'Black Lightning' Recap - 'Three Sevens: The Book of Thunder'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

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

​While Black Lightning has done a phenomenal job in its inaugural season of challenging the classic clichés we often find in superhero themed programming in order to tell a quality tale, sometimes a story simply has to stick to the tried and true basics because those concepts work through and through and last night’s episode of the show, ‘Three Sevens: The Book of Thunder’, went into familiar territory to deliver unto us, a surprisingly engaging story that advanced a few lingering plot threads.
 
It accomplished this, by going back to a classic thematic concept for the superhero; the need to never take a life, because after recovering from his suit malfunction in the last episode, Jefferson came to the realization that it was time to put an end to Tobias Whale once and for all. But in order to get to Tobias, Jefferson had to be a touch creative, and after conducting a little research on Albinism, he came to discover that people that suffer from this affliction, require a touch more medical care to ensure their health is in tip top shape, leading Jefferson to speak with Tobias’ private doctor wherein he asked the Doc for a favor; call Tobias in for an emergency medical test so that Black Lightning can put him down.
 
This plan was of course met with nothing but disdain from Gambi, who pleaded with Jefferson time and time again to not cross that line for fear that it would put Jefferson down a dark path from which he would never return. But despite his pleas, Jefferson rolled on with the plan, and well, even with Lynn begging him to stop he seemed ready to drop Tobias, until a twist of fate changed everything for our intrepid hero. Because Lynn came under attack from some thugs, and when he arrived to rescue her, he had to throw down with another superhero, his daughter; who just so happened to rescue mom, first, and after defeating her in a blaze of glory, it seems that Jefferson is starting to come to the realization that Gambi and Lynn are both right.
 
Because if he crosses that line, what will he become and how will he be viewed by his daughters? And what kind of example will he set for Anissa from a hero’s perspective since she’s now fighting crime and is fully aware of her father’s true identity, and this was simply a wonderful way to handle this thematic concept. Because normally when this is addressed in superhero stories, it revolves around the heroes coming to realize they simply have to be the better person, but Jefferson is haunted by his father’s death through and through and is ready to avenge it, so having his daughters serve as the reason for him to be a better man, so that he can set a fine example for them as both a father and a hero, is an utter stroke of genius.
 
Yet, while that alone was magnificent in its own right, the show also continued to toy with Gambi’s ability to play both sides, and it seems now that he has played quite the role in keeping the peace and in setting up the current mess in Freeland and I really am curious to know more about his past and his role in everything as it stands. Either way, this was just another great episode. Whether this series is deconstructing the superhero genre or working within its confines, it delivers time and time again and the social commentary in this tale revolving around Confederate statues and trigger-happy cops was brilliant and all of these elements continue to reinforce the fact that Black Lightning is hands down the bravest and most intelligent superhero show on the air right now. Until next time. 

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