Black Lightning Review: The Book of the Apocalypse: Chapter Two: The Omega (Season 2 Episode 16)

Black Lightning Season 2 Episode 16, “The Book of the Apocalypse: Chapter Two: The Omega,” brings this season to a close — rarely letting up on the action until the last scene.

With that being said, it doesn’t mean that everything comes out satisfactory. In fact, there are really no final conclusions here. Most parts just end up being another connective piece to the story.

They even manage to set up extra parts that lead into the next season. I’ll give them a few points for that, because they get me just interested enough to  make a mental note of when Black Lightning will return.

I won’t bother diving too far into the letdowns of the episode. Like I already mentioned here and in past reviews, this show isn’t all that great in wrapping things up. Instead, I will focus on what seems to work.

In case you haven’t guessed it yet, there will be spoilers up ahead.

Jen’s arrival as the newest superhero on the scene has to be the most exciting. It took two complete seasons to bring her into the family of crime fighters where she belongs.

I love that the entire time she has been reluctant, until her hand was practically forced by the death of Khalil. So many characters get superpowers, throw on a suit, and never look back. The approach they gave Jen was so much more realistic.

This is why Jennifer is my favorite character on this show. We’ve been able to grow along with her, see her struggles firsthand, and feel them right along with her.

Seeing her come full circle is undoubtedly a great satisfaction. Bravo on this. 

The moment she floats out of the vehicle in a complete surge of power, really gives me goosebumps. 

She finally knows what she is fighting for — and our hearts fight along with her. 

I do have to complain a bit about her code name though. I know the writer’s at the CW didn’t come up with it, but I just feel like it is lazy to call her Lightning. I’m hoping they just end up calling her Jen most of the time.

I don’t believe the character was that huge in the comics, so I can understand why they didn’t spend a lot of time trying to figure out the best name for her. Since she is possibly the second most important character on the show, they may have to do something about it. 

Really this doesn’t take too much away from Jen’s story, and one can conclude that it adds to her personality — showing she still rushes in head first before thinking things through. You know, your basic teenager.

Lala: Tell me one thing. Are you with Tobias Whale?

Another great part of the finale, is when Lynn gets to let loose on Dr. Jace. This does absolutely nothing for the plot in any way, but it sure is fun.

Lynn truly shows that she is not some defenseless woman, waiting for Black Lightning to come save her. She has a mighty wrath that she will use to protect her family from anyone that steps in her direction.

This is true for most women in the real world, even though it hardly gets shown as much as it should on television these days. The strength of a woman’s heart can sometimes come out in their fists, and you don’t want to be the recipient of that blow.

Dr. Jace receives Lynn’s ferocity and may never be the same because of it. I don’t think we will be either.

After the major showdown between Black Lightning, Lightning, and Tobias Whale, we get to see the albino incarcerated. Earlier this season, he was sent to jail for almost an entire episode before being let go. This time with him being held off the grid at someplace called the Pit, things might be more impactful.

They finally have some evidence to keep the creep locked up for a while, even though they give you the feeling that he won’t be there indefinitely. His hate-filled scowl speaks volumes as he stares at the screen. 

We know he will do everything he can to escape this unknown asylum, and that will further cement his loathing of Black Lightning and his family.

If and when he finds his way to freedom, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near Freeland. I’m not entirely sure the town will even be standing in his aftermath.

This imprisonment doesn’t really feel at all like any kind of ending to the story, but just a temporary setback. I’m not sure how to feel about it to be honest. 

While I would like things to feel a bit more tied up, at least they don’t kid us by giving us a death that is revealed to be fake later on, or worse, have him in the wind until the start of next season.

Another segment I’m not sure how to feel about is Agent Percy Odell’s arrival at the Pierce’s home. 

This whole season we are lead to believe that this guy is evil and has something sinister up his sleeve. Actually, that still could be true — but we are left hanging in the balance.

He warns them all about the Markovian’s possibly rising up to start a war in Freeland. I have a feeling the family will have to further make an unholy alliance with Odell to protect themselves and the ones they love.

While this kind of thing is a cliché at this point, it usually still works out to be pretty entertaining. Tension and the stretching of moral gray areas always makes for an exciting 40 odd minutes or so.

The last specific scene I would like to focus on is the resurrection of Reverend Jeremiah Holt.

I’m not going to lie here. I’m freaking confused.

This guy died right? I’m sure of it. At least I’m pretty sure. 

Yeah, I know this is a superhero show where people can rise and fall at any given moment, just to be risen again. Look how many times they have done it to Lala already, for crying out loud. But this guy is far down on the list of people we would like to see come back on the block.

He died. I shed no tears, and really gave him no more thought.

Now he is back, claiming to be fresh out of a coma and ready to do the will of God. Okay, cool, but why should I care?

I’m thinking at this point, maybe he was revived by the same guy who brought back Lala. Actually, I’m nearly positive about it, but that still doesn’t give me more than a little curiosity. 

I’m actually more curious about the pointless return of Lala. I mean seriously, what was the point?

The dude hunts down Tobias just to get his butt kicked. Sure, it adds a couple of minutes of intensity, but at the end of the day I feel ripped off.

But I digress. I told you in the beginning I wasn’t going to be trashing the show this time around, and I try to be a man of my word.

So instead, I will give you my overview of the entire season.

This season is decent overall. I really enjoy the family drama throughout every episode, giving this sci-fi show a very realistic feel —  even though it is far from reality-based.

It gives us something that these kind of shows often lack, and reaches us at a deeper level.

I am now able to look at certain social situations from a different perspective, due to the new light the writers have shown on the subjects.

This my friends, is a great thing. It really shows the power writing has, even in today’s modern world.

Sometimes the show strays a bit too far from the action, barely showing the main man himself in costume for multiple episodes in a row.

I wouldn’t call this an epic fail, but more of a disappointment. Without the superhero action, the show fumbles on the line of being too preachy.

Luckily, in the later half of the season things become more action-packed, leveling out the lessons with fisticuffs. 

There are shortcomings along the way, but nothing that is so bad that it can’t be overlooked.

If a few more answers were thrown in throughout the season, I think things could have been elevated and hopefully the show could have gained a couple of viewers. I feel it is a mistake to refuse to tie nearly anything up, and just throw more questions at us.

Maybe everything will be spelled out next season, crossing “t’s” and dotting “i’s.” I kind of doubt it at this point, but one can only hope.

What did you think of this episode of Black Lightning? Were you satisfied with the outcome? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Black Lightning airs Mondays at 9/8c on the CW.

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