Sunday night’s episode of Power titled “Like Father, Like Son” established something that is likely on the table for the extended Power universe. Tariq as the new Ghost. If he’s not dead by this series’ finale, a spinoff with ‘Riq as the man is not out of the question. I know the prospect of a show with ‘Riq as the lead makes a lot of you real mad. LOL. To be fair, I wouldn’t want a show like that either. Let’s get into the episode!
We open with ‘Riq sleeping in bed with his father aiming a gun in his face. This was hilarious. It was hilarious and dare I say brilliant if only for the performance and aesthetic given by Oamri Hardwick in this scene.
Ghost is always nattily attired sporting an impeccable hairline and is either rocking the low fade or has his hair is grown out, either way the waves are on point.
In this scene, it looks like he hasn’t been to a barber in at least a month. Nor has he bothered to wear a durag or properly maintain his look. It’s fraying at the edges. Can you blame him?
He’s a man disheveled, at his wits end. He probably wants to actually kill his son. He lost his daughter, and the love of his life. Never mind the fact that he has at least two people that want to kill him, a federal prosecutor after him, and an ex-wife he has to maintain some kind of relationship with. That’s enough to drive anybody off the deep end. For always in control, calculated Ghost, these past six years have taken their toll.
The scene is best summed up in the message Ghost delivers to ‘Riq. “Yeah, little nigga, the moment you let Tommy in the penthouse to kill me was the moment you were no longer my son, and now you’re my enemy…Keep thinking you’re smarter than me. Don’t ever make that mistake again son.”
Ghost leaves the gun on the bed and walks out. ‘Riq checks the clip and the chamber, but there are no bullets. What would the sequence of events been if there was that one bullet in the chamber?
‘Riq has become Ghost in so many ways, it’s funny Ghost can’t see it. But the person that’s hardest to see is yourself. Ghost wanted a better life for his kids and his struggle to go legit was all about that.
But decisions he’s made cost him almost everything.
All ‘Riq sees is a chance to “be his own man” and control his fate and destiny out from under the thumb of a man he hates.
