Black Lightning Review: The Book of Ruin: Chapter Four: Lyding (Season 4 Episode 9)

As a team of superheroes, the Pierce family has made multiple enemies over the last several years. Fortunately, they have also made numerous friends. These friends come in extremely handy as things heat up for Lynn, Jefferson, Jen, and Anyssa.

Black Lightning Season 4 Episode 9, “The Book of Ruin: Chapter Four: Lyding” ramps up the drama by placing our heroes in separate turmoils and making them powerless, but before we get that far let’s focus on the theme of the episode.

When things get tough, we all need someone to turn to. Fairweather friends head for the shadows until the storm passes, but true friends poke their heads into the light looking for the best way to help us.

Sometimes this puts them in harm’s way as well, but as it has been said before, “Greater love has no one than this than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Peter Gambi has been a friend of the Pierce family since day one. He has put himself in danger more often than not, sacrificing the possibilities of a normal life for Jefferson. So far this season, Gambi has infiltrated the organization creating weaponry to eliminate the effects of the meta-human gene. 

This is some top-tier friendship here. Gambi is putting his life and freedom on the line — literally sleeping with the enemy to get to the most coveted of secrets. His underlying motives don’t stop there though. Gambi is also finding time to create Anyssa a brand new suit to use as Thunder.

A lot of people will do one thing to help you out and ride on the favor’s coattails for the rest of the relationship. They find a way to remind you of the one time they helped you out and spell out the fact that you owe them something in return. Gambi, on the other hand, never asks for anything back except for heeding his advice. 

This shows that Gambi isn’t in this relationship for what he can get out of it, but for what he can put into it. 

Khalil’s friendship is a little more complicated than Gambi’s. Although the Pierce family has done whatever they can for Khalil, he is programmed to want to destroy them. His conflicted emotions tear him apart, keeping him far away from the loving arms of Jen. 

That is until Khalil hears of the trumped-up charges facing Jefferson Pierce. 

Khalil’s mental battles aren’t enough to stop him from going toe-to-toe with any bad guy who can help him defuse Jefferson’s legal battle. His programming oftentimes confuses him, but he still knows right from wrong. 

Taking out evil to save a friend is one thing, but fighting against your mental health is something entirely different. Our minds and emotions guide our actions, making Khalil’s decision to go against himself the sweetest gesture a friend can make. Even if he doesn’t ultimately succeed, Khalil’s love for the Pierce family is proven here.

Darius is a newer friend to the Pierce family, and more specifically to Anyssa. His attraction to Anyssa started a somewhat awkward friendship with her, but their professionalism and concern for their patients helped smooth out the bumps along the way.

When the mention of a cure for Cystic fibrosis comes into their sights, Darius decides to do some digging on Anyssa’s behalf. A friend will back you up when things are appearing too good to be true. They will exit their comfort zone to find out the correct information.

Jefferson: We don’t do what we do for attention or applause. 

Darius knows finding the proper details could help Anyssa become the best version of herself, and that is what a friend truly wants. Friendship is about bringing the best out of each other even in the worst of times. 

Unfortunately, Darius ends up dead before the episode is over. His quest to help his friend is the last good thing he does, and his actions are nothing short of heroic.

As all these characters prove their friendship to the Pierce family in their own way, Jen returns the favor by helping out Uriah on social media. 

Uriah is having trouble raising money to get the music program back into Garfield High School. Jen believes that a celebrity endorsement may just get him the money he so desperately needs. With the FBI following Lightning’s appearances very closely, it is foolish for Jen to go out suited up, but as a friend and a reckless teenager, she puts herself out there to help him succeed.

This goes to show that friends learn from our examples.

If we put ourselves on the line to prove we want what is best for our friends, they will follow suit in our time of need. This in turn strengthens the relationship — fortifying it at its core. After all, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.” (Ecc 4:12)

As mentioned earlier, an extreme amount of drama flares up with each member of the Pierce family on separate paths. With Tobias using his specially made device to hinder their powers, all of them may be in a deadly situation. This may be the best cliffhanger since the island explosion on Arrow Season 5 Episode 23, “Lian Yu.”

A speeding car is headed towards Anyssa, Jefferson is head-to-head with a deadly assassin, and Jen is falling from the sky. Not even Lynn is spared her dignity as she is stripped down for a body cavity search before going into lockdown. 

Only a handful of episodes are left to untangle this massive web of deceit that Tobias has unleashed. I’m sure the Pierce family will be able to come out on top, but the real question is how?

Will Jefferson Pierce sacrifice himself as Oliver Queen did, or will he simply retire and walk into the sunset with his family? Will Jen hook back up with Khalil and live with him in a new town, or will she pursue a relationship with Uriah? Will Anyssa and Grace live happily ever after, or will the superhero lifestyle prove too difficult for their relationship?

Hopefully, a majority of these questions will be answered before the clock runs out on the series. If not, we can at least keep our fingers crossed for the Painkiller spinoff.

What did you think of this episode of Black Lightning? How long will Tobias be able to keep the upper hand? 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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