Jen and Khalil come in from the cold. It does not go well.

This is an odd episode in that it exists as connective tissue between the various plots. We spun out here because of events in the top of the season and there was a sense at the mid-season break of the show running in place a little. That’s far less of a problem this week and the ending to the ‘Jen and Khalil go on the lam’ plot is pleasantly nuanced. They go home, because a lot of kids do and they’re persuaded it’s the best thing for them.

It really isn’t.

The sense of tragedy that hangs over the back of the episode is accompanied only by Tobias flexing his muscles and becoming a menace once again. This show has, by intent, neglected Black Lightning’s relationship with his city this season but this week it’s back with a vengeance and so is his nemesis. The closing sequence, beginning with the convoy assault and closing with Khalil being mutilated and dumped outside the church is flat out horrifying. Tobias is bored, Tobias is angry and Krondon is clearly revelling in finding new corners of this eloquent atrocity of a man to explore.

The focus is necessarily on Jen and Khalil and it benefits the episode greatly. The cast are uniformly excellent as they always are but China Anne McClain and Jordan Calloway are next level great this week. Calloway especially gives Khalil a nuance and complicated charm that the first season often denied him and it makes what happens all the harder to take.

Verdict: Brutal, focused and compelling, Black Lightning is back and back at the top of its game. 9/10

Alasdair Stuart