Black Lightning Season 1 Episode 2 'LaWanda: The Book of Hope’ Recap: Does Freeland Need Their Hero? [SPOILERS]

This is the question Jefferson (Cress Williams) faces in “LaWanda: The Book of Hope,” a well-crafted follow-up to last week’s premiere. While the answer might seem obvious—in the nine years since Black Lightning’s retirement, Freeland has fallen back into a cycle of violence and corruption—it’s not so clear-cut for the man in question, or for his ex-wife, for that matter. If anyone knows the cost and consequences of Jefferson’s vigilantism, it’s Lynn (Christine Adams). Who, after all, was in the passenger seat when their relationship and family took a backseat to Black Lightning’s responsibilities (and nearly crashed and burned when his vigilantism almost took it too far.)
Her legitimate concerns echo Jefferson’s doubts, clashing with the part of him that wants to save the city. At first, Jefferson tries to keep his promise to her: he put on the suit to ensure the safety of their daughters. Nothing more. Black Lightning isn’t back. He can’t risk his family, not when he and Lynn are so close to reconciliation. But then LaWanda happens.

Meet LaWanda White (Tracey Bonner), a former student of Jefferson and mother to one of the girls kidnapped by the One Hundred Gang and taken to the Seahorse Motel. Which, as it turns out, went back to business only two days after being shut down by Black Lightning in last week’s ‘The Resurrection.’ Desperate to save her daughter, LaWanda launches a one-woman crusade to bring her home. Her efforts ultimately draw the attention of the media, the police, the One Hundred—and Black Lightning himself.

‘Unless All Of Us Are Free, None Of Us Are Free’

Jefferson holds a conference with the parents of Grover High School, reassuring them of their children’s safety within its walls. His audience, however, remains less-than-convinced. Among them LaWanda, who questions why Black Lightning rescued Jefferson’s daughters but not the rest of the kidnapped girls. “Unless all of us are free, none of us are free,” she tells a speechless Jefferson. Throwing the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. right back at him.

Frustrated by the police, LaWanda takes matters into her own hands. She camps outside the Seahorse Hotel with a camera, gaining the attention of media outfit WTV and a concerned Inspector Henderson (Damon Gupton). In the end, LaWanda’s efforts pay off. But with a cost. When LaWanda confronts Lala (William Catlett) at the Seahorse, he shoots her dead. His rash action turns out to be the start of his death knell. A forward-thinking Lawanda had filmed the whole murder on her smartphone, which she had placed on her car’s windshield. It finally provides Henderson the evidence needed to arrest Lala. “LaWanda is telling her story from the dead,” the triumphant inspector boasts. And her death also serves as the catalyst Jefferson needs to make a decision on Black Lightning.

‘Don’t Mistake My Patience For Weakness’

In ‘The Resurrection,’ we saw that Jefferson’s wells of patience run deep, allowing him to carry on with dignity despite multiple transgressions. But after nine years of careful patience, even the stores of a man like Jefferson inevitably start to run out. Despite the repeated reassurances of old friend Henderson that the police will handle Lala (and Will – who it turns out somehow survived and escaped from an ambulance), Jefferson finds himself drawn back into the right fight anyway. His sense of responsibility towards Freeland pulls at him. The only thing stopping him? The thought of reconciliation with Lynn.
But not even reconciliation can erase Jefferson’s guilt upon learning of LaWanda’s death. He bitterly repeats the words he spoke in ‘The Resurrection’ – “I have saved more lives as the principal of Garfield High than I ever did as Black Lightning” – and calls them a lie. In an emotionally-charged argument with Lynn, he recalls that she used to call his powers a gift and a blessing from God. Then, he makes his decision. “It is still a gift. It’s still a blessing from God. And I intend to use it, not just for the girls but for all the people out there who need me,” he proclaims. But, in a stunning moment of editorial direction, it’s not his monumental decision that the camera focuses. No, it’s the devastation on Lynn’s face when she hears him. And it’s through her we grasp the flipside of his nobility: the ghosts of their shared past, come to haunt them again.

The Real Threat

In making his decision, Jefferson didn’t just resurrect Black Lightning. He also revived the memories he and Lynn had struggled to put to rest over the past nine years. While his choice to put on the suit is undoubtedly rooted in noble intentions, we can’t also help but see how badly this can all go, especially when considering who he’s up against. With help from Peter Gambi (James Remar), Black Lightning breaks into Lala’s penthouse, deals with his cronies, and shakes him up. But if it all sounds too easy, you’d be right. The writers throw us a curveball when Tobias Whale (Marvin Jones III) strolls into holding and murders Lala with his bare hands. He is the real threat – and don’t let anybody forget it.

Some Other Noteworthy Details:

• Despite a brave front, Jennifer (China Anne McClain) remains noticeably shaken up by her experience at the Seahorse. While she’s got new boyfriend and old friend Khalil (Jordan Calloway) to lean on, she still ends up drinking at school to cope. Kudos to him, Khalil confronts her on it instead of letting her behavior slide. But Jennifer’s recovery still looks far from smooth-sailing…
• Anissa tells current girlfriend Chenoa (Shein Mompremier) about breaking the bathroom sink last episode. While Chenoa rationalizes that the sink was probably old and falling apart anyway, Anissa appears unconvinced. She also expresses non-commitment towards meeting Chenoa’s family and friends – not a good sign of this relationship’s longevity. At the end of the episode, Anissa comes upon a robbery while shopping for sleeping pills to help her insomnia and manages to stop the thief with super-strength. She smiles to herself, looking pleased. Very interesting.
• Lynn and Gambi stand on opposite sides on the subject of Jefferson’s powers. Lynn believes Jefferson is addicted to his powers – an incredibly fascinating view – and should avoid temptation by not using them. Gambi disagrees and says that Lynn is the one Jefferson is addicted to, not his powers. Can we expect more clashes like this from these two in the future?

“Black Lightning” continues next Tuesday, January 30th, with “Lawanda: The Boof of Burial” at 9/8c on The CW.