The CW has done a much better job handling DC Comics on television than the DC has done on the big screen. As jumbled and unstable as the DCEU is, The CW knows exactly what to do with its Arrowverse. Each show knows what it is and doesn’t try to stray from that. Whether purposefully cheesy on the too funny side or the too serious side, each of the current four shows in the Arrowverse (Supergirl, Arrow, The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow) sticks to their own formula faithfully. This trend continues in Black Lightning.
CW President Mark Pedowitz mentioned early in 2017 that Black Lightning is not yet a part of the Arrowverse, and from what I have seen in the pilot that seems to be a good thing. The show starts off right away telling you it ain’t playing games. From minute one, it shows that it is different from CW’s other shows. The focus is not on the superhero. Black Lightning himself doesn’t really even show up until the last 10 minutes. The focus of the show is on everything that Black Lightning fights to protect: justice, equality, and peace. Specifically, within the black community. But what makes it even better is that it doesn’t focus only on one side of today’s social conflicts. It highlights everything that ails the African-American community: police brutality, racial profiling, a failing education system, gangs and black-on-black violence. It is a breath of fresh air when a superhero show can be balanced while attacking social insjustice. It’s even more refreshing in Black Lightning's case because this show is unapologetically BLACK.
The characters, the music, the community, and all of the people in it are some of the most authentic representations of the black experience that I have seen in a while. From the most educated to the most ratchet and everything in between, Black Lightning shows how complicated and beautiful the black community is. Within the span of 50 minutes, you hear quotes from Dr. King and Fannie Lou Hamer, emulations of today’s trap-based hip-hop, old-school R&B, and interactions that you could only recognize if you’ve lived it (raise your hand if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a “…and don’t you ask for that phone” after getting in trouble).
The actors and actresses make this representation shine even brighter. Cress Williams fits perfectly in his role as Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning. He thrives on being the retired vigilante wrestling between coming back to protect his city and staying away to keep hold of his family. I cheered inside with every “boy, if you don’t…” and black male colloquialism that he brought to his character. But truthfully, it was the women of this show that kept me hooked. The Pierce sisters, Jennifer and Anissa (China Anne McClain and Nafessa Williams) are intelligent, independent, and well-rounded young women who could carry this show on their own. Christine Adams is glowing as Jefferson’s ex-wife Lynn. In a mere 10-15 minutes, she exemplifies the strength of black women and why they are the foundation in which the community stands. Black Lightning may be the title of the show, but the women around him are going to be the true stars.
The first 50 minutes of the pilot shows you that this is a different show from its predecessors. But then the last 10 comes around and reminds you that even within all of what was mentioned above, this is still a CW & DC comic book television show. When Black Lightning finally does appear, everything you expect from a CW show appears with it: the one-liners, the action, the mysterious villain from the past, and even the old mentor (shout out to Raiden btw, even if you are the fake one from Mortal Kombat: Annihilation and not Mr. Lambert). But as mentioned above, the CW knows their audience and does so well weaving those tropes within the show’s heart. And the heart of this one is that it’s not just a comic book show, but a BLACK COMIC BOOK SHOW.
I give the pilot episode of Black Lightning 8.5/10 “naws” from Lavon Hayes, Cress Williams’ old character from the show Hart of Dixie (yes I have seen and love that show). I am looking forward to the rest of the season.