Black Lightning Series Finale Recap: The Passing of the Torch — Grade It!
For four years, Black Lightning has positioned itself as a show larger and greater than its titular character’s super powers.
It was a series about hope, the Black community and family. And when the CW series came to an end on Monday, those same themes emerged as the Pierces regained their super powers and took down the bad guys. Before Jeff/Black Lightning could dig his way out of the grave Tobias trapped him in, buried alive, he had to mentally confront his father’s murder as well as the murder he himself committed as a kid, even though the latter was for the greater good.
Once he did, Jeff used an energy source from deep within the earth to regain his powers and confront Tobias to end his reign of terror. During their overdue fight, Tobias even used one of his signature SAT words — “defenestration” — which is a fancy way of saying Tobias planned to throw him out the window. But, alas, it was Black Lightning who threw Tobias out that window, and when he did, Tobias was impaled on a rod and killed. After death, Tobias aged and looked like the septuagenarian he truly was.
Next up was JJ, who headed to the tunnels to take down Chief Lopez with TC by her side and instead ended up being confronted by the real Jennifer, who was able to return to her original form in the ionosphere. Leading up to the fight, JJ explained that she hated Jennifer for being free, having flesh and coming and going in the glaze, aka ionosphere, as she pleased. While no one thinks Laura Kariuki, the actress who played JJ, hates China Anne McClain, who starred as Jennifer, it was a meta meta moment to have a replacement actress beat up the original.
But Salim Akil, who created and executive-produced Black Lightning, says there were nothing but loving feelings on the set while shooting the show’s final installment.
“It was great to have China back,” Akil tells TVLine. “China is an amazing actress and an amazing talent. She can sing, and she’s a wonderful person. She always lights up the set whenever she’s there, and everyone was happy to have her back. She’s like family, and it’s always good to have a family reunion when everyone is cool.”
After eliminating JJ, Jennifer fought with Lopez and took her out, and just like that, order was once again restored in Freeland. Jeff, Lynn, Gambi, Anissa, Jennifer and TC celebrated, and Jeff announced his retirement by passing the torch to his daughters and saying that if they needed him, he would always be around.
Meanwhile, TC helped cure Painkiller of his “kill order” against the Pierces, but that also meant that he would no longer remember Jennifer. This is almost as heartbreaking as fans learning Monday that The CW will not be giving Painkiller his own spinoff series after all. The episode and the series ended with Lala emerging from the rock Destiny trapped him in and reveling in Tobias’ death. “Somebody finally stuck it to your ass,” Lala said, ending the series with a laugh that Akil says actor Will Catlett improvised.
“He’s exactly who I thought he was,” Akil says of the unscripted dig. “Will is an outstanding actor and an outstanding person. I got excited the moment I heard it. I popped up, but I couldn’t say anything because we were still rolling.”
What did you think of the Black Lightning series finale? Give the finale a grade in our poll, and then drop your thoughts in a comment below.
A little rushed, but all in all a great ending. Who can complain over a happy ending where all the heroes live on.
eh … it was a finale. i thought the whole JJ/Jennifer thing was stupid, they should of wrote Jennifer outta the show and just had China return in the finale to help her family. after a four year battle between Tobias and Jefferson, we get that lackluster ending?!? really? like i said, it was a finale
i thought it was kind of good
i do hope somehow they can get these characters to appear in other av shows in future
That was good. Like really good and now I am going to miss this show. Didn’t know what we had. Now it’s gone!
Really good finale. Good to see Jennifer came back with her family. Glad Tobias is gone for good. The ending was good. Gonna miss the show so much. I hope the characters will appear in the Arrowverse crossovers when they happen again.
Very well done. Nice to see a happy ending as well.
The writing and editing for the whole season was like, it’s the end, let’s just throw something together. I really enjoyed this show and then it just got sloppy. This episode was all over the place and rushed with crazy plot holes. I’m sorry the show was canceled but dammit there are too many options for good tv for people to invest time and energy into sloppily made options. To be honest, if I hadn’t invested the time and energy since the beginning I probably would’ve stopped watching. I do hope to see the characters in the future. Lightning or Painkiller would be an awesome addition to the Titans show on HBO
“Titans” is set in a different universe than the Arrowverse within the new multiverse created by Crisis on Infinite Earths (2019-2020). That doesn’t preclude characters universe-hopping, or alternate versions of the same characters. But it’s unlikely.
I hope we at least see them come back for some big crossover event. Ditto Supergirl and Martian Manhunter.
Wow, I loved the ending and I think the show dramatically improved since bringing people to life in a pot. I just thought that was gross and couldn’t watch that season. I skipped over that part and got interested when they dealt with issues effectively the black community. The same thing with All American-that too is a great show. Thank goodness it’s not ending.
My favorite show so sad for it to end. The plot twist of it all made it worth it. Shows like this is what tv is made for, awaiting every week for it.
Rodney, I completely agree. The way they ended it leaves me to believe more is coming. Maybe under a different name but I read that the show ended because of the impact of covid-19. Covid-19 effected/infected/affected many CW shows. Supergirl and many are waiting to be decided.
No, Supergirl is ending after this season. It was announced a while ago, just like Black Lightning was ending this season.
Man, imagine if they had this much budget every week. What an amazing show this would have been. Loved the final fight with Tobias. Loved the explosion out of the grave into Jeff wearing the BL suit. Loved Jen going full energy form (finally!) to kill JJ. And yeah, you could tell the COVID was still an issue. Like China wasn’t actually in that last scene in the living room, probably because of quarantine regulations. But all in all, very well done.
I’m mad no painkiller!
I will miss the show, because it had a great theme family and friends! Kudos to four years of great work!
I love the show, I hope you bring it back!!!
They had the lowest ratings on the CW so i seriously doubt it….i hate that its gone as well
Favorite television show.
I think it’s a crying shame that this series was cancelled. I hope it cleared the way for more superhero stories to be told with mostly-black casts.
Black Lightning gave hope to the black community, he and his daughters gave our young black boys and girls reason to believe we could soar and become heroes. The Black community is not lost and we can stand up to indifferences that we face every day. I’m sad to see it end so soon.
I’m very sad to see black lightning off the air that was a great black show for us everything good That we enjoyed it seems like the white man taken from us That was a very interesting show and I couldn’t wait till Monday to come to watch it I will watch The old ones until Monday came You’re very Sad to see it go Once again the white man wins This The white man’s world
I believe it should have been a 2 hour special with Painkiller and Black Lightning teaming up on Tobias. However, with Tobias being a little more stronger to give the duo a bit more of a challenge. LA LA should have broken out and finished the job. They all would have had a piece of him! Also, JJ and Jen’s fight should have went on longer with an intense AIR BATTLE! Overall it wasn’t bad.
A BUILD UP AND THAN A RUSH TO END A GREAT SHOW !! DISAPPOINTED THAT SHOW ENDED AND NO SPINOFF OF PAINKILLER OR EVEN LIGHTEN,THUNDER AND WILD !!! HMMM HOPEFULLY IT A BE BROUGHT BACK !!!
Liked the show, sorry to see it end. Hate that there will not be a Painkiller spinoff, that would make a great series.
It had a good finale. I was glad China was able to return as OG Jen/Lightning. Although it was a bit clunky. It seemed obvious her scenes were filmed separate, especially the final scenes in the living room. It would have been nice to see her family’s reaction to her return. Jefferson’s toast to Nissa and Grace wS sweet buy felt awkward as Jen was sitting in the chair. But, it was good they worked her in. It was great that Jefferson and Lynn decided to remarry.
I’d love to see Nissa and Grace pop up on Legends or another show and meet up with Grace’s brother and Paragon Ryan Choi.
I thought the season was a bit meh, but did like the finale. Will definitely miss the cast and hope they pop up on other shows. Somewhat disappointed that (spoiler) they killed off Tobias – he could’ve been a fun villain to have pop up on another show as well. I guess no one necessarily stays dead on these shows though!
Wow I’m definitely Gone Miss That Show I Love Love That Show And Kudo’s To All The Excellent Cast Members.
I like the show. Since it was not returning I was so Disappointed No Pain Killer
What a Bomber. It Is Really To Bad. Been Looking at This Show Since It First Debut. Very Sad
. Then They Say No Painkiller.
I loved the ” Justice for all” ending and I have been watching since the beginning, but I think after dragging the storyline all season the producers rushed the ending. It should have been a two part finale. I also think JJ should have changed back to Jennifer the last time she went up to the ionosphere, instead of having two of them. Painkiller was the best part of the final season should be a spinoff for sure.
It ended as well as could be expected. Considering how rushed it was. At least they tied up most of the loose ends. And I was glad to see the original Jen return. Not bad.