Black Lightning - Season 1, Episode 06: Three Sevens: The Book of Thunder
Trailer
This series sees the retired Black Lightning return to the hero life after a decade hanging up his costume and devoting himself to the life of an educator, as well as its effects on his family life.
It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it's refreshing to see this level of positive representation in the world of superheroes - not just for the hero himself, but for his family and the community he speaks for.
Off the bat, it was shocking to me just how fresh this series is. It does not have cheesy dialog and scenes that would put it in the same wheelhouse as the likes of Arrow, The Flash and the other superhero series on The CW.
It's all pulled off powerfully and artfully by principal executive producer Mara Brock Akil (Girlfriends, The Game), who's assisted by DC impresario Greg Berlanti.
Black Lightning situates itself in the real world and acknowledges that America and all its social mores are still happening at all times, whether or not you're choosing to look. Like Luke Cage, but in a less preachy way than Luke Cage.
... it's already managed to distinguish itself not only from the Arrowverse (which includes shows like Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl), but also from Marvel's Luke Cage, the series that's usually mentioned in the same breath.
