Black Lightning Recap: The Book of Blood–Chapter Three: The Sange

Season 2 / Episode 7, The Book of Blood: Chapter Three: The Sange Lemme Say One Thing There is a thin line on network television between a sci-fi show doing the genre well and crashing and burning, never to be seen again. Variables such as talent, air-time, fanbase, writing, and themes can make or break a show. Inherently, superheroes are otherworldly, whether because of origin or ability. The superhero is a tenet of science fiction, in a way. The superhero is an embodiment of technological or environmental advancement. They are tasked with balancing “normal life” with saving the world from itself.

What I have enjoyed so far in Black Lighting is the show’s ability to ease into science fiction, particularly for a Black audience. Plotlines involving meta people and pod kids with powers has been balanced out with the depiction of life in Freeland for a Black family with superpowers. That is, until this part of the story. All of a sudden, there are folks bleeding metal, white supremacists with powers, and hot bartenders who metamorphosize into who knows what. *Heavy sigh* We were doing so well. Double Standards This episode starts right where the last one left off. Jefferson is looking for the missing Perdi baby and Anissa helps Anaya with the Sange twin. After briefly communicating with Anissa, Jefferson decides to go into Sange country. There they have Perdi hanging from the treeline outside the property. Not a great sign, but Jefferson is in a pretty decent mood since he foun…