‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ Recap – ‘Sleeping Dogs’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 203 of ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When we last settled in to discuss the wondrous STARZ series, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, we talked at length about how this series has separated itself from the Power Universe pack. Simply because it will take its time when needed, to focus on the characters and their life experiences. Something we just don’t see heavily in this franchise and that has allowed for some powerful moments to take place, the kind that have in fact… helped us to understand that this series is indeed a grand tragedy playing out before our eyes. But while it was indeed wonderful to enjoy some down time and get to know Kanan Stark and his friends and family a little better last week, make no mistake about it, this is a Power series, something that last night’s episode took the time to remind us of.

For ‘Sleeping Dogs’ is a story that forewent the slow burn approach to the life and time of Kanan Stark, to really let loose with some classic Power moments. For instance, this episode wasted little time in opening up… with a shocking moment for Kanan. In that, Detective Howard was waiting for him when he headed out for his day, to tell him what Raq was hoping he would not. Specifically, that he was his biological father and that was a revelation that stunned Kanan to no end and rightfully so. After all, he was asked to shoot this man without giving it a second though and well, being plunged into this surprise left Kanan out of sorts and forced him to confront his mother about the matter, and that yielded no results in the slightest.

Instead, he was just forced to forge ahead and hope for time to sort out his feelings and worries, and that allowed for him to help Famous make some money by selling his album in the most creative way imaginable and of course… he also had to reconcile Scrappy’s death in this tale since that was brought to his attention, and what’s amazing is that this strange and confusing time for Kanan didn’t end there. Since he ran into Howard once more at the end of this story and was sideswiped emotionally by the revelation that the intrepid detective remembered everything and chose to stay quiet to protect his son. Because that was something Kanan was not expecting to hear nor was he ready to process such kindness and well… what makes this so Power if you will, is the sheer fact that this is another fine example of this franchise throwing its characters for a loop that genuinely shocks and surprises them. 

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Yet what is amazing, is that such a surprise wasn’t the only classic Power element present here. For this episode also leaned heavy into the crime aspect of the franchise that has only been touched upon early on in this season. That was accomplished by way of quite the unfortunate surprise regarding Raq’s giant cash stash. Because one quiet night, while Raq was working on expanding the business into New Jersey territory to make that paper, someone walked into the bodega and pulled a gun on Juliana and robbed the place of every last cent of the Stark empire. A move that immediately put Raq on edge and forced a citywide manhunt from her crew. Because she had to know who bothered to cross this line and bring her trouble.
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As it turned out, it was a familiar face that took part in this most dangerous act. Simply because it was Unique that set this whole thing up, but not for the reasons one might think. For when Raq and her crew came face to face with their former nemesis… they came to learn that he was desperate and eager for a second chance. One where he wouldn’t be hunted or in trouble with his past in the slightest. So, he robbed Raq to get her attention and to request that she give him peace and a way out in exchange for her own money. A wish she was happy to grant if it meant she could grow her empire. But what matters more, is that this was a fine reminder that the business is always vulnerable when one doesn’t take the right precautions and hopefully Raq will be a bit more mindful after this.

Either way, this was just… a classic Power tale through and through. Because just like that, the slow burn style of the first two episodes was wiped away and replaced with the intensity and worry that we know and love when it comes to this franchise. And it exposed a potential rift on the horizon between mother and son since Kanan is indeed being impacted by this stunning news and of course… now we know that the operation is quite vulnerable because of the fact that Raq thinks she is untouchable and because her family doesn’t take this seriously, as evidenced by how Lou-Lou ignored her important pages. If anything, it is safe to say that this was a setup episode, one that will see these issues grow because not a moment is wasted in this franchise, and everything comes around full circle, and it will be interesting to see where these plot points take us in the weeks to come. Until next time.

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