"Black Lightning" Series Finale Review: A Fitting Sendoff To One Of My Favorite Superhero Shows

"Black Lightning" ran for 4 seasons. The series concluded on CW on May 24, 2021. All 58 episodes are currently available on NetFlix.

The show focuses on Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning (Cress Williams) and his family of super powered people. There's daughter Anissa/Thunder/Blackbird (Nafessa Williams), daughter Jennifer/Lightening (China Anne McClain). Wife/mother Lynn (Christine Adsms) is a scientist. There's also long time BFF Gambi (James Remar) who has helped design much of the tech. Anissa is in a relationship with shapeshifter Grace Choi (Chantal Thuy). Jennifer was with Khallid (who we thought died). But let's face it. No one ever dies on this show.

Gone is the previous main story line-- the ASA's battle with the Makovians and their attempt to weaponize the metas in Freeland. Lynn had been forced to work for the ASA by Odell. She also developed a drug problem which she hid from her family for some time.

Tobias is center stage again as he attempts to take over Freeland and become the new mayor. His primary goal is to rid Freeland of the Pierce family. He now knows their superhero alter egos and will stop at nothing to finish them. He's had it in for Jefferson ever since he offed his father many years ago. Remember Tobias takes a youth serum so he's much older than he looks.

The "real" Jennifer escapes the ionosphere and battles Fake Jennifer/JJ. It was great to see China Anne McClain's return. She added a lot to the show. Anissa and Grace are now married (but it happens off screen). I would have liked to have seen the wedding. It looks dire for Jefferson after being buried alive (without his suit). He has a vision of his father and is able to use the Prometheum under Freeland to charge himself

In the finale Jefferson battles Whale. He tries to end their confrontation peacefully but Whale is having none of it He ends up fried and impaled. The fight seems a bit rushed to me but it's understandable given they're having to work around Covid. Khalil/Painkiller agrees to have his memories of the Pierce's wiped so he can be a threat to them. He still loves Jennifer.

In the last scene Jefferson and Gambi declare they are retiring. Jefferson and Lynn are getting remarried. They are leaving the town in good hands as Thunder, Lightning and Wylde pick up the torch. And lastly, we see La La escape his rock prison.

One of the things I like most about "Black Lightning" are the great villains:

Tobias Whale (Krondon Jones)- I love Tobias. He's great fun to watch!
Lala- The 100
Lady Eve (Jill Scott)
Khallid/Painkiller (Jordan Calloway)
Gravedigger (Wayne Brady)
Looker- The Sange

I also appreciate how they connected this show to the rest of the CW universe.The season 3 midseason finale (episode 9) tied in with the Arrowverse crossover "Crisis On Infiinite Earths". "Black Lightning" had previously existed ion a different earth than the other CW shows. At the conclusion of the crossover, Eath-1 and Earth-38 were merged to create earth prime (so now the Black Lightning, Flash, Supergirl, Batwoman, Superman and the Legends of Tomorrow crew are on the same planet). Sadly, Green Arrow sacrificed himself in order to reboot the multiverse.

Grade: 4 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). A fitting sendoff to one of my favorite superhero shows. While episodic TV tends to have too many episodes to hold my attention, I still enjoyed "Black Lightening" and am sorry to see it go after 4 season. Sure the show is about the super charged but at it's heart it's all about family-- loving each other, disagreeing at times and working out your differences.The writers have stated that despite being canceled, they had time to conclude the series are were able to give "Black Lightning" a proper ending. There was talk of a spin off with Painkiller but it was sadly passed on by the CW.