Black Lightning Review: The Book of Ruin: Chapter Three (Season 4 Episode 8)

Tobias Whale has been a thorn in Jefferson Pierce’s side since day one. He is a formidable foe that will stop at nothing to destroy Freeland’s greatest asset. On Black Lightning Season 4 Episode 8, “The Book of Ruin: Chapter Three,” Tobias unleashes his newest diabolical plan to upend Jefferson’s tenure at Garfield High School.

Let’s face it, we all have enemies. Someone in our lives that doesn’t have our best intention at heart. Possibly a superior at work, or maybe even a former friend. 

They come in all shapes and sizes, but they all want one thing — our downfall. 

Tobias is a crooked man. A man who worships power and the almighty dollar.

He also hates anyone who gets in the way of his money and power — seeking out to destroy any person blocking his path to success. Unfortunately for him, Jefferson Pierce has made it his purpose to be a constant roadblock.

This being the case, Tobias takes Jefferson’s actions quite personally. Honestly, it would be hard not to. After all, constant struggles become our greatest hindrance.

Typically, Tobias crushes any normal man who would dare to stand toe-to-toe with him. But as we all know, Jefferson is far from your everyday man.

This has led to various incarnations of Jefferson and Tobias battling it out. Sometimes it is a one-on-one fistfight, while other times, it is an indirect attack by a hired thug. Each battle has been either a loss for Tobias or at best a draw.

Nonetheless, the pursuit and result are always entertaining for the audience.

Needless to say, Tobias is getting annoyed at this point. He is sick of the old dog and pony show and decides it is time to move on to different tactics.

Tobias understands that there is more than one way to destroy a man. With his newfound information from last season, he can strike straight at Jefferson’s heart without ever touching his body. 

Jefferson Pierce is a great man who has a strong love for his family. They are one of his greatest sources of pride and joy. Coming in at a close second is Jefferson’s love for Garfield High School.

Jefferson has been the principal at Garfield for a large part of his adult life. He enjoys bringing up the students to a higher calling and ending the cycle of violence they have been born into. It is a noble and lofty goal for anyone to have.

When Tobias frames Jefferson for embezzlement of Garfield’s funds, it is the harshest of attacks. This is ultimately an assassination of character.

When someone attacks our character, they attack our whole being. Everything about us flows from our character. How we choose to live and who we choose to love all stem from it. Once our character is questioned, everything about our lives becomes skewed.

Friends question our intentions. Colleagues doubt our investments. Family members second guess our relationships.

As all this happens, we become trapped in our minds causing us to become off-kilter and vulnerable.

This is the true heart of Tobias’ attack — to make Jefferson completely vulnerable for the first time in their ongoing battle.  A man divided between his mind and body has a very difficult time defending himself. This is exactly what Tobias is counting on. 

Tobias: I’ll tell you the best part of being knocked down. You have the chance to come back stronger and better than before.

To makes matters worse, Tobias also puts Jefferson’s father’s house in jeopardy. An extra blow to an already crumbling foundation expediates the outcome, which is most likely destruction.

Ouch! This is a rough one for Jefferson and the entire Pierce family.

How will they defend themselves against damning evidence framing Jefferson? How will they come out on top of Tobias’ deviant schemes?

There is only one way to overcome a character assassination and that is to stick to your true nature. 

When someone tries to tell others that you are a dishonest thief with no backbone, it is easy to strike out in anger without thinking. But by doing this, we can prove the assassin right. Instead, we need to calculate our counterattacks.

Communicate to others that the information that is being spread is a complete lie. Show through your actions that the opposite of what is being said is true of you. If someone is calling you a liar, hit everyone around you with the truth. 

This is what Jefferson is doing with TC. Together they are going through every individual computer file that claims Jefferson is guilty as sin. Since they both know he is innocent, there has to be something hidden that can prove the accusations false.

All it will take is a tiny morsel of truth to unravel this tapestry of lies.

Stick to who you know you are. People judge you by your actions, and if you show your actions are well-intended, then they will truly know your heart.

This is why Jefferson’s family refuses to turn against him. They know these lies are not part of who Jefferson is. This fabricated embezzlement goes against everything he stands for, and those closest to him know that without a doubt. 

That is why it is important how we live our lives. The fruits of our labor speak for who we are.

No lie stands a chance against that. They may catch a person’s interest for a minute, but they will be dismissed once they remember who you truly are.

While this episode isn’t exactly top tier, it leads us into some intriguing elements that may boost the excitement for the final 5 episodes. Hopefully, Jefferson and the Pierce family will be able to prove his innocence and turn the situation around on Tobias. A conviction for Tobias just may be the ultimate send-off for Black Lightning. 

What did you think of this episode of Black Lightning? Will Khalil be able to help Jefferson clear his name? 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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