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Black Lightning
On The CW — From Warner Bros. Television · Akil Productions
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Not available to stream in US
🔔 Notify me about new seasonsSynopsis
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.
Themes
Episodes
Highlighted episode
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- E1 The Book of Occupation: Chapter One: Birth of BlackbirdOct 7, 2019 · 43 min · ★ 6.2
Synopsis
We find Jefferson Pierce like never before, in the hands of the ASA with his wife Lynn as Agent Odell tightens his grip on the Pierce family, leaving Jennifer abandoned and Freeland without Black Lightning and Thunder. But Anissa secretly defies Odell in her alter ego as Blackbird with the able tactical and technical support of Gambi.
Guest stars: Zoë Renee (Maryam Luqman), Clifton Powell (Reverend Jeremiah Holt), Myles Truitt (Issa Williams), Chase Anderson (Cyclotronic), Kristyl Dawn Tift (Betty), Nevaina Graves Rhodes (Ms. Reeks), Kenneth Dozier (Freeland Resident 2), Cindy L. Jefferson (Freeland Resident 3)
- E2 The Book of Occupation: Chapter Two: Maryam's TasbihOct 14, 2019 · 43 min · ★ 5.9
Synopsis
With Freeland under full-blown occupation, the Pierce family gets pulled in different directions. Jefferson and Lynn find themselves at odds with each other. Meanwhile, Anissa rebels as Blackbird while Jennifer feels powerless despite having powers.
Guest stars: Zoë Renee (Maryam Luqman), Warren Snipe (Thierry), Warren Snipe (Anaya's Father), Yolanda T. Ross (Nichelle Payne), Michael Anthony (Stone Killer), Kelvin Witherspoon (Rayvon), D.J. Harley (Mohawk), Crystal Lee Brown (Sergeant King)
- E3 The Book of Occupation: Chapter Three: Agent Odell's Pipe-DreamOct 21, 2019 · 43 min · ★ 6.2
Synopsis
When Lynn learns that Jefferson brokered a deal with Agent Odell without consulting her first, it begins to put a strain on their relationship. Meanwhile, Anissa and Grace have an emotional encounter.
Guest stars: Chantal Thuy (Grace Choi), Katy O'Brian (Major Sara Grey), Crystal Lee Brown (Sergeant King), Antwan Mills (Herbert King), Joan Q. Scott (Older Woman), Anthony Belevtsov (Markovian Soldier 1), Pavel Kozlov (Markovian Soldier 2), Neal Kodinsky (Markovian Soldier 3)
- E4 The Book of Occupation: Chapter Four: Lynn's OuroborosOct 28, 2019 · 43 min · ★ 6.1
Synopsis
Jefferson faces new challenges due to the shocking state of Freeland; Lynn finds herself under intense pressure as she desperately tries to find a solution to the continuing crisis in Freeland; Anissa continues her work at the clinic.
Guest stars: Chantal Thuy (Grace Choi), Stella Smith (Teenage Grace Choi), Katy O'Brian (Major Sara Grey), P.J. Byrne (Principal Mike Lowry), Mac Wells (Sinzell Johnson), Karen Ceesay (Veretta Henderson), Gordon Danniels (Richard), Dani Deetté (ASA Commando)
- E5 The Book of Occupation: Chapter Five: Requiem for TavonNov 11, 2019 · 43 min · ★ 6.7
Synopsis
Jefferson struggles with the effects on his family, leading to a decision with tragic consequences. Meanwhile, Anissa's identity is threatened. Lastly, Agent Odell takes an important step toward winning over Jennifer.
Guest stars: Chantal Thuy (Grace Choi), Kedrick Brown (Marcel Payton), Clifton Powell (Reverend Jeremiah Holt), Taylor Polidore (Lisa), Jasun Jabbar Wardlaw Jr. (Tavon Singley), Glenn Magee (Mr. Singley), Bonita Brisker (Mrs. Singley), Derrion Elmore (Male Student)
- E6 The Book of Resistance: Chapter One: Knocking on Heaven's DoorNov 18, 2019 · 43 min · ★ 6.0
Synopsis
Jefferson, is torn between his loyalty to his family and his commitment to saving Freeland. Meanwhile, Anissa's commitment to Grace is deepening. Lastly, Jennifer makes an interesting discovery.
Guest stars: Chantal Thuy (Grace Choi), Katy O'Brian (Major Sara Grey), Clifton Powell (Reverend Jeremiah Holt), Tosin Morohunfola (Instant), Dave Tommasini (ASA Commando 2), Tony J. Scott (Amos Tucker (uncredited)), Thomas Belgrey (Colonel Yuri Mosin), Bill Duke (Agent Percy Odell)
- E7 The Book of Resistance: Chapter Two: Henderson's OpusNov 25, 2019 · 42 min · ★ 6.7
Synopsis
Anissa and Jefferson have a heart-to-heart and she tells him she needs Black Lightning’s help in escorting meta refugees out of the perimeter. Meanwhile, Gambi implores Lynn to help get him access to the Pit. Lastly, Jennifer grows closer to Brandon.
Guest stars: Chantal Thuy (Grace Choi), Stella Smith (Teenage Grace Choi), Katy O'Brian (Major Sara Grey), Clifton Powell (Reverend Jeremiah Holt), Joseph Steven Yang (Older Asian Man), Justin Livingston (Cloaked Gambi), Elizabeth Youman (Natalie), Edward Michael Scott (Harvey)
- E8 The Book of Resistance: Chapter Three: The Battle of Franklin TerraceDec 2, 2019 · 43 min · ★ 6.2
Synopsis
Black Lightning decides to fight back when the ASA threatens his old neighborhood. Thunder battles Painkiller, and Tobias has a plan for Lynn to stop the ASA from weaponizing the metas.
Guest stars: Christopher Ammanuel (Baron), Andrea Frye (Mary Louise Shepard), Darrell Snedeger (Officer), Matthew Williams (Team Leader), Orelon Sidney (Female Anchor), Vanessa Cater (ASA Guard), Garrett Hines (Specialist Travis), Boone Platt (Sergeant Gardner Grayle)
- E9 The Book of Resistance: Chapter Four: Earth CrisisDec 9, 2019 · 43 min · ★ 6.2
Synopsis
With the coming of the red skies, Jennifer finds herself torn between worlds.
Guest stars: Katy O'Brian (Major Sara Grey), Clifton Powell (Reverend Jeremiah Holt), Bill Duke (Agent Percy Odell), Adetinpo Thomas (Jamillah Olsen), Vernika Rowe (Auntie Gina), Renell Gibbs (Kyrie), Sh'Kia Augustin (Shonda (voice)), Amanda Baker (Rebecca Larsen)
- E10 The Book of Markovia: Chapter One: Blessings and Curses RebornJan 20, 2020 · 41 min · ★ 6.2
Synopsis
Jefferson navigates his new reality following the events of the Crisis, and Lynn’s determination to save the meta kids deepens her troubles. Meanwhile, Anissa/Blackbird faces new challenges. Lastly, Jennifer’s bond with Brandon begins to grow.
Guest stars: Katy O'Brian (Major Sara Grey), Garrett Hines (Specialist Travis), Diego Ward (ASA Commando 1), Bill Duke (Agent Percy Odell), Boone Platt (Sergeant Gardner Grayle), Brandon Hirsch (Dr. Matthew Blair), Christopher Ammanuel (Baron / TC), Vernika Rowe (Auntie Gina)
- E11 The Book of Markovia: Chapter Two: Lynn's AddictionJan 27, 2020 · 43 min · ★ 5.9
Synopsis
Jefferson, Anissa and Jennifer discover that the ASA is now hunting the entire Pierce family. Meanwhile, Lynn does the unthinkable.
Guest stars: Chantal Thuy (Grace Choi), Katy O'Brian (Major Sara Grey), Jill Scott (Lady Eve), Jason Louder (Frank '2-Bits' Tanner), Bill Duke (Agent Percy Odell), Boone Platt (Sergeant Gardner Grayle), Brandon Hirsch (Dr. Matthew Blair), Christopher Ammanuel (Baron / TC)
- E12 The Book of Markovia: Chapter Three: Motherless IDFeb 3, 2020 · 43 min · ★ 6.2
Synopsis
Jefferson and Anissa join forces with the ASA to help one of their own. Meanwhile, Lynn is forced to continue battling her demons.
Guest stars: Chantal Thuy (Grace Choi), Katy O'Brian (Major Sara Grey), Thomas Belgrey (Colonel Yuri Mosin), Jennifer Riker (Dr. Helga Jace), Gabriella Garcia (Erica Moran), Boone Platt (Sergeant Gardner Grayle), Brandon Hirsch (Dr. Matthew Blair), Christopher Ammanuel (Baron / TC)
- E13 The Book of Markovia: Chapter Four: Grab the StrapFeb 10, 2020 · 43 min · ★ 6.6
Synopsis
Black Lightning and his team descend upon Markovia on a mission to rescue Lynn who finds herself in even more trouble when she meets Gravedigger, a metahuman on the Markovian side.
Guest stars: Chantal Thuy (Grace Choi), Wayne Brady (Gravedigger), Katy O'Brian (Major Sara Grey), Thomas Belgrey (Colonel Yuri Mosin), Jennifer Riker (Dr. Helga Jace), Gabriella Garcia (Erica Moran), Boone Platt (Sergeant Gardner Grayle), Christopher Ammanuel (Baron / TC)
- E14 The Book of War: Chapter One: HomecomingFeb 24, 2020 · 43 min · ★ 5.2
Synopsis
As the battle continues, old alliances are revisited and new alliances forged.
Guest stars: Chantal Thuy (Grace Choi), Katy O'Brian (Major Sara Grey), Birgundi Baker (Anaya), Thomas Belgrey (Colonel Yuri Mosin), Bolton Marsh (American Doctor), Martin Harris (Markovian Doctor), Jill Scott (Lady Eve), Bill Duke (Agent Percy Odell)
- E15 The Book of War: Chapter Two: Freedom Ain't FreeMar 2, 2020 · 43 min · ★ 6.0
Synopsis
After learning that Gravedigger and the Markovians are coming to attack Freeland, the Pierce family prepares for war.
Guest stars: Chantal Thuy (Grace Choi), Jill Scott (Lady Eve), Bill Duke (Agent Percy Odell), Jennifer Riker (Dr. Helga Jace), Gabriella Garcia (Erica Moran), Brandon Hirsch (Dr. Matthew Blair), Christopher Ammanuel (Baron / TC), Wayne Brady (Tyson Sykes / Gravedigger)
- E16 The Book of War: Chapter Three: LiberationMar 9, 2020 · 43 min · ★ 6.2
Synopsis
Black Lightning faces off against Gravedigger.
Guest stars: Chantal Thuy (Grace Choi), Katy O'Brian (Major Sara Grey), Jill Scott (Lady Eve), Jason Louder (Frank '2-Bits' Tanner), Bill Duke (Agent Percy Odell), Jennifer Riker (Dr. Helga Jace), Gabriella Garcia (Erica Moran), Boone Platt (Sergeant Gardner Grayle)
Cast & crew
Created by Salim Akil
Cress Williams
Nafessa Williams
Christine Adams
Marvin Jones III
James Remar
Chantal ThuyVideos
Trailers
Images · 14
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Reviews · from TMDB members
GenerationofSwineJan 14, 2023
I suppose that the best part of Black Lightening is that, from time to time, it throws some serious 1970s Funk at you, and that is honestly about the coolest thing that you can do with a show...or movie...or just in general. And it beats the heck out of modern music. However, more so than any of the other Super Hero shows on the CW, it suffers HEAVILY under the mark of the CW. Just when you think it's going to take a good turn, the CW teenage focused melodrama is injected… Read more
into it and takes the wind out of it's sails. It would be forgivable if it happened once, but it seems to get neutered by the CW every time it takes what promises to be heading into a good direction. It could have dealt with race relations in an entertaining and dramatic manner...but then it turns into a CW manner and it turns into a melodrama. It could have dealt with death is an entertaining, gripping, and dramatic way...and then abruptly turns to CW melodrama. And those are just a couple of examples. it all adds up...and even though I can honestly say that it does deserve more than 1 star...the CW robbed it of it's potential too many times to sit down and watch. Its like the CW is yelling "STOP! you're about to get gripping and realistic, remember your audience is a high school clique!" I gave up. I can't watch it any longer...but I do believe that, if any other network (with the exception of Netflix) were to have picked this up, the show could have been very good.
DallasBobSep 18, 2026
Late to the party but flipping through the book of *"It Had So Much Potential";* a body of failed files thicker than a chinese phonebook at the CW. And because it is the CW, I see this series and can't help but turn my makeshift title into an epitaph. I mean it's the CW... where else was this show going to go but into the Entertainment Murder Files?\*\* I mean identity politics was pounding the heck out of the CW's cavities long before Hollywood began to blantantly sh… Read more
oving virtue signaling and race swapping into the American viewing audience's faces. The saddest part was the show actually had good writing up to the end of the third season. **Marvin Jones III** brought phenomenal menace and gravitas to playing his character Tobias Whale the series' corporate level underworld boss-villain; talent rarely seen in network television. **Cress Williams** was good casting as the lead hero role, Black Lightning. The show gave the character a good self-contained dynamic as an ex-Olympic athlete turned high school principal, Jefferson Pierce. The same acolade is applicable when speaking to intergrating his superhero life and his civillian life. **James Remar** was an excellent "Guy in the Chair" serving as Jefferson and Black Lightning's pseudo father figure and "Alfred." And like Alfred, Remar's character had his own shady past & dealings, some of which were responsible for creating Black Lightning and his generation of metas, humans given super-powers through scientic means. Another interesting character was Jefferson's life long childhood friend turned police detective, Bill Henderson played by actor **Damon Gupton**. He brought just the right amount of soul as a best friend, and professionalism as a comrade in fighting crime to the role and series required. **Christine Adams** played Jefferson's scientist ex-wife who gets mixed up in criminal dealings once Tobias Whale buys her lab's parent company. I loved her casting, as Adams was of a surprisingly equal and pleasantly shaped height to Williams. Her dynamic was especially surprising as the show did not make her a typically bitter, overweight, nor estranged Ex. She was pleasant, educated, fit, and feminine. And as quiet as it is kept, ***I LOVED the fact*** that Adams ***wore HER NATURAL HAIR*** ***throughout the entire series!*** **Jordan Calloway's** character, Khalil Payne, was one of the few characters in the show that had a (mostly) positive development arc. In fact, after parting ways with the younger daughter to Pierce family as her boyfriend, his character was well on it's way to becoming a successful spin-off series but the Establishment/Producers wanted the focus to remain...female centric. And as a casualty to this (asinine) decision - one of MANY - Calloway's character was intergrated back into the Black Lightning storyline. Calloway had developed quite the athletic ability during the series' run which resulted in some good fight scenes and equally impressive stunts by Calloway. This is why I was very surprised he did not show up in other superhero movies; especially *Black Panther*. ***SPOILERS AHEAD...* :** If you don't want spoilers, skip ahead to "Last Word." The last season was struggle to get through as it could basically be summed up in "the girl-lesbian-superhero power hour!" This ill-placed focus was centered, as mentioned before, around the very bland lesbian superhero character of Black Lightning's oldest daughter, Anissa aka Thunder aka Blackbird (ughk & eyeroll) played by **Nefessa Williams**. I couldn't tell much about how the series ended other than it took the rarely treaded route of decency by tying all the loose ends and closures. Black Lightning and Whale finished up. Khalil got revenge on Whale's corporate Cleaner who made him kill his mom, played by the famed **Bill Duke**. The last of the show declared Blackbird would be taking over the Black Lightnging crimefighting role as he announced his retirement. He would instead train her and her sister in thier coming careers as a crimefighters. THANK GOD that series NEVER HAPPNED. By the end of Black Lightning the Thunder/Blackbird character could be summed up with, "I'm better than you! And you don't know anything even though you have years of experience as a card-carrying member of the Justice League, the creme de la creme of Superhero acknowlegement. Now excuse me while I tongue-kiss my extremely mentally traumatized Asian mutant girlfriend whom we are not sure is either a bug, lizard, or animal." Many complained about the show ending while others kept getting renewed. But I say it was a good call to cancel. Better to kill it while it still had some dignity left. As par for the course, the CW ratings weren't so kind to the other series that continued to get renewed. At the time, the catastrophy that is SJW-ism and the Woke conception were being identified openly. It was no longer just a very intense angered bewilderment among the fanbases as to what the studio producers were doing. **LAST WORD**: If you're going to watch this series it's not bad, but you WILL have to prepare mentally. It will go over issues faced in the black community; issues of drugs, predjudice, and violence. And Jefferson's troubles of holding a school together admist all these things as a school principal in the american education system. The series IMO did well up to the fourth season, and then it becomes a "Choose-Your-Favorite episode" cherry-picking event. But for what it was, it was decent. And for the CW that's saying something! It is nowhere near *Supergirl*, *the Flash*, or *Legends of Tomorrow* types of terrible. For this series, the pros outweight the considerable cons, but you be the judge. Good luck in your viewing! -- Bob --
oktailmen07028Oct 4, 2026
I don't know who wrote this but I'm betting it was a white person that did because I'm seeing stereotype after stereotype after stereotype... like it was intended this was done on purpose Terrible series ,I'm ashamed to call black lightning a black superhero
