This was not what I was expecting from this episode. I thought that Khalil was gonna show up in Freeland, help out the team, fight Painkiller in the center of his mind, and then dip to be in his own spinoff. I was not expecting a backdoor pilot. That being said... It actually kinda worked.
I mean, think about it like this. Khalil knew he couldn't save this final season, so he didn't even try. That is not only hilarious, but is also the kind of side story and distraction that I needed for the middle of this season. I was expecting Black Lightning to go out with a bang, but instead they're going out with a fizzle. This episode really set up a lot of what the Painkiller spinoff is gonna hold for us, and at the very least it has my attention.
I was worried that the writers wouldn't have anywhere to take Khalil after all the development he's gotten on Black Lightning over the past three years. I think the writers knew that too, so they chose to focus on Painkiller and the duality of him and Khalil inhabiting the same body. It was weird seeing Painkiller cry, but at the same time, it kinda worked. They're going for a Caitlin Snow/Killer Frost-esque storyline between them, where they have to find a way to coexist, and I actually like it. Every time I've seen this story done, it's always been a side character dealing with it. It's gonna be interesting to see how they handle it with a main character. I've always liked Khalil, and I think this is a good and logical way to take his story.
Calling it right now though, Painkiller's gonna die by the end of the first season, and then Khalil and JJ are gonna live happily ever after. I don't think the show will last more than one season, and that's a good thing. Not everything needs to go on for eight seasons and spawn three spinoffs. I want this show to be a thirteen episode compact storyline like Black Lightning's first season. That's when Salim Akil does his best work, and it shows. I still think that the Painkiller spinoff will only be something that lasts one season, but that's a good thing. If you write like you're only gonna get one season, the writing quality tends to be better.
As for the supporting cast, they're fine. I like that Philky, who appears to fill the roll of the Felicity/Cisco archetype of the show, is a lot more serious. Not to say that humor has no place in a show like this, but it certainly isn't something that should be the norm. Gambi also isn't on the funnier side, and he works well on Black Lightning. Philky could be one of the best characters on the Painkiller spinoff for that exact reason.
Donald... Eh. He's fine. He wasn't really a big part of the story this episode. Neither was Philky to be fair, but Donald has less potential to be cool in my opinion. Feel free to prove me wrong on that one though.
The fight work was awesome as usual. Not only was the battle in the center of the mind between Khalil and Painkiller at the top of the episode super cool, but also the scene where Khalil took on all those guys in the lobby of that building was phenomenal. I do wish they'd stop doing that thing where they blur out the action at points, as I feel it takes away from the action itself and becomes distracting. However, when Khalil got backed into a corner while fighting, and then told Painkiller to take the wheel, that moment was incredible! Well done on that!
The series has a lot of potential, but I really do think they should stop after one season. Most of Khalil's storyline is finished now, and I think it should stay that way. If I had my way, I'd keep Bill Duke on for a few guest appearances, and have Painkiller finally deal with him once and for all at the end of the series, going against his programming and defying the kill-order on the Pierce family in the process. That would not only be cool, but also narratively satisfying. Keep me posted for when this series comes out. I'll certainly tune in.
10 / 10
Now, back to our regularly scheduled mediocrity.
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