S01.E01: Back in the Day

[Scarlett45]

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In 1991 in South Jamaica, Queens,15-year-old Kanan Stark is eager to join his family's growing drug business that is led by his mother, Raquel Raq Thomas.

Trailer here.

Air Date July 18, 2021

[mxc90]

My goodness! Another one!

It's already renewed for a second season (I guess Ghost and Tommy will be introduced then).

The first episode was OK but it's the same story we've seen many times before. Not really interested in most of these characters as it will not end well for any of them.

Knowing how Kanan and Jukebox turned out as adults, I don't care abut their younger selves. And seeing they had opportunities to get out of that gangster mentality makes me despise even more.

Sad to see Kanan ask his mother to make up "her mind" for what she wants him to do. At that age, he can't make a decision for his own interest. Anything he do is with her in mind.

A little interested in Famous and it's a matter of time until his sister Jessica will be corrupted. 

Symphony! Run away fast from these people. You can do better.

So Kanan kills Davina's boyfriend and that should ruin her view of him.

Not sure why Raq couldn't let Kanan and the others know the corner is now with Nique to avoid any confusion. She's more to blame for this.

I guess Jukebox is supposed to be at Kanan's side at all times as she is always asked of her whereabouts.

Was "mental health day" a term used in 1991?

Of course, it's not enough to get through to Hugo's white girl in the sheets. But to put her dog in the microwave was petty and poor taste.

Sorry Raq! That stray bullet is not only looking for Kanan but could hit an innocent bystander too.

Edited July 18, 2021 by mxc90

[Scarlett45]

I think this series will be compelling. It will all come down to the performances by the actors- Mekai Curtis looks like 50 Cent but is handsomer. He has worked for Disney before and is bringing a vulnerability and layers to a character we are pre-disposed to hate. 
 

I am looking forward to the set design and 90s fashion, as well as seeing Omar Epps. Patina Miller (Raq) is SO PRETTY, I wonder if we will hear her sing (she’s been on Broadway). Toby Sandeman (Symphony) looks like a a younger Shemar Moore to me no? Can we get him in a sex scene?
 

I am in- looking forward to more episodes. I think it will be better than Book II as Tariq got on our damn nerves. 

[AntFTW]

This was a pretty good start to the season. Strong first episode out the gate. It laid a really good foundation for the rest of the season. It gives us a good lay of the land and solid foundation for all the characters.

Personally, I think this is looking to be a better spinoff than Book 2 but I think it’s just telling the same story with different characters; child of drug dealer wants to get in the drug game, and goes down the rabbit hole to ensure that’s the only path they have to take. Additionally, I think the characters are much more appealing and interesting to watch than Book 2 (and with better acting from the performers).

36 minutes ago, Scarlett45 said:

I am in- looking forward to more episodes. I think it will be better than Book II as Tariq got on our damn nerves. 

I agree. I think Kanan is a much more interesting character than Tariq.

[AntFTW]

13 hours ago, mxc90 said:

Not sure why Raq couldn't let Kanan and the others know the corner is now with Nique to avoid any confusion. She's more to blame for this.

I'm not sure that she's to blame for this because I get the impression that Raq doesn't keep Kanan in the loop on the drug business because she doesn't really want Kanan in the business. Her brothers are in the business with her so they know the deal immediately. Kanan doesn't really need to know because she keeps him out intentionally. It isn't Kanan's business or job to protect his mother's and uncle's territory because he's not supposed to be in the business. In theory, Kanan isn't supposed to care about which dealer is on what block. He took that upon himself. Because he's not supposed to be in the business, he should have just took that info back to his mother or uncles, and they would have filled him in and told him not to worry about it or to mind his business.

Edited July 19, 2021 by AntFTW

[mxc90]

9 hours ago, AntFTW said:

I'm not sure that she's to blame for this because I get the impression that Raq doesn't keep Kanan in the loop on the drug business because she doesn't really want Kanan in the business. Her brothers are in the business with her so they know the deal immediately. Kanan doesn't really need to know because she keeps him out intentionally. It isn't Kanan's business or job to protect his mother's and uncle's territory because he's not supposed to be in the business. In theory, Kanan isn't supposed to care about which dealer is on what block. He took that upon himself. Because he's not supposed to be in the business, he should have just took that info back to his mother or uncles, and they would have filled him in and told him not to worry about it or to mind his business.

Yes. He should have gone back to Raq.

Looking back, it was D-Wiz that brought up to Kanan and others in the pizzeria: Buck Twenty was on the corner. Not sure of D-Wiz's involvement in the business but he didn't get the memo too or why go to Kanan/mention guns (if he's not in the business). Just odd that word didn't spread on Raq's side.

Not likely but maybe he knew the new arrangement, played unknowing Kanan and just wanted to make up a reason to get into a shoot out. 

Edited July 19, 2021 by mxc90

[Scarlett45]

9 hours ago, AntFTW said:

I'm not sure that she's to blame for this because I get the impression that Raq doesn't keep Kanan in the loop on the drug business because she doesn't really want Kanan in the business. Her brothers are in the business with her so they know the deal immediately. Kanan doesn't really need to know because she keeps him out intentionally. It isn't Kanan's business or job to protect his mother's and uncle's territory because he's not supposed to be in the business. In theory, Kanan isn't supposed to care about which dealer is on what block. He took that upon himself. Because he's not supposed to be in the business, he should have just took that info back to his mother or uncles, and they would have filled him in and told him not to worry about it or to mind his business.

Yes I agree. Kanaan wanted to flex his little teenage boy muscles thinking he knew what was going on, and killed someone. His mother never asked him to get involved in the business, but he did have a point- she kept him close to her out of maternal love and affection, but also instilled those "street" values (like with the sock and the boys in the park). I get it, she wanted him to defend himself, but she also wanted better for him, encouraging him to apply for the advanced school. I think like a lot of parents she was conflicted.

I wonder what motivated Jukebox to join the police force. Seems Jukebox was intelligent as well, but her Dad didn't want  her to "dream big" and he wanted to keep her in the street life. The young lady playing her, Hailey Kilgore does look like Anika Noni Rose- more singing would be nice.

[AntFTW]

56 minutes ago, Scarlett45 said:

His mother never asked him to get involved in the business, but he did have a point- she kept him close to her out of maternal love and affection, but also instilled those "street" values (like with the sock and the boys in the park). I get it, she wanted him to defend himself, but she also wanted better for him, encouraging him to apply for the advanced school. I think like a lot of parents she was conflicted.

I don’t think it’s necessarily conflicting. I think she taught him “survival” for their world. Every parent, or most of them, teaches their kid to survive hard circumstances they are likely to face, like telling your kid not to flaunt their money around other kids; or teaching them it’s not enough to just defend yourself the next time, but in our neighborhood, you can’t look like a punk EVER so we gotta go back to the park and handle business today so that it wouldn’t happen everyday after.

She taught him survival but she hoped he wouldn’t have to deal with this forever.

Edited July 19, 2021 by AntFTW

[AntFTW]

1 hour ago, Scarlett45 said:

I wonder what motivated Jukebox to join the police force. Seems Jukebox was intelligent as well, but her Dad didn't want  her to "dream big" and he wanted to keep her in the street life. The young lady playing her, Hailey Kilgore does look like Anika Noni Rose- more singing would be nice.

Watching the episode, I wondered the same. Maybe I'm trying to connect the dots too soon, but I'm just trying to paint a picture of how the young Jukebox we're introduced to in this episode becomes the hardened unempathetic crooked cop we were introduced to in the original series.

To me, this one episode gives enough to envision a clear line of how young Kanan became the Kanan we knew on the original series. I don't see anything about young Jukebox (yet) that can give me a sense of how we got original-Power Jukebox.

[Scarlett45]

6 minutes ago, AntFTW said:

Watching the episode, I wondered the same. Maybe I'm trying to connect the dots too soon, but I'm just trying to paint a picture of how the young Jukebox we're introduced to in this episode becomes the hardened unempathetic crooked cop we were introduced to in the original series.

To me, this one episode gives enough to envision a clear line of how young Kanan became the Kanan we knew on the original series. I don't see anything about young Jukebox (yet) that can give me a sense of how we got original-Power Jukebox.

Hailey has copied Anika's mannerisms and stances, Jukebox seemed to have a fire (look how that bigger boy had to hold her back when she was little), and she had a talent. She and Kanaan were close (he knows about her flirtation with that girl from the choir) but we dont have any indication that she's going down the "crooked cop" route yet.

[AntFTW]

1 hour ago, Scarlett45 said:

Hailey has copied Anika's mannerisms and stances, Jukebox seemed to have a fire (look how that bigger boy had to hold her back when she was little), and she had a talent. She and Kanaan were close (he knows about her flirtation with that girl from the choir) but we dont have any indication that she's going down the "crooked cop" route yet.

Agreed! I like the actress they chose. I think she's nailing it so far.

The character's far more emotional and caring in this series than the original series. Those dots are harder to connect. In the original series, Jukebox was even more of a no-good MFer than Kanan and Kanan set that bar pretty high. Everybody was a pawn in her game and everybody is expendable; she showed no emotion; and she cared about no one other than herself.

It's only the first episode but it seems like the opposite, with Kanan wanting to get into the life and Jukebox, not so much.

Edited July 19, 2021 by AntFTW

[luckyroll3]

17 hours ago, Scarlett45 said:

I am looking forward to the set design and 90s fashion

Raq's entire wardrobe was fab! Even those extremely high rise jeans. 

I found the premiere to be meh. Honestly, I'm just biding my time until Tommy's book....

[Scarlett45]

20 minutes ago, luckyroll3 said:

Raq's entire wardrobe was fab! Even those extremely high rise jeans. 

I found the premiere to be meh. Honestly, I'm just biding my time until Tommy's book....

Raq’s wardrobe was everything. The actress has a more mature face for her age (she’s only 36 but I thought she was closer to 50), she has a “toughness” but still very beautiful. Her style is great. 

[AntFTW]

1 hour ago, Scarlett45 said:

Raq’s wardrobe was everything. The actress has a more mature face for her age (she’s only 36 but I thought she was closer to 50), she has a “toughness” but still very beautiful. Her style is great. 

I look at the actress and think “she would have been a great Monet Tejada.”

[Scarlett45]

1 hour ago, AntFTW said:

I look at the actress and think “she would have been a great Monet Tejada.”

Yes I thought that too! She’s a bit young, but styling and makeup could fix that. I love Mary J, but she needs more acting classes. 

[Joimiaroxeu]

Meh on the theme song. Guess 50 is determined to do the Law and Order thing where all the spinoff theme songs are riffs on the original one

Was an escalator in a school considered a big deal?

Surprised to see AnnaLynne McCord in this. Wonder if that was a one off or if she'll be recurring?

Interracial lesbian romance across socioeconomic lines. Okay 50, we get it. You woke.

So young Kanan was shocked to learn that if you point an armed gun at someone they might die. He really wasn't made for that life.

Wow, did Omar Epps gain weight for the role? I almost didn't recognize him.

My main takeaway: so many lives would've been saved in the future if young Kanan hadn't been such a mama's boy.

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Toby Sandeman (Symphony) looks like a a younger Shemar Moore to me no?

Yep. Acts like him too, IMO.

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I think Kanan is a much more interesting character than Tariq.

Heh, with any comparisons to Tariq the bar is set very low. In the abyss low.

Edited July 20, 2021 by Joimiaroxeu

[luckyroll3]

21 minutes ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

Wow, did Omar Epps gain weight for the role? I almost didn't recognize him.

Nah. He's had that weight on him for a few years now. 

 

21 hours ago, AntFTW said:

I look at the actress and think “she would have been a great Monet Tejada.”

 

20 hours ago, Scarlett45 said:

Yes I thought that too! She’s a bit young, but styling and makeup could fix that. I love Mary J, but she needs more acting classes. 

I third this! MJB is fantastic, just not at this. 

[Scarlett45]

On 7/20/2021 at 2:43 PM, Joimiaroxeu said:

Was an escalator in a school considered a big deal?

In a public school in the early 90s, absolutely. A school for kids with mobility issues and/or wheelchair users may have had an elevator, but yes an escalator was a big deal.

On 7/20/2021 at 2:43 PM, Joimiaroxeu said:

Yep. Acts like him too, IMO.

This is a good thing I think?

[Joimiaroxeu]

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This is a good thing I think?

It's good if he wants to be known IMO as a low-rent Shemar Moore. I thought he was doing that same "I'm just gonna pretend like I don't know how foine I am" thing Shemar has done a lot during his acting career.

[kylies-lips]

I really enjoyed this first episode!

I had to giggle as the character introductions kept rolling well into the middle of the show. I need a chart to keep up with everyone!

Great casting on young Kanan, I really want to know what "turns" him. The actress that plays Raq is gorgeous!!

[benteen]

Fun episode, I very much enjoyed it.  It's nice to watch Power again without annoying Tariq ruining the show.  Great casting with the leads.  I didn't like Jukebox on Power but like the character more here.

Edited July 24, 2021 by benteen

[PettyLabelle]

Everything about Unique made me reminisce about the early 90's. They were spot on with the dialect, wardrobe, hair! 

And yes, having an escalator in school was a big thing lol. I went to another one of the "specialized" high schools in the early 90's. An audition was required to get in. We had an escalator lol.

Edited July 22, 2021 by PettyLabelle

[Mrsmaul2021]

On 7/19/2021 at 6:11 PM, AntFTW said:

I look at the actress and think “she would have been a great Monet Tejada.”

I was thinking, she would have been a great Tasha too.  She would have gone toe to toe with Omari