Greetings Power Fans! Starting with last night’s episode, I will be doing weekly episode recaps here on BSO. If you can’t get enough of the drama, intrigue, and NYC backdrop; this is the place for you! One thing to note, the episode recaps will be written with the assumption you are current on all seasons.
“Family is forever. It’s Never Over.” Those are the words spoken by Tasha in this week’s episode. Truer words have never been uttered for the characters in the Starz drama. Roles have changed and power (pun intended) dynamics have shifted. No matter what changes have transpired, escaping the past will not be easy and for some will be impossible.
The episode opens with a smart scene between Ghost and Angela. They are in bed and Ghost is struggling to sleep. His brain is racing. Lobos is still alive and coming for him, he has left Tasha for Angela, he needs to establish the JSP Nightlife brand and he needs to settle things with his “brother” and former business partner Tommy. His constant tossing and turning wakes Angela and she concernedly asks “Baby?” Ghost says nothing and pretends he’s asleep. It’s a terrific scene, so much is conveyed with no dialogue. Despite committing to Angela and telling her that “Ghost is dead” the life they both want with each other is not going to be an easy transition. Showrunner Courtney Kemp does an amazing job mirroring this scene later in the episode, when Ghost returns home after a failed attempt to meet with Tommy. This time Angela is the one pretending to be asleep, while her brain is racing.
Speaking of brain racing, Tommy is finding life as the #1 drug dealer in NYC a daunting task. It requires the right balance of patience/reason and aggression/emotion. When Tommy was Ghost’s lieutenant he could afford to be hot headed and act based strictly off of emotions. He always had the even keeled Ghost to clean up his mess and be the voice of reason. Now that he’s THE guy he needs to be more careful, that temper can and will cost him. Watching Tommy struggle as he deals with distribution and product issues is interesting. He was Ghost’s #2 for a long time and while he doesn’t possess Ghost’s level of business savvy, he had to pick up some knowledge along the way, right? Tommy is desperately trying to shake the rep of being all muscle and no brains, and he’s finding it to be quite the challenge. His subordinates are openly questioning his decision making, leading to the severe beatdown of one and the unwillingness to make Julio his #2. Watching Tommy struggle between reason and emotion in this episode was fascinating. Kudos to actor Joseph Sikora. When he was supposed to meet Ghost and kill him at Lobos’ behest, he couldn’t do it. The reasonable and sensible decision was to kill him and move on with business. But his love for his brother, the overwhelming emotions he still has for Ghost, didn’t allow him to pull that trigger. Ghost and Tasha were his family. Poor Tommy, but this is what he wanted. Heavy lies the head that wears the crown.
Angela and Tasha had the confrontation we all knew was eventually coming. I loved the way the scene was shot. Seeing Tasha in that long hallway you weren’t 100% sure where she was. As soon as the door opens, you had to get excited (Angela struggling with the childproof lock was a nice touch). Is it me or did both women handle it well? Tasha may have dominated the scene from a dialogue perspective but Angela didn’t turn catty and in the end made it clear she is going to give an earnest effort at being some sort of a stepmom. As soon as she is comfortable being left alone with the kids…The easy thing for Courtney and the writers to do would have been to create some kind of knock down drag out between these two women. But, besides making the show more “soapy” what does that accomplish? Also, it shows where these two women are in life. They both may have grown up as around the way girls, but their lives have been much different since.
Ghost and Andre are finding life as legit businessmen a bit challenging. Ghost encounters his first setback trying to book a popular EDM DJ for one of his clubs. Instead he gets outbid by a rival club owner. In the streets, when something doesn’t go your way you can retaliate quickly and “put and end” to your problem. As Andre is more than willing to do. But what Ghost is attempting to show Andre, is while the quick fix may bring immediate resolution and satisfaction it often means long term blow back and repercussions. The struggle between the illegal and legitimate world is nothing new. Every crime drama has taught us that over time.
Meanwhile in FBI land, Sandoval is doing his best to sabotage the Lobos investigation from the inside and is looking more and more nervous by the episode. Remember when he bursted on the scene in season 2? He was cocksure and throwing his weight around like a champ. But ever since Lobos was arrested his position has become tenuous by the minute. Sooner or later Angela and Saxe, though they hate each other, will figure out that someone internally is trying to derail the case. My money is on sooner. Did you notice they both have evidence being held up? Guess who the link is?
This was a good episode and is laying the groundwork for what will ultimately be a season of transition for our favorite characters. Some people are built with the ability to adapt and evolve, some aren’t. Who will be able to navigate their new role and who will succumb?
So I was thinking:
- I see you Turtle!…err Proctor. The Ghost/Proctor relationship is something to keep an eye on.
- Sandoval is in way too deep and may find that balancing his duties as an FBI executive and Lobos mole too difficult. I hope we get a little backstory on Sandoval and Lobos.
- The kids meeting Angela was not AS awkward as I thought it would be. I mean the handshakes were weird, but what other kind of greeting would be less awkward? Why they gotta come at her for having a small place? That’s a nice NYC apartment!
- So, does LaKeisha own the beauty salon, Weave Got The Funk? That name…eeek a little too obvious right? You did hear her ask Tasha to do the books right? If she is always taking Tasha’s “hand me downs” where did she get the money to open a salon?
- Holly is a character that many fans dislike. I’m ambivalent towards her at best. But, did you all see how quickly she went after that check? Are we sure she’s 100% down for Tommy?
- So, Tariq went snooping in his dad’s girlfriend’s closet and found a gun in her purse. How does that end? I have a sneaking suspicion it won’t end well…
- Two of the “hottest” nightclub’s in NYC are on opposite sides of the street and Ghost doesn’t know the owner of the rival club? Seems very unlikely…
- Angela in bed…yeah, that’s a thing.
In the previews for next week, we see Kanan is back, determined to settle the score with Ghost. Hope he got some serious burn cream and skin graphs. We also see Angela in a confrontation with former lover Greg Knox. We know Knox has a serious score to settle with Angela and Ghost. Can’t wait for next week!
What do you all think? Use the comment section below. Please share with your friends and people you think would enjoy the show. As always thanks for reading and visiting BSO. See you next week!
