While Lynn and Jefferson try to come up with a plan to deal with Anissa’s new abilities, Black Lightning finally comes fact-to-face with Tobias Whale. Full recap of “Equinox: The Book of Fate”.
“Equinox: The Book of Fate” begins with Lynn examining Anissa as she recovers from the injuries sustained while fighting Black Lightning. Anissa is very much in shock about finding out her father’s secret persona, especially given Jefferson’s constant lessons about nonviolence. Lynn tries to shift the conversation to the examination, but Anissa is healing so quickly. At that point, Lynn just begs Anissa to give up her crime fighting. It will ruin her life! But Anissa is adamant in in her desire to help people, as a social activist, a doctor, and now as a superhero. Together, she and her father can free Freeland from The 100. No, Lynn doesn’t have powers, so she can’t understand.
Jefferson meets with Gambi, who shares information that the men who attacked Lynn at her lab were tech thieves making their rounds from city to city. Lynn was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, Gambi suggests that Lynn stays at Gambi’s shop to lay low. Gambi can also tell that Jefferson is feeling guilty about hurting Anissa, but there’s no way he could have known. But Jefferson is angry about something else. How could Gambi not tell him that Tobias Whale was back in Freeland? What other secrets is Gambi keeping? Gambi says he didn’t tell Jefferson about Tobias to protect Jefferson for himself, from doing something that he would come to regret (like killing a man in cold blood, even for revenge).
Jefferson accompanies Lynn to the police station to give a description of the men who attacked her. Inspector Henderson and asks Lynn if she knows why anyone would target her or her research, maybe an ex-boyfriend? When Lynn denies that, Henderson suggests that maybe The 100 is targeting Jefferson’s family given his work over at the high school. As Lynn and Jefferson leave the station, he considers that Henderson is right, that someone has figured out he’s Black Lightning and went after Lynn. She isn’t sure that’s the case, but perhaps the attack could be related to the box of Alvin Pierce’s research that Anissa brought to her mom. When Lynn suggests that she take Anissa to the hospital to run some tests to get a better idea about her abilities; Jennifer too. But, Jefferson shuts that down. Lynn needs to stay at Gambi’s until they make sure she’s safe. In the meantime, Jefferson agrees that they need to convince Anissa to refrain from using her power.
Stronger together. Watch #BlackLightning now on The CW App: https://t.co/sjnTkbfzvi pic.twitter.com/Yj94EzbrhI
— Black Lightning (@blacklightning) March 11, 2018
While at school Jefferson (as Black Lightning) gets a call from Henderson asking about whether there’s someone else in Freeland with abilities. Some students reported that a masked woman destroyed a Confederate statue with a stomp of her foot. (We know that this was Anissa!) Black Lightning denies knowing anything, but promises to keep a lookout. In exchange, he wants another lead on finding Joey Toledo and Tobias Whale (who hasn’t aged in 30 years. Hmmm…) After the call ends, Anissa comes to see her dad and she’s excited about the chance to learn from him about fighting crime and helping Freeland. Jefferson tells Anissa that it’s better she focus on teaching and med school. He also tells Anissa that she can’t afford to lose control, like she did with destroying the Confederate statue; that’s when people get hurt. Anissa asks for he dad to train her, but Jefferson says she isn’t ready. “No, Dad, you’re not ready. There’s a difference.”
Before Anissa leaves, Jefferson asks about the box of his father’s research that Anissa gave to Lynn. Where did she get it? Anissa admits that she has gone to David Poe. At the time, she was looking for answers to help explain her powers, which led her to find out her grandfather had been doing research on missing children who also had enhanced abilities. Jefferson scolds Anissa for being reckless. Alvin Pierce was murdered for doing this research and now, unbeknownst to her, Lynn might be sucked into something equally dangerous. Jefferson tells Anissa that she has to warn David Poe.
At home, Jennifer notices the distance between her dad and Anissa and calls them out on it. Jefferson claims that Anissa is upset with him about missing a follow-up brain scan that her mother wanted to run. Lynn is at a conference, but she’ll do the scan when she returns.
Anissa goes to see Lynn while she’s at Gambi’s place. She apologizes for talking down to her mom. Lynn explains again that she wants the best for Anissa and the risks associated with using her powers aren’t worth it. She could lose herself. Anissa quickly realizes that Black Lightning is what broke her parents up… However, Freeland fell apart without Black Lightning. Anissa is willing to help her dad save Freeland from The 100, even if it means sacrificing her own happiness.
When Anissa goes to David Poe’s office, a co-worker tells her that he was killed a few days ago in a hit-and-run. YIKES. When Anissa gets home, she’s so shaken up and tells him about Mr. Poe’s death.
Lynn calls Jefferson to Gambi’s. She’s been reflecting on how stubborn Anissa is, she always has been. Anissa will use her powers, despite what her parents might want. So Lynn says that the best way to protect their daughter is for Jefferson to train her. They’re interrupted by Gambi and a call from Henderson…
Tobias likes to keep up his strength by cage fighting with fellow bruisers. The guy Tobias fights with today just happens to be high on Green Light. Later, in a conversation with his sister, Tori, Tobias decides that Green Light is too volatile and it’s killing off too many of his customers. He asks Syonide to reach out to Lady Eve for a sit down, but he doesn’t have plans to talk.
It shouldn’t surprise us that Lady Eve is able to get a copy of the sketch the Freeland PD created of the men who attacked Lynn. Lady Eve hands the photos over to two henchmen to take care of… she then sends a message to Gambi that “The cleaners are on the way.” Hmmm…
Gambi goes to see Lady Eve as she’s working. He says that she has to do something to manage Tobias. Tobias is supposed to be in hiding, but is openly operating in Freeland. It’s only a matter of time before Tobias is caught by police or Black Lightning. This could threaten the balance that Gambi and Lady Eve have established. Lady Eve is much more interested in how much profit Tobias is able to make. However, Gambi can have Joey Toledo. And if Joey goes down, that can help get Tobias in line. That night, a masked Gambi breaks into Joey’s office, takes out his muscle, shoots Joey twice, and leaves Lady Eve’s calling card.
NEW EPISODE ALERT! Stream the latest #BlackLightning for free NOW only on The CW App: https://t.co/sjnTkbfzvi pic.twitter.com/L9geOYK3TP
— Black Lightning (@blacklightning) March 7, 2018
Lynn watches a news report and sees that the two men who attacked her were gunned down while trying to rob another lab. (Lady Eve strikes again!) Gambi comes in at the tail end and Lynn takes the opportunity to ask a favor. She knows Gambi cares about Jefferson and their family, so Lynn asks him to make Anissa a super suit. When Anissa comes to pick up her mom, Gambi shows her the prototype, bulletproof, fireproof, water-resistant, all the bells and whistles. Anissa is still upset with her mother, but Lynn says she gets it. She knows Anissa is a protector and now she wants to stand up for Freeland. Lynn asks Anissa to be careful, to which Anissa agrees. She tells Lynn she loves her.
Every hero needs a suit! #BlackLightning is new tonight at 9/8c on The CW. pic.twitter.com/S0WEG0DHLm
— Black Lightning (@blacklightning) March 6, 2018
Tori brings Tobias news that Joey is dead, as well as the calling card–a small treasure box filled with bone dust. Tobias refuses to cower to Lady Eve. Tori suggests there’s a way to take Lady Eve out without the Shadow Board’s permission.
Black Lightning meets Henderson near where Joey Toledo’s body has been found. Black Lightning isn’t happy about losing his only lead to Tobias Whale, but Henderson offers some information–that Joey had been spending time at a jazz club that’s about to open tomorrow. Tobias will likely be there too.
Tobias can't escape #BlackLightning! Stream the latest episode now on The CW: https://t.co/sjnTkbfzvi pic.twitter.com/vHTsGLILl8
— Black Lightning (@blacklightning) March 8, 2018
The next night, Black Lightning stands on a roof across the club and recalls how Tobias killed his father, forcing his articles down his throat until he choked. Just as Black Lightning enters the club to meet Tobias, Tori authorizes an ambush on Lady Eve’s funeral parlor. We watch both confrontations unfold. Black Lightning gets one good blast that knocks Tobias down. Tobias’ men fire their weapons, trying to cover Tobias and Tori as they escape. Unfortunately, Tori is hit by a stray bullet. One of Tobias’ men foces him out of the room and they escape. Black Lightning sits with Tori as she dies. Meanwhile, at the funeral parlor, Lady Eve and her two men put up a good fight, but they’re all killed by men wielding guns that fire electricity.
At home, Anissa leaves a message for Grace to call her so they can get together. Jefferson comes to talk to her, and is clearly still shaken from what happend at the club:
“I’m a hypocrite. You know how I always get on you to keep your head? I’ve let my emotions get the best of me over and over again. And tonight a young lady died. We are both gonna make mistakes,, horrible mistakes, but without us, Freeland doesn’t stand a chance. I don’t know everything, but what I do know, I’m going to teach my daughter.”
Jefferson encourages Anissa to strive to be better than him. He’s interrupted by a call from Henderson saying that he’s gone too far this time. What? Well, we see that Tori’s plan was to have Lady Eve killed and Black Lightning framed for it. YIKES!
They have the power to save the world. Watch #BlackLightning now on The CW App: https://t.co/sjnTkbxamQ pic.twitter.com/mAJGygXdxh
— Black Lightning (@blacklightning) March 9, 2018
The episode ends with us at the motel with Lala, who is alive! LaWanda comes out of the next room and asks: “Do you believe in the resurrection, Latavious?” LaWanda turns into smoke and becomes imprinted as a tattoo on Lala’s chest. WHAT IN THE WORLD?!
Black Lightning airs Tuesdays at 9:00pm ET|PT on The CW.
