S03.E16: The Book of War: Chapter Three: Liberation

[Trini]

SEASON FINALE - Black Lightning faces off against Gravedigger.

Salim Akil directed the episode written by Charles D. Holland.

Airdate: 3/9/2020

[Lantern7]

Well, this counts as a happy ending, yes? I mean, Henderson got killed, Odell lived (albeit with his spleen shot . . . thanks, Khalil!), Grace is in a coma, and Tobias is chilling in Markovia. My guess? He's networking with the various Big Bads of Earth-Prime, getting ready for whatever crossover comes next. I'm thinking two series per story, with Black Lightning and Flash hooking up.

Oh, and Gravedigger survived the nuke. Of course he did. I will say that he does make for an intriguing nemesis in general; even with all the shit he's pulled, I hesitate to use the term "villain" because he got screwed so hard by the United States Government. Of course he'd hook up with the Not Ready For Bratva Players. The fact that he's related to Jefferson and his daughters doesn't feel "extra" at all. And Wayne Brady did give us one vital trope: when a character loses their powers and doesn't know it, flailing away with their hands backed by zero special effects.

RIP Dr. Helga Jace. I think we're gonna miss her lack of morality. I propose that "I SAVED FOURTEEN PEOPLE, BITCH!!" be engraved on her tombstone.

Thinking about it, I'm surprised none of the Freeland Resistance threw their guns at Gravedigger after he repelled all of their gunfire.

[Trini]

Awwww, man! I thought that since Damon Gupton announced he was leaving a while ago that meant Henderson wasn't going to get killed off.  Silly me. 😭  RIP Henderson.

Well, I guess someone had to kill Jace? I was wondering if That Guy was ever going to show up again.*

And I guess RIP to cocky ASA General who I still don't know the name of. Glad that Lady Eve and LaLa made appearances, but I was hoping that they would play a bigger part in the battle for Freeland. So - with the ASA disbanded (doubt that'll stick, though) looks like Lady Eve doesn't get her 'old job' back?

So the USA only acknowledged that a foreign country invaded after everything blew over - mhmmm.

So they speak English in Markovia? Tobias will be back, but, like Lady Eve, it doesn't seem like he has many prospects.

So Khalil won the latest mental fight with Painkiller, but I imagine they'll keep switching back and forth as needed by plot. He got revenge on Odell, but he's still alive. 

I have mixed feelings about so many major antagonists still being in play. On one hand, most of them have more story to tell; but on the other hand, there's a lot of them, and I'm sure they'll introduce one more next season. Gravedigger is the 'biggest bad' right now, but will Wayne Brady be able to commit to being a regular?

Great. Grace in a coma seems another way to keep her offscreen. Not at all happy about Lynn still taking Green Light. I do not want another season of this addiction storyline!

Hope Jefferson said 'Hi' to Kate Kane and/or Batwoman while he was in Gotham!

Oh, and I'm glad that TC survived the season! New bunker next season!

 

* I know it's mostly due to actor availability and budget, but this show has a real bad habit of introducing characters and then having them just disappear and reappear randomly. I hope they can get better at managing the cast next season.

Edited March 10, 2020 by Trini

[Trini]

Oh, and I forgot: Jamilah, noooo! Is she dead dead?? I was hoping they'd connect her to James Olsen (Supergirl) somehow, now that the universes are merged.

Edited March 10, 2020 by Trini

[AnimeMania]

I shot him in the spleen so he should live, but since I shot him 3 times in the spleen, I'm not so sure anymore.

[thuganomics85]

Fare thee well, Henderson.  I wasn't aware that Damon Gupton was leaving, but even then, it wasn't too surprising since it felt like the character ran its course/they weren't sure what to do with him anymore.  Hopefully he'll find another gig soon.

As fun as it is watching Gravedigger bust out all of his powers, I have to admittedly agree with a point mentioned last week that he really would be more than fine just with his mind-controlling powers alone.  He was pretty much this show's version of Kilgrave (Jessica Jones) with that ability, and really didn't need anything else.  Eh, I guess I can roll with him being arrogant enough not to use it all the time.  Of course, it no longer matters since Lynn whipped up something to get rid of all of his temp powers, but he clearly is going to be a factor next season.  Can't wait for more Evil Wayne Brady!

Jace kind of got a unceremonious death, I see.

Well, at least Grace isn't dead, but she is in a coma.  So, if all my viewing of various television is to believe, either a) she'll wake up, but lose all of her memories (or at least the ones with Anissa) or b) she'll be under long enough for Anissa to meet someone else and fall for her, Grace then wakes back up, and it's love triangle time!

Khalil beats up Painkiller in his mind place, and is back... for now.  At least he put a few bullets in Odell, although Odell still is alive, apparently.  Figures.

Wish Lady Eve and Lala had more involvement here.

Lynn is back on green light?  Dammit!

I know a crossover wasn't likely, but I like to believe Jefferson made time to swing by Kate's, and they both drink and complain about how much it sucks to have crazy relatives, who are trying to kill you/take over the world!

 

[ketose]

So Gotham is the DC version of Washington, DC? I thought that was Capitol City.

[Trini]

Black Lightning creators made a cameo!

 

[Primal Slayer]

It was a fairly good finale! Season 3 overall was a major upgrade from the sophmore slump BL went through. 

Was a bit surprised that Thunder was so sidelined in this finale. She wasnt really part of the action until it came to her having to take Grace out. I was expecting her to save BL numerous times when he was being burnt from the inside out. 

Hopefully this brings a semi permanent end to Khalil vs. Painkiller, dont need it to be forever but we've seen enough of the dual personalities for the time being. They've done a great job with the storylines but...time to let K decide who he wants to become as a person/hero/anti-hero.

The BL vs. GD scenes were all just SO GOOD! Especially the first one where BL had to draw on the lightning to temporarily win the fight and live to see another day.

Was a little disappointed in the overall Markovia storyline just because no actual Markovians played a big part, especially on the meta side of things. 

[raven]

On 3/10/2020 at 7:03 PM, Primal Slayer said:

The BL vs. GD scenes were all just SO GOOD!

They really were!  This show does those scenes really well.  The Khalil/Painkiller fights were well choreographed too.

Henderson's death was pretty moving.  Aw RIP 😞 

You just had to know something awful would happen to Grace because she and Anissa were too happy.   As soon as they agreed to get married, I'm thinking "bye Grace!"  I am very glad the show didn't kill her, that would be too much on Anissa.

I may have cackled when Khalil shot Odell.  Guy had him kill his mother; sorry Jeff.  

Oh and those ASA troops should have  known not to go up against the Tailor on his home turf/shop.

I do agree there are so many bad guys.   I like them all though - Lady Eve (nuff said); LaLa is so creepy and complicated; Odell is so, so bad, the ultimate bureaucratic evil; Tobias has flare.  I think out of all of them, Tobias could go I guess.   Gravedigger has a certain pathos but he's so powerful, that could get tiresome.  Still, I'm always here for a Jeff/Lynn team up to take down a bad guy.  Kudos to GD for quickly figuring that Lightning is BL's daughter.

I know it's a superhero show but I do have to laugh at BL, Thunder and Lightning giving testimony in their masks that don't hide anything except that they're on a superhero show.

 

[Perfect Xero]

I get the feeling that Odell will spend, like, 2 weeks in prison then the government will put him in charge of the new Suicide Squad or something..

[Trini]

6 hours ago, Perfect Xero said:

I get the feeling that Odell will spend, like, 2 weeks in prison then the government will put him in charge of the new Suicide Squad or something..

It's funny that you mention Suicide Squad, because I've now come to think that Amanda Waller could totally fit as Odell's daughter (or maybe protégé).

[tennisgurl]

I hope Jefferson managed to stop by Kate's while he was in Gotham! He can join her "so your relative is a supervillain" support group! 

That was a solid ending for the season, we seem to be actually moving towards doing something new next season, especially with Odell in lock up and the ASA disbanded, and we got closure on most all of the main plots. Well, except Lynn still being on drugs, which I hope gets nipped in the bud soon, and most every villain is still in play (especially freaking Tobias, who has at least twelve lives) and Grace is in a comma, because poor Grace cant be allowed to just be around as a character I guess, and Khalil is still struggling between Painkiller and himself, and...yeah there is still a lot more for next season. 

Damn Khalil, did you get him? I feel like that would kill the crap out of Odell, but I guess not. On the one hand, Odell should have to suffer more than just one shot to kill him after all the crap he has pulled, but on the other, if he is alive, even in jail, you know his wormy ass will get out and start trouble again. Will the poor Khalil get a break next season? I am guessing not. 

So happy that TK is alright! But poor Henderson, RIP. It sucks to see him go, but at least he went down swinging. Despite the battle being an invasion by Markovians, I feel like we still dont know any Markovians, what they actually want (beyond metas) and what the greater implications of a country invading the US actually was. What is Markovia like? What are its plans? It was all just generic "evil eastern European bad guys" until Gravedigger, the one guy who gets characterization arrived, who is an American, albeit one with a massive hate on for the US. 

Gravedigger survives, shocking to no one. Oh Jeff, dont get sucked into the "we cant kill this guy, he is family!!" vortex! To that way leads madness and bad guys who stay on for way too long! I didnt think that just one massive explosion would take him out. *Aint no grave can hold my body down..." 

 

[CletusMusashi]

This was a good finish for the season, but that final scene where the entire family was walking together in broad daylight... really? I think even Lena Luthor could figure out those secret identities.