Black Lightning: Grading all four seasons of the powerful CW show
By Mark Lynch
Black Lightning season 4
Grade: C+
And then there was the final season. It was a season that starts off with Jefferson Pierce deciding that it’s time to retire the Black Lightning mantle. We all knew this wasn’t going to last. What we didn’t know was how the show would continually thrive without Jefferson’s heroic persona. But it did and that is the result of Cress Williams’ absolutely brilliant performance, as the audience saw that they didn’t need the lightning and action to remain hooked.
Watching Jefferson go through the rollercoaster of emotions with himself and his family was deep. When eventually put the superhero suit back on, it may not have been shocking, but we certainly all smiled. It showed this writer that maybe he could’ve been Luke Cage.
China Anne McClain’s absence was felt. Laura Kariuki did a good job, but we loved and missed Ms. McClain. While the reason behind the real Jennifer’s disappearance was interesting, that could’ve been the story of a new season because it really didn’t get the exploration that it needed here. Instead, we won’t know anything else about the beings in space. Then again, maybe they show up in another Arrowverse series.
The ending of the show in regards to Jennifer’s arc was lackluster as well. Nothing was really resolved; she was upset with her family for not realizing she wasn’t her and that was that. There was no resolution to her anger so that really felt like a moment that could’ve been left out since it didn’t get the proper exploration.
And we have Tobias’ death. It was the epitome of “meh”. After carrying the final season on their backs, Tobias and Jefferson don’t get their righteous ending. Both Black Lightning and Tobias deserved something more climactic – something that concluded their decades-long hatred with more flair and excitement. This fell flat.