'Black Lightning' Recap - 'Lawanda: The Book of Hope'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

​There have been plenty of times in our lives, where we have pondered upon just what we would do, if we were stuck in a situation where we could make a difference. Would we rise to the occasion and play the hero, or would we simply step back and mind our own business. I imagine that most of us instantly believe that we can make a difference and that’s a good thing since it speaks to who we really are, but while it’s fun to imagine, I think we all know that deep down, simply jumping in and playing the hero can be a far more complex matter than we expect it to be.
 
If anything, those complexities and nuances to heroism are what allow for superhero stories to continue to thrive, because they allow for the hero in question to suffer through them so that we can in turn learn from them and apply the best parts of these characters to our own daily lives and I make mention of this, because those complexities were all on display in last night’s episode of Black Lightning, and the fact that ‘Lawanda: The Book of Hope’, took the time to explore such matters, serves as a reminder that this particular series is going to do its best to continue to differentiate itself from other superhero stories out there right now.
 
In fact, there was another element present in last night’s episode that reinforces this show’s desire to be something exciting and new in the genre, that I didn’t expect to see, a quality exploration of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder that came about by way of Anissa and Jennifer’s storyline as they struggled with the possibility that they could have lost their lives at the Seahorse Motel and I thought it was just wonderful to see this on display in a show like this. Because often times, when someone is in danger in a superhero story and saved by said hero, they’re suddenly fine the next moment because hey, they’re safe now. But by adding in that these young ladies are struggling with the fact that had Black Lightning been a moment too late they could have died, adds powerful depth and realism to this story.
 
However, while that portion of the story was fascinating in its own right, let’s revisit those complexities that I made mention of earlier, since that is where the episode shined. Because for a better part of the hour, Jefferson once again did his best to avoid confrontation with the 100 Gang and tried his best to inspire others to put their faith into the system…to no avail. Because a former student of Jefferson’s, who is now a mother named Lawanda White, took matters into her own hands to free her daughter from a life of prostitution and lost her own in the process, prompting Jefferson to finally drop the charade of living a normal life, because he can do something to protect people and keep those kinds of deaths from happening, which means that at long last…Black Lightning has returned to Freeland.
 
In the end however, I am still really digging this series. It’s just so refreshing to watch, and I love that this saga is a character study first and a superhero story second and that it also offers no easy answers and features roadblocks for Jefferson when it comes to saving the day. Because while Jefferson believes he has found his true north, there are others, like his ex-wife who firmly believe he’s making a critical mistake, and I’m sure there will be more obstacles popping up in the weeks to come to challenge Jefferson’s decision to return to the limelight. Either way, Black Lightning is back, and who knows, considering that Anissa seems to have powers of her own, he may have help in defeating the 100 down the line. But in the here and the now, Freeland has its symbol of hope once again, and I cannot wait to see where the story takes us when next week’s episode arrives. Until then. 

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