BLACK LIGHTING "THE BOOK OF REVELATIONS" REVIEW

Season 1 Episode 8:

Hey everyone, we are back with a brand new episode of Black Lighting, directed by Tanya Hamilton. In the episode we see Jenifer develop her powers for the first time, as well as Anissa starting to take the mantle of Freeland's hero, as Thunder, as well as the mysteries of Gambi, are revealed. Spoilers ahead for the episode, let's recap.

The episode opens up with Jefferson training Anissa as he tells her that she has to become Freeland's new hero as he cannot operate as Black Lighting because he is convicted of murdering Lady Eve. At a club, Lala returns where some of his henchmen are supposed from his return from the dead. Meanwhile at Gambi has a conversation with a mysterious man about studying enchanted individuals. Cleaning up the crime scene, Lynn and Jenifer go through all the work of Lynn's who discovers that Alvin's research was taken. Jefferson and Anissa go searching through a morgue to find the body of Lady Eve. Fining the body, Jefferson sends a photo of the body to Gambi as on the cons he and Anissa discover that there was by lighting that killed Eve, however a nuclear strike almost. At school, Jenifer is helping her friend, Keisha hang up posters. Keisha falls off a ladder, as Jenifer freaks out and she some hoe burns her phone. Keisha is okay, however, Jenifer is still dumbfounded by what she did to her phone.

In a car ride, Lala had a hallucination of Lawanda where he has a conversation with her. Lynn manages to get some of her research back where she finds out that Green Light has been around since the 1980's. Searching in a forest, Anissa and Jefferson get a call from Lynn, where she tells them about her Green Light discovery. In the forest, Anissa and Jefferson find the weapon that killed Lady Eve. And they also find the body of the bearer of the weapon. Jefferson calls up Inspector Henderson and tells him about the body an weapon. At home, Jenifer tries to see what she did to her phone, as she manages to great another fire electric bolt. Lynn goes to talk to Gambi as she shows him that the Green Light was around 30 years ago. Gambi says that he can't talk about the drug. Lynn discovers that Gambi came to Freeland because of the drug. Gambi tells Lynn that he'll have a talk with Jefferson. Back in the forest, Jefferson and Anissa see a man move towards the weapon. Knowing that the man is not a police officer, Jefferson goes to stop the man. This man activates the weapon blowing up the forest and Anissa saving Jefferson.

Back home, Jefferson says that he screwed up and he is blown away by her saving him. Lynn tells Jefferson that he needs to talk to Gambi to "find out who he is". In the shower, Lala has another hallucination of Lawanda. Jefferson goes to visit Gambi as they have a talk. Gambi tells Jefferson that he worked for a government organization the "ASA" who was conducting experiments which created MMeta-Humans When Gambi discovered that the ASA vaccine was killing children, Gambi leaked the information to Alvin, which his investigation was murdered got having the information. Knowing that Jefferson had powers, Gambi did everything in his power to protect Jefferson. But now the ASA is nvm in Freeland and they want Black Lighting and Anissa is they don't give up being heroes. Jefferson tells Gambi to stay away from him and his family. Jenifer has a talk with Anissa as she tells her she burnt her phone.

Overall, this episode of Black Lightning was an interesting one as we saw development in a  handful of characters. To start off, Lala had an interesting arc in the episode. I liked seeing how Lala was hallucinating Lawanda in the episode, as well as him grasping the concept of him being brought back to life. It was interesting to explore this psychological trauma to Lala as we will most likely continue to explore how Lala came back. The main plot in the episode with Anissa and Jefferson ending the truth of Lady Eve was great. I am appreciating how their relationship does feel more like a daughter and father relationship rather than a mentor and sidekick. It raises the emotional stakes of these characters when they are in danger. The ending of the episode was great as it spilled out all the mysteries regarding Gambi which have been teased in the episodes before. With Gambi being the one of giving Alvin the bait for his death is interesting. I would not be surprised if  Gambi sacrifices himself in the season finale for Jefferson to live. I would only see that happening if Tobias is killed or captured by Black Lighting at the end of the season. So it will be interesting where this story arc goes in the season.

In the episode, we saw Jenifer explore her powers. In the episode, we saw her use a type of heated electricity which managed to burn her phone and some posters. When she uses her powers her eyes glow orange, similar to when Jefferson uses the Lightning powers. The powers may also include some form of super strength, that was shown by her phone looking a little crushed, but that might just be from it being dropped. The powers of Jenifer are more derived from Jefferson than Anissa's powers are. In the comics, Jenifer takes up the hero name "Lightning", and in the comics, the character had a range of powers from the electrical transformation, electrical absorption, electrical blast, and flight. All powers which Jefferson has used in the show. It seems like Jenifer's arc might carry on into the second season, but I do hope she becomes some form of vigilante by the end of the first season.

The cast of the episode was great. I do have to say that in the episode Cress Williams was great as Jefferson. In playing both a father and hero simultaneously, it was great performance delivered by Williams which showed how this character is dealing with his daughter also being a hero. The rest of the cast was great in the episode, starring we had Nafessa Williams (Anissa/ Thunder), Christine Adamas (Lynn Pierce), James Remar (Peter Gambi), China Ann McClain (Jenifer Pierce), William Catlett (Lala), and Tracey Bonner (Lawanda White).

In conclusion, this episode of Black Lightning was entertaining as we explore how Jenifer's powers are developing and we also see what was going on in Freeland with the ASA, and how that is impacting Gambi and Jefferson today. I will give this episode an 8 out of 10. I would like to hear your thoughts on the episode down below. For more Black Lightning click on the left and for the latest Flash review click on the right. As always thanks for reading, take care.