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Wikipedia

Black Lightning (TV series)

January 01, 1970

Black Lightning is an American superhero drama television series, developed by Salim Akil, that premiered on The CW on January 16, 2018, and concluded on May 24, 2021. It is based on the character of the same name, created by Tony Isabella with Trevor Von Eeden, featured in publications of DC Comics. Cress Williams stars as the titular character alongside China Anne McClain, Nafessa Williams, Christine Adams, Marvin "Krondon" Jones III, Damon Gupton, James Remar, Jordan Calloway, and Chantal Thuy. The series sees the retired Black Lightning return to his life as a superhero and follows the effects of his vigilante activity on his professional and family life.

Black Lightning
Genre
Based on
Developed bySalim Akil
Starring
Opening theme"Black Lightning" by Godholly
ComposerKurt Farquhar
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes58 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
ProducerRobert West
Production locationAtlanta, Georgia
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time39–43 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkThe CW
ReleaseJanuary 16, 2018 (2018-01-16) –
May 24, 2021 (2021-05-24)
Related
Arrowverse

Originally in development at Fox, the project was given a pilot production commitment in September 2016. In February 2017, Fox passed on the project and The CW subsequently picked it up with an order for a new pilot script. The CW officially ordered Black Lightning to series in May 2017. The first season premiered on January 16, 2018, and ran for 13 episodes. In April 2018, The CW renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on October 9, 2018, and ran for 16 episodes.

The show's third season, which premiered on October 7, 2019, featured the series' first tie-ins with the network's other DC Comics television series, known collectively as the Arrowverse, leading into Williams' appearance as Black Lightning in their "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover event, which resulted in the series' setting merging with that of the other Arrowverse shows. The fourth and final season premiered on February 8, 2021, ending on May 24, 2021.

Series overview edit

The series focuses on Jefferson Pierce, the principal of Garfield High School in the city of Freeland, Georgia. Nine years ago, he was a superhero called Black Lightning. He retired when that life negatively impacted his ex-wife Lynn Stewart and his daughters Anissa and Jennifer. Jefferson is forced to become Black Lightning again when associates of The 100, Freeland's most feared criminal gang led by Tobias Whale, kidnap Anissa and Jennifer.[1] After the incident, Anissa starts to develop her abilities and becomes Thunder while Jennifer starts to develop her own electrical abilities. In addition, Jennifer's boyfriend Khalil Payne is corrupted by Whale and is forced to undergo cybernetic enhancements after a gunshot wound leaves him paraplegic. Following a showdown between Jennifer and a corrupt A.S.A. agent, Whale acquires the contents of an A.S.A. briefcase.

In season two, Jennifer works to improve her powers as Whale works to translate the contents of the briefcase. Freeland Police Inspector Henderson discovers Jefferson and Anissa's superhero identities, but secretly allows them to continue their fight against the 100. Meanwhile, Lynn works with Markovian scientist Dr. Helga Jace on young metahumans being held by A.S.A. Agent Odell. Stewart is unaware that the project benefits Whale. Following Khalil's apparent death, Jennifer becomes Lightning to help her father. Whale manages to get some of the contents translated which leads to him getting control of the Masters of Disaster. As Jefferson and Jennifer defeat Tobias, who is later incarcerated in the Pit, Dr. Jace is handed over of Henderson and is later taken back to Markovia by the teleporting bounty hunter Instant. As the Pierces celebrate their victory, Odell reveals that he knows their secret identities. He tells them that the Markovians are coming to Freeland and that the A.S.A. is swearing them in for the inevitable war.

In season three, the A.S.A. has imposed martial law on Freeland while covering up to the media that there is a SARS outbreak. Having some of the people who are suspected metahumans placed in the A.S.A.'s facility, Odell plans to weaponize those who have metahuman abilities while having Commander Carson Williams, Major Sara Grey, and Sergeant Gardner Grayle working for him to impose the martial law. To make matters worse, Odell had Khalil revived and reprogrammed to serve him. While having been given a new suit by Odell, Jefferson does help against the Markovian soldiers working under Colonel Yuri Mosin. Lynn continues to work with the pod kids while getting bone marrow samples from an incarcerated Tobias while Jennifer meets a geokinetic metahuman named Brandon. After an incident that merges Jefferson's Earth with Earth-1 and Earth-38, the Markovians managed to abduct Lynn and Tobias so that she can stabilize the metahumans in their possession. The delays cause Mosin's superiors to send their metahuman operative Gravedigger to take over the operation and use his mind control ability to make Lynn work faster. Jefferson rescues her with the help of Anissa, Jennifer, Brandon, Grayle, T.C., Khalil, and Erica Moran while taking Dr. Jace with them, but Tobias is left behind. When Gravedigger and the Markovians begin their invasion of Freeland, Odell orders Commander Williams and Major Grey to purge Freeland of those involved with the A.S.A. Henderson ends up in a mutual kill with a Markovian soldier when saving Black Lightning. While Commander Williams was killed by Lynn in self-defense and Major Grey was killed during her group's shootout with Peter and T.C., Jefferson defeats Gravedigger while Khalil thwarts Odell's departure and Tobias' plans to get access to Markovia's metahumans. Though Markovia's prime minister denies what happened in Freeland, the Pierces present the briefcase to a congressional committee as evidence of their and the A.S.A.'s experiments unaware that Gravedigger survived the Pit's self-destruct sequence.

One year later in season four, Jefferson has stopped being Black Lightning. The 100 is in a turf war with the Kobra Cartel. Tobias is now working as a philanthropist much to the Pierces and Gambi's dismay. In light of Henderson's death, Mayor Billy Black swears in Ana Lopez as the new chief of police. Tobias causes trouble for Jefferson and his allies, such as having Mayor Black killed. Destiny of the Kobra Cartel enlists the assassin Ishmael to target Jefferson's allies in order to get the remaining metahuman kills he needs to get into the League of Assassins.

Episodes edit

Main article: List of Black Lightning episodes
Black Lightning series overview
SeasonEpisodesOriginally airedRankAverage viewers
(in millions)
First airedLast aired
113January 16, 2018 (2018-01-16)April 17, 2018 (2018-04-17)1602.73[2]
216October 9, 2018 (2018-10-09)March 18, 2019 (2019-03-18)1791.44[3]
316October 7, 2019 (2019-10-07)March 9, 2020 (2020-03-09)1301.09[4]
413February 8, 2021 (2021-02-08)May 24, 2021 (2021-05-24)1510.74[5]

Cast and characters edit

Main article: List of Black Lightning characters
  • Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning:
    The principal of a charter school and, secretly, a retired superhero with the ability to harness and manipulate electricity as well as enhanced strength. He returns to fighting crime as Black Lightning after his daughters are kidnapped by a local gang.[1] Jefferson is later demoted to a teacher from his role as principal of Garfield High School as a result of his double life as a metahuman vigilante.[6][7] Kaden Washington Lewis portrays a young Jefferson Pierce.[8]
  • China Anne McClain and Laura Kariuki (recurring: season 4) as Jennifer Pierce / Lightning:
    Jefferson's younger daughter, "an independent, outspoken scholar-athlete with a wild streak of her own" who is a student at Garfield High.[9][10] It is later revealed that she also possesses powers of electrical manipulation, but unlike her father, Jennifer's cells can additionally generate pure electricity.[11][12] She initially struggles with the revelation of her abilities and her family's superhero legacy, but after undergoing metahuman therapy to stabilize her powers and emotions, Jennifer eventually joins her father and sister as the vigilante Lightning.[13][14] Fallyn Brown portrays a young Jennifer Pierce.[15]
  • Nafessa Williams as Anissa Pierce / Thunder / Blackbird:
    Jefferson's "passionate and quick-witted" elder daughter who is in medical school and teaches part-time at Garfield High.[9] Also a metahuman, Anissa has the ability to manipulate her density with her breathing, endowing herself with superhuman strength and durability. She can also create powerful shockwaves and has an accelerated healing factor.[11][12] Anissa later becomes the superhero Thunder and joins her father as his partner in fighting crime. Discussing her character becoming the first black lesbian superhero on television, Williams said, "I'm just really grateful to tell the story for young lesbians — and black lesbians in particular. My hope is that when you watch Anissa, a young lesbian is inspired to walk boldly as who she is and to love herself and to love herself exactly how she looks."[16]
  • Christine Adams as Lynn Stewart:
    A neuroscientist focusing on metahuman studies and Jefferson's ex-wife who also serves as his love interest. Initially the only family member who knows about his life as Black Lightning, Lynn felt that Jefferson's first stint at vigilantism had become an addiction and, out of concern for their family's safety, she divorced him amicably.[17][18] The mother of Anissa and Jennifer, Lynn is "not one to be trifled with when it comes to family."[19]
  • Marvin "Krondon" Jones III as Tobias Whale:
    An African-American man with albinism and Black Lightning's nemesis. A former politician who rose through the ranks of local government through corrupt and illegal means, Tobias was eventually brought down by the reporting of Alvin Pierce, Jefferson's father. After killing Alvin, Tobias went into hiding and became the leader of The 100, Freeland's most feared gang.[20][21] Tobias uses a serum to obtain near immortality, allowing him to age at an incredibly slow rate, and gifting him with super strength.[11]
  • Damon Gupton as Bill Henderson (seasons 1–3):
    A veteran inspector and the highest-ranking detective on the force who later becomes deputy chief of the Freeland Police Department. His role in the community puts him at odds with Black Lightning, but they soon become unlikely allies. Henderson eventually discovers that his lifelong friend Jefferson Pierce and the vigilante Black Lightning are one and the same, resulting in their relationship becoming strained for a time.[22][23] Eventually thought, Henderson becomes one of Black Lightning's closest allies, and following the A.S.A.'s takeover of Freeland, secretly helps jumpstart the resistance while putting on the façade of a subservient public servant. In January 2020, Gupton revealed that Henderson was not in the plans for the fourth season and that the third season would be his last as a series regular.[24] As such, in the third-season finale, Henderson rescues Jefferson and Jennifer from a Markovian ambush where he ends up in a mutual kill with the final Markovian soldier and dies in Jefferson's arms.
  • James Remar as Peter Gambi:
    Jefferson's oldest friend who became a father figure and mentor to him following his father's death.[22] Gambi makes the Pierce family's super suits, which are housed in the secret headquarters under Gambi's tailor shop.[25] It is revealed that Gambi arrived in Freeland 30 years ago as Peter Esposito, an employee of the A.S.A., the government entity that inadvertently created metahumans. Gambi leaked the information of the agency's misdeeds to Alvin Pierce, resulting in his murder.[26]
  • Jordan Calloway as Khalil Payne / Painkiller (season 2–4; recurring: season 1):
    A student at Garfield High and Jennifer's love interest who encourages her against her more rebellious tendencies. He is an All-American track star with dreams of going to the Olympics until a stray bullet severs his spine. In exchange for loyalty, Khalil accepts Tobias' offer of being able to walk again and becomes Painkiller, Tobias' right-hand-man. He receives cybernetic enhancements that make him meta-strong and able to generate an anesthetic from his body that causes temporary paralysis when delivered through darts.[27][28] Khalil comes to regret his alliance with Tobias, but while attempting to get out of it, he is apparently murdered by the crime boss. Khalil later reappears inside one of the A.S.A.'s metahuman pods.[29] It is eventually revealed that he has been resurrected by the A.S.A. and rebuilt into a cybernetic assassin which the A.S.A. uses to carry out assassinations of any who oppose them, including Khalil's own mother. Eventually, Khalil breaks from the A.S.A.'s control and attempts to become an ally to the Pierces, but his continuous struggle with his evil alter-ego leaves his relationships with them, particularly Jennifer, very strained.
  • Chantal Thuy as Grace Choi (season 4;[30] recurring: seasons 1–3):
    A bartender who becomes Anissa's girlfriend. She is a metahuman with shapeshifting abilities.

Production edit

Development edit

In September 2016, after going through several incarnations and various stages of development for over a year, Mara Brock Akil, her husband Salim Akil, and perennial Warner Bros. Television producer Greg Berlanti began pitching Black Lightning to television networks. The Akils wrote the script while serving as executive producers alongside Berlanti and his frequent collaborator Sarah Schechter.[31] A week later, the project landed at Fox with a pilot production commitment.[32] In February 2017, Fox opted to not go forward with the pilot, deciding that it was "not a good fit into its already crowded genre drama space" and the project was subsequently shopped to other networks. As the home to several of Berlanti's other television ventures, The CW emerged as the network that was likely to realize the series.[33] The following day, The CW officially ordered a pilot for Black Lightning.[34] The original pilot script that had been written for Fox was discarded and instead, a short presentation was shot ahead of the network's final decisions regarding pickup orders.[35]

The CW officially ordered Black Lightning to series on May 10, 2017, with Salim Akil to serve as showrunner.[36] On April 2, 2018, The CW renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on October 9, 2018.[37][38] On January 31, 2019, The CW renewed the series for a third season, which premiered on October 7, 2019.[39][40] On January 7, 2020, the series was renewed for a fourth season, which premiered on February 8, 2021.[41][42] On November 20, 2020, The CW confirmed that the fourth season will be the final season of the series.[43]

Writing edit

In order to have an "authentic black voice" for its setting and characters, Black Lightning utilizes a predominantly African-American writing staff.[44] Salim Akil shared that the writers are not all African-American but "have either lived this life or know someone who has."[45][46] In writing the first season, showrunner Akil stated that he was most inspired by the original run of Black Lightning comic books and that Black Lightning being a black father who defies the "deadbeat stereotype" was part of the reason for the Akils wanting to tell his story.[47][48] He described Jefferson and his family as "the Obamas of the superhero world" and compared the duality of Jefferson Pierce and his alter ego Black Lightning to the duality of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.[48] As a character-driven family drama, Black Lightning does not follow a villain of the week format in order to better explore the characters, especially the villains. The Akils also indicated that the writers would not be treating LGBTQ representation as a "special issue" but that such characters would be included and depicted "the way anyone would be included in life."[47] Salim Akil noted that topics such as the Black Lives Matter movement and other issues concerning race relations and police brutality would be addressed, but stressed that, "This is an American story, this is not a black story. We're going to be culturally specific, but universal in our themes so everyone can see themselves in these stories."[48] The showrunner likened the narrative of the first season to the real story of the Tuskegee experiment.[46]

The second season is organized into smaller arcs known as "books" to mimic the style of the comic book source material, with "consequences" being the theme of the season's first book. Specifically, Salim Akil said that the season would "deal with the consequences of having discovered the pod children; the consequences of Green Light hitting the streets; and the consequences of Jefferson's daughters discovering they have powers."[49][50] Furthering the season's objective to "give a nod to comic books in a stronger way," the season introduces more metahumans, though showrunner Akil commented, "I don't want to introduce too many villains. I want us to settle in now that we know everyone [...] so now we can really tell some grounded stories about our villains, our heroes, the people in Freeland." He said that there would additionally be "other forces in Freeland and outside of Freeland" that would come into play as sources of conflict.[51][52] Lead actor Cress Williams described the season as "harder hitting and a little bit darker" than the series' debut outing.[53] On the relevant social issues that the season would address, Akil stated, "I wanted to talk about black people and therapy. We don't believe in that shit, but we're the number one people who need it."[49] Meanwhile, Nafessa Williams shared that her character would continue to embrace her powers, elaborating that Anissa now "feels confident navigating the superhero world without her father, and she feels fully confident and able to do it on her own."[54]

The third season's narrative begins approximately a month and a half after the season two finale.[55] Cress Williams shared that the season would see the world of the series "getting bigger" in terms of its setting and characters.[56][57] Salim Akil stated that, while everyday life in Freeland would still be a focus of the season, "we want our stories to talk about concerns not just for black folk but for people in general. We'll cover mental health and addiction issues that affect the whole country."[58] Discussing Jennifer's ongoing struggle to control her newly discovered abilities, actress China Anne McClain noted that, "When the season starts, we see that Jennifer is getting more powerful, stronger, and she's also getting more emotional. We can expect a combination of all three of those this season."[55] Akil additionally disclosed that Jennifer being stronger than both her father and her sister on account of her unique ability to generate her own electricity would also raise the issue of who is ultimately in control amongst the three.[58] Meanwhile, Nafessa Williams said of her character Anissa's journey, "Season one was about her understanding and discovering her powers, in season two she is kind of starting to perfect them and trust herself. Season three, [...] her ways of doing things and her mindset is different from her father's."[59] Furthermore, Williams teased that Jefferson would be making "a really big sacrifice" this season that would reveal "a little bit more of his angrier side" and "[propel] him at the beginning of the season."[60]

Casting edit

On February 24, 2017, Cress Williams was announced in the lead role of Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning.[61] On March 2, China Anne McClain and Nafessa Williams were cast as Jefferson's daughters, Jennifer Pierce and Anissa Pierce, respectively.[9] Later that same month on March 10, it was reported that Christine Adams has been cast as Lynn Stewart, Jefferson's ex-wife.[19][62] At the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con International on July 22, it was revealed that James Remar and Damon Gupton had joined the main cast as Jefferson's oldest friend Peter Gambi and unlikely ally Inspector William "Bill" Henderson, respectively.[22][63][64] On August 10, rapper Marvin "Krondon" Jones III was added as a series regular, landing the role of main antagonist Tobias Whale.[20] At the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con International on July 21, it was announced that Jordan Calloway had been promoted to a series regular for the second season after previously recurring during the first season as Khalil Payne / Painkiller.[27]

On September 26, 2017, it was announced that Kyanna Simone Simpson would recur as Kiesha, Henderson's daughter and Jennifer's best friend.[65] On October 5, it was reported that Jill Scott had booked a recurring role as the villainous Lady Eve.[66] Later that month on October 12, Edwina Findley also joined the cast in a recurring capacity as Tori Whale, Tobias' younger sister.[67] Chantal Thuy was added to the recurring cast as Grace Choi that same month on October 30,[68] though she ultimately appeared in only two episodes of the series' first season.[69] On January 16, 2018, it was revealed that Skye P. Marshall had been cast in a recurring role as Kara Fowdy, the vice principal of Garfield High School.[70][71]

On August 8, 2018, it was reported that Myles Truitt would play Issa Williams during the second season in a recurring capacity.[72] On September 5, Sofia Vassilieva was announced in the role of Looker, based on the DC Comics character of the same name.[73] On September 21, it was reported that Kearran Giovanni would recur as Cutter, a British mercenary.[74] On October 4, it was revealed that Erika Alexander had booked a three-episode recurring role as Jennifer's telepathic therapist, Perenna,[75] though she ultimately appeared in a total of eight episodes. Robert Townsend and Bill Duke were added as recurring characters Dr. Napier Frank and Agent Percy Odell, respectively, on October 9.[76] On November 13, RJ Cyler was cast in the recurring role of "gangly and awkward tech genius" Todd Green.[77] On January 21, 2019, it was announced that Hosea Chanchez had been cast to recur as Marcus Bishop / Shakedown.[78]

On October 10, 2019, it was announced that Wayne Brady would recur during the third season as Tyson Sykes / Gravedigger, a World War II-era "super soldier" and American-turned-Markovian asset.[79] On January 19, 2020, Gupton revealed that he had been let go from the series and that the third season would be his last as a series regular.[24] On November 13, 2020, Chantal Thuy was promoted to a series regular for the fourth season.[30]

Design edit

Black Lightning's costume was designed by Laura Jean Shannon.[80] While the suit's design is meant to invoke protection from the character's vulnerabilities such as his age, and bullets in particular, Salim Akil stated that there were "a lot of iterations" of the Black Lightning costume, and that "at one point I had covered his face and his eyes, but what was more important to me was the emotion, and you need to see that. You need to see his eyes when his daughters have a gun pointed at them."[46][48] A number of journalists noted similarities between the first superhero costume donned by Anissa Pierce, featuring a pink, purple, and blue color scheme with gold and black accents and a blonde wig, and the Thunder costume of the 2003 Outsiders comic book run.[81][82] Shannon also designed the final Thunder costume, which was made from a sculpted armor material in order to stretch to the performer's comfort and serves as an homage to the most recent costume worn by Thunder in the comic books.[83] The second season introduces the first official superhero costume for Jennifer Pierce as she takes on the moniker "Lightning" from the comic book source material. The costume echoes that of Anissa Pierce, in that it is a black body suit covered in yellow plating. However, the Lightning costume also features lightning-inspired designs.[14] The third season features a new suit design for Jefferson Pierce as Black Lightning. In place of the previous suit's glowing blue and gold bolts across the chest, a textured gold design with blue and black weaving is featured throughout the torso, arms, and gloves. The mask is also slightly redesigned with dark red-tinted lenses.[84] As Anissa Pierce officially takes on the name "Blackbird" as a second secret identity, she also receives a new costume for the alter-ego that consists of a black hood and a mask that covers the lower half of her face.[85]

Filming edit

Filming for the series takes place in Decatur, Georgia and the surrounding Atlanta area.[1][86][87] The short presentation that was given to The CW was filmed in March 2017,[88] with production for the series officially commencing on September 7, 2017.[89][90] Filming for the first season concluded on March 3, 2018.[91][92] Production for the second season returned to Atlanta beginning on June 26, 2018.[93][94] The back lot used during filming was the same one used by The CW's previous Atlanta-based television series, The Vampire Diaries.[95] Filming for the second season concluded on January 10, 2019.[96] Production for the third season began on July 9, 2019.[97] A week was carved out of the season's production for Williams to film his scenes for the Arrowverse crossover event "Crisis on Infinite Earths" in Vancouver, British Columbia.[98] Filming for the third season concluded on January 20, 2020.[99][100][101]

Music edit

Kurt Farquhar composes the score for the series and Kier Lehman, the music supervisor for Black Lightning, selects the series' featured songs along with the Akils.[102] The rapper Godholly, who is the son of showrunner Akil, has provided original music for the series, including tracks such as "Black Lightning" from the main title sequence.[103][104]

Release edit

Broadcast edit

Black Lightning began airing on The CW in the United States on January 16, 2018, during the 2017–18 television season.[105] The first season, consisting of 13 episodes, ran until April 17, 2018.[106] The second season premiered on The CW in the United States on October 9, 2018.[38] In November, it was announced that the series would move to airing on Mondays for the second half of the season after previously airing on Tuesdays since its debut.[107] The 16th and final episode of the second season aired on March 18, 2019.[108] The third season premiered on October 7, 2019.[40] The 16th and final episode of the third season aired on March 9, 2020.[109][110]

Home media edit

Having acquired the international distribution and streaming rights for Black Lightning, Netflix aired new episodes of the first two seasons weekly in regions outside of the United States, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, most of mainland Europe, and South America.[111][112][113] However, following the expiration of the deal between the streamer and the network, the third season's released date on Netflix internationally was postponed.[114] In the United States, the first season was released on Netflix in its entirety a week after the season finale aired on The CW.[115] The second season was similarly released in its entirety on Netflix in the United States two weeks after the season finale aired on The CW.[116] The third season was released in its entirety on Netflix in the United States on March 17, 2020.[114]

The complete first season of Black Lightning was released on Blu-ray and DVD by Warner Home Entertainment in Region 1 on June 26, 2018,[117] in Region 2 on January 28, 2019,[118] and in Region 4 in 2018.[119] The set also features extra content including the series' 2017 San Diego Comic-Con panel, new featurettes, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.[120] The complete second season was made available as a manufacture-on-demand DVD through the Warner Archive Collection on October 8, 2019.[121][122]

Marketing edit

On March 29, 2017, The CW released the first promotional image of Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce in his official Black Lightning superhero costume.[88] On May 18, the first trailer for the series was released.[123] The main cast that were confirmed at the time, as well as executive producers Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil attended the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con International on July 22 to promote the season.[124][125] On December 12, The CW released key art for the series in the form of the season's first promotional poster featuring Williams, China Anne McClain, and Nafessa Williams as their characters.[126] On January 4, 2018, The CW and Warner Bros Television released the first look at Nafessa Williams as Anissa Pierce in her official Thunder superhero costume.[127][128] On March 25, the producers and writers of the season attended the 2018 WonderCon and screened the episode "Sins of the Father: The Book of Redemption" at their panel ahead of its official debut on The CW.[129] The main cast of the second season as well as the Akils attended San Diego Comic-Con International on July 21 to promote the season.[27][130] The first trailer of the season was released on September 6.[131] On December 13, The CW released the first promotional image of China Anne McClain as Jennifer Pierce in her official Lightning superhero costume.[14][132][133] Several of the main cast members of the third season attended San Diego Comic-Con International on July 20, 2019, to promote the season.[134] The first trailer of the season was released on September 24.[135]

Reception edit

Ratings edit

Viewership and ratings per season of Black Lightning
Season Timeslot (ET) Episodes First aired Last aired TV season Viewership
rank		 Avg. viewers
(millions)		 18–49
rank		 Avg. 18–49
rating
Date Viewers
(millions) 		Date Viewers
(millions)
1 Tuesday 9:00 pm 13 January 16, 2018 2.31[136] April 17, 2018 1.69[137] 2017–18 160 2.73 109 1.0[2]
2 Tuesday 9:00 pm (1–9)
Monday 9:00 pm (10–16)		 16 October 9, 2018 1.20[138] March 18, 2019 0.85[139] 2018–19 179 1.44 147 0.5[3]
3 Monday 9:00 pm. 16 October 7, 2019 0.89[140] March 9, 2020 0.55[141] 2019–20 130 1.09 122 0.4[4]
4 13 February 8, 2021 0.52[142] May 24, 2021 0.50[143] 2020–21 151 0.74 141 0.2[5]

The series premiere of Black Lightning debuted to strong numbers on The CW, according to Nielsen overnight data. Airing in the 9:00pm time slot, Black Lightning's pilot episode drew 2.3 million viewers in the United States and a 0.8 rating in the key demographic of adults 18–49. It retained all of its lead-in in the key demographic and more than 90% in total viewers from The Flash. It was The CW's highest rated original series premiere in two years since the launch of Legends of Tomorrow in 2016.[144][145] Black Lightning's second season debuted to series lows in viewers 18–49. The second-season premiere drew 1.2 million viewers and a 0.4 rating, down from its first-season premiere, average, and finale, as well as from the premiere of Legends of Tomorrow in the time slot the previous fall. In viewers 18–34, however, Black Lightning improved by 10% from its freshman finale and was even with the debut of Legends of Tomorrow from the previous season.[146] With an 0.3 rating and 0.9 million viewers, the third-season premiere of Black Lightning was down more than 20% across the board from the previous season's finale.[147]

Critical response edit

Critical response of Black Lightning
SeasonRotten TomatoesMetacritic
196% (51 reviews)[148]79% (25 reviews)[149]
291% (10 reviews)[150]—
389% (9 reviews)[151]—

Black Lightning has received generally positive reviews from professional critics. On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 95% approval rating.[152] The first season debuted to critical acclaim.[153][154][155]

Reviewing for Entertainment Weekly, Dana Schwartz gave the series premiere an "A−" grade, writing, "The Pierce family dynamic is so compelling that even if Jefferson Pierce had no powers beyond great motivational speeches, this show would be a worthwhile watch. Black Lightning balances humor with all-too-necessary social commentary [...] to make a refreshing addition to the superhero TV pantheon."[156] Reviewing the first two episodes of the season, Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter commended the series for its "solid action scenes, bass-pumping soundtrack, stylish treatment of Black Lightning's sizzling powers and character pragmatism." He praised the series' ability to "stand alone in welcome ways" and described the premiere episode as "smart and relevant and full of an attitude that's all its own."[157] Reviewing the first four episodes of the series, The Atlantic's Pilot Viruet wrote, "There's an authenticity to the series—it's neither too pulpy nor too preachy—that's heightened by the strong performances from its predominantly Black cast, particularly from [Cress] Williams, who anchors the show's many conflicts."[158] Nafessa Williams' portrayal of Anissa Pierce, Black Lightning's eldest daughter who becomes the superhero Thunder, also drew attention and praise from critics. As the first Black lesbian superhero on television, critics applauded the character's social activism and action scenes, as well as for being a "complex" and "fully realized" character outside of her superhero identity.[159][160][161][162] Reviewing for The A.V. Club, Kyle Fowle gave the finale an "A" grade, writing that the episode was "tonally bold, easily moving between being funny and politically poignant," while also setting up "plenty of intrigue" for next season. Fowle concluded that the episode was a "confident, compelling, moving end to a season that boasted all those same qualities throughout."[163] Jesse Schedeen of IGN noted that the series' reduced episode count, focus on older superheroes and social issues, limited cast, and preservation of the main villain at the end of the season positively distinguished the series from other superhero programming.[164]

The A.V. Club's Fowle gave the second-season premiere an "A−" grade, adding, "One of the reasons the first season was so compelling was that the show made the political personal. That's once again evident here, as there's a wonderful sense of the larger community throughout the premiere."[165] Kayti Burt of Den of Geek! gave the episode a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5. She explained, "There's a lack of thematic cohesiveness in this season premiere that is probably a result of trying to reintroduce so many characters and storylines at once, but the energy and potential for a strong second season is definitely there. Black Lightning continues to be one of the best, most important shows on television."[166] In her review for Collider, Allison Keene gave the season's early storylines 4 stars out of 5, writing, "Black Lightning is not without its own flaws, including occasionally disjointed or abrupt storytelling, but its clear desire to educate and inspire through compelling family drama continues to make it a show of consequence."[167] Burt and Syfy Wire contributor Stephanie Williams praised the season for its efforts to de-stigmatize mental-health care, especially for Black women. Burt called Jennifer's therapy storyline "a powerful, vital representation of mental-health issues—not only within the superhero genre, but anywhere on TV."[168] Again reviewing for The A.V. Club, Fowle gave the season finale a "C+" grade. He named Jennifer's journey as "undoubtedly" the best part of the season, but felt that the second season as a whole "struggled to reach the heights of its first season" and that "storylines were introduced with full force before petering out,[...] stumbling towards lackluster conclusions."[169] Dan Ashby of Cultured Vultures gave the whole season a rating of 7.5 out of 10, writing, "Season two of Black Lightning has some interesting storylines, a number of good fight scenes, a catchy soundtrack, and some important messages. Unfortunately, it all seems slightly uncoordinated and messy in its execution."[170] In a more positive account from Entertainment Weekly, Christian Holub gave the season finale a "B" grade, adding, "Season 2's penultimate installment was all over the place, but tonight's season finale did a good job of bringing enough of the threads together that I'm now satisfied to wait for season 3."[171]

Reviewing the third-season premiere for Entertainment Weekly, Holub gave the episode a "B+" grade, writing, "Black Lightning has been able to do a really good job of showcasing real-life racial dynamics and structural inequities through its comic-flavored storytelling. And in season 3, the show is aiming directly at our real-life crisis of family separation and putting kids in cages. [...] After a bit of a sophomore slump, I'm excited to see where Black Lightning goes from here."[172] Nicole Hill of Den of Geek! assigned the premiere episode a rating of 4 out of 5. She opined that, "Black Lightning does a good job of playing with these different concepts of power and showing how they interact, overlap, and cancel each other out. [...] I hope this season maintains focus and doesn't find itself branching out too far away from its central conflicts. If the following episodes consistently operate at this level, this will be an exciting season to watch."[173] The A.V. Club's Fowle gave the premiere a "B+" grade and added that, "The first episode of the third season is just as politically charged as previous episodes, but this time around, things feel more relevant, more attuned to this specific time and place. Black Lightning has nodded towards real-life events before, but this premiere, centered around kids being rounded up, separated from their families, and locked in detention camps with no idea of when they'll get out or what they did wrong, feels particularly pointed."[174]

Analysis edit

Tai Gooden of Syfy Wire wrote, "The usage of religion, specifically Christianity, in Black Lightning strikes a fascinating balance between the science-centered A.S.A. organization and the fantasy element of metahumans whose powers essentially make them gods among men." Gooden pointed out that each episode title contains religious references, particularly the second season's multi-episode chapters named after themes frequently explored in religious texts, such as consequences, blood, and rebellion. Additionally, she highlighted the role of Reverend Holt in the series, whose sermons "are often interspersed with scenes that either complement or counteract a character's current struggle with faith and making the right decisions." She compared Khalil's arc to that of one who has lost their faith, and likened Tobias to a Devil that offers temptations. "The primary characters and community members tackle their personal and collective plights with bold protests, prayers, vigilante justice, and rogue missions, all of which are threaded together through overt and subtle religious references."[175]

Several journalists drew parallels between some of the series's storylines, particularly those involving police brutality and institutional racism, and events that have taken place in real life.[165][166][167][176][177] Christina Radish of Collider and Charles Pulliam-Moore of io9 felt that the character Issa Williams, a black teen who is held in a fatal chokehold by police as bystanders record the incident and plead for his life, was "reminiscent" of the 2014 death of Eric Garner. Pulliam-Moore also noted that, "The families of Freeland who are fighting to get their children back [from government custody] clearly call to mind all of the undocumented children who've been separated from their families, are being held in detention centers, and may very well never see their loved ones again."[49][178] Additionally, Entertainment Weekly's Christian Holub compared Anissa's Robin Hood-esque crime-fighting philosophy and alternative costume, a black hoodie and mouth cover, to the philosophies and costumes of Antifa members.[179][180]

While applauding Jennifer's therapy arc and the series's portrayal of mental health care, Kayti Burt of Den of Geek! cited the scene in the second-season premiere episode in which Jefferson brushes off Lynn's suggestion that he should see a therapist as an example of double standards regarding age and gender. She commented, "The depiction of Jennifer's mental health treatment is so important, but, as a teen girl, Jennifer is allowed a degree of emotional vulnerability that adult men are not." Burt felt that this apparent point of hypocrisy intentionally served as a subject for the story to reflect upon. She said, "Black Lightning isn't ignorant to the many reasons for avoiding shows of emotional vulnerability, of the potential consequences of asking for help in a world that so often equates emotional vulnerability with weakness. It just also chooses to tell the other side of that story: the potential consequences of not acknowledging and actively working on your emotional and mental health issues."[168]

Awards and nominations edit

Awards and nominations received by Black Lightning
Year Award Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Ref.
2018 People's Choice Award Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show of 2018 Black Lightning Shortlisted [181]
Saturn Award Best Superhero Television Series Black Lightning Nominated [182]
Black Reel Award for Television Outstanding Drama Series Black Lightning Won [183]
Outstanding Actor, Drama Series Cress Williams Nominated [184]
Outstanding Directing, Drama Series Salim Akil ("The Resurrection") Nominated
Outstanding Guest Actress, Drama Series Jill Scott Nominated
Outstanding Music Kier Lehman Nominated
Teen Choice Award Choice Breakout TV Show Black Lightning Nominated [185]
Choice Breakout TV Star Nafessa Williams Nominated
2019 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series Patrick Joseph Charles ("Sins of the Father: The Book of Redemption") Nominated [186]
Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy or Drama Series Erika Alexander ("The Book of Consequences: Chapter Three: Master Lowery") Nominated
GLAAD Award Outstanding Drama Series Black Lightning Nominated [187]
Black Reel Award for Television Outstanding Drama Series Black Lightning Nominated [188]
Outstanding Directing, Drama Series Salim Akil ("The Book of the Apocalypse: Chapter Two: The Omega") Nominated
Outstanding Guest Actress, Drama Series Erika Alexander Nominated
Saturn Award Best Superhero Television Series Black Lightning Nominated [189]
2021 Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actor in a Superhero Series Cress Williams Nominated [190]

Arrowverse edit

Further information: Arrowverse

In January 2017, when the series was still in development at Fox, executive producer Greg Berlanti stated that Black Lightning would not crossover with his other DC Comics television properties on The CW, nor would it exist in their shared universe, known as the Arrowverse.[191] Despite Black Lightning's move to The CW, the network's president Mark Pedowitz said in May 2017 that the series "at this time, is not part of the Arrowverse. It is a separate situation."[1] Showrunners Salim Akil later clarified that they were not ruling out eventual crossovers, but wanted to establish the series and its own world first.[47] In August 2017, Pedowitz added, "If [the showrunners] wish to bring it in, that is their call. We had a long discussion with the studio, Mara, Salim, and myself. We were fine with them making it separate from the Arrowverse, they have a different point of view. If they end up wanting to go that way, that will be their decision."[192] Salim Akil explained that the first season's references to the DC Comics characters Vixen and Supergirl, who are also featured in the Arrowverse, were simply a "fun" way "to tease the fans" and stressed that Black Lightning exists on a separate Earth from the Arrowverse series, such as Earth-1 from Arrow, The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow, and Earth-38 from Supergirl. Additionally, he stated that any future crossover would involve the heroes of the other series visiting the Earth that is associated with Black Lightning.[193]

Discussing a potential Black Lightning crossover with the Arrowverse in July 2019, Cress Williams revealed that "there's been lots of talk [...] nothing official, but at this point, I wouldn't be surprised."[194] Two weeks later in August, Williams confirmed reports that Black Lightning would be involved in the Arrowverse's "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover event.[195][196] By the end of the event, the multiverse was rebooted and Earth-Prime was formed, which saw Black Lightning's Earth merged with the former Earth-1 and Earth-38, creating a universe where all of The CW series exist together.[197] Williams reprised his role in the eighth season of The Flash, for the in-season crossover event "Armageddon".[198]

Cancelled spin-off edit

In November 2020, The CW reportedly began to develop a backdoor pilot for a spin-off of Painkiller with Jordan Calloway reprising his role from Black Lightning.[199] In February 2021, Sibongile Mlambo, Alexander Hodge, and James Roch joined the cast.[200] Later in May, The CW passed the project.[201]

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External links edit

 
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January 01, 1970
black, lightning, series, black, lightning, american, superhero, drama, television, series, developed, salim, akil, that, premiered, january, 2018, concluded, 2021, based, character, same, name, created, tony, isabella, with, trevor, eeden, featured, publicati. Black Lightning is an American superhero drama television series developed by Salim Akil that premiered on The CW on January 16 2018 and concluded on May 24 2021 It is based on the character of the same name created by Tony Isabella with Trevor Von Eeden featured in publications of DC Comics Cress Williams stars as the titular character alongside China Anne McClain Nafessa Williams Christine Adams Marvin Krondon Jones III Damon Gupton James Remar Jordan Calloway and Chantal Thuy The series sees the retired Black Lightning return to his life as a superhero and follows the effects of his vigilante activity on his professional and family life Black LightningGenreAction Crime drama Science fiction SuperheroBased onBlack Lightningby Tony IsabellaTrevor Von EedenDeveloped bySalim AkilStarringCress Williams China Anne McClain Nafessa Williams Christine Adams Marvin Krondon Jones III Damon Gupton James Remar Jordan Calloway Chantal ThuyOpening theme Black Lightning by GodhollyComposerKurt FarquharCountry of originUnited StatesOriginal languageEnglishNo of seasons4No of episodes58 list of episodes ProductionExecutive producersSarah Schechter Greg Berlanti Mara Brock Akil Salim Akil Oz Scott Pascal Verschooris Charles D HollandProducerRobert WestProduction locationAtlanta GeorgiaCamera setupSingle cameraRunning time39 43 minutesProduction companiesBerlanti Productions Akil Productions DC Entertainment Warner Bros TelevisionOriginal releaseNetworkThe CWReleaseJanuary 16 2018 2018 01 16 May 24 2021 2021 05 24 RelatedArrowverse Originally in development at Fox the project was given a pilot production commitment in September 2016 In February 2017 Fox passed on the project and The CW subsequently picked it up with an order for a new pilot script The CW officially ordered Black Lightning to series in May 2017 The first season premiered on January 16 2018 and ran for 13 episodes In April 2018 The CW renewed the series for a second season which premiered on October 9 2018 and ran for 16 episodes The show s third season which premiered on October 7 2019 featured the series first tie ins with the network s other DC Comics television series known collectively as the Arrowverse leading into Williams appearance as Black Lightning in their Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event which resulted in the series setting merging with that of the other Arrowverse shows The fourth and final season premiered on February 8 2021 ending on May 24 2021 Contents 1 Series overview 2 Episodes 3 Cast and characters 4 Production 4 1 Development 4 2 Writing 4 3 Casting 4 4 Design 4 5 Filming 4 6 Music 5 Release 5 1 Broadcast 5 2 Home media 5 3 Marketing 6 Reception 6 1 Ratings 6 2 Critical response 6 3 Analysis 6 4 Awards and nominations 7 Arrowverse 8 Cancelled spin off 9 References 10 External linksSeries overview editThe series focuses on Jefferson Pierce the principal of Garfield High School in the city of Freeland Georgia Nine years ago he was a superhero called Black Lightning He retired when that life negatively impacted his ex wife Lynn Stewart and his daughters Anissa and Jennifer Jefferson is forced to become Black Lightning again when associates of The 100 Freeland s most feared criminal gang led by Tobias Whale kidnap Anissa and Jennifer 1 After the incident Anissa starts to develop her abilities and becomes Thunder while Jennifer starts to develop her own electrical abilities In addition Jennifer s boyfriend Khalil Payne is corrupted by Whale and is forced to undergo cybernetic enhancements after a gunshot wound leaves him paraplegic Following a showdown between Jennifer and a corrupt A S A agent Whale acquires the contents of an A S A briefcase In season two Jennifer works to improve her powers as Whale works to translate the contents of the briefcase Freeland Police Inspector Henderson discovers Jefferson and Anissa s superhero identities but secretly allows them to continue their fight against the 100 Meanwhile Lynn works with Markovian scientist Dr Helga Jace on young metahumans being held by A S A Agent Odell Stewart is unaware that the project benefits Whale Following Khalil s apparent death Jennifer becomes Lightning to help her father Whale manages to get some of the contents translated which leads to him getting control of the Masters of Disaster As Jefferson and Jennifer defeat Tobias who is later incarcerated in the Pit Dr Jace is handed over of Henderson and is later taken back to Markovia by the teleporting bounty hunter Instant As the Pierces celebrate their victory Odell reveals that he knows their secret identities He tells them that the Markovians are coming to Freeland and that the A S A is swearing them in for the inevitable war In season three the A S A has imposed martial law on Freeland while covering up to the media that there is a SARS outbreak Having some of the people who are suspected metahumans placed in the A S A s facility Odell plans to weaponize those who have metahuman abilities while having Commander Carson Williams Major Sara Grey and Sergeant Gardner Grayle working for him to impose the martial law To make matters worse Odell had Khalil revived and reprogrammed to serve him While having been given a new suit by Odell Jefferson does help against the Markovian soldiers working under Colonel Yuri Mosin Lynn continues to work with the pod kids while getting bone marrow samples from an incarcerated Tobias while Jennifer meets a geokinetic metahuman named Brandon After an incident that merges Jefferson s Earth with Earth 1 and Earth 38 the Markovians managed to abduct Lynn and Tobias so that she can stabilize the metahumans in their possession The delays cause Mosin s superiors to send their metahuman operative Gravedigger to take over the operation and use his mind control ability to make Lynn work faster Jefferson rescues her with the help of Anissa Jennifer Brandon Grayle T C Khalil and Erica Moran while taking Dr Jace with them but Tobias is left behind When Gravedigger and the Markovians begin their invasion of Freeland Odell orders Commander Williams and Major Grey to purge Freeland of those involved with the A S A Henderson ends up in a mutual kill with a Markovian soldier when saving Black Lightning While Commander Williams was killed by Lynn in self defense and Major Grey was killed during her group s shootout with Peter and T C Jefferson defeats Gravedigger while Khalil thwarts Odell s departure and Tobias plans to get access to Markovia s metahumans Though Markovia s prime minister denies what happened in Freeland the Pierces present the briefcase to a congressional committee as evidence of their and the A S A s experiments unaware that Gravedigger survived the Pit s self destruct sequence One year later in season four Jefferson has stopped being Black Lightning The 100 is in a turf war with the Kobra Cartel Tobias is now working as a philanthropist much to the Pierces and Gambi s dismay In light of Henderson s death Mayor Billy Black swears in Ana Lopez as the new chief of police Tobias causes trouble for Jefferson and his allies such as having Mayor Black killed Destiny of the Kobra Cartel enlists the assassin Ishmael to target Jefferson s allies in order to get the remaining metahuman kills he needs to get into the League of Assassins Episodes editMain article List of Black Lightning episodes Black Lightning series overviewSeasonEpisodesOriginally airedRankAverage viewers in millions First airedLast aired113January 16 2018 2018 01 16 April 17 2018 2018 04 17 1602 73 2 216October 9 2018 2018 10 09 March 18 2019 2019 03 18 1791 44 3 316October 7 2019 2019 10 07 March 9 2020 2020 03 09 1301 09 4 413February 8 2021 2021 02 08 May 24 2021 2021 05 24 1510 74 5 Cast and characters editMain article List of Black Lightning characters Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce Black Lightning The principal of a charter school and secretly a retired superhero with the ability to harness and manipulate electricity as well as enhanced strength He returns to fighting crime as Black Lightning after his daughters are kidnapped by a local gang 1 Jefferson is later demoted to a teacher from his role as principal of Garfield High School as a result of his double life as a metahuman vigilante 6 7 Kaden Washington Lewis portrays a young Jefferson Pierce 8 China Anne McClain and Laura Kariuki recurring season 4 as Jennifer Pierce Lightning Jefferson s younger daughter an independent outspoken scholar athlete with a wild streak of her own who is a student at Garfield High 9 10 It is later revealed that she also possesses powers of electrical manipulation but unlike her father Jennifer s cells can additionally generate pure electricity 11 12 She initially struggles with the revelation of her abilities and her family s superhero legacy but after undergoing metahuman therapy to stabilize her powers and emotions Jennifer eventually joins her father and sister as the vigilante Lightning 13 14 Fallyn Brown portrays a young Jennifer Pierce 15 Nafessa Williams as Anissa Pierce Thunder Blackbird Jefferson s passionate and quick witted elder daughter who is in medical school and teaches part time at Garfield High 9 Also a metahuman Anissa has the ability to manipulate her density with her breathing endowing herself with superhuman strength and durability She can also create powerful shockwaves and has an accelerated healing factor 11 12 Anissa later becomes the superhero Thunder and joins her father as his partner in fighting crime Discussing her character becoming the first black lesbian superhero on television Williams said I m just really grateful to tell the story for young lesbians and black lesbians in particular My hope is that when you watch Anissa a young lesbian is inspired to walk boldly as who she is and to love herself and to love herself exactly how she looks 16 Christine Adams as Lynn Stewart A neuroscientist focusing on metahuman studies and Jefferson s ex wife who also serves as his love interest Initially the only family member who knows about his life as Black Lightning Lynn felt that Jefferson s first stint at vigilantism had become an addiction and out of concern for their family s safety she divorced him amicably 17 18 The mother of Anissa and Jennifer Lynn is not one to be trifled with when it comes to family 19 Marvin Krondon Jones III as Tobias Whale An African American man with albinism and Black Lightning s nemesis A former politician who rose through the ranks of local government through corrupt and illegal means Tobias was eventually brought down by the reporting of Alvin Pierce Jefferson s father After killing Alvin Tobias went into hiding and became the leader of The 100 Freeland s most feared gang 20 21 Tobias uses a serum to obtain near immortality allowing him to age at an incredibly slow rate and gifting him with super strength 11 Damon Gupton as Bill Henderson seasons 1 3 A veteran inspector and the highest ranking detective on the force who later becomes deputy chief of the Freeland Police Department His role in the community puts him at odds with Black Lightning but they soon become unlikely allies Henderson eventually discovers that his lifelong friend Jefferson Pierce and the vigilante Black Lightning are one and the same resulting in their relationship becoming strained for a time 22 23 Eventually thought Henderson becomes one of Black Lightning s closest allies and following the A S A s takeover of Freeland secretly helps jumpstart the resistance while putting on the facade of a subservient public servant In January 2020 Gupton revealed that Henderson was not in the plans for the fourth season and that the third season would be his last as a series regular 24 As such in the third season finale Henderson rescues Jefferson and Jennifer from a Markovian ambush where he ends up in a mutual kill with the final Markovian soldier and dies in Jefferson s arms James Remar as Peter Gambi Jefferson s oldest friend who became a father figure and mentor to him following his father s death 22 Gambi makes the Pierce family s super suits which are housed in the secret headquarters under Gambi s tailor shop 25 It is revealed that Gambi arrived in Freeland 30 years ago as Peter Esposito an employee of the A S A the government entity that inadvertently created metahumans Gambi leaked the information of the agency s misdeeds to Alvin Pierce resulting in his murder 26 Jordan Calloway as Khalil Payne Painkiller season 2 4 recurring season 1 A student at Garfield High and Jennifer s love interest who encourages her against her more rebellious tendencies He is an All American track star with dreams of going to the Olympics until a stray bullet severs his spine In exchange for loyalty Khalil accepts Tobias offer of being able to walk again and becomes Painkiller Tobias right hand man He receives cybernetic enhancements that make him meta strong and able to generate an anesthetic from his body that causes temporary paralysis when delivered through darts 27 28 Khalil comes to regret his alliance with Tobias but while attempting to get out of it he is apparently murdered by the crime boss Khalil later reappears inside one of the A S A s metahuman pods 29 It is eventually revealed that he has been resurrected by the A S A and rebuilt into a cybernetic assassin which the A S A uses to carry out assassinations of any who oppose them including Khalil s own mother Eventually Khalil breaks from the A S A s control and attempts to become an ally to the Pierces but his continuous struggle with his evil alter ego leaves his relationships with them particularly Jennifer very strained Chantal Thuy as Grace Choi season 4 30 recurring seasons 1 3 A bartender who becomes Anissa s girlfriend She is a metahuman with shapeshifting abilities Production editDevelopment edit In September 2016 after going through several incarnations and various stages of development for over a year Mara Brock Akil her husband Salim Akil and perennial Warner Bros Television producer Greg Berlanti began pitching Black Lightning to television networks The Akils wrote the script while serving as executive producers alongside Berlanti and his frequent collaborator Sarah Schechter 31 A week later the project landed at Fox with a pilot production commitment 32 In February 2017 Fox opted to not go forward with the pilot deciding that it was not a good fit into its already crowded genre drama space and the project was subsequently shopped to other networks As the home to several of Berlanti s other television ventures The CW emerged as the network that was likely to realize the series 33 The following day The CW officially ordered a pilot for Black Lightning 34 The original pilot script that had been written for Fox was discarded and instead a short presentation was shot ahead of the network s final decisions regarding pickup orders 35 The CW officially ordered Black Lightning to series on May 10 2017 with Salim Akil to serve as showrunner 36 On April 2 2018 The CW renewed the series for a second season which premiered on October 9 2018 37 38 On January 31 2019 The CW renewed the series for a third season which premiered on October 7 2019 39 40 On January 7 2020 the series was renewed for a fourth season which premiered on February 8 2021 41 42 On November 20 2020 The CW confirmed that the fourth season will be the final season of the series 43 Writing edit In order to have an authentic black voice for its setting and characters Black Lightning utilizes a predominantly African American writing staff 44 Salim Akil shared that the writers are not all African American but have either lived this life or know someone who has 45 46 In writing the first season showrunner Akil stated that he was most inspired by the original run of Black Lightning comic books and that Black Lightning being a black father who defies the deadbeat stereotype was part of the reason for the Akils wanting to tell his story 47 48 He described Jefferson and his family as the Obamas of the superhero world and compared the duality of Jefferson Pierce and his alter ego Black Lightning to the duality of Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X 48 As a character driven family drama Black Lightning does not follow a villain of the week format in order to better explore the characters especially the villains The Akils also indicated that the writers would not be treating LGBTQ representation as a special issue but that such characters would be included and depicted the way anyone would be included in life 47 Salim Akil noted that topics such as the Black Lives Matter movement and other issues concerning race relations and police brutality would be addressed but stressed that This is an American story this is not a black story We re going to be culturally specific but universal in our themes so everyone can see themselves in these stories 48 The showrunner likened the narrative of the first season to the real story of the Tuskegee experiment 46 The second season is organized into smaller arcs known as books to mimic the style of the comic book source material with consequences being the theme of the season s first book Specifically Salim Akil said that the season would deal with the consequences of having discovered the pod children the consequences of Green Light hitting the streets and the consequences of Jefferson s daughters discovering they have powers 49 50 Furthering the season s objective to give a nod to comic books in a stronger way the season introduces more metahumans though showrunner Akil commented I don t want to introduce too many villains I want us to settle in now that we know everyone so now we can really tell some grounded stories about our villains our heroes the people in Freeland He said that there would additionally be other forces in Freeland and outside of Freeland that would come into play as sources of conflict 51 52 Lead actor Cress Williams described the season as harder hitting and a little bit darker than the series debut outing 53 On the relevant social issues that the season would address Akil stated I wanted to talk about black people and therapy We don t believe in that shit but we re the number one people who need it 49 Meanwhile Nafessa Williams shared that her character would continue to embrace her powers elaborating that Anissa now feels confident navigating the superhero world without her father and she feels fully confident and able to do it on her own 54 The third season s narrative begins approximately a month and a half after the season two finale 55 Cress Williams shared that the season would see the world of the series getting bigger in terms of its setting and characters 56 57 Salim Akil stated that while everyday life in Freeland would still be a focus of the season we want our stories to talk about concerns not just for black folk but for people in general We ll cover mental health and addiction issues that affect the whole country 58 Discussing Jennifer s ongoing struggle to control her newly discovered abilities actress China Anne McClain noted that When the season starts we see that Jennifer is getting more powerful stronger and she s also getting more emotional We can expect a combination of all three of those this season 55 Akil additionally disclosed that Jennifer being stronger than both her father and her sister on account of her unique ability to generate her own electricity would also raise the issue of who is ultimately in control amongst the three 58 Meanwhile Nafessa Williams said of her character Anissa s journey Season one was about her understanding and discovering her powers in season two she is kind of starting to perfect them and trust herself Season three her ways of doing things and her mindset is different from her father s 59 Furthermore Williams teased that Jefferson would be making a really big sacrifice this season that would reveal a little bit more of his angrier side and propel him at the beginning of the season 60 Casting edit On February 24 2017 Cress Williams was announced in the lead role of Jefferson Pierce Black Lightning 61 On March 2 China Anne McClain and Nafessa Williams were cast as Jefferson s daughters Jennifer Pierce and Anissa Pierce respectively 9 Later that same month on March 10 it was reported that Christine Adams has been cast as Lynn Stewart Jefferson s ex wife 19 62 At the 2017 San Diego Comic Con International on July 22 it was revealed that James Remar and Damon Gupton had joined the main cast as Jefferson s oldest friend Peter Gambi and unlikely ally Inspector William Bill Henderson respectively 22 63 64 On August 10 rapper Marvin Krondon Jones III was added as a series regular landing the role of main antagonist Tobias Whale 20 At the 2018 San Diego Comic Con International on July 21 it was announced that Jordan Calloway had been promoted to a series regular for the second season after previously recurring during the first season as Khalil Payne Painkiller 27 On September 26 2017 it was announced that Kyanna Simone Simpson would recur as Kiesha Henderson s daughter and Jennifer s best friend 65 On October 5 it was reported that Jill Scott had booked a recurring role as the villainous Lady Eve 66 Later that month on October 12 Edwina Findley also joined the cast in a recurring capacity as Tori Whale Tobias younger sister 67 Chantal Thuy was added to the recurring cast as Grace Choi that same month on October 30 68 though she ultimately appeared in only two episodes of the series first season 69 On January 16 2018 it was revealed that Skye P Marshall had been cast in a recurring role as Kara Fowdy the vice principal of Garfield High School 70 71 On August 8 2018 it was reported that Myles Truitt would play Issa Williams during the second season in a recurring capacity 72 On September 5 Sofia Vassilieva was announced in the role of Looker based on the DC Comics character of the same name 73 On September 21 it was reported that Kearran Giovanni would recur as Cutter a British mercenary 74 On October 4 it was revealed that Erika Alexander had booked a three episode recurring role as Jennifer s telepathic therapist Perenna 75 though she ultimately appeared in a total of eight episodes Robert Townsend and Bill Duke were added as recurring characters Dr Napier Frank and Agent Percy Odell respectively on October 9 76 On November 13 RJ Cyler was cast in the recurring role of gangly and awkward tech genius Todd Green 77 On January 21 2019 it was announced that Hosea Chanchez had been cast to recur as Marcus Bishop Shakedown 78 On October 10 2019 it was announced that Wayne Brady would recur during the third season as Tyson Sykes Gravedigger a World War II era super soldier and American turned Markovian asset 79 On January 19 2020 Gupton revealed that he had been let go from the series and that the third season would be his last as a series regular 24 On November 13 2020 Chantal Thuy was promoted to a series regular for the fourth season 30 Design edit Black Lightning s costume was designed by Laura Jean Shannon 80 While the suit s design is meant to invoke protection from the character s vulnerabilities such as his age and bullets in particular Salim Akil stated that there were a lot of iterations of the Black Lightning costume and that at one point I had covered his face and his eyes but what was more important to me was the emotion and you need to see that You need to see his eyes when his daughters have a gun pointed at them 46 48 A number of journalists noted similarities between the first superhero costume donned by Anissa Pierce featuring a pink purple and blue color scheme with gold and black accents and a blonde wig and the Thunder costume of the 2003 Outsiders comic book run 81 82 Shannon also designed the final Thunder costume which was made from a sculpted armor material in order to stretch to the performer s comfort and serves as an homage to the most recent costume worn by Thunder in the comic books 83 The second season introduces the first official superhero costume for Jennifer Pierce as she takes on the moniker Lightning from the comic book source material The costume echoes that of Anissa Pierce in that it is a black body suit covered in yellow plating However the Lightning costume also features lightning inspired designs 14 The third season features a new suit design for Jefferson Pierce as Black Lightning In place of the previous suit s glowing blue and gold bolts across the chest a textured gold design with blue and black weaving is featured throughout the torso arms and gloves The mask is also slightly redesigned with dark red tinted lenses 84 As Anissa Pierce officially takes on the name Blackbird as a second secret identity she also receives a new costume for the alter ego that consists of a black hood and a mask that covers the lower half of her face 85 Filming edit Filming for the series takes place in Decatur Georgia and the surrounding Atlanta area 1 86 87 The short presentation that was given to The CW was filmed in March 2017 88 with production for the series officially commencing on September 7 2017 89 90 Filming for the first season concluded on March 3 2018 91 92 Production for the second season returned to Atlanta beginning on June 26 2018 93 94 The back lot used during filming was the same one used by The CW s previous Atlanta based television series The Vampire Diaries 95 Filming for the second season concluded on January 10 2019 96 Production for the third season began on July 9 2019 97 A week was carved out of the season s production for Williams to film his scenes for the Arrowverse crossover event Crisis on Infinite Earths in Vancouver British Columbia 98 Filming for the third season concluded on January 20 2020 99 100 101 Music edit Kurt Farquhar composes the score for the series and Kier Lehman the music supervisor for Black Lightning selects the series featured songs along with the Akils 102 The rapper Godholly who is the son of showrunner Akil has provided original music for the series including tracks such as Black Lightning from the main title sequence 103 104 Release editBroadcast edit Black Lightning began airing on The CW in the United States on January 16 2018 during the 2017 18 television season 105 The first season consisting of 13 episodes ran until April 17 2018 106 The second season premiered on The CW in the United States on October 9 2018 38 In November it was announced that the series would move to airing on Mondays for the second half of the season after previously airing on Tuesdays since its debut 107 The 16th and final episode of the second season aired on March 18 2019 108 The third season premiered on October 7 2019 40 The 16th and final episode of the third season aired on March 9 2020 109 110 Home media edit Having acquired the international distribution and streaming rights for Black Lightning Netflix aired new episodes of the first two seasons weekly in regions outside of the United States including Canada Australia New Zealand the United Kingdom Ireland most of mainland Europe and South America 111 112 113 However following the expiration of the deal between the streamer and the network the third season s released date on Netflix internationally was postponed 114 In the United States the first season was released on Netflix in its entirety a week after the season finale aired on The CW 115 The second season was similarly released in its entirety on Netflix in the United States two weeks after the season finale aired on The CW 116 The third season was released in its entirety on Netflix in the United States on March 17 2020 114 The complete first season of Black Lightning was released on Blu ray and DVD by Warner Home Entertainment in Region 1 on June 26 2018 117 in Region 2 on January 28 2019 118 and in Region 4 in 2018 119 The set also features extra content including the series 2017 San Diego Comic Con panel new featurettes deleted scenes and a gag reel 120 The complete second season was made available as a manufacture on demand DVD through the Warner Archive Collection on October 8 2019 121 122 Marketing edit On March 29 2017 The CW released the first promotional image of Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce in his official Black Lightning superhero costume 88 On May 18 the first trailer for the series was released 123 The main cast that were confirmed at the time as well as executive producers Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil attended the 2017 San Diego Comic Con International on July 22 to promote the season 124 125 On December 12 The CW released key art for the series in the form of the season s first promotional poster featuring Williams China Anne McClain and Nafessa Williams as their characters 126 On January 4 2018 The CW and Warner Bros Television released the first look at Nafessa Williams as Anissa Pierce in her official Thunder superhero costume 127 128 On March 25 the producers and writers of the season attended the 2018 WonderCon and screened the episode Sins of the Father The Book of Redemption at their panel ahead of its official debut on The CW 129 The main cast of the second season as well as the Akils attended San Diego Comic Con International on July 21 to promote the season 27 130 The first trailer of the season was released on September 6 131 On December 13 The CW released the first promotional image of China Anne McClain as Jennifer Pierce in her official Lightning superhero costume 14 132 133 Several of the main cast members of the third season attended San Diego Comic Con International on July 20 2019 to promote the season 134 The first trailer of the season was released on September 24 135 Reception editRatings edit Viewership and ratings per season of Black Lightning Season Timeslot ET Episodes First aired Last aired TV season Viewershiprank Avg viewers millions 18 49rank Avg 18 49rating Date Viewers millions Date Viewers millions 1 Tuesday 9 00 pm 13 January 16 2018 2 31 136 April 17 2018 1 69 137 2017 18 160 2 73 109 1 0 2 2 Tuesday 9 00 pm 1 9 Monday 9 00 pm 10 16 16 October 9 2018 1 20 138 March 18 2019 0 85 139 2018 19 179 1 44 147 0 5 3 3 Monday 9 00 pm 16 October 7 2019 0 89 140 March 9 2020 0 55 141 2019 20 130 1 09 122 0 4 4 4 13 February 8 2021 0 52 142 May 24 2021 0 50 143 2020 21 151 0 74 141 0 2 5 The series premiere of Black Lightning debuted to strong numbers on The CW according to Nielsen overnight data Airing in the 9 00pm time slot Black Lightning s pilot episode drew 2 3 million viewers in the United States and a 0 8 rating in the key demographic of adults 18 49 It retained all of its lead in in the key demographic and more than 90 in total viewers from The Flash It was The CW s highest rated original series premiere in two years since the launch of Legends of Tomorrow in 2016 144 145 Black Lightning s second season debuted to series lows in viewers 18 49 The second season premiere drew 1 2 million viewers and a 0 4 rating down from its first season premiere average and finale as well as from the premiere of Legends of Tomorrow in the time slot the previous fall In viewers 18 34 however Black Lightning improved by 10 from its freshman finale and was even with the debut of Legends of Tomorrow from the previous season 146 With an 0 3 rating and 0 9 million viewers the third season premiere of Black Lightning was down more than 20 across the board from the previous season s finale 147 Critical response edit Critical response of Black LightningSeasonRotten TomatoesMetacritic196 51 reviews 148 79 25 reviews 149 291 10 reviews 150 389 9 reviews 151 Black Lightning has received generally positive reviews from professional critics On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes the series holds a 95 approval rating 152 The first season debuted to critical acclaim 153 154 155 Reviewing for Entertainment Weekly Dana Schwartz gave the series premiere an A grade writing The Pierce family dynamic is so compelling that even if Jefferson Pierce had no powers beyond great motivational speeches this show would be a worthwhile watch Black Lightning balances humor with all too necessary social commentary to make a refreshing addition to the superhero TV pantheon 156 Reviewing the first two episodes of the season Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter commended the series for its solid action scenes bass pumping soundtrack stylish treatment of Black Lightning s sizzling powers and character pragmatism He praised the series ability to stand alone in welcome ways and described the premiere episode as smart and relevant and full of an attitude that s all its own 157 Reviewing the first four episodes of the series The Atlantic s Pilot Viruet wrote There s an authenticity to the series it s neither too pulpy nor too preachy that s heightened by the strong performances from its predominantly Black cast particularly from Cress Williams who anchors the show s many conflicts 158 Nafessa Williams portrayal of Anissa Pierce Black Lightning s eldest daughter who becomes the superhero Thunder also drew attention and praise from critics As the first Black lesbian superhero on television critics applauded the character s social activism and action scenes as well as for being a complex and fully realized character outside of her superhero identity 159 160 161 162 Reviewing for The A V Club Kyle Fowle gave the finale an A grade writing that the episode was tonally bold easily moving between being funny and politically poignant while also setting up plenty of intrigue for next season Fowle concluded that the episode was a confident compelling moving end to a season that boasted all those same qualities throughout 163 Jesse Schedeen of IGN noted that the series reduced episode count focus on older superheroes and social issues limited cast and preservation of the main villain at the end of the season positively distinguished the series from other superhero programming 164 The A V Club s Fowle gave the second season premiere an A grade adding One of the reasons the first season was so compelling was that the show made the political personal That s once again evident here as there s a wonderful sense of the larger community throughout the premiere 165 Kayti Burt of Den of Geek gave the episode a rating of 3 5 stars out of 5 She explained There s a lack of thematic cohesiveness in this season premiere that is probably a result of trying to reintroduce so many characters and storylines at once but the energy and potential for a strong second season is definitely there Black Lightning continues to be one of the best most important shows on television 166 In her review for Collider Allison Keene gave the season s early storylines 4 stars out of 5 writing Black Lightning is not without its own flaws including occasionally disjointed or abrupt storytelling but its clear desire to educate and inspire through compelling family drama continues to make it a show of consequence 167 Burt and Syfy Wire contributor Stephanie Williams praised the season for its efforts to de stigmatize mental health care especially for Black women Burt called Jennifer s therapy storyline a powerful vital representation of mental health issues not only within the superhero genre but anywhere on TV 168 Again reviewing for The A V Club Fowle gave the season finale a C grade He named Jennifer s journey as undoubtedly the best part of the season but felt that the second season as a whole struggled to reach the heights of its first season and that storylines were introduced with full force before petering out stumbling towards lackluster conclusions 169 Dan Ashby of Cultured Vultures gave the whole season a rating of 7 5 out of 10 writing Season two of Black Lightning has some interesting storylines a number of good fight scenes a catchy soundtrack and some important messages Unfortunately it all seems slightly uncoordinated and messy in its execution 170 In a more positive account from Entertainment Weekly Christian Holub gave the season finale a B grade adding Season 2 s penultimate installment was all over the place but tonight s season finale did a good job of bringing enough of the threads together that I m now satisfied to wait for season 3 171 Reviewing the third season premiere for Entertainment Weekly Holub gave the episode a B grade writing Black Lightning has been able to do a really good job of showcasing real life racial dynamics and structural inequities through its comic flavored storytelling And in season 3 the show is aiming directly at our real life crisis of family separation and putting kids in cages After a bit of a sophomore slump I m excited to see where Black Lightning goes from here 172 Nicole Hill of Den of Geek assigned the premiere episode a rating of 4 out of 5 She opined that Black Lightning does a good job of playing with these different concepts of power and showing how they interact overlap and cancel each other out I hope this season maintains focus and doesn t find itself branching out too far away from its central conflicts If the following episodes consistently operate at this level this will be an exciting season to watch 173 The A V Club s Fowle gave the premiere a B grade and added that The first episode of the third season is just as politically charged as previous episodes but this time around things feel more relevant more attuned to this specific time and place Black Lightning has nodded towards real life events before but this premiere centered around kids being rounded up separated from their families and locked in detention camps with no idea of when they ll get out or what they did wrong feels particularly pointed 174 Analysis edit Tai Gooden of Syfy Wire wrote The usage of religion specifically Christianity in Black Lightning strikes a fascinating balance between the science centered A S A organization and the fantasy element of metahumans whose powers essentially make them gods among men Gooden pointed out that each episode title contains religious references particularly the second season s multi episode chapters named after themes frequently explored in religious texts such as consequences blood and rebellion Additionally she highlighted the role of Reverend Holt in the series whose sermons are often interspersed with scenes that either complement or counteract a character s current struggle with faith and making the right decisions She compared Khalil s arc to that of one who has lost their faith and likened Tobias to a Devil that offers temptations The primary characters and community members tackle their personal and collective plights with bold protests prayers vigilante justice and rogue missions all of which are threaded together through overt and subtle religious references 175 Several journalists drew parallels between some of the series s storylines particularly those involving police brutality and institutional racism and events that have taken place in real life 165 166 167 176 177 Christina Radish of Collider and Charles Pulliam Moore of io9 felt that the character Issa Williams a black teen who is held in a fatal chokehold by police as bystanders record the incident and plead for his life was reminiscent of the 2014 death of Eric Garner Pulliam Moore also noted that The families of Freeland who are fighting to get their children back from government custody clearly call to mind all of the undocumented children who ve been separated from their families are being held in detention centers and may very well never see their loved ones again 49 178 Additionally Entertainment Weekly s Christian Holub compared Anissa s Robin Hood esque crime fighting philosophy and alternative costume a black hoodie and mouth cover to the philosophies and costumes of Antifa members 179 180 While applauding Jennifer s therapy arc and the series s portrayal of mental health care Kayti Burt of Den of Geek cited the scene in the second season premiere episode in which Jefferson brushes off Lynn s suggestion that he should see a therapist as an example of double standards regarding age and gender She commented The depiction of Jennifer s mental health treatment is so important but as a teen girl Jennifer is allowed a degree of emotional vulnerability that adult men are not Burt felt that this apparent point of hypocrisy intentionally served as a subject for the story to reflect upon She said Black Lightning isn t ignorant to the many reasons for avoiding shows of emotional vulnerability of the potential consequences of asking for help in a world that so often equates emotional vulnerability with weakness It just also chooses to tell the other side of that story the potential consequences of not acknowledging and actively working on your emotional and mental health issues 168 Awards and nominations edit Awards and nominations received by Black Lightning Year Award Category Recipient s and nominee s Result Ref 2018 People s Choice Award Sci Fi Fantasy Show of 2018 Black Lightning Shortlisted 181 Saturn Award Best Superhero Television Series Black Lightning Nominated 182 Black Reel Award for Television Outstanding Drama Series Black Lightning Won 183 Outstanding Actor Drama Series Cress Williams Nominated 184 Outstanding Directing Drama Series Salim Akil The Resurrection Nominated Outstanding Guest Actress Drama Series Jill Scott Nominated Outstanding Music Kier Lehman Nominated Teen Choice Award Choice Breakout TV Show Black Lightning Nominated 185 Choice Breakout TV Star Nafessa Williams Nominated 2019 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series Patrick Joseph Charles Sins of the Father The Book of Redemption Nominated 186 Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy or Drama Series Erika Alexander The Book of Consequences Chapter Three Master Lowery Nominated GLAAD Award Outstanding Drama Series Black Lightning Nominated 187 Black Reel Award for Television Outstanding Drama Series Black Lightning Nominated 188 Outstanding Directing Drama Series Salim Akil The Book of the Apocalypse Chapter Two The Omega Nominated Outstanding Guest Actress Drama Series Erika Alexander Nominated Saturn Award Best Superhero Television Series Black Lightning Nominated 189 2021 Critics Choice Super Awards Best Actor in a Superhero Series Cress Williams Nominated 190 Arrowverse editFurther information Arrowverse In January 2017 when the series was still in development at Fox executive producer Greg Berlanti stated that Black Lightning would not crossover with his other DC Comics television properties on The CW nor would it exist in their shared universe known as the Arrowverse 191 Despite Black Lightning s move to The CW the network s president Mark Pedowitz said in May 2017 that the series at this time is not part of the Arrowverse It is a separate situation 1 Showrunners Salim Akil later clarified that they were not ruling out eventual crossovers but wanted to establish the series and its own world first 47 In August 2017 Pedowitz added If the showrunners wish to bring it in that is their call We had a long discussion with the studio Mara Salim and myself We were fine with them making it separate from the Arrowverse they have a different point of view If they end up wanting to go that way that will be their decision 192 Salim Akil explained that the first season s references to the DC Comics characters Vixen and Supergirl who are also featured in the Arrowverse were simply a fun way to tease the fans and stressed that Black Lightning exists on a separate Earth from the Arrowverse series such as Earth 1 from Arrow The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow and Earth 38 from Supergirl Additionally he stated that any future crossover would involve the heroes of the other series visiting the Earth that is associated with Black Lightning 193 Discussing a potential Black Lightning crossover with the Arrowverse in July 2019 Cress Williams revealed that there s been lots of talk nothing official but at this point I wouldn t be surprised 194 Two weeks later in August Williams confirmed reports that Black Lightning would be involved in the Arrowverse s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event 195 196 By the end of the event the multiverse was rebooted and Earth Prime was formed which saw Black Lightning s Earth merged with the former Earth 1 and Earth 38 creating a universe where all of The CW series exist together 197 Williams reprised his role in the eighth season of The Flash for the in season crossover event Armageddon 198 Cancelled spin off editIn November 2020 The CW reportedly began to develop a backdoor pilot for a spin off of Painkiller with Jordan Calloway reprising his role from Black Lightning 199 In February 2021 Sibongile Mlambo Alexander Hodge and James Roch joined the cast 200 Later in May The CW passed the project 201 References edit a b c d Abrams Natalie May 18 2017 The CW s Black Lightning not part of Arrowverse crossover unlikely Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on May 21 2017 Retrieved May 22 2017 a b 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Easter Egg With New Character Debut ComicBook com Archived from the original on June 18 2019 Retrieved June 17 2019 Wolf Jessica April 24 2018 Black Lightning Shadow Of Death The Book Of War Starry Constellation Magazine Archived from the original on June 4 2019 Retrieved May 18 2019 a b c Andreeva Nellie March 2 2017 Black Lightning CW Pilot Nafessa Williams China Anne McClain Cast Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on May 8 2017 Retrieved May 10 2017 Gooden Tai October 30 2018 Jennifer amp Khalil s Relationship On Black Lightning Could Put The Pierce Family In Huge Danger Bustle Archived from the original on June 18 2019 Retrieved June 17 2019 a b c R Alyson April 28 2019 Ranking All The Meta Powers In Black Lightning Screen Rant Archived from the original on June 18 2019 Retrieved June 16 2019 a b Burt Kayti June 3 2019 Black Lightning Season 3 Release Date Cast and Story Details Den of Geek Archived from the original on March 31 2019 Retrieved June 16 2019 Anderson Jenna 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Lightning s Lynn Stewart The Mary Sue Archived from the original on June 18 2019 Retrieved June 17 2019 a b Andreeva Nellie March 10 2017 Black Lightning Christine Adams Cast As Jefferson s Ex Wife Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on May 16 2017 Retrieved May 10 2017 a b Ramos Dino Ray August 10 2017 Black Lightning Adds Marvin Krondon Jones III As Villain Tobias Whale Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on August 11 2017 Retrieved August 10 2017 Morrison Matt November 14 2018 Black Lightning 5 Biggest Questions After Season 2 S Most Shocking Episode Screen Rant Archived from the original on June 18 2019 Retrieved June 17 2019 a b c Petski Denise July 22 2017 Black Lightning Casts James Remar amp Damon Gupton As Series Regulars Watch Trailer Comic Con Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on July 23 2017 Retrieved July 23 2017 Burlingame Russ October 9 2018 Black Lightning Stars Cress Williams and Damon Gupton On Tonight s Big Twist ComicBook com Archived from the original on June 18 2019 Retrieved June 17 2019 a b Mitovich Matt Webb January 19 2020 Black Lightning Original Cast Member Damon Gupton Out Ahead of Season 4 TVLine Archived from the original on January 20 2020 Retrieved January 19 2020 Adams Tim October 16 2018 Black Lightning Introduces Its Version Of The Arrowcave ComicBook com Archived from the original on June 18 2019 Retrieved June 17 2019 Kelly Autumn Noel March 13 2018 Black Lightning Episode 8 Answers All The Gambi Questions Newsweek Archived from the original on June 18 2019 Retrieved June 17 2019 a b c N Duka Amanda July 21 2018 Black Lightning Jordan Calloway Upped To Series Regular As Painkiller Watch The Comic Con Sizzle Reel Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on October 8 2018 Retrieved October 7 2018 Burlingame Russ January 23 2018 Black Lightning s China Anne McClain Talks Her Character s Relationship With Jordan Calloway s Khalil ComicBook com Archived from the original on April 6 2019 Retrieved June 18 2019 Burlingame Russ March 18 2019 Black Lightning Reveals SPOILER Is Alive in Season 2 Finale Comicbook com Archived from the original on March 25 2019 Retrieved March 24 2019 a b Ramos Dino Ray November 13 2020 Black Lightning Ups Chantal Thuy To Series Regular Actress Talks Season 4 Asian And LGBTQ Representation In The Superhero Genre Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on November 13 2020 Retrieved November 13 2020 Andreeva Nellie September 1 2016 Black Lightning DC Superhero Series In Works From Greg Berlanti Mara Brock Akil amp Salim Akil Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on May 20 2017 Retrieved May 11 2017 Andreeva Nellie September 8 2016 Fox Nabs Black Lightning DC Superhero Drama With Pilot Production Commitment Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on April 29 2017 Retrieved May 11 2017 Andreeva Nellie February 2 2017 Black Lightning Drama Eyes Move To the CW To Join Greg Berlanti Comic Lineup Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on May 8 2017 Retrieved May 11 2017 Andreeva Nellie February 3 2017 Black Lightning DC Drama From Greg Berlanti amp The Game Duo Gets The CW Pilot Order Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on May 8 2017 Retrieved May 11 2017 Andreeva Nellie April 12 2017 PILOTS 2017 Very Very Early Buzz Edition Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on May 8 2017 Retrieved May 11 2017 Andreeva Nellie May 10 2017 Black Lightning amp Lucy Hale s Life Sentence Picked Up To Series By The CW Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on May 11 2017 Retrieved May 11 2017 Goldberg Lesley April 2 2018 Riverdale Flash Supernatural Among 10 CW Renewals The Hollywood Reporter Archived from the original on April 2 2018 Retrieved April 2 2018 a b Swift Andy June 20 2018 The CW Sets Fall Premiere Dates Including New Super Sunday TVLine Archived from the original on June 20 2018 Retrieved June 20 2018 Goldberg Lesley January 31 2019 CW Renews The Flash Charmed Riverdale Supernatural 6 More The Hollywood Reporter Archived from the original on February 2 2019 Retrieved January 31 2019 a b Hipes Patrick August 4 2019 Black Lightning Season 3 Premiere Bolts Two Weeks Earlier TCA Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on August 4 2019 Retrieved August 4 2019 Ausiello Michael January 7 2020 CW Renews Riverdale Batwoman Roswell Black Lightning Plus 9 Others TVLine Archived from the original on January 8 2020 Retrieved January 7 2020 Ausiello Michael October 29 2020 The CW Sets Delayed Premiere Dates for Flash Superman amp Lois Riverdale Charmed Batwoman and More TVLine Archived from the original on October 29 2020 Retrieved October 29 2020 Petski Denise November 20 2020 Black Lightning To End With Season 4 On the CW Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on November 20 2020 Retrieved November 20 2020 Abid Areeba July 22 2017 Here s Why Black Lightning Will Be the Wokest Superhero on TV Zimbio Archived from the original on June 4 2019 Retrieved June 1 2019 de Moraes Lisa January 7 2018 Black Lightning Showrunner Salim Akil Don t Know If We ve Turned That Corner TCA Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on June 4 2019 Retrieved May 31 2019 a b c Turchiano Danielle January 16 2018 Black Lightning Boss on Telling a Tale of African American Paranoia Variety Archived from the original on June 16 2018 Retrieved May 25 2019 a b c Massabrook Nicole June 11 2017 Black Lightning TV Show Spoilers What The EPs Revealed At ATX International Business Times Archived from the original on July 15 2017 Retrieved July 17 2017 a b c d Abrams Natalie July 12 2017 Black Lightning boss This is an American story this is not a black story Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on April 16 2019 Retrieved May 25 2019 a b c Radish Christina September 26 2018 Black Lightning Showrunner Salim Akil on Season 2 and the Story s Social Relevance Collider Archived from the original on November 4 2018 Retrieved November 3 2018 Fall TV Spoilers 2018 Scoop on 40 Returning Favorites TVLine September 5 2018 Archived from the original on September 6 2018 Retrieved March 20 2019 Burlingame Russ July 30 2018 Black Lightning Showrunner Hints At More Metahumans in Season 2 ComicBook com Archived from the original on August 2 2018 Retrieved November 3 2018 Bucksbaum Sydney September 15 2018 Black Lightning Season 2 All the Details So Far The Hollywood Reporter Archived from the original on October 8 2018 Retrieved November 3 2018 Johnson Reilly April 29 2018 EXCLUSIVE Black Lightning Star Talks Season 2 amp DC Crossovers Fandom Wire Archived from the original on April 7 2019 Retrieved April 7 2019 Sarachan Risa October 8 2018 Nafessa Williams TV s first black lesbian superhero talks Black Lightning Season 2 Yahoo Archived from the original on April 20 2019 Retrieved April 20 2019 a b B Kay August 1 2019 How Black Lightning Season 3 Will Be More Apocalyptic Than Ever Before Shadow and Act Archived from the original on August 11 2019 Retrieved August 12 2019 Burlingame Russ July 20 2019 Black Lightning More Superheroes Supervillains Coming in Season Three ComicBook com Archived from the original on August 7 2019 Retrieved August 6 2019 Sandwell Ian July 22 2019 Black Lightning star hints major DC superhero team could join show Digital Spy Archived from the original on July 24 2019 Retrieved July 24 2019 a b Rudolph Ileane September 1 2019 Black Lightning Season 3 All Your Burning Questions Answered TV Insider Archived from the original on October 17 2019 Retrieved September 1 2019 Sundar Priyanka July 20 2019 SDCC 2019 Black Lightning s Cress Williams says family disjointed when s3 begins actors explain their upcoming arcs EXCLUSIVE MEAWW Archived from the original on July 21 2019 Retrieved September 3 2019 Agard Chancellor September 13 2019 Black Lightning star teases Jefferson s big sacrifice in the Markovian conflict Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on September 21 2019 Retrieved September 14 2019 Swift Andy February 24 2017 Black Lightning Cress Williams to Star in The CW s Latest DC Comics Pilot TVLine Archived from the original on February 25 2017 Retrieved February 24 2017 Cassidy Mark March 10 2017 Black Lightning Adds Christine Adams As Lynn Stewart We Got This Covered Archived from the original on April 28 2019 Retrieved April 26 2019 Anderson Jenna January 16 2018 Black Lightning Who Is Inspector Henderson ComicBook com Archived from the original on April 28 2019 Retrieved April 27 2019 Adams Tim October 9 2018 Black Lightning A Major Cast Member Learns His Secret Identity CBR Archived from the original on April 28 2019 Retrieved April 27 2019 Petski Denise September 26 2017 Black Lightning Kyanna Simone Simpson Set To Recur In the CW Series Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on September 26 2017 Retrieved September 27 2017 Petski Denise October 5 2017 Black Lightning Jill Scott Cast As Lady Eve In the CW Series Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on April 28 2019 Retrieved April 27 2019 Petski Denise October 12 2017 Black Lightning Edwina Findley Set To Recur In the CW Series Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on November 1 2017 Retrieved November 1 2017 Bryant Jacob October 30 2017 Black Lightning Casts Chantal Thuy as DC Comics Grace Choi Exclusive Variety Archived from the original on October 30 2017 Retrieved October 30 2017 Gunderson Alexis April 17 2018 Our Only Complaint About Black Lightning We Wish There Were More of It Paste Archived from the original on March 31 2019 Retrieved April 27 2019 Petski Denise January 16 2018 Black Lightning Skye Marshall To Recur On the CW Series Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on March 23 2019 Retrieved April 20 2019 Ash April 22 2018 7 Lesser Known Facts About Skye P Marshall Who Plays Kara Fowdy In Black Lightning TV Show Best of Comic Books Archived from the original on April 28 2019 Retrieved April 27 2019 Mangum Trey August 8 2018 Myles Truitt Joins Black Lightning Season 2 Shadow and Act Archived from the original on March 23 2019 Retrieved March 22 2019 Mitovich Matt Webb September 5 2018 Black Lightning Season 2 Casts Supergirl Foil as DC Comics Looker TVLine Archived from the original on October 23 2018 Retrieved October 7 2018 Petski Denise September 21 2018 Black Lightning Kearran Giovanni To Recur On Season 2 Of CW Series Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on September 22 2018 Retrieved October 7 2018 Gelman Vlada October 4 2018 Black Lightning Casts Living Single Vet as Spoiler s Super Powered Therapist TVLine Archived from the original on October 8 2018 Retrieved October 7 2018 Mangum Trey October 9 2018 Robert Townsend And Bill Duke Join Black Lightning Season 2 Shadow and Act Archived from the original on March 23 2019 Retrieved March 22 2019 Petski Denise November 13 2018 Black Lightning Casts RJ Cyler Antonio Jaramillo Joins SEAL Team Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on November 13 2018 Retrieved November 13 2018 Petski Denise January 21 2019 Black Lightning Hosea Chanchez To Recur On Season 2 Of CW Series Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on January 24 2019 Retrieved January 21 2019 Ng Philiana Seemayer Zach October 10 2019 Wayne Brady Joins Black Lightning as Gravedigger Exclusive Entertainment Tonight Archived from the original on October 10 2019 Retrieved October 10 2019 Goldman Eric March 29 2017 First Look At Black Lightning From The CW s New DC Comics Pilot IGN Archived from the original on March 29 2017 Retrieved March 30 2017 Damore Meagan February 13 2018 Black Lightning SPOILER Dons Comics Accurate Outsiders Costume CBR Archived from the original on April 21 2019 Retrieved April 21 2019 Drum Nicole April 24 2018 7 Best Moments in Black Lightning s First Season ComicBook com Archived from the original on June 4 2019 Retrieved June 3 2019 Goldman Eric March 20 2018 Black Lightning Why Nafessa Williams cried the first time she wore Thunder s suit Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on April 21 2019 Retrieved April 21 2019 Aguilar Matthew September 20 2019 Black Lightning Gets New Costume in Leaked Photo From Season 3 ComicBook com Archived from the original on June 12 2021 Retrieved September 24 2019 Noronha Remus September 25 2019 Anissa s new Blackbird identity in Black Lightning Season 3 is a sign that she s ready to step out of her father s shadow MEAWW Archived from the original on September 26 2019 Retrieved September 26 2019 Tinubu Aramide A October 24 2018 The Women Of Black Lightning On Being Badass Embracing Their Powers In The High Stakes Season 2 Shadow and Act Archived from the original on August 11 2019 Retrieved August 10 2019 Andreeva Nellie March 7 2017 Pilot Locations 2017 NY Vancouver amp Atlanta Tick Up LA Toronto Chicago Slip Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on July 28 2017 Retrieved May 11 2017 a b Petski Denise March 29 2017 Black Lightning Pilot First Look Image Of Cress Williams As Title Character Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on April 14 2019 Retrieved April 14 2019 Bella Mara September 7 2017 In honor of our firstday of principal photography for BLACKLIGHTNING Retrieved April 23 2019 via Instagram Adams Christine September 7 2017 And the journey begins Day 1 Black Lightning Archived from the original on December 26 2021 Retrieved April 23 2019 via Instagram Adams Christine March 3 2018 Season 1 That s a wrap Goodbye for now Lynn Stewart Archived from the original on December 26 2021 Retrieved April 21 2019 via Instagram Williams Nafessa March 3 2017 That s a wrap on Season 1 of BlackLightning Archived from the original on December 26 2021 Retrieved April 21 2019 via Instagram Drum Nicole June 28 2018 Black Lightning Season 2 Has Begun Production ComicBook com Archived from the original on October 8 2018 Retrieved October 7 2018 What s filming in Atlanta the second week of September WXIA September 10 2018 Retrieved October 8 2018 Isabella Tony February 27 2018 Tony Goes To Freeland Part Four Tony Isabella s Bloggy Thing Archived from the original on June 12 2021 Retrieved March 20 2019 Williams Nafessa January 10 2019 We just filmed our last scene for Season 2 Archived from the original on December 26 2021 Retrieved March 18 2019 via Instagram Williams Nafessa July 9 2019 First day Mood BlackLightning Season3 Retrieved July 12 2019 via Instagram Roffman Marisa December 5 2019 Arrowverse Boss Breaks Down Journey to Crisis on Infinite Earths Variety Archived from the original on December 6 2019 Retrieved December 15 2019 Williams Nafessa January 20 2020 Just filmed my last scene for Season 3 it s a wrap for the kid BlackLightning Archived from the original on December 26 2021 Retrieved January 20 2020 via Instagram Adams Christine January 20 2020 There are no endings only beginnings Thats a picture wrap on season 3 cw blacklightning Archived from the original on December 26 2021 Retrieved January 20 2020 via Instagram Akil Mara January 20 2020 BLACK LIGHTNING Headed to celebrate the success and wrap of Season3 BlackLightning Archived from the original on December 26 2021 Retrieved January 20 2020 via Instagram Haddad Jalal February 8 2018 Composer Kurt Farquhar on What Sets Black Lightning Apart From Other Superhero Shows Awards Daily Archived from the original on April 23 2019 Retrieved April 23 2019 Turchiano Danielle May 30 2018 Black Lightning Boss on How an Artful Life Inspires His Work Variety Archived from the original on April 27 2019 Retrieved April 23 2019 Thompson Gianina January 11 2018 Behind the scenes of Black Lightning reveals the intersection of race social justice and culture Andscape Archived from the original on April 23 2019 Retrieved April 23 2019 Andreeva Nellie November 16 2017 Black Lightning Gets Premiere Date Post Flash Time Slot By the CW Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on November 16 2017 Retrieved November 16 2017 Gunderson Alexis April 17 2018 Our Only Complaint About Black Lightning We Wish There Were More of It Paste Archived from the original on March 31 2019 Retrieved March 30 2019 Petski Denise November 12 2018 The CW Sets Midseason Schedule Roswell New Mexico Gets Premiere Date Black Lightning Moves To Monday Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on November 12 2018 Retrieved November 12 2018 Drum Nicole March 18 2019 Black Lightning Breaking Down the Season 2 Finale Ending ComicBook com Archived from the original on March 19 2019 Retrieved March 18 2019 Williams Nafessa NafessaWilliams December 13 2019 Today we start episode 315 Wtf One more episode left This season flew by Appreciate yall for riding with us Alright bye let me finish putting this suit on Thunder BlackLightning Tweet Retrieved December 15 2019 via Twitter Petski Denise November 8 2019 The CW Sets Midseason Premiere Dates Katy Keene Return Of DC s Legends Roswell New Mexico Supernatural Moves To Monday Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on November 9 2019 Retrieved November 8 2019 Moore Kasey March 20 2019 Black Lightning Season 2 Netflix Release Schedule What s on Netflix Archived from the original on October 2 2018 Retrieved March 30 2019 Info Page Black Lightning New on Netflix Archived from the original on July 8 2019 Retrieved July 7 2019 Andreeva Nellie December 11 2017 Netflix Inks Int l Distribution Deal For NBC s Good Girls Inside New Model That Partners the SVOD Giant With U S Studios Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on December 12 2017 Retrieved March 30 2019 a b Spencer Samuel October 21 2019 Black Lightning Season 3 Netflix Release Date When is the Series Streaming Newsweek Archived from the original on December 12 2019 Retrieved December 13 2019 Drum Nicole April 26 2018 Black Lightning Season 1 is Now on Netflix ComicBook com Archived from the original on April 14 2019 Retrieved December 15 2019 Drum Nicole April 1 2019 Black Lightning Season 2 Is Now Available to Stream on Netflix ComicBook com Archived from the original on April 5 2019 Retrieved December 15 2019 Black Lightning Season 1 Amazon Archived from the original on April 14 2019 Retrieved April 14 2019 Black Lightning Season 1 Amazon Archived from the original on June 12 2021 Retrieved February 26 2019 Black Lightning Season 1 DVD AU Buy DVDs Archived from the original on April 14 2019 Retrieved September 3 2018 Napoli Jessica June 22 2018 Black Lightning Season 1 DVD Includes Tons of Bonus Material VIDEO TV Insider Archived from the original on March 24 2019 Retrieved April 14 2019 Black Lightning The Complete Second Season Deep Discount Archived from the original on June 12 2021 Retrieved September 30 2019 Dietz Jason September 27 2019 DVD Blu ray Release Calendar October 2019 Metacritic Archived from the original on September 30 2019 Retrieved September 30 2019 Petski Denise May 18 2017 Black Lightning Trailer First Look At The CW s DC Comics Drama Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on April 14 2019 Retrieved April 14 2019 D Alessandro Anthony June 29 2017 Comic Con Warner Bros TV To Show Off Expanded DC Universe Series Black Lightning Krypton amp More Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on April 14 2019 Retrieved April 13 2019 Gordon Diane July 22 2017 Black Lightning Cast and Crew Promise An Authentic Black Voice Variety Archived from the original on April 26 2019 Retrieved April 13 2019 Petski Denise December 12 2017 Black Lightning CW Series Key Art Unveiled Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on April 14 2019 Retrieved April 14 2019 Pedersen Erik January 4 2018 Black Lightning First Look Photo Of Nafessa Williams As Thunder In CW Series Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on April 13 2019 Retrieved April 14 2019 Agard Chancellor January 4 2018 Black Lightning unveils first look at Thunder Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on April 14 2019 Retrieved April 14 2019 D Alessandro Anthony February 28 2018 Black Lightning Krypton The 100 amp More Part Of WBTV s WonderCon Footprint Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on April 14 2019 Retrieved April 14 2019 Ramos Dino Ray June 25 2018 Comic Con Warner Bros TV Goes Big With Riverdale Hall H Debut Arrow Return Black Lightning More Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on June 25 2018 Retrieved July 11 2018 Aguilar Matthew September 6 2018 Black Lightning Season 2 Trailer Released ComicBook com Archived from the original on September 24 2019 Retrieved September 24 2019 Mitovich Matt Webb December 13 2018 Black Lightning s Jennifer Super Suits Up Your First Look at Lightning TVLine Archived from the original on March 1 2019 Retrieved March 18 2019 Agard Chancellor December 13 2018 Black Lightning reveals first look at Jennifer suiting up as Lightning Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on April 15 2019 Retrieved March 18 2019 Damore Meagan July 20 2019 Black Lightning Strikes At SDCC With Season 3 Details CBR Archived from the original on July 21 2019 Retrieved July 20 2019 Lovett Jamie September 24 2019 Black Lightning Season 3 Extended Trailer Teases New Suit ComicBook com Archived from the original on September 24 2019 Retrieved September 24 2019 Porter Rick January 18 2018 Originals all hold Modern Family rerun adjusts down Tuesday final ratings TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on January 19 2018 Retrieved July 7 2019 Porter Rick April 18 2018 TV Ratings Tuesday Black Lightning finale steady Roseanne holds at No 1 TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on July 8 2019 Retrieved July 7 2019 Welch Alex October 10 2018 TV Ratings Tuesday American Music Awards dip Black Lightning returns to series low TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on March 26 2019 Retrieved July 7 2019 Black Lightning Season Two Ratings TV Series Finale March 19 2019 Retrieved July 7 2019 Rejent Joseph October 8 2019 9 1 1 adjusts up Bluff City Law adjusts down Monday final ratings TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on October 8 2019 Retrieved October 8 2019 Metcalf Mitch March 11 2020 Updated ShowBuzzDaily s Top 150 Monday Cable Originals amp Network Finals 3 9 2020 Showbuzz Daily Archived from the original on March 17 2020 Retrieved March 11 2020 Metcalf Mitch February 9 2021 Updated ShowBuzzDaily s Top 150 Monday Cable Originals amp Network Finals 2 8 2021 Showbuzz Daily Archived from the original on February 9 2021 Retrieved February 9 2021 Berman Marc May 25 2021 Monday Ratings 9 1 1 and 9 1 1 Lone Star Season Enders Lead Fox to Victory CBS All Rise Concludes on a Modest Note Programming Insider Archived from the original on May 27 2021 Retrieved June 5 2021 Otterson Joe January 17 2018 TV Ratings Black Lightning Premiere Stands Strong on CW Variety Archived from the original on July 8 2019 Retrieved July 7 2019 The Cancel Bear January 23 2018 Cancel Bear vs The CW week 17 Black Lightning opens as a sure bet for renewal TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on July 8 2019 Retrieved July 7 2019 Andreeva Nellie October 10 2018 AMAs Hits Ratings Lows In Scheduling Move FBI Makes Demo Shift Black Lightning Soft As the CW Kicks Off Fall Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on July 8 2019 Retrieved July 8 2019 Hurley Laura October 12 2019 The Walking Dead Needs Life Support Superheroes Aren t So Super And More In This Week s TV Ratings CinemaBlend Archived from the original on October 16 2019 Retrieved October 15 2019 Black Lightning Season 1 2018 Rotten Tomatoes Fandango Media Archived from the original on April 19 2018 Retrieved March 14 2020 Black Lightning Season 1 Metacritic CBS Interactive Archived from the original on June 12 2021 Retrieved February 7 2018 Black Lightning Season 2 2018 2019 Rotten Tomatoes Fandango Media Archived from the original on April 2 2019 Retrieved March 14 2020 Black Lightning Season 3 2019 Rotten Tomatoes Fandango Media Archived from the original on November 13 2019 Retrieved January 20 2021 Black Lightning 2018 Rotten Tomatoes Fandango Media Archived from the original on November 13 2019 Retrieved November 3 2019 An Electrifying Black Lightning Conversation on Good vs Evil Paley Center for Media February 11 2018 Archived from the original on June 12 2021 Retrieved June 15 2019 Weekes Princess August 29 2018 New Black Lightning Poster Gives Hints of a Grittier Seasons The Mary Sue Archived from the original on November 24 2018 Retrieved June 15 2019 Rao Sameer April 3 2018 The CW Renews Black Lightning Color Lines Archived from the original on June 16 2019 Retrieved June 15 2019 Schwartz Dana January 16 2018 Black Lightning crackles with electricity and relevance EW review Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on June 4 2019 Retrieved May 23 2019 Fienberg Daniel January 15 2018 Black Lightning TV Review The Hollywood Reporter Archived from the original on June 4 2019 Retrieved May 22 2019 Viruet Pilot February 13 2018 In Black Lightning There s No Right Way to Fix a City The Atlantic Archived from the original on June 4 2019 Retrieved May 22 2019 Yohannes Alamin January 30 2018 Why Black Lightning Could Create the Future for Lesbian Superheroes Inverse Archived from the original on June 4 2019 Retrieved May 23 2019 Yohannes Alamin February 2 2018 Daughters of Lightning How Anissa and Jennifer Pierce Are Setting the Standard for Black Women Superheroes Syfy Wire Archived from the original on June 4 2019 Retrieved May 23 2019 Lawrence Briana January 25 2018 I m Already Here Anissa Pierce amp Black Lightning s Queer Representation Black Girl Nerds Archived from the original on June 4 2019 Retrieved June 3 2019 Anderson Minshall Diane June 6 2019 Black Lightning s Nafessa Williams Is a Force of Nature Advocate com Archived from the original on June 7 2019 Retrieved June 15 2019 Fowle Kyle April 17 2018 Black Lightning closes out a strong debut season with a perfect stirring finale The A V Club Archived from the original on July 7 2019 Retrieved May 22 2019 Schedeen Jesse April 27 2018 5 Things the Arrowverse Can Learn From Black Lightning IGN Archived from the original on June 12 2021 Retrieved May 23 2019 a b Fowle Kyle October 9 2018 Black Lightning is back and it s bleaker and better than ever The A V Club Archived from the original on October 28 2018 Retrieved October 27 2018 a b Burt Kayti October 11 2018 Black Lightning Season 2 Episode 1 Review The Book of Consequences Chapter One Rise of the Green Light Babies Den of Geek Archived from the original on October 17 2018 Retrieved October 17 2018 a b Keene Allison October 8 2018 Black Lightning Season 2 Review Family Truth and Consequences Collider Archived from the original on March 22 2019 Retrieved March 23 2019 a b Burt Kayti October 25 2018 Black Lightning s Depiction of Superhero Mental Illness is So Important Den of Geek Archived from the original on July 1 2019 Retrieved March 30 2019 Fowle Kyle March 18 2019 Freeland burns but Black Lightning loses some of its fire The A V Club Archived from the original on March 19 2019 Retrieved March 23 2019 Ashby Dan April 5 2019 Black Lightning Season 2 Review All The Right Pieces But Faulty Execution Cultured Vultures Archived from the original on June 12 2021 Retrieved April 7 2019 Holub Christian March 18 2019 Black Lightning season finale recap Jennifer suits up Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on March 30 2019 Retrieved March 30 2019 Holub Christian October 8 2019 Black Lightning season premiere recap Freeland puts kids in cages too Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on October 17 2019 Retrieved October 17 2019 Hill Nicole October 7 2019 Black Lightning Season 3 Episode 1 Review The Book of Occupation Chapter One The Birth of Blackbird Den of Geek Archived from the original on October 18 2019 Retrieved October 17 2019 Fowle Kyle October 7 2019 Black Lightning adapts to the current political moment The A V Club Archived from the original on October 18 2019 Retrieved October 17 2019 Gooden Tai April 29 2019 Religion in Black Lightning A Journey of Rage Redemption and Righteousness Syfy Wire Archived from the original on April 30 2019 Retrieved June 3 2019 Waldron Carl October 10 2018 Black Lightning Season 2 Premiere Review The Book of Consequences Chapter One Rise of the Green Light Babies IGN Archived from the original on June 12 2021 Retrieved October 17 2018 Holub Christian October 16 2018 Black Lightning recap Confronting those deep dark truths Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on April 8 2019 Retrieved April 7 2019 Pulliam Moore Charles October 10 2018 Black Lightning s Explosive Season 2 Premiere Came Out Swinging Gizmodo Archived from the original on October 31 2018 Retrieved October 30 2018 Holub Christian October 9 2018 Black Lightning season premiere recap Freeland is changing Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on April 8 2019 Retrieved April 7 2019 Holub Christian October 23 2018 Black Lightning recap Meet the new boss Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on April 7 2019 Retrieved April 7 2019 Macke Johnni September 5 2018 2018 People s Choice Awards Complete List of Nominations E Online Archived from the original on October 3 2018 Retrieved September 5 2018 McNary Dave March 15 2018 Black Panther Walking Dead Rule Saturn Awards Nominations Variety Archived from the original on March 16 2018 Retrieved March 15 2018 Black Reel Awards BlackReelAwards August 10 2018 Outstanding Drama Series blacklightning TheCW thesalimakil BRATs18 Tweet Retrieved June 29 2019 via Twitter 2nd Annual Black Reel Awards for Television Nomination Announcement Blog Talk Radio June 14 2018 Archived from the original on June 12 2021 Retrieved June 29 2019 Douglas Esme August 12 2018 Teen Choice Awards 2018 See the full list of winners Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on August 13 2018 Retrieved August 13 2018 Obenson Tambay March 31 2019 50th NAACP Image Awards Black Panther black ish Dominate IndieWire Archived from the original on April 5 2019 Retrieved May 24 2019 Nordyke Kimberly May 4 2019 GLAAD Media Awards Boy Erased Pose Gianni Versace Among Winners The Hollywood Reporter Archived from the original on May 5 2019 Retrieved May 5 2019 3rd Annual Black Reel for Television Awards Nominees Archived from the original on June 30 2019 Retrieved June 29 2019 The 45th Annual Saturn Awards 2019 Nominations PDF Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original PDF on July 16 2019 Retrieved July 15 2019 Hammond Pete November 19 2020 Palm Springs Lovecraft Country Top Movie And Series Nominations For Inaugural Critics Choice Super Awards Netflix Lands 35 Nods Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on December 25 2020 Retrieved December 17 2020 Gerding Stephen January 9 2017 Fox s Black Lightning Show Won t Cross Over With The Arrowverse CBR Archived from the original on November 18 2020 Retrieved February 3 2017 Schwartz Terri August 2 2017 This Arrowverse Crossover Will Fully Take Place Across Every Show From Supergirl To Legends of Tomorrow IGN Archived from the original on August 5 2017 Retrieved August 7 2017 Agard Chancellor April 16 2018 Black Lightning boss addresses those Arrowverse references Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on April 18 2018 Retrieved April 17 2018 Damore Meagan July 24 2019 Black Lightning There s Been Lots Of Talk About Joining The Arrowverse CBR Archived from the original on August 4 2019 Retrieved August 4 2019 Morgan Sarah August 3 2019 Black Lightning Will Be in Arrowverse Crisis on Infinite Earths Crossover Screen Rant Archived from the original on August 3 2019 Retrieved August 3 2019 White Peter August 4 2019 Black Lightning Stars To Feature In The CW s Superhero Crossover Crisis of Infinite Earths For The First Time TCA Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on August 5 2019 Retrieved August 4 2019 Agard Chancellor January 14 2020 Crisis on Infinite Earths introduces a major change for the CW s superhero shows Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on January 16 2020 Retrieved January 15 2020 Del Rosario Alexandra August 25 2021 The Flash Lineup of Superheroes amp Villains Revealed For 5 Part Season 8 Launch Event Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on August 25 2021 Retrieved August 25 2021 White Peter November 12 2020 Black Lightning Spinoff Painkiller Starring Jordan Calloway Set As Backdoor Pilot At The CW Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on November 12 2020 Retrieved November 12 2020 Ramos Dino Ray February 16 2021 Black Lightning Spinoff Painkiller Adds Sibongile Mlambo Alexander Hodge And James Roch Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on February 16 2021 Retrieved February 16 2021 Andreeva Nellie May 24 2021 Powerpuff To Be Repiloted Tom Swift Remains In Contention Our Ladies Of Brooklyn amp Painkiller Not Going Forward CW Pilots Update Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on May 24 2021 Retrieved May 24 2021 External links edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Black Lightning Official website nbsp Black Lightning at IMDb nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Black Lightning TV series amp oldid 1224079165, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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