Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 2 Review: Need vs. Greed

Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 2, “Need vs. Greed,” introduces a new dilemma as there’s a new dangerous connect out for revenge and threatening Tariq’s plans of getting out of the game for good.

Tariq, Brayden, Effie, and Cane are faced with the challenge of figuring out new creative ways to divvy up Noma’s product with their individual specialties and connections. While Monet hunts for Zeke’s killer, Cane searches for a new connect and does some digging of his own. 

The crew sets a plan to distribute the product in motion, but not after a few disagreements. With Standfield still hot and eyes heavily on Tariq, he begins his new semester and must move with extreme caution. Tariq and Brayden initially can’t seem to agree where they should sell the drugs to meet Noma’s demands and Effie plays according to her own rules. 

Brayden learning the ropes at Weston Holdings, has some ideas of his own suggesting selling product at work, but Tariq thinks there’s too much heat on Brayden already. This is one of the many key moments that ties into the episode’s themes. Are these choices for the better of the crew or to indulge in selfish desires?

The episode focuses heavily on each individual’s choices, desires, and consequences to their actions. There’s a lot to digest from this episode from the betrayals and murders, to character dynamics proving you can’t trust anyone in this game no matter how loyal.

Tariq and Brayden 

Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr.) plays the wrongfully accused teenager to his benefit, however behind closed doors he has become even more cold-hearted. Tariq is a complex character willing to go to any lengths to protect his family, using his intelligence and ruthlessness to his advantage, even if it means staying involved in dangerous criminal activity.

Despite remaining a loyal and valuable accomplice, Brayden (Gianni Paolo) is still overall manipulating Tariq. You can understand the dilemma between the two as Brayden is nonchalant in moving some of Mecca’s drugs within his family office and why Tariq is so against it.

Both Tariq and Brayden have had major differences in the themes of this episode. 

The show has explored Tariq’s circumstances and why he needs to sell drugs to help get his mother out of prison, stay on Monet’s good side and now avoid being killed by Noma. Brayden on the other hand despite proving his faithfulness to Tariq his entire participation has been by his own choice for the thrill and because he is good at it.

Yes, Brayden took the fall, and admitted on the stand that he was the drug dealer. But his privilege does show as he got kicked out of college and landed a job at his family’s multi-million dollar company, when you know Tariq would be in jail if he was convicted. 

While you can argue that Brayden is still coming up with a solution in moving the product and that he’s still looking out for Tariq, he still should be considering Tariq’s more dire circumstances. 

And even though he has been lying to Tariq, he still has had his back more than anyone else.

Don’t forget that he got the intern fired, leaving an opening, and that he got Tariq fired by donating to Tate, in turn making Tariq available. He also got his uncle to bring on Tariq for “diversity,” and clearly had Keke send him to the conference room so he could see the drug use. Brayden let Tariq think it was his idea. Brayden is clearly the one making Power moves!

Lauren is Still Alive 

In the shocking turn of events at the end of the Season 3 premiere, we find out that Lauren is actually alive, but it was totally unclear what actually happened to her.

Viewers were left wondering whether or not Effie went through with killing Lauren because we never saw anything beyond her knocking her out. Meanwhile, Sullivan is keeping her in protective custody as everyone thinks she’s dead. 

This episode gives us an explanation and it confirmed that Effie did, in fact, try to kill Lauren falling in line with her selfish behavior. Effie and Brayden are also still keeping what they did from Riq.

There still lies the question is Jenny keeping Lauren in a safe house or off the books? Jenny seems to twist the rules to play in her favor. She is partially complacent about what got Lauren involved in the first place.

Jenny and Sax

In the Power universe there are so many connections and interconnections that sometimes it can get confusing. It seems that every single character always has some kind of ulterior motives and that no one be trusted. Even the lawyers, agents, and officers abuse their power and go behind each other’s backs.

Jenny’s case is at the mercy of many different things, and the fact that her “CI” is Saxe shows her desperation to win. Saxe has literally one connection, Davis, and is given extremely limited access as Davis keeps him at a need-to-know. Davis also has his own motives for keeping Saxe around.

Saxe finding the burner and any kind of connection between Davis and Monet strengthens Jenny’s case as she is eagerly trying to prove there is a much larger criminal enterprise at play. After her failed case against Tariq last season Jenny is finally getting some wins mainly from her solid information from Whitman, who is surprisingly good at his job compared to most in the Power universe. 

While Whitman has some newly discovered evidence linking Ramirez, he is also motivated by guilt of his treatment of Carrie.

With Whitman’s help, she may be able to get the green light for a task force. Having Jenny, Whitman, and Blanca working together will absolutely be a problem this season, especially when the target switches from Tariq to Monet. 

Effie 

The secrets and lies are in abundance this season, and practically none of these people trust one another even in their inner circles, putting them on different pages. Effie is a selfish person to her core, no matter how deep her feelings for Tariq may be, she may never change. These two are far too alike to survive as a couple because they’ll never truly be able to push their own wants aside. 

Tariq tried to ice her out for her own good, but Effie convinced Tariq to let her back in, and is still complaining, continuing to be incredibly shady.

Why was she getting so defensive with Tariq about moving the product when she was the one that wanted to be let back in? Also in what world did she think it would help to mess with Course Correct, if the app went live, the police would be swarming the campus.

Unfortunately, right now, Tariq is way too trusting of Brayden and Effie, although those two are probably the only ones that he believes care about him.

Cane

Another person in Tariq’s circle that has proven himself untrustworthy is Cane, who has shown us that he is not someone to take lightly.

When it comes to family Cane is both loyal and deceitful, but now things are finally working in his favor. While Lorenzo sets a plan framing a GTG member, Cane figures it all out within a day — using this discovery to blackmail his dad.  

While most of Cane’s plans to take over the family business failed prior to this episode, he never stopped trying. It was this moment that we truly see that Lorenzo has no desire to pass the torch to Cane, but we also see how greatly Lorenzo underestimates Cane.

Now he’s got everyone right where he wants them and Cane is just getting started.

Stray Thoughts 

• If Lauren’s parents believed she was in an accident why wouldn’t they ask to see the body?
• Are Dru and Everett really over? Why did Dru push that trainer into oncoming traffic?
• As the season unfolds what Power will Cane now have?
• What will happen when Tariq finds out Lauren is alive? 
• “All I Need” is more Meth and Mary, how will Monet and Davis work together more going forward? 
• Will Diana set aside her feelings for Tariq and possibly work with Effie to move product from the College Campus Store?

What did you think of this episode of Power Book II: Ghost? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

Power Book II: Ghost airs Fridays at 9/8c on STARZ

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

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

20 Unforgettable TV Villains