‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ Recap – ‘Brothers and Keepers’

12/30/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Mekai Curtis as Kanan Stark in ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 305 of ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

It is definitely safe to say, that season three of the hit STARZ series, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, is eager to explore elements that we rarely see explored in crime dramas. After all, this is a season of storytelling that has seen someone escape the game without losing their lives, a true rarity in stories in this vein. Not to mention… we’ve also seen this story explore what kinds of new chapters could await those fresh out of the life and how hard of a transition that might be. Since last week’s episode saw so many characters struggle with their new future and revert to some old habits because of it, and well… this season is showing no signs of slowing down regarding these fascinating examinations, as evidenced by this week’s tale.

For ‘Brothers and Keepers’ opted to examine two long-term possibilities about where people could go when they get out of the game. Such as the joy they might experience if they embrace their second chance. After all, Jukebox found a lot of joy in this story and demonstrated how a fresh start can do wonders when we reconcile the past and embrace the future. For she was good with what was and lived in the present and for her efforts… she did well with her new musical group and was outright enjoying the ride. Because she was making music and having a blast doing it. Not to mention she was able to take on a mentor style role and that only added to her happiness in the now, and shockingly, she wasn’t the only character that found some joy in embracing a new path.

Because Lou Lou was laser focused on making Café Vous the success he knew it could be. All by making sure to use the connections he built during his time as a producer to pump the club up and let the world know it was a place for fresh voices and an outright celebration of music. And this gave him so much direction and so much drive and outright positivity, that he was able to face his mother without falling into darkness and he even found himself thinking less about the drink. Because he had purpose without the game and for his efforts, Café Vous was a rousing success. For it was alive and thriving and filled with musical acts that wowed the crowd and fed creativity. Which really did point out that some folks could indeed alter course and head down a new path if they truly embrace their second chance.

London Brown and Malcolm Mays as Marvin Thomas and Louis ‘Lou Lou’ Thomas in ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

But alas, not everyone will hold onto that, and some… will see stepping away from the game as their chance to double down and get back into it, no matter the cost. Because they’ve seen what it can offer them, and that’s what Kanan did here. Because despite his mother’s best intentions and abilities to keep avoiding the game, to show her son a better way and a better life, Kanan was furious that she tried to control him and remove him from something he saw value in. So, he defied her and embraced the darkness and went full bore into his business venture, consequences be damned. Which brought about friction at home when he wasn’t present for a social work inspection as expected by the law, and it split he and Famous down the middle. Since Famous bore the brunt of abuse when things didn’t go right. All because Kanan hated the idea of letting go of a chance to have it all through the game.

However, the scariest example of what can happen when someone cannot let the game go, came forth by way of Ronnie in this tale. For he truly believed that nothing had changed on these streets, and that Raq was keeping him down and that Unique was somehow working to keep him down as well, and that pushed him to prove his false understanding was true, by sowing discontent and applying pressure and that led… to some ugly moments. The kind that saw Unique have to atone for his romantic mistakes since his affair with Raq was made public and Kanan had to deal with his fury, and all of that created a violent boiling point, between he and his brother no less. To the point where blows were thrown and where it seemed… that Unique died at his own brother’s hands. All because Ronnie was convinced, he was somehow being held out of the game and couldn’t imagine a life without it and expected to be part of it.

All of which made for a fascinating and powerful episode. One that really did showcase how getting out the game can be positive for people over time and how terrifying it can be when people cannot let it go in the slightest. And now, there may be real consequences and real damage to lives because of Kanan and Ronnie’s inability to be free of the madness. Since Unique is likely dead and Kanan is beginning to showcase what he is capable of and well, this compels us to continue the journey. To see what other unique explorations await us regarding the paths that people are settling into at the moment and of course… to see what brings about darkness for all. Since this is a grand tragedy in the end, one that is giving us a touch of ‘what if?’ with the joy before bringing Kanan’s world crashing to the ground. Until next time.

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