Jefferson Pierce is a man wrestling with a secret. As the father of two daughters and principal of a charter high school that also serves as a safe haven for young people in a New Orleans neighborhood overrun by gang violence, he is a hero to his community. Nine years ago, Pierce was a hero of a different sort. Gifted with the superhuman power to harness and control electricity, he used those powers to keep his hometown streets safe as the masked vigilante Black Lightning. However, after too many nights with his life on the line, and seeing the effects of the damage and loss that his alter ego was inflicting on his family, he left his Super Hero days behind and settled into being a principal and a dad. Choosing to help his city without using his superpowers, he watched his daughters Anissa and Jennifer grow into strong young women, even though his marriage to their mother, Lynn, suffered. Almost a decade later, Pierce's crime-fighting days are long behind him…or so he thought. But with crime and corruption spreading like wildfire, and those he cares about in the crosshairs of the menacing local gang The One Hundred, Black Lightning returns - to save not only his family, but also the soul of his community. A crusading school principal gets back into action as the original African-American electrical superhero. BAD. Do you hear me? Just BAD! I am a black female who tried VERY hard to like this show, but my GOD…it was even too much for me.<br/><br/>1 - WAY too many 'black issues' all in the first episode. The references to injustice were too many to count. I applaud a show that does delve into societal issues, but THIS was just nonstop…<br/><br/>2 - The acting was borderline community playhouse level. I take that back, THEY probably act better than this! <br/><br/>3 - I really liked the premise of the show though and enjoyed it right up to the part where Black Lightening put on that tacky ass costume. Once he got all dolled up and went to 'save the day'…the show LOST me. OMG! He was slow as Hell, the fight scenes are terribly choreographed, and again, the costume was NOT cool at all. <br/><br/>The whole show was just extra! I made it through the pilot episode and…that was it. I quit. Wasn't interested anymore. CW - please do better than this campy mess. I have read all the reviews but I wanted to see for myself. I have a special needs child who kept bugging me to watch it. I went in with an open mind, but low expectations. I was pleasantly surprised. I believe the story lines are well balanced. The hero has flaws, the villain can be a sympathetic figure. I believe the action sequence for a television show are of decent quality. The show brings out race relation issues with a balanced touch. It does not show all white people being evil and black people being oppressed or discriminated against. But it does touch on current events and subject matter that can be dividing. I believe that the writers, actors, and director have addressed this racial divide without being overly preachy.
Ellbetom replied
321 weeks ago