Every way Black Lightning is different from other superheroes on TV
By Sandy C.
The CW’s latest superhero series, Black Lightning, is not like the others. And it only took its pilot episode, The Resurrection, for us to see that.
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Usually, it takes more than the pilot episode for us to love a show. This is true for any genre. Pilots have a tough job. Impressing audiences with an origin story and character introductions isn’t easy. In my opinion, this task proves even more difficult for superhero shows, particularly if the network featuring a new hero is the CW.
The network is home to The Flash, Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl. And tonight, Tuesday, January 16, the CW premiered Black Lightning. With strong competition, Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) aka Black Lightning is challenged to stand out and impress viewers enough so they’ll want to come back for more.
Did the new series deliver? Definitely! Here’s how… (Note: Light spoilers ahead if you missed the series premiere)
The Pilot
Black Lightning‘s pilot, “The Resurrection,” skips the origin story, jumping right into things. We don’t see him discover his powers, learn how to use his unique abilities, create a suit, or make a name for himself. Audiences are thrown in the middle of it all.
Jefferson Pierce already has his powers, costume, and is known and missed (by most). In fact, he’s over it. Pierce is now a high school principal, all about family and giving back to the community. It’s been nine years since he gave up the Black Lightning suit.
Instead of taking viewers by the hand and walking us through everything, the series has us roll with it, learning about Black Lightning as we go. It really makes us wonder why more shows aren’t like this.
Less Romance
Not that romance is a bad thing, but too much can be. It can get in the way of the story, not to mention, it’s often not very realistic. Jefferson Pierce, is not fighting for a girlfriend or his childhood crush, he decides to put on the suit again to save his daughters. Who wouldn’t do whatever it takes to save their children? It’s a move we don’t question, unlike confusing subplots we’ve seen on Arrow and The Flash.
More Mature
We all love The Flash‘s Cisco’s funny one-liners, but if you’re looking for a superhero series that’s more on the mature, serious side, Black Lightning is it.
Female Roles
The CW is already doing things right by giving women strong, leading roles in Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow, but you can never have too much girl power! Pierce’s daughters are heroes as well. And we’re not just talking about superpowers, they’re strong and intelligent women who want to make a difference. They may have powers, but they prove you don’t need superhuman abilities to change the world for the better.
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It Gets Real
Black Lightning isn’t pulling back any punches, it gets real from the get-go, featuring an issue that is a huge problem in the world today: Racial profiling. In a scene in “The Resurrection,” Pierce is pulled over by police only because he “matched the description” of a man who robbed a store. The police are not very kind to him, and it’s tough for Pierce to keep his cool, but he must for his daughters, who are also in the car.
Black Lightning airs Tuesday nights on The CW.
Did you catch the new hero on The CW tonight? Let us know what you thought!