Black Lightning: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 226 Ratings

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5.2

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5.2	Your Score
5.2	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 226 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

The CW | CW | Season Premiere Date: January 16, 2018

Starring: Cress Williams, James Remar, Christine Adams

Summary: Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) had retired from his secret identity of Black Lightning many years ago, but when danger threatens his twenty-something daughter, Jennifer (Nafessa Williams), and a promising student is being lured by a gang, he returns to the fight.

Creator: Greg Berlanti and Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure, Fantasy

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E13. The Resurrection and the Light: The Book of Pain
Air Date: April 10, 2018
tbd
S1:E13. Shadow of Death: The Book of War
Air Date: April 17, 2018
tbd
S1:E12. Rebellion in the Ranks
Air Date: April 8, 2018

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Allison Keene

Jan 4, 2018

It’s positive, it’s victorious, it’s complicated, and it’s badass. Read full review

Mark A. Perigard

Jan 16, 2018

Not nearly as bright as “Supergirl,” as angst-ridden as “Arrow” or as campy as “The Flash,” “Black Lightning” lights its own path--by being a story about the debt we owe to our community and the importance of inspiration. Read full review

Eric Joseph

Jan 8, 2018

To its credit, this young series has done a phenomenal job of finding its footing with the first two episodes, and trust me, it’s the second that’ll really hook you. Capable of warming hearts just as The Flash does while being more similar in tone to Arrow, Black Lightning stands as one of the more sophisticated additions to the DC TV landscape. Read full review

Hank Stuever

Jan 16, 2018

The show is a fine example of what television might look like once we move past the more ceremonial aspects of diversity. This is a black show on a network filled with white superheroes, and it displays no insecurity or self-consciousness about that. It feels strong and confident, at least in the first two episodes. Read full review

Ira Madison III

Jan 17, 2018

The series juggles police brutality, systemic racism, black youth culture, gang violence, and black parenting with aplomb, and all topics feel entirely new to The CW but also necessary for the network, where it can be paired with an equally pulpy series like Riverdale. Read full review

Kelly Lawler

Jan 16, 2018

The series' tone ably walks a fine line between being relevant and pedantic. Its themes are a bit heavy for a superhero show, but it still features fun, dazzling action sequences. The show makes great use of light and dark visuals and vividly brings Jefferson's powers to life. Read full review

Matt Roush

Jan 4, 2018

While Lightning may sound like campy blaxploitation, it's no joke. [8-21 Jan 2018, p.13]

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User Score

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5.2

User Reviews

Hype2x

Jan 16, 2018

A great and freshing superhero tv show in this age of Superhero tv mash. It's unique in terms of unique, and has good performances by its main characters.

10 of 33 users found this helpful1023

joaolmelo

Jan 17, 2018

É um show extremamente bem escrito, bem atuado e bem dirigido. Após muitos desapontamentos com as recentes séries da DC produzidas pela CW, Black Lightning mostra que é um produto diferenciado e que todos deveriam assistir. Adorei.

3 of 9 users found this helpful36

grrlclimber

Feb 20, 2018

A creative and refreshing play on the TV hero market. I've been reading some insanely racist and unimaginative reviews of this amazing series. This is good TV and great contribution to the TV superhero franchise.

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

gstkein

Mar 15, 2018

While it is fun to watch and has decent sfx, the characters and reactions are a bit of a cliche, it emphasizes too much in the fact that the hero is black, and the police reactions towards black people is just too forced, I mean one or two out of line officers is understandable, but it justWhile it is fun to watch and has decent sfx, the characters and reactions are a bit of a cliche, it emphasizes too much in the fact that the hero is black, and the police reactions towards black people is just too forced, I mean one or two out of line officers is understandable, but it just happens every time, it feels forced, I apreciate what they try to do, but it feels poorly written. Luke cage showed discrimination and a black hero fighting for the people, but it didn't force that, it didn't keep talking with words about that, it just showed that. Black lighting is fun but poorly written.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

bkristman

Mar 5, 2019

If i was black maybe i'd give this a higher score but i'm not. Simplified race driven show with simplified cliche characters that spell everything out bluntly in unsophisticated plot lines.
Gave up trying to count the number of times the word 'black' was used in the dialogue.
The policeIf i was black maybe i'd give this a higher score but i'm not. Simplified race driven show with simplified cliche characters that spell everything out bluntly in unsophisticated plot lines.
Gave up trying to count the number of times the word 'black' was used in the dialogue.
The police in this are almost comically useless and the kids are comically un-streetsavvy for having lived in this area all their lives.
Black lightning's powers are cool but it's not enough to make me keep watching.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Hides-From-Sun

Sep 15, 2020

It would've been a good show, but it's spoiled by the amount of SJW garbage they throw at you. No good cops, all whites are racist, blacks are treated poorly by the evil white male etc.. If they focused less on skin colour and more on creating a good story, it would be getting betterIt would've been a good show, but it's spoiled by the amount of SJW garbage they throw at you. No good cops, all whites are racist, blacks are treated poorly by the evil white male etc.. If they focused less on skin colour and more on creating a good story, it would be getting better reviews.

It needs to stop trying to divide people with this BS. There is only one race, the human race. Skin colour doesn't matter, we're all equal. All this propaganda does is just fan the flames. Sad.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SunOneElse

Apr 10, 2019

When i first watch season 1, i had a hard time getting through it, because even though it had a strong super hero plot that followed a successfull father trying to find the right thing to do to keep his family safe and keep himself safe, the recuring generic antagonist of the series appearsWhen i first watch season 1, i had a hard time getting through it, because even though it had a strong super hero plot that followed a successfull father trying to find the right thing to do to keep his family safe and keep himself safe, the recuring generic antagonist of the series appears to be the white cops.

the cops arnt just dirty, they arnt just paid off, they are vast majority just plain racist. if a white person appears in the show, with exception to Black Lightnings Foster day, you can bet they are portrayed as a racist.

its distracting to try to watch a show that is constantly telling you that "white people are inherently racist unless they know you."

I was excited to see that season 2 had come out, i started watching it and within the first minute, white cops were beating a black man. so i turned it off.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

SEE ALL 56 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

79

Series Overview
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: October 7, 2019
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: October 9, 2018
Season 1

79
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: January 16, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E13. The Resurrection and the Light: The Book of Pain
  Air Date: April 10, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E13. Shadow of Death: The Book of War
  Air Date: April 17, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E12. Rebellion in the Ranks
  Air Date: April 8, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E11. Black Jesus: The Book of Crucifixion
  Air Date: April 3, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E10. Sins of the Father: The Book of Redemption
  Air Date: March 27, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E9. Little Black Lies
  Air Date: March 20, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E8. The New Normal
  Air Date: March 11, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E8. The Book of Revelations
  Air Date: March 13, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E7. Equinox: The Book of Fate
  Air Date: March 6, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E6. Three Sevens: The Book of Thunder
  Air Date: February 27, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E5. Aches and Pains
  Air Date: February 13, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E4. Black Jesus
  Air Date: February 6, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E3. Lawanda: The Book of Burial
  Air Date: January 30, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E2. Lawanda: The Book of Hope
  Air Date: January 23, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E1. The Resurrection
  Air Date: January 16, 2018