‘Power Book II: Ghost’ Recap – ‘Ego Death’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Michael Rainey Jr. and Gianni Paolo as Tariq St. Patrick and Brayden Weston in Episode 405 of ‘Power Book II: Ghost’ – ‘Ego Death’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 405 of ‘Power Book II: Ghost’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
​
If there is one constant in the world of television, it would have to be that the hit STARZ series, Power Book II: Ghost, always offers up an explosive and stunning episode for its midseason story/finale. Wherein some kind of game changing moment takes place for the characters in this broken world, and where often… someone catches a body. Since it was a season three midseason story that saw Lorenzo disappear from the franchise upon orders from Monet Tejada and, and well… it is safe to say that fans of this franchise were expecting more of the same from this series. An epic and bloody story for the show’s final, midseason episode/finale. 

But instead, ‘Ego Death’, provided the fans with a vastly different kind of midseason finale. One that spoke to the fact that this farewell season of storytelling is going to save the biggest moments and the biggest deaths until the final five episodes this fall, and that for this midseason finale… the epic stuff would come from the characters themselves. Since this story saw so many find agency and make powerful decisions regarding their future. Alongside offering up… the true heavy of the final season. Someone that we simply did not think was going to be so evil and so incredibly challenging for our flawed anti-heroes to deal with, and that shocker was revealed via Monet’s journey in this tale.

Because she felt it was high time to get back to business and scale things down to take care of her family and to do this right, which brought forth mostly silence from her children, but more on that in a moment. Because she did get through to Dru, by finally being honest and by offering a genuine apology and by offering him one last super score. One that would help her lock up some product from Noma to get back in business and would let Dru leave the family business. Which went off without a hitch, until Detective Carter and his crew showed up to reveal that Carter didn’t want justice. He had given up on that a long time ago and believed that the best way forward was to exert power over the city’s crime lords and get his cut and solve just enough crimes to keep his job, and now, the Tejada family worked for him, whether they liked it or not.

---

Michael Ealy as Detective Don Carter in Episode 405 of ‘Power Book II: Ghost’ – ‘Ego Death’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Which should have been the most stunning moment in this tale, but it wasn’t. Mainly because we saw Diana and Cane find agency and new direction in this story. Wherein Cane basically turned his back on the family and embraced life with Noma. Because at her side, he was seen as an equal and given power and everything he never had in the Tejada family business, and that made him happy. As for Diana, well she decided that she was going to keep the baby, and wanted away from the life so her baby could grow up in a normal household and enjoy a normal life. Which meant… conflict was on the table between her and Tariq, mainly because his path… set the stage for the final episodes and perhaps sealed Tariq’s fate in a dark manner.
​
Because once again, he had a close brush with death here, since Noma did discover his new business, through Anya. But their intimate encounter and his quick thinking saved him from death, and that moment and an acid trip, helped Tariq to come to an understanding. In that, he was holding back in having what he wanted and was basically second fiddle to everyone. So, he needed to become the Alpha in this situation and get what he wanted and needed, to bring in riches untold and to provide for his unborn child. Which was… scary to see take place. Because for so long now, we’ve been of the belief that perhaps Tariq can find peace and can perhaps leave the life behind, but this decision may not make that possible.

In fact, it may have created a monster and created a dark fate for Tariq. Where his desire to rule over an industry that thrives in chaos, will be his undoing. But either way, that decision was epic, and so was this midseason finale. Because now Monet will have to fight her way out from under the law if she ever wants to have peace again, and that won’t be easy. And of course, her children may be lost to her forever since they’re finding their own paths… and New York City, has its new Ghost. One more ruthless and hungrier than his predecessor and one that will unleash hell to have to what he wants, and that will make for five stunning final episodes, from this dynamic and downright incredible show, when it returns to the airwaves in September. Until next time.

---

Watch ‘Power Book II: Ghost’

Powered by JustWatch