Black Lightning
Series, 2018, Freeland, Set in Its own Earth until Crisis
Black Lightning is #8 of 10 in release order and #8 of 10 in chronological order in the Arrowverse.
The story
Jefferson Pierce is a man wrestling with a secret. As the father of two daughters and principal of a charter high school that also serves as a safe haven for young people in a New Orleans neighborhood overrun by gang violence, he is a hero to his community.
Black Lightning recap
In season 1, Jefferson Pierce, a high school principal in Freeland who once fought crime as Black Lightning, returns to it after a gang tied to Tobias Whale, an albino crime lord, kidnaps his daughters. His older daughter Anissa gets powers and becomes Thunder, and his younger daughter Jennifer starts developing electric abilities. His friend and mentor Peter Gambi builds his suit. Jefferson learns that a government agency, the A.S.A., experimented on Freeland's children with a drug that created metahumans. In season 2, Jennifer takes the name Lightning, Jefferson's ex-wife Lynn studies metahuman children held in stasis pods, and Tobias is defeated and imprisoned. In season 3, the A.S.A. takes over Freeland under martial law and plans to weaponise metahumans, and the country of Markovia invades; Inspector Henderson, Jefferson's friend, dies. In season 4, Tobias poses as a philanthropist and runs for mayor while working on a device to remove metahuman powers, and Jennifer is replaced by an impostor from the ionosphere.
Black Lightning ending explained
The series ends with Tobias Whale dead. Jefferson, buried alive and powered up by crystals, confronts Tobias in his tower and electrocutes him. The real Jennifer returns and defeats her impostor, and Gambi and Anissa destroy the power-removing device. Jefferson plans to hand the mantle to Thunder, Lightning and Wylde and to remarry Lynn.
Where to watch Black Lightning
Black Lightning isn't on a US streaming service right now. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.1/10, Rotten Tomatoes 92%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Freedom Fighters: The Ray, before Batwoman.
- Chronological order: after Freedom Fighters: The Ray, before Batwoman.
What to watch before Black Lightning
In release order, the essentials before Black Lightning (2018) are Arrow (2012), The Flash (2014), Supergirl (2015), and DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016). Black Lightning itself is optional in the Arrowverse order.
Cast
- Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning
- Nafessa Williams as Anissa Pierce / Thunder / Blackbird
- China Anne McClain as Jennifer Pierce / Lightning
- Christine Adams as Lynn Pierce
- Marvin Jones III as Tobias Whale
- James Remar as Peter Gambi
- Jordan Calloway as Khalil Payne / Painkiller
- Damon Gupton as Bill Henderson (voice)
- Chantal Thuy as Grace Choi
- William Catlett as Latavious 'Lala' Johnson
- Bill Duke as Agent Percy Odell
- Christopher Ammanuel as Baron
Created by Salim Akil.