Power, one of Starz’s highest-rated shows, was so beloved by its dedicated fanbase that it resulted in three spin-off shows, with a fourth prequel series announced earlier this year. With the Power Universe celebrating its 10th anniversary, fans have been reminiscing about their favorite shows and characters from the franchise. The representation of a predominantly Black cast in a successful franchise is a reminder that given the funding and resources, Black creatives are capable of soaring. In honor of its 10th anniversary, let’s reflect on the impact the Power Universe has had on fans.
Power
Power is the original show which was created and produced by Courtney Kemp in collaboration with rapper 50 Cent. It premiered in 2014 and lasted for six seasons until its conclusion in 2020. The series follows James St. Patrick, also known as Ghost, who leads a double life of a business entrepreneur by day and a ruthless drug dealer by night. His criminal partner, Tommy Egan, is a central part of James’ story alongside his wife Tasha, his kids, and especially his son Tariq. The show has been particularly praised for its writing and character portrayals by the actors, both in the main and supporting cast.
Omari Hardwick’s portrayal of James St. Patrick was one of the biggest highlights of Power, with fans appreciating his charm, his dialogue cadence, and the emotional delivery through his body language and facial expressions. Fans also loved the dynamic duo of James and Tommy, specifically their chemistry on-screen and comedic banter. The unpredictable writing created room for unforgettable antagonists such as Kanan, portrayed by Executive Producer 50 Cent, and Andre, portrayed by singer Rotimi. This resulted in the Power Universe spinoff shows following the individual stories of some of the beloved characters on Power.
Power Book II: Ghost
Power Book II: Ghost served as a sequel to the original show and premiered in 2020, following the character of Tariq St. Patrick as he attends college and attempts to become a better drug dealer kingpin than his father. Despite the initial hate towards his character on Power, fans highly anticipated the continuation of Tariq’s story because he had one of the best character arcs on TV. Fans were also excited to see the periodic return of Tasha and watch Tariq navigate a double life while attempting to keep his family safe. One of the highlights of the show was the introduction of dynamic new characters, especially Monet Tejada portrayed by singer Mary J Blige, and attorney Davis McLean, portrayed by rapper Method Man. Fans also appreciated the comedic writing that was especially noted in scenes involving Tariq’s best friend Brayden, played by Gianni Paolo, and his arch nemesis Cane, played by Woody McClain.
After three seasons, it was unexpectedly announced that the fourth season of the show would be the final one, and fans were disheartened by the recent finale that concluded on Friday, October 4. After following Tariq’s story since the inception of Power, it’s been hard to let go — so fans were intrigued by the teaser at the end of the finale that hinted towards Tariq’s return. The clip after the post-credits expressed “#PowerNeverEnds,” a popular tagline of the Power Universe, that left a lot of fans speculating about a potential crossover of Tariq in the other spinoff show Power Book IV: Force. After seeing Tariq’s growth from a boy in Power to a young man in Power Book II, it was bittersweet for fans to accept the end of his story. The beauty of the Power Universe is that it never ends, which could result in Tariq’s return in Power Book IV.
Power Book III: Kanan
Power Book III: Raising Kanan, is a prequel to the original show and premiered in 2021, following the upbringing of the character of Kanan Stark, who was one of the greatest antagonists in Power. In the original show, fans were particularly impressed with 50 Cent’s portrayal of a coldhearted drug dealer who had just left prison and attempted to take over James’ New York drug empire. He was very influential in Tariq’s character arc by acting as a mentor and setting the tone for the rest of Power after his bitter-sweet death. Despite the violent portrayal of Kanan, fans were very excited to learn about his origin story set in the 1990s, which is portrayed by actor Mekai Curtis.
One of the highlights from Power Book III is the character expression, specifically the portrayal of Kanan’s mother, Raquel Thomas, by Patina Miller as a major drug lord in Queens. Her cutthroat character and impeccable fashion sense are thoroughly enjoyed by viewers. Hailey Kilgore plays Jukebox’s nuanced character as Kanan’s tomboy cousin and aspiring singer coming into her sexuality, which adds a compelling layer to the show. Fans also love the comedic nature of Kanan’s uncle Marvin Thomas, portrayed by London Brown, who lightens the mood throughout the series. Some fans consider Power Book III to be the best spinoff from the Power Universe, so they were excited to learn the show has been renewed for a fourth and fifth season.
📺 Recently re-watched #RaisingKanan and I have to say, it's a masterclass in storytelling, with carefully crafted writing that delves deep into character nuances.
— MOVIE BOT (@MOVIEBOT__) September 21, 2023
The performances from each individual breathes life into Kanan, Jukebox, the Thomas family, Unique and many… pic.twitter.com/IGkdiAulpH
Power Book IV: Force
Power Book IV: Force premiered in 2022 and acts as the second sequel that follows the story of Tommy Egan as he takes over the Chicago drug business after leaving New York. As an instrumental figure in the original show, fans were excited to see the continuation of Joseph Sikora’s portrayal of Tommy due to his larger-than-life expression of the character. In Power, Tommy was James’ right hand and partner in the New York drug business, so it wasn’t a surprise that he would be able to carry a show centered on himself. Fans were excited to see Tommy’s strategy to take over a new city while uncovering unexpected family revelations and confronting his new antagonists in the Flynn Irish mob family.
The writing and portrayal of Tommy’s character are extremely effective — fans root for him because he often feels invisible. Power Book IV is the only show within the franchise that doesn’t center on a Black character, which is a testament to the love Tommy receives amongst predominantly Black audiences. After the end of Power Book II, fans are hopeful that season 3 of Power Book IV will feature Tariq since he considers Tommy to be his uncle, and they have a familial relationship. Unfortunately, Starz announced that the upcoming season 3 would be the conclusion of the show, so fans are eager about a reunion between Tariq and Tommy. Including Tasha, they are the longest-standing characters in the Power universe — an impressive feat, as a major theme of the franchise is unexpectedly killing off characters.
Impact
Over the last decade, the Power Universe has graced us with well-written, impressionable and complex characters. The unique chemistry of the ensemble cast in all the different shows is a confirmation of the impeccable casting done by production. The music score throughout the shows, especially the theme song in Power, which was continued in Power Book II, has become a symbol of nostalgia for many fans.
The creators of the Power Universe are Black, allowing them to bring us raw and nuanced Black crime stories that are not often portrayed in a humanizing way in mainstream media. The original Power was so impactful amongst Black viewers that it even resulted in live tweeting reactions after the drop of each episode on Starz. We have Courtney Kemp and 50 Cent to thank for allowing Black audiences to witness the rise of a predominantly Black franchise on TV. Fans look forward to the addition of another prequel Power: Origins, which is currently in development and will follow the origins of James and Tommy in the drug game.
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