​If there’s one big lesson that Planet Earth: Blue Planet II is teaching me on a consistent basis, it’s that…the ocean really isn’t that much different than land in some ways. After all, there are parts of man’s world that are inhospitable to human life and desolate in their appearance and despite our inability to spend time there, life most certainly thrives in those rough places. Those parts of the planet are of course counterbalanced by the places of extreme beauty that we rave about and visit as often as possible, and wouldn’t you know it, after showing us a part of the ocean that is not pleasing to our eyes but teeming with life, the series quickly changed gears in its third episode by taking us to a place of incredible beauty.
 
Because ‘Coral Reefs’ was a true feast for the eyes through and through, filled to the brim with wonder and majestic beauty unrivaled by any other part of our world and well, what caught me off guard about this episode, is the other reason that I say that the ocean sometimes resembles man’s domain, because these Reefs very much resemble our cities. There are towering ‘skyscrapers’ in this place, and the various citizens of these watery metropoles each have a role in keeping their proud reef going and well, it was simply incredible to see how connected the coral reefs are and it was equally as amazing to learn that some of the species in this magnificent place, work together on a regular basis to survive.
 
Yet in keeping with the theme of the water world resembling man’s domain, this episode also put some incredible behaviors on display from the creatures of the sea, like the fact that they too need a little bit of pampering from time to time since the Green Sea Turtle has been known to find a particular spot in the Great Barrier Reef where they can have parasites and particulates from removed from their body to keep them healthy and it turns out that the experience may also reduce stress in their species as well. Plus, it was also fascinating to learn that these places serve as a peaceful learning ground for some species since we were able to bear witness to dolphins teaching their young how to hunt in a secure and safe environment far away from the hustle and bustle of the regular ocean.
 
However, while it was magnificent to see the intelligence of marine life on display and learn as always, the show did end on a touch of a somber note, and with good reason. Because this episode didn’t shy away from the fact that coral reefs are facing an uncertain future thanks to the warming oceans and well, it was heartbreaking to know that swaths of these majestic and beautiful structures are fading away, but while this was indeed a sobering moment to endure for this particular tale, it was not without hope. Because once again, this series is here to teach and in the closing moments of the episode, I came to learn that coral reefs can indeed reproduce and as long as they can send their seed out into the sea, there’s always a fighting chance that they will survive and endure.  
 
When all is said and done however, this was simply another fantastic chapter in this storied saga and it is quite frankly, my favorite one to date. I love the fact that this episode really dug deep on the fact that marine life is far more intelligent than we give it credit and that it was able to provide us visual evidence of that in crystal clear fashion. It simply added an incredible depth to this episode that I wasn’t expecting to see and well, if this what we are getting a mere three episodes in, I can only wonder as to what other fascinating tales and breathtaking discoveries await us as we continue our journey through the depths of the ocean. Until next time.  

​While it’s been quite the fascinating ride thus far when it comes the CW’s brand-new superhero show, Black Lightning, I think we are all fully aware of the fact that eventually, the social commentary and superhero deconstruction present in this saga would have to take a back seat to more traditional comic book moments and well, that finally came to fruition last night. Because ‘And Then the Devil Brought the Plague: The Book of Green Light’ was an episode that set its more cerebral study of our world and the superhero genre to the side for a moment to provide us with a story that felt incredibly familiar.
 
It accomplished this by first adding a touch of mystery into the plot by way of Anissa and the research she was now conducting on her own time when it came to her newfound powers. As it turns out, her homework paid off in spades since she came to uncover what appears to be a strange conspiracy involving missing children with enhanced abilities and her refusal to back down in learning more about this story leads her to follow her grandfather’s research on the matter and well, it would seem her persistence is already paying off since she discovered a strange powder in her grandfather’s storage locker and really, what’s more traditional in a superhero story than a grand mystery to solve?
 
But the show wasn’t quite done with exploring the usual superhero tropes, because we were also privy to our villain’s origin story last night, since we not only learned that Tobias is seemingly immortal thanks to a serum, but that his evil is in essence derived from the most common of places; a horrible childhood. It turns out that Tobias and his sister grew up in a broken home, with a man that was happy to abuse them verbally and physically as often as possible, shattering Tobias’ psyche through and through and laying the foundation for a life of crime and corruption of the soul and well, if there was ever any question as to how twisted Mister Whale can be, all of that was put to rest when Tobias visited his former guardian in order to snap his back so that he could suffer a long and painful death and well, that was the most sobering and powerful moment of the night for certain.
 
Yet of all of the superhero tropes out there that the series has yet to explore, there is the old standby of watching the hero push themselves to the limit with disastrous results and that’s precisely where we found Jefferson last night. Because a fault in his suit was impacting his health with headaches and blackouts and while Gambi was able to find a solution, Jefferson refused to let him take the time to fix the suit so that he could go after one of Tobias’ top lieutenants right away and unfortunately for Jefferson, his desire to capture that man and prove that his arch nemesis is alive and well, went south when the suit malfunctioned yet again, leaving our hero writhing in agony in both the physical and emotional sense since the bad guy…got away. 
 
Also, speaking of Gambi. I’m glad this episode took the time to more or less answer a burning question as to where exactly his loyalties lie since it is strongly implied in this tale that he brokered a deal with Tobias and Lady Eve in order to pull Jefferson away from his dangerous duties as a hero and well, it’s a shame that said deal is collapsing since clearly, Tobias and Jefferson are once again on a deadly collision course. Either way, I really enjoyed this episode, simply because it’s wonderful to see that this series can either be the smartest superhero show on television, or it can serve up a thrilling traditional storyline and well, my hope at this point is that all of these elements come together in the following weeks to provide us once again with something powerful that we’ve never seen before when it comes to the superhero genre. Until next time.    

​Perhaps the true beauty of diving into a brand-new documentary series, is that you never quite know where the story is going to take you next. Sure, you’re fully aware of the fact that you’re going to learn something special about something unique in our world, but not knowing exactly what that will be adds an extra level of anticipation when it comes to the next chapter in the tale and the endless possibilities of what new wonders I was about to discover and the excitement that comes with that, just so happened to be front and center in my mind as I settled in to watch to the next episode of Planet Earth: Blue Planet II.
 
After all, I was curious as to where else could we go in the world’s oceans to continue to captivate the audience and my mind when it comes to this saga, and as it turns out the best way to do that was to head into, ‘The Deep’, and this particular chapter in this documentary lived up to its namesake by taking us as far down as one can go into the sea to uncover the wonders that thrive far beneath us and it accomplished this incredible feat in several stages, by heading into the water beneath Antarctica, and by exploring a pair of places known as the Twilight Zone and the Midnight Zone, and each of these unique areas offered up some incredible discoveries.
 
For example, I was taken aback by the stunning ecosystem that exists beneath the ice of Antarctica since one would surmise that little, if anything, could survive such frigid temperatures, but lo and behold, there is plenty of life down there, doing just fine and while that alone would have been enough to carry this episode, we still had other places to explore. Such as, the void of the Twilight Zone, which is on the way down toward the bottom of the ocean, wherein the light begins to fade and it is a place where such voracious creatures as the Humboldt Squid exist, a species of squid that will resort to cannibalism if necessary to survive.
 
But truly, the centerpiece of this particular episode was when we reached the bottom of the ocean, a place also known as the Midnight Zone, where we were privy to the many magnificent species that thrive under incredible pressure and in total darkness, since the sun doesn’t reach this far down and it was simply breathtaking to see how many species survive at this depth and it was amazing to learn that there are species in this place that live for millennia and of the many species in this ‘void’, the one that caught my eye in this particular tale was the Six Gill Shark, a species without a dorsal fin and one that is vastly different from its brethren up above since it can survive an entire year on a single meal. 
 
Yet, what I enjoyed most about this episode, was the sheer fact that the bottom of the ocean felt like another world through and through, and it wasn’t the strange creatures that inhabit this place that pulled off such a feat, it was the sheer quality of the camera work that the brave souls behind this documentary provided. This unprecedented and high-quality look at the bottom of the ocean truly drew me into the darkness surrounding well, everything, and it was so well done that I simply lost myself in this strange world within our world. Either way, I am digging this documentary through and through and it’s doing such a wonderful job of captivating my imagination that everything about this saga is staying with me, long after each episode comes to an end. Until next time. 

Growing up, I was utterly captivated by the vast number of documentaries about our world and the wildlife that inhabits it that popped up on PBS on a regular basis. It was just simply amazing to know that so many incredible eco systems existed right underneath our noses and I watched as many of them as I could when I wasn’t at school and as it turns out, my love of those kind of documentaries followed me into adulthood as well.
 
If anything, being an adult allows for me to appreciate these documentaries on a whole new level, in part because I actually know exactly what every narrator is speaking to when they highlight a particular species in a remote part of our world. But also, because…these documentaries keep getting better and better. The progression of technology and high definition allow for us to see and experience our world like never before and now that some free time has come my way, I’ve been able to enjoy a brand-new documentary about our oceans on BBC America, Planet Earth: Blue Planet II.
 
If that title is any indication, this particular entry in the Planet Earth saga narrows its focus on the vast body of water that envelops our world and well, let’s just get it out in the open now, this season premiere is nothing short of spectacular, for so many reasons. For starters, ‘One Ocean’ wastes no time in teaching its audience something new and exciting about the ocean in question by highlighting fish in particular in this episode and well, who knew that there is a fish that knows how to open its own clams? Or that there’s a species (the Kobudai Wrasse) that can change genders to ensure the survival of its kind? I certainly didn’t, but thanks to this series I do now, and all of that learning is made possible, by the powerful visuals this series provides.
 
Because it’s the imagery that sucks you in and my goodness, is this series a feast for the eyes through and through. This episode features magnificent cinematography that instantly draws you into a world we simply do not understand, and the power of high definition is only enhanced further by brand new technology that allows for us to discover wonders that we simply never knew existed. Case in point, the incredible sequence involving Manta Rays wherein we are able to see Plankton glow beneath the surface of the ocean, adding a tranquil beauty to the wild and unpredictable world that nature inhabits. 
 
However, despite the beauty and majesty and learning on display in this episode, it also takes the time to remind us just how frail our oceans truly are, and the dangers the incredible creatures in and around the water now face as climate change transforms their homes and it makes this season premiere as poignant as it is beautiful and it’s simply more of what we’ve come to expect from this storied and wonderful saga. Either way, I’m hooked and ready for more and I do believe I’ll be binging this to the best of my abilities in the days to come so I can enjoy a brand-new episode on Saturday Night. Until next time.

You always know that a television show has done a proper job of telling its story when it forces the audience to have one question running through their mind over and over again…how is it going to end? Because once that query arrives in our mind, it simply means that we are hooked through and through and are willing to go through hell to see that story come to its logical conclusion, good or bad, and really, that’s the question that was surging through my mind when I settled in to watch the season one finale of Star Trek: Discovery.
 
Because this was it. We knew the Klingon War storyline was finally coming to a head, we knew this was Burnham’s last chance at redemption and well, the answer to that burning question was indeed answered last night in impressive fashion because ‘Will You Take My Hand?’ was an utterly magnificent episode through and through, and one that quite frankly provided us with a quality and satisfying conclusion to these harrowing storylines. But of course, to get there, we did indeed have to go through hell, and the tough parts of this tale came about by way of Emperor/Captain Georgiou and her unsettling plan to win the war.
 
As it turns out, the initial plan to simply map the Klingon home world of Qo’nos in order to provide Starfleet with juicy targets to give the Klingons pause before attacking again, evolved instead into machinations for genocide, wherein a simple bomb would render the planet uninhabitable for generations to come and therein lied the opportunity for Burnham’s redemption. Because seeing her Captain revert to her Terran ways and encourage the Federation to resort to such tactics out of fear was more than she could bear, especially since it forced her to realize that it was fear that caused this conflict in the first place when she gave in to its power at the Battle of the Binary Stars and also because, this would put the Federation down a dark path that it would never return from. 

​That epiphany forced her to contact Admiral Cornwell and stand up for the values of the Federation at last, and thankfully, her rallying cry for peace and finding a better way did not fall upon deaf ears and she was given the opportunity to put an end to this madness in the most magnificent of fashion; by giving Georgiou an ultimatum. Stand down, and hand over control of the bomb to L’Rell and enjoy freedom or suffer a lifetime of fear with Starfleet constantly on her tail, and wouldn’t you know it…Philipa took the deal, allowing for L’Rell to take control of the Empire and get all twenty-four houses to stand down and withdraw so that she could begin the reunification of her people as T’Kuvma envisioned, ending the war at last.
 
However, while it was supremely satisfying to see the war come to an end, seeing Michael Burnham come around full circle and stand up to her fear was far more gratifying, as was Michael finding a better way in the face of extreme adversity. Because that’s something that holds true to the values that Star Trek holds dear and it’s inherently clear that the message she delivered at the medal ceremony, wherein her commission and rank in Starfleet were restored, was aimed at our world and our time, as is tradition with this franchise and with the war behind us now, the time has come for the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery to venture on to bold new adventures, and they will be joined on those voyages with their brand new science officer, Commander Michael Burnham.
 
If anything, this episode was in essence, a perfect finale through and through, and of course, we cannot talk about this tale without talking about those closing moments, wherein we got to see the legendary U.S.S. Enterprise on screen, and how cool will it be if the crew of the Discovery gets to interact with the crew of Starfleet’s most famous vessel in season two? I certainly won’t be upset if they do, because I definitely geeked out over that tribute, and Clint Howard’s cameo as well. Either way, this really was an incredible first season for this show, with production values and writing of such high caliber that at times it felt as though this series has already been on the air for several years and if that kind of quality is the standard for season one, I cannot wait to see what kind of incredible storytelling will await us in season two. Until next year. 

​One of the many reasons that I’m such a fan of Freeform’s Beyond, is the sheer fact that the show seems to know exactly when to give the audience exactly what they’re looking for when it comes to moving the plot forward in some form or fashion and that was never more evident than it was last night. Because ‘Six Feet Deep’ answered some burning questions on our minds and gave some of the characters a sense of purpose once again, since they’ve been wandering about in the proverbial darkness for some time now.
 
Case in point, Charlie and Yellow Jacket. Because these two have been burning for revenge from the get go and well, in this tale they both got their opportunity at last to execute their bloodthirsty plans…with fascinating results. Because Charlie simply couldn’t go through with putting a bullet in Arthur’s head and while Yellow Jacket was ready to put down Shoemacher, he changed his mind for the sake of her unborn daughter and instead brokered a deal to be involved in bigger decisions at Hollow Sky (more on that in a moment) and well, it was simply fascinating to watch these two demand more from themselves and now that Charlie has returned to Holden and YJ is a Senior Vice President of Weird at Hollow Sky, they both seem to be in a better place mentally.
 
Speaking of Holden, his journey in this episode was a touch more harrowing, because he finally opened up to his brother about the horrible visions he’s been having after Luke followed him into the woods during one of his sleepwalking sessions and now we know why he’s been so hesitant to use his powers after all this time. Because in a roundabout way, his concerns about making a mistake in the Realm and unleashing something awful there, have led him to believe that keeping his powers at bay will somehow allow for the visions to never come to fruition. However, the discovery of a freezer, the one from Holden’s visions, and one that seems to belong to an Edgar L. Abbot, has him terrified that something bad is on the horizon.
 
Unfortunately, Holden’s concerns are legitimate because Diego is still on his way to Fort Reed and during a brief stop on his journey, wherein he stole a stole an elderly lady’s car, Diego revealed that he is not entirely Diego, but some kind of entity from the Realm, and that he’s here because of Holden and that he, and others, have plans to reshape our world to their liking. To make matters worse, if that’s possible, Yellow Jacket also learned that Hollow Sky has been taking donors and putting them in suspended animation, putting Frost’s vision and the company in jeopardy, something that YJ isn’t a fan of, and that little plot point matters because amongst the frozen mansicles at Hollow Sky, is a perfectly preserved Isaac Frost, and there’s no way any good can come from that…
 
So, just like that, the plot is suddenly chugging along, and I love the fact that our big bad from season one is still around in some capacity. But more importantly, the character development in this episode was simply fantastic and I’m a huge fan of what the story is doing with Holden right now. Because in essence, this story is starting to make it seem as though Holden is going to have to properly earn his hero status and there’s something supremely satisfying about that, but we will see if he truly gets to take his time with that. After all, Diego is drawing near and if Hollow Sky bothers to pull Frost out of his coma, who knows what kind of monster will be waiting behind his eyes. Either way, season two is heating up and I cannot wait to see what wonders next week’s episode will bring us. Until then. 

I have to admit, that I was extremely anxious when I settled in to watch last night’s episode of Waco. Simply due to the fact that I knew the story was about to kick into overdrive the instant the ATF arrived at David Koresh’s doorstep and also because something in my gut told me, the series was going to hold nothing back when it came to the bloody raid that led to the 51-day standoff and wouldn’t you know it, that feeling in my belly was one hundred percent correct when all was said and done.
 
Because ‘Operation Showtime’ was a savage hour of television that truly unleashed its fury upon the audience and what really took my breath away when it comes to this particular chapter in the tale, is the sheer fact that it only took a matter of minutes for the carnage to get underway and for the next ten minutes or so, it was gunfire, blood shed, and confusion and panic before cooler heads prevailed. But even then, the damage had been done in this segment of the story and lives were lost and when one considers that real lives were lost in this actual battle, seeing people die here adds a sobering level of gravity to this retelling. 
 
However, once the dust did settle from that opening salvo, there was still plenty of story to be told as since, the FBI took charge of this mess in the hopes of getting David to stand down and come out and this is where Gary Noesner and David spoke for the very first time and Gary’s skills as a negotiator were put on display since he was able to get David to agree to a deal after all. If the FBI were to broadcast the message of the Branch Davidians to the rest of the world, Koresh and his followers would leave the complex peacefully, ending the standoff and saving lives in the process.
 
Unfortunately, though, there’s a reason that David’s magical words don’t work on every single person out there, because in order for him to properly sucker someone into his sermons he has to reach them on a fundamental level. So, it came as no surprise to me that the tape was instantly derided and mocked upon its release, leading to a severely bruised ego for David and well, the damage done from hearing the world straight up call David crazy was enough to motivate him to call off the deal with the FBI and make his stand inside the compound and just like that, the 51-day standoff, is now underway…
 
Yet, while all of that was impressive storytelling in its own right, and compelling to say the least, what truly blew me away when it comes to this episode, was the fact that it was downright intense even during the ‘downtime’ portions of the story. Because in those moments, the blame game between the ATF and the FBI kept tensions high, and the horrible injuries being treated inside the compound kept you on your toes since it served as a fine reminder of the pain that people suffered during the actual siege. Either way, things are only going to get more intense from here on out as everyone is pushed to their limits in the days ahead. Until next time. 

I cannot even begin to imagine just how difficult it must be for writers and producers and showrunners in general to keep a television series fresh and exciting when it runs for a fair number of years. But, if there is one saga out there that always finds a new way to make those all-important elements happen on a regular basis, it would be The X-Files. Because time and time again it finds a way to reinvent itself and keep us intrigued and it often accomplishes such a feat by way of its characters.
 
Case in point, last night’s episode of the show, ‘Kitten’, which took the time to truly explore the life of Walter Skinner and well, this ended up being quite the compelling episode when all was said and done, thanks to the compelling mystery that allowed for Skinner to take the center stage since he went AWOL from the FBI for a bit in order to investigate some strange circumstances surrounding an old friend from Vietnam and while it was supremely cool to see Haley Joel Osment to pop in for a guest appearance to help advance the plot, what mattered most here is what we learned about Skinner.
 
Because, we truly came to understand that he is a man of honor and one who is deeply haunted by his past. Because John ‘Kitten’ James and the suffering he went through in Vietnam, thanks to an experimental gas known as MK-Naomi, is enough to compel Skinner to walk away from the job to try and help his age-old friend and own up to the mistakes he made in not speaking up for said friend when he should have and honestly, this was simply beautiful to see in a series like this. In a world surrounded by monsters and conspiracies, it’s rare to see a character take the time to reflect on days gone by, much less do something to right a wrong, and oddly enough, Skinner’s plight in this tale, led to the resolution of a nagging plot thread in season eleven.
 
After all, I think it’s safe to assume that everyone has been concerned greatly when it comes to Skinner appearing to align himself with the Cigarette Smoking Man and well, it was wonderful to learn that he is still loyal to Mulder and Scully after all, and that every tough decision he makes is to protect them and that he does all of that for them, because they completely and utterly changed his life. Because before they came into his life, he was a soldier that took and executed orders without question. But Mulder and Scully taught him to challenge the system, to look beyond the surface of any matter, and with this now out in the open, the trio finally made peace with any tension that’s been lingering this year.
 
In the end, this was just a lovely and intimate character study revolving around one the most enigmatic characters in the history of the series and well, I loved this episode through and through. The wonderful performances from Mitch Pileggi and Haley Joel Osment are what sell this tale and while it may not have advanced the mythology or the greater conspiracies hanging over this show, who cares? It was just great to finally get to know Skinner a little better and understand exactly what makes him tick and most importantly, it was simply wonderful to finally see this trio bury the hatchet, period. Until next time. 

I’m always appreciative of when a television show truly takes the time to reward its audience for sticking through a tough storyline. Because when a show does such a thing, it speaks to the fact that the powers that be, genuinely care about the fans that support them, and that they also care about the story, since it means that there was a grand vision in mind all along and the ups and downs we experienced weren’t just gimmicks and wouldn’t you know it…after sitting through a wild and powerful season full of hard moments on The Librarians, the season four finale just so happened to reward the audience for standing with this show in epic and lovely fashion.
 
But, before we arrived at the grand payoff for both the story and the fans, ‘And the Echoes of Memory’ first answered a long standing question about Flynn in that, he never resigned or turned his back on the Library, he was captured by Nicole before she sprung her trap and once that question was answered the show took us on a continued journey through the darkness that was established last week by showing us just what kind of world Nicole envisioned without the Library and well, for lack of a better phrase, the world she had in mind flat out sucked because it was without a doubt, the most boring and bland place imaginable.
 
I mean seriously, this is a place where the only food served is fat and flour, and the only entertainment available is watching people stumble and fall, but there was a rhyme and reason as to why Nicole designed a world this blasé; to keep imagination at bay so the Library can never exist. But thankfully, Eve was around to save the day and it didn’t take long for the story to kick into overdrive as she worked to assemble the Librarians so that their combined memories would bring the Library back to life and end the existence of this awful place and while showing us this bland new world was fascinating in its own right, what made this episode so special and rewarding is what it accomplished by allowing this place to exist.

​Because in many ways, this story took the Librarians back to the very beginning of their journey. Where they were once again people without purpose or direction and the possibility that they could do something more and be something more ignited something special inside their souls and it was just downright incredible and satisfying to see all of the Librarians, rediscover their love for the Library and watch their heroism shine through in the process and thanks to their efforts and newfound strength, they were able to rescue Flynn and Eve and bring the Library back into existence after all. But while that alone would have made for a satisfying finale, this episode had one last wondrous surprise up its sleeve.
 
After all, Nicole still had to be dealt with in some form or fashion since her rampage cost Jenkins his life and well, Flynn had one hell of an idea on how to set things right and traveled back in time to the pivotal moment when Nicole became immortal…and begged her to let go of her anger and resentment toward the Library in order to save it and wouldn’t you know it? His last-ditch effort to defeat the Library’s greatest foe with kindness worked through and through, and the awful moments that came to pass were wiped away and we were left with the happiest of endings. Wherein Flynn and Eve tethered to the Library, and Jenkins was alive and well. 
 
If anything, this story once again allowed for the best elements of this show to shine since we saw teamwork at its finest, and we saw evil defeated not with brute strength, but through kindness and understanding, and it demonstrates once again how uplifting this show always turns out to be, and I love the subtle message present in this one that speaks to the fact that we can accomplish wonders when we let go of our fears and our doubts. Plus, as an added bonus, Jenkins is back, and I know I’m not the only person who cheered and wept at his return because Jenkins is freakin’ awesome! Either way, as another season of this wonderful show comes to a close, I would like to take a moment and implore TNT to consider giving this series another season. Because in the current climate of gritty storytelling, this show is a shining beacon of joy that deserves the opportunity to tell more uplifting stories and I truly hope that we will all be back here next year to discuss the wonder of another season of The Librarians. Until next time.  

​You know, I really have to tip my hat to the Writer’s Room and everyone involved behind the scenes with Black Lightning. Because four weeks into Jefferson Pierce’s journey, the show has shown zero signs of letting up when it comes to its quest to provide us with a different kind of superhero story and last night’s episode was no exception to that rule. Because while ‘Black Jesus’ dropped much of the social commentary prevalent in this series, it kicked its deconstruction of the superhero genre as a whole into overdrive, breaking down several key elements of the genre.
 
First and foremost, it dug deep into the sheer power and awe that superheroes wield as a whole and all of that came about simply by putting Black Lightning on the screen. Because every single time he walked into a room or stood next to a person, their eyes were filled with wonder, regardless of which side they were on and it was simply fascinating to watch a room full of people stand there and stare in tribute before running the hell away because they know trouble is coming and well, this was just downright cool. Because seeing people regard Black Lightning with that level of respect in an everyday setting once again adds a level of realism to this show that’s not present anywhere else in the genre.
 
Yet this tale continued to go above and beyond by also taking the time to show us just how lonely a superhero’s life can be. Sure, Jefferson has respect and awe and all the stuff human beings crave as Black Lightning. But when he’s not in the suit, he’s faced with the collateral damage of his role, and the harsh reality of knowing that he cannot do a thing to resolve many situations without his alternate persona present and this was damn near heartbreaking to watch. Because really, there’s no one for Jefferson to turn to, and it’s clear that seeing the human side to all of this gets to him on a deeply fundamental level and sadly, there’s no escape from it because this all comes with the territory, but I am so glad the show took the time to explore this, period.
 
In addition to that, the show had one more wonderful element to bring to the screen by giving the villains unprecedented depth as well. Because often times we are fully aware of the fact that the evil folks in these stories are indeed evil and must be stopped at all costs, but this little vignette really took the time to explain why Tobias and the mysterious Lady Eve are so hell bent on keeping Black Lightning out of Freeland and it all comes down to power and comfort. They love the life they lead, they love the control they yield and giving that up is unacceptable and it’s downright amazing to give the bad guys such a simple goal for a change instead of some grand scheme revolving around world domination.
 
Not to mention, the whole notion of turning the community of Freeland against Black Lightning is equally as brilliant and it should be interesting to see if Tobias’ plan is going to work when all is said and done. Regardless, this was just another wonderful episode. Every single week this series finds something new and exciting for our brains to mull over and I loved every single second of this tale and everything it had to offer, and I’m also truly appreciative of the slow burn approach they’re taking to Anissa’s powers as well, forcing her to truly understand what makes a hero, a hero, before allowing for her to take on that role. Either way, things are heating up in Freeland and I think Jefferson was 100% correct in this episode when he pointed out that things are going to get a lot harder, before they get any better. Until next time.