Black Lightning season 2 mid-season report (2018)

Our final mid-season report is the first one for Black Lightning, one of the freshest shows on the air.
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Show: Black Lightning.
Season: 2nd.
When it airs: Mondays at 9 (ET), beginning January 21.
Original rating: A.
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Where we are: Much of Tony Isabella's original concept for Black Lightning has been reimagined for this series. For example, Garfield High and police inspector Bill Henderson (Damon Gupton) were originally in Metropolis, and Henderson, as most comics fans know, was a close ally of Superman back in the day. Rather than have Black Lightning, who was originally set in Metropolis in his first run, beginning at the end of 1976, remain there and have to explain why another character with slight ties to the Man of Steel doesn't benefit from Supes' occasional presence (see also: Supergirl), producer Salim Akil relocated not only Jefferson Pierce and his family, but also Henderson and Garfield High, to the fictional town of Freeland, somewhere in the south.

As the series began last January, Pierce (Cress Williams, ex-Hart of Dixie) had retired his alter ego nearly a decade earlier, but brings Black Lightning back to deal with some gang issues at Garfield. Almost everything in terms of criminal activity runs through Tobias Whale (Marvin "Krondon" Jones III), was was originally conceived by Isabella and artist Trevor Von Eeden as an analogue for Marvel's Kingpin. But, as Whale disappeared from the comics pages in the 80's, the realignment of the DC Universe allowed for Lex Luthor to become DC's Kingpin..

Digression over. Whale is a master manipulator, but can't seem to hang on to his associates. His best known ally from the books, Syonide, was killed off at the start of this season, which was a shock in and of itself. Now, Painkiller (Jordan Calloway), who has been carrying a torch for Jeff Pierce's youngest daughter, Jennifer (China Anne McLain), has run away with Jennifer to get away from Whale. I think the producers will avoid the tragic ending of the usual story of young love on the run, though, because there are early indications that Jen will come home and embrace the family business, if ya will.

As Lightning's debut bumped Legends of Tomorrow to Mondays last winter, and, in turn, giving Supergirl an extended winter vacation, just because certain suits at the CW don't want the network flooded with comic book shows across the board, the series is being bumped to Mondays next month, as apparently those suits see money in using The Flash to lead into anything at 9 on Tuesdays. Whatever. However, there are just 7 episodes left to season 2 of Black Lightning, with Legends to return in mid-to-late March.

Right now, check the trailer for the next episode.



Tony Isabella has extolled the virtues of the series over at his Bloggy Thing, and with good reason. While the missteps are few and far between, Black Lightning is the best of the Berlanti-verse by far.

Rating: A.