Black Lightning Season 1 Episode 7 Review: Equinox: The Book of Fate
Paul Dailly
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RIP Lady Eve, Tori, and David Poe!
On Black Lightning Season 1 Episode 7, the power struggle in Freeland became too much to handle for some of the characters, and it resulted in Lady Eve having her face melted off.
It was shocking that this villainous character was wiped out in such a random fight scene. Sure, it made sense that Tobias would not want to roll over and accept defeat, but I found myself rolling my eyes for much of the big fight scene involving guns that seemed ripped from DC's Legends of Tomorrow.
There was a lack of build-up to the death, and it felt hastily thrown together. The only part of the fight I liked was getting to see Lady Eve in action because, well, she's freaking awesome.
If her death sticks, it will go down as one of the most anti-climactic deaths in the history of TV. She's been such an integral character throughout Black Lightning Season 1, and it's a real travesty to have her possibly leave in such a crazy moment.
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She's the one who raised the stakes at every turn, and that was all thanks to her no-nonsense, hard as nails attitude. This woman who would probably struggle to shed a tear for putting a hit out on a kid.
She was wicked but very fun to watch on a weekly basis. Maybe she should have dialed back the constant taunting of Tobias. That's no way to treat the man who brings in profits of 300 percent, is it?
Tobias is done being on edge about what could happen to him, and that's likely why he struck while the iron was hot. Having Toledo murdered proved to him that he was being forced to act a certain way.
The reveal that Black Lightning has been put in the frame for the murder of Lady Eve was well-executed, but it made it even more glaringly obvious the quick kill was only thrown in to serve the episode-ending revelation.
Jefferson: Just because you have abilities, doesn't mean you have to use them.
Anissa: I've already used them.
Jefferson: To destroy a confederate statue.
Anissa: Oh, I know. It was a mistake. I lost my head.
Jefferson: That's just it, Anissa. You can't afford to lose your head. That's when people get hurt - or worse.
Anissa: Okay, then train me. Show me how to do this.
Jefferson: No, you're clearly not ready.
Was it really worth taking out Lady Eve to set up the cliffhanger? I don't think so.
Then there was the resurrection of Lala. That was a twist I could have done without. The reason? Lady Eve and Tori were killed a mere few scenes before.
How are we supposed to take two deaths seriously when they are followed up by a resurrection of a long-gone character?
With Black Lightning in the frame for murder, it's going to give Anissa time to shine. The eldest Pierce daughter has been struggling of late.
She has all of this power, and she's only just learned her father also has powers. Anissa has no idea how the powers can affect her body, and that's why Lynn was right to be apprehensive about her crimefighting.
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If you watch Black Lightning online, you will already know that Jefferson has found himself in life-threatening situations on more than a few occasions.
That's why it's going to take time for Lynn to get on board with having more than one person in the family who is out fighting crime.
Anissa has been trying to find out more about the story about the kids with abilities, and in turn, that would help her learn more about her grandfather.
It was only a matter of time before the leads dried up, and unfortunately, that meant David Poe was ripped out of the equation. He should have thought long and hard about handing those files over.
Anissa: Dad, I'm ready to go out on the streets. I was thinking we could hit the community center and then maybe take down some Green Lighthouses and then -
Jefferson: Whoa, Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. You are a teacher and a med student, and that's all you need to be.
Anissa wants results, but she's far too impulsive to go out on the streets right now. She needs to establish what her strengths are and use them to her advantage.
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It's no use having her doing regular patrols if she does not know whether someone is going to appear from the shadows and take her down due to some unforeseen weakness. Gambi's scheming is starting to grate on
"Equinox" was a little too all over the place to take seriously. It was all over the shop, and that's not the quality I've come to expect from this show.
The deaths presented us with new directions to take the characters in but too soon to amp up the insanity.
Other tidbits from the episode:
- Henderson is now very intrigued to find out the truth about Tobias. Why is he not aging? What is he doing?
- Gambi needs to open up to Jefferson before it's too late. Jefferson is finding it difficult to trust her supposed ally, and he has every reason not to.
- Lynn continued to take the words out of my mouth.
- What will Tobias do now that he's lost two of his closest allies? Is the city his, or will someone else emerge and take over?
- Gambi is totally the Cisco of Black Lightning. Anissa looked ecstatic to learn she had a suit in the works.
Okay, Black Lightning Fanatics.
What did you think of this wild installment?
Will any of the deaths stick?
Hit the comments!
Black Lightning continues Tuesdays on The CW!
Paul Dailly was an Associate Editor for TV Fanatic.Follow him on X.
