‘Power Book IV: Force’ Recap – ‘A Short Fuse and a Long Memory’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Power Book IV: Force’.
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Stories that focus on the power of the fresh start, tend to offer up some formulaic journeys for certain. The kind that always seem to revolve around good, everyday people that just so happen to have fate throw them a curveball. One that either motivates them to realize they need to get away from everything and start over or hit the reset button on who they are so they can properly reinvent themselves, and these are stories that will rarely bring you down. Because this is the kind of tale, that offers up a grand opportunity to inspire its audience as well, and while they tend to engage us and lift us up, the excess cliché present in this kind of story, tends to do the audience a bit of a disservice.
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For in many ways, those formulas and tropes, paint a picture of a world where the fresh start is only exclusive to those who are open to the reality that change, and reinvention is sometimes necessary. When in reality, the fresh start is something that is open to all and will never be exclusive, and it is something that each of us will crave or take part in at some point or another in our lives, and not everyone takes part in them for rosy and inspiring reasons. For some folks are in a bad place and need to start over in order to survive, while others, just want a reset… so they can enjoy some kind of peace and comfort in their lives and sometimes folks that have done unsavory things… need a fresh start to escape the trouble surrounding them, and to finally find their way in an industry that others would shy away from.

It is that latter concept that serves as the central structure of Power Book IV: Force. A brand-new show on STARZ, that is set in the Power Universe. Which for the first time in the franchise’s history, takes us out of the Big Apple and into the Windy City of Chicago to focus on a fresh start for the iconic gangster Tommy Egan and well, when we catch up with Tommy in ‘A Short Fuse and a Long Memory’, he is in quite the difficult place. For this tale picks up shortly after ‘Heart of Darkness’, the Power Book II: Ghost season one finale, wherein Tommy is on the road and haunted badly by memories of New York. Prompting him to divert his journey toward Los Angeles into Chicago. Where he can take a moment and reflect on his life and where it is going and what he needs to let go of to survive, and that’s when this series really begins to dive into some supremely intimate elements regarding the central theme here.

Because understanding who we are and where we are going is indeed part of the mantra of starting over. Since we have to properly comprehend the past in order to close the book on it and move forward with confidence and well, Tommy’s attempts to do that here, brings forth some incredible surprises for him. Such as the fact that his grandmother, whom he thought was dead after all these years, is alive and well. Plus, he also comes to find that he has a brother he wasn’t aware of in the slightest and being presented with the reality that he doesn’t really understand his past in the slightest. Puts Tommy beside himself and forces him to take a beat and think about the significance of such a revelation and what it could mean for him and his future. But while that is indeed an intimate character study, this premiere doesn’t forget its roots and makes sure to balance out the intimacy with moments grounded in the elements that put the Power Universe on the map.

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For a simple visit to a bar, allows for Tommy to come in contact with the Flynn family and their drug operation and after being disrespected by one of Walter Flynn’s lackeys, Tommy decides that a little fun and games with Vic Flynn, by messing with the drop he is heading to on this night, might help clear his head and well, what happens when he arrives, changes the course of Tommy’s plans. Because Vic and a gentleman named Jenard, struggle to deal with some wild card moments during the drop. Helping Tommy to understand that’s it is basically Amateur Hour in the Windy City and that these cats are clueless as to how to properly handle the drug trade and in order to really get an idea of what the business he knows so well, looks like a thousand miles from home… he makes a point to hang around a little bit longer and meet the head of the family and size him up.
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Which in turn leads to a powerful meeting between Tommy Egan and Walter Flynn, one that appears to be cut right out of classic literature courtesy of the flames surrounding the both of them, giving this encounter a Faustian feel, but not in the classical sense. No in this instance, it is Walter Flynn making the reverse Faustian deal by having Tommy Egan in his presence, since Tommy is able to size up every weakness and flaw in the Flynn family in that moment, and that in turn, motivates Tommy to follow in Ghost’s footsteps and go into business for himself. Giving Tommy a fresh start at last, one where he can forge his own path and enjoy his own empire for a change… while taking the time to figure out who he is, now that certain truths have presented themselves to him.

But what’s amazing, is that the central theme here is going to extend beyond Tommy’s journey as well. Since the aforementioned Jenard is a man now faced with incredible changes on the horizon. For his brother Diamond is out of jail and is looking to start over in an honest manner, which will alter a great deal in their lives and will undoubtedly force them to ponder upon whether or not they can have their fresh start, since there were hints of roadblocks regarding that in this tale. Not to mention, there’s Gloria Rodgers. A woman that catches Tommy’s eye and is also clearly looking for a fresh start of her own, one that will take her some time to find because she’s struggling to let go of some serious pain and well, having these kinds of subplots present within the framework of a crime drama set in an iconic universe, makes this one of the most unique and brilliant series premieres to ever hit the airwaves.

Because you just don’t find this kind of depth and intimacy in a crime drama. Instead, these stories are always about forging ahead for the characters involved and feeling their feels another time because the intense world of crime doesn’t allow for anyone to breathe. But here, we are privy to all kinds of intimate and powerful moments from all of the characters as they search for peace and new beginnings and of course… power. And that kind of relatability sucks you into the story like never before and leaves you eager to learn more about the people that populate this world… especially Tommy. Since we truly see a side of him in this premiere we’ve never seen before and well, this perfect premiere does a wonderful job of leaving you starving for more of this new adventure in the Power Universe. One that is clearly going to break new ground in the franchise and give us unprecedented access to a fan favorite character and it will be incredibly interesting to see what this fresh take on the fresh start has in store for us, as season one continues along. Until next time. 

To learn more about ‘Power Book IV: Force’, check out our interviews with the cast of this dynamic new series, by clicking here.  ​

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