Black Lightning Review: The Book of Consequences: Chapter Four: Translucent Freak (Season 2 Episode 4)

Black Lightning Season 2 Episode 4, “The Book of Consequences: Chapter Four: Translucent Freak,” continues the torment of Jefferson Pierce. Hostility and anger seem to be coming at him from every angle. This includes family and foe.

The theme of this season seems to be the old cliché — no good deed goes unpunished. Every positive momentum Jefferson Pierce tries to attack his problems with, they still seem to bite him in the rear.

I’ll start by saying, Mr. Pierce is definitely a good father. He is there for his family through thick and thin, always doing what he feels best to keep his daughters safe. With that out there, it must also be said that he is far from perfect.

Anger kicks in when he learns about Anissa striking out on her own, in ways he doesn’t agree with. Although this isn’t his finest moment in parenting, he reacts as any loving father would.

Anissa arguing back and deciding to move out — seems a little juvenile for her character. She isn’t the rebellious one here, and it seems like a small step out of her personality to me. This nothing that can’t be overlooked though

I wonder if this is just a way to get Anissa out of the house indefinitely, and set her up as a standalone character —not just a part of the Pierce family. If so, I’m not positive that this will be a good move with everything else already going on. The scenes are starting to become borderline choppy as it is.

Anissa: Aren’t we supposed to be helping people?

His daughter Jennifer is a whole different side of the story.

Jefferson’s actions towards Jennifer are pure. This is proven by the always level-headed Lynn being by his side.

It would make any teenager go off the deep end, to be told they are going to be schooled from home. Jennifer plays the part perfectly as she lashes out and leaves home.

I can’t disagree with Jefferson’s decision though. There is way too much at stake to let Jennifer out and about at the current moment. It not only brings a danger to herself, but it also jeopardizes the rest of the family.

Jefferson already has enough scrutinizing eyes on him from all around town. If Jennifer misuses her powers even accidentally, the entire family could end up in pods or worse. That is excluding Lynn, of course.

With Jennifer falling into the arms of Khalil for support, things aren’t looking up. I’m hoping that eventually we will get to see a real fight scene between the two, and not just one imagined in her head.

At least Jefferson’s entire family isn’t against him.

It is refreshing that Jefferson still has Lynn by his side. She serves as his confidant and trusted ally.

Hopefully, they keep this bond. Too often, shows have men and women at one another’s throats — especially when they are parents.

Children need their parents as a collective unit, even when they are older. Sometimes, that is when it is most important.

Family aside, Jefferson is also getting hell from Mr. Lowry.

What a slap in the face it has to be, to see his school being run by tyranny, instead of grace and forgiveness. Jefferson goes out of his way to talk the two arguing students down, and get them to see the reality of the situation.

Then two seconds later, Mr. Lowry tears it all down with his verdict.

I understand that zero tolerance means exactly that, but even the hardest of judges need to try to see the situation from both sides. I assume Mr. Lowry does this to show he means business — proving to the students that he is going to run things with an iron fist. But an iron fist can often backfire, causing people to lash out in new and different ways.

These ways are often extreme and not fixable. I could almost imagine a situation like this leading to a school shooting, at least in the “CW world.”

Of course, this leaves us with the infamous Tobias Whale. What a crazy hoodlum!

This criminal mastermind uses the entire police department to put him back on top of his game. Poor Jefferson Pierce can do nothing but watch this spectacle.

Seeing the man he knows killed his father get set free once again, has to be the greatest low blow. I’m sure the rage he is feeling is nothing short of relentless.

Calling yourself a hero — and refusing to kill — really does have its drawbacks sometimes.

The great responsibility that comes with his powers, has to be unbearable at times like these. Every effort has to be made to see the big picture before he acts. Henceforth, this season is called, “The Book of Consequences.”

Newton said it best, “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

Let’s hope these reactions finally start swinging in a positive way for Jefferson Pierce.

What did you think of this episode of Black Lightning? When will things start to look up for Jefferson? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Black Lightning airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on The CW.

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