have to admit---the thought DID percolate in my head a little bit once we discovered last episode that the bitcoin trail to the private account to payoff whomever it was that tried to kill Gambi led to her.  WIth her back, Tobias, Lala, the Markovians...and not ruling out the ASA either...Freeland is about to become a war zone.  And the Pierce family is going to be in the thick of it.  Wonder if we can have some Justice League cameos in the season finale?  Let's make it happen, CW!!  

Overall, this show just flat out kicks ass.  They're doing it right, and I love it.  

That's it for this week.  If ya got questions, comments, ideas, theories, whatever...please keep it respectful, tasteful and cool with one another.  Please also subscribe and tell your friends about this little place...nothing to fear here.

Until next time...the power is OUT!