‘Black Lightning’ 3×11 recap: Lynn’s addiction takes a back seat

Dr. Lynn Stewart’s addiction took a backseat in Monday’s episode of Black Lightning as the show instead focused on Odell and the A.S.A.’s continued threat over the city of Freeland.

In case you missed it, here’s a recap of episode 3×11, titled “The Book of Markovia: Chapter 2”.

What addiction?

Remember in last week’s episode when Lynn’s addiction to Green Light became so bad that she resorted to digging the drugs out of the toilet to take them? Yeah, it’s pretty gross. Jefferson and Lynn got into a heated confrontation as Lynn stormed out, saying she doesn’t have a problem. So what did Jefferson do to help his wife in Monday’s episode?

Nothing! This made me question both the writing in the episode and Jefferson’s character development. Ever since the very first season, he was always preached about family and putting his family first. Remember when he found out that Gamby used to work for the A.S.A. but hid it from him? Jefferson was furious with Gamby and wouldn’t let it go. So why can’t he do the same with his WIFE?

Green Light is a drug that was produced by the A.S.A. and they got his wife hooked on it. Odell is using it as a weapon of sorts to drive a metaphorical wedge between the Pierce family. Jefferson didn’t mention it all episode, focusing his attention elsewhere, and that puzzles me.

Lynn’s plan goes awry

Speaking of Lynn, she had a plan to break Tobias Whale out of the ASA facility. Three of the pod kids have already died and Lynn is determined (or addicted) to getting answers and saving everyone that she can. As she escapes the A.S.A with Tobias, he attempts to knock her out but somehow Lynn got some powers and instead ends up knocking Tobias out.

All this is for nothing as a Markovian appears behind them, knocking Lynn out too and kidnapping them both. Well, it looks like we’re not going to continue the Green Light addiction storyline next week either.

To kill or not to kill?

Look, if it was up to me, I’d light up Odell’s ass and be done with it. However, this is a TV show so we can’t have nice things. Gamby and Jefferson decide they need to deal with Odell now but decide to leave Jennifer out of it. So Jefferson and Anissa kidnap Odell and bring him to their home, threatening to torture and kill him. That’s not really the plan, though. Instead, they want to get audio samples of Odell’s voice, manipulate it and force the A.S.A. out of Freeland.

You guys can probably already guess this plan didn’t work either, right? Jennifer finds out and interrupts them, wanting to know why she wasn’t included and says to kill Odell. To make things worse, Painkiller shows up, who Jennifer had no clue about either. A confused Jennifer uses her powers to wrap up her sister and father in lightning, leaving the A.S.A to come in and save Odell and Painkiller. What a boring ending to the episode.

Episode Notes

• I love this show but this was by far the worst episode in all of the show’s three seasons. This Lynn Green Light storyline just falling to the side after a promising episode last week just screams inconsistent and lazy. To make things worse, Jefferson doesn’t even tell Gamby about it after he comments Lynn doesn’t look very well. So odd.
• Everything that went wrong in that last scene came down to Jefferson and Anissa keeping Jennifer out of the loop. Yes, she wants to kill Odell and that’s the wrong way to go about it. They’re supposed to be a team but there’s some kind of divide here and I wonder how it’ll affect things moving forward.
• Oh yeah, Lady Eve is still alive. We still have no idea how or why. But she’s alive. I’d like that explained too.

What did you think of the episode? Let me know in the comments below!

Black Lightning airs Mondays at 9/8c on The CW.