Black Lightning Review: The Book of Reconstruction: Chapter One

Every hero’s journey comes to an end, and Black Lightning Season 4 Episode 1, “The Book of Reconstruction: Chapter One,” is the beginning of Jefferson Pierce’s descent.

Death can be many things. It can be a resolution or a beginning, war-like or peaceful, but most of all — death is impactful. 

As Season 3 of Black Lightning ended, we were left with the death of a major influence on Jefferson Pierce’s life, William Henderson. 

Henderson was Jefferson’s voice of reason and confidant. Although they often disagreed on how to handle things, they knew they could come to each other for backup.

Now with Henderson gone, all Jefferson is left with is guilt and grief. This grief is affecting nearly every aspect of his life, including his morals, relationships, and direction. 

First and foremost, Jefferson’s morals are being negatively impacted.

Throughout the first three seasons of Black Lightning Jefferson played the ultimate hero. He bit his tongue when needed, refusing to use his power on the policemen even when they were the ones committing the most heinous of crimes. 

Less than ten minutes into the episode we see that restraint has come to a grinding halt. Jefferson sees a young student of his being harassed by a couple of Freeland’s finest. True to his character, Jefferson uses his words to attempt and break up the fight unfolding. 

In typical fashion, the time for words passes when the cops pull a gun on him. As anger rises inside of him, Jefferson does little to bite back his resentment, striking out with fury against the two officers. 

He wipes their memories and destroys their car with little to no regard for their safety or his own. Even an innocent bystander wouldn’t have faired well in the confrontation. Luckily, the teenager involved takes a hike almost immediately.

I must admit, one can’t but help but feel a little happy for Jefferson to be able to blow off a little steam after the effects of last season, but you also feel as though he crossed a line. This is a line that Henderson would have never let Jefferson cross.

There is nothing heroic about attacking a police officer. 

Jefferson: Black Lightning is dead.

When we grieve, our emotions are out of whack. We act differently than we normally would to make sense of what is happening around us. Up seems down, left appears right, and everything is inside out.

We feel if we live our lives differently, maybe something will snap and align everything again. Sadly that is far from the truth.

Secondly, Jefferson’s relationships are negatively affected by his grief. 

Jefferson has shut down. His family reaches out to him repeatedly, asking for his help and guidance in many major ways. But even his standby platitudes have fallen empty.

Henderson’s death has made the danger to his family very real. 

Jefferson has always understood the dangers his family faces due to his superhero identity and the powers they share as a family, but an up-close and personal death adds an exclamation to it. There is no longer any question whether or not one of them could die — one of them has died.

Jefferson feels personally responsible for Henderson’s death because he let Henderson in on his secret identity and hidden world. Knowing this is part of what killed the man, Jefferson now feels the need to push others away.

Lynn, Anyssa, and Jen, all reach out to Jefferson in their own way, looking for fatherly guidance in multiple scenarios. 

His presence on the team is greatly missed, causing his daughters to fall into an obvious trap. Being a veteran of sorts, Jefferson would have been prepared for the trap set on Jen, but his altered view and distance keeps him from being by their side when needed most.

No one gets as close to us as family.  They see our highs, lows, and everything in-between. When they reach out to us at our lowest point, we tend to shove their hands away in fear of bringing them down with us. 

After all, we feel we forced ourselves into rock bottom so we should be the ones solely responsible for digging our way out.

This is far from the truth — everyone needs a hand up sometimes.

Adding together Jefferson’s fraying morals and deteriorating relationships, he has lost all sense of direction. 

Before Henderson’s death, the answer was always Black Lightning. If something was going wrong, he would put on the suit and act. But all this action has led Jefferson down the path he is currently on, so the obvious answer must be to quit being Black Lightning. 

Black Lightning stands for hope at the bleakest of times. Black Lightning stands for strength for the weak. Black Lightning stands for the power to overcome.

Jefferson has lost hope. Jefferson has become weak. Jefferson has lost the will to overcome. 

How can someone stand for all the things they lost? It has to feel nearly impossible. 

As the next few weeks unfold, I assume we will see Jefferson slowly regain his footing. The attack on Jen appears as though it will be a catalyst to help him recapture his clarity.

We too need to find a new beginning when we feel like we have hit the bottom. We need to use those around us to help build a new and stronger foundation.

The cracks can only be filled with love and positive energy. Don’t forget, we are never truly alone.

What did you think of this episode of Black Lightning? What do you hope to see in the final season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

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

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

10 Facts We Learned About ‘Black Lightning’ at Heroes and Villains Fan Fest: Chicago