Black Lightning (2018–2021) User Reviews

Just keeps getting better

[worksmart-58506 · 6/10 · 18 October 2018]

EDIT: RARE that a series takes feedback and fixes everything that's wrong, but Black Lightening did that. I truly love this show now and hope it keeps going

Edit #2: spoke too soon. Once again the writers lost their way. I honestly feel this show had major potential to deliver on its... potential, not just as a beacon for social and racial justice, but also as a truly high quality superhero show. The actors did their absolute best with what they were given, and some shone brightly despite the writing, but sadly the formula for all these DC shows (Cheese + camp + cringe) remains a work in progress.

Original: Good premise and potential, and some good acting and special effects. Conversely, the massive cheese factor in the writing combined with some equally bad acting, make it impossible to really get involved in the show.

Hmmm, why are people slamming this show

[dannanobles · 7/10 · 18 January 2018]

Black Lightning's first episode was super cool and I see the potential for it to get even better. There was nothing "over the top" or "a bit too much" to a viewer with a mature and REALISTIC awareness to today's American Culture (for non-white individuals). Portraying such situations is reality and if that offends you then you simply deny reality. A comment was made that BLM created this show, how ignorant. If a drama showing what others experience irks you then perhaps YOU should not feel entitled to harshly judge what YOU don't understand. It's not for YOU so move along rather than try to destroy it -the American way- with nastiness and bigotry. The cast was perfect. His suit was just fine. The story will only get better despite what THEY say. After all, if a pathetic, unrealistic movie/shows like 300, Wonderwoman and Arrow etc can be tolerated them Black Lightning is perfectly fine. Forget what THEY say because THEY were going to be nasty regardless because this show doesn't cater to them via story line, visuals etc and it DOESN'T have too. GO BLACK LIGHTNING!!

Used to like it

[ji8464 · 5/10 · 21 February 2020]

I used to like this show, but the Jinn and Lynn characters are putting me off completely. Jinn needs a good clip around the head her arrogance is astounding and it makes no sense whatsoever. Will finish this season, not so sure I will be watching Season 4.

A hard too watch...

[jackpato-942-639550 · 7 March 2018]

Looked interesting and I love a lot of superhero tv shows/movies but this... this is just terrible. The acting feels forced and hard to ignore, a lot of the characters are stereotypical with next to nothing unique about them.

Excited for a Lead African American Hero though CW may need to pump the brakes a bit

[DastardlyDude · 7/10 · 17 January 2018]

Being that only one episode has aired so far I'm not going to automatically say this show is destined to fail as I have high hopes for Black Lightning in a universe of predominantly Caucasian super hero's. I will say the first episode somewhat screamed victimization of African American's as though it was trying to compare the imaginary town to Chicago. I'm hoping this is somewhat toned down over the season because the first ep just kinda felt like a bit too much treating it as though the culmination of victimization and gang violence hitting home being the breaking point for Black Lightning giving him reason to adorn his mantle again. Had this been spread out over a few eps, I think maybe it would have been depicted better. Though I'm sure we will see him deal with the struggles of deciding to suit up again over the season I hope CW kinda slowly rolls his character out rather than just trying to force this part of the DC universe down our throats so they can align him with the rest of DC gang ie. Arrow, Flash, Legends and Supergirl.

Surprisingly well done

[wiseguy233 · 9/10 · 28 January 2018]

It looks most of the negative reviews here are all politically motivated. I wish people who claim others are snowflakes or oversensitive would stop being offended by everything to the point that it dominants their opinion on everything. This is a slick, well done, unique take on the superhero genre.It deals with modern day issues, speaks in a contemporary language, and shows evil from a perspective very rarely attended to in superhero story telling. It manages both camp and realism. Look, the world is changing, trying to silence or mitigate it thru baseless negativity will not change reality. Reality is this is a good show.

Negative racist comments are made to thwart a really good program. Dont beliveve them.

[LordCommandar · 7/10 · 6 February 2018]

It's about time that the CW aired a show that relates to the black community, other than just airing shows like Gossip Girls, Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill...omg It's refreshing to see a show about black heroism, black family values and black romance, its long overdue. There is absolutely no racist ideology in this show, and for anyone to call this show racist after only three episodes that deals with a principal promoting a message of education for black students and combating gang violence from the community, you are either a racist or you don't anything about the black community. This show is somewhat very true to life in the African-American school system. I would know because I teach in a predominantly black high school and truth be told there are some students who I would love to give a black lightning award to for their everyday heroism against the it struggle of fighting the drugs dealers, bullying, the neighborhood shootings making it to class and earning that A&B grade to graduate and become a success story in life. As an educator, Black lighting is refreshing, it sends a positive to black youths so kudos to CW for giving this show a chance. I'm gonna wait till the season is over to make another full review about the series. But to all you reviewers that are trying to paint this show as bias, I say SHAME ON YOU. I find it very suspicious that you access racism after only three episodes, that have no racist premise whatsoever. Black lightning is kinda cheesy, but overall good and never bias. Give it go.

What in the fresh Hell was THIS mess?

[aevaughn-77305 · 1/10 · 15 May 2018]

BAD. Do you hear me? Just BAD! I am a black female who tried VERY hard to like this show, but my GOD...it was even too much for me.

1 - WAY too many 'black issues' all in the first episode. The references to injustice were too many to count. I applaud a show that does delve into societal issues, but THIS was just nonstop...

2 - The acting was borderline community playhouse level. I take that back, THEY probably act better than this!

3 - I really liked the premise of the show though and enjoyed it right up to the part where Black Lightening put on that tacky ass costume. Once he got all dolled up and went to 'save the day'...the show LOST me. OMG! He was slow as Hell, the fight scenes are terribly choreographed, and again, the costume was NOT cool at all.

The whole show was just extra! I made it through the pilot episode and...that was it. I quit. Wasn't interested anymore. CW - please do better than this campy mess.

The racists crawling out of the woodwork for this one

[tofsesbvpls · 10/10 · 23 February 2018]

And honestly, ignore the hissy fits they keep posting here, as if whining online, over and over, can make it any less pathetic. Black Lightning is not just about race, is the thing. A lot of the reviews on here make it seem like that because, and I repeat, the racists are showing up for this one. It's about family, and coming of age, and aging, and the gridlock of being powerful but conscious of that power's repercussions. Filmed beautifully, it's visually captivating and so easy to get in to that before you know it, you're knee deep in giving a crap about the characters. So far, Black Lightning is a good show. It's entertaining, it's engaging, and it's attempting to tackle a highly charged subject that needs to be tackled as often and as frankly as possible. It doesn't do so perfectly, no, but it's still brand new. I'm excited to see where it goes from here.

Ok

[Jessicanu94 · 6/10 · 24 October 2018]

It's not that bad I find myself liking it more than some of the marvel shows on Netflix.

Black Dynamite without the irony

[paulflanagan24 · 2/10 · 21 March 2018]

Genuinely so bad that I can't stop watching it. All the cliches of blacksploitation era productions like Shaft that were satirised in Black Dynamite are back here as if it's something novel. It's actually shamefully addictive and has an evil albino villain who belongs in an Austin Powers movie. Watch it- it's so terrible you won't be able to look away!

Ignore any low votes here and watch the show. Trust me, it will make perfect sense why they did. Same as it ever was.

[iamjustchaz · 9/10 · 26 January 2018]

First episode in and this is first rate, compared to recent oversaturated superhero show landscape. Not too campy, cartoonish or stereotypical but rather quite relatable, for members or non members of the depicted community. The acting is well done with no cringe worthy excess. This is This Is Us, with a different theme. Never having been one for superhero fare, either in novels or on screen, I heard the show runner interviewed on NPR and decided to check it out. For someone without a lot of time to watch TV, I lean into the usual top flight stuff, from Breaking Bad to GOT through Homeland, Good Wife, House of Lies and Westworlds, I will say that if the first episode is an apt indicator, do not be deterred from watching. They are compelling characters, a well balanced storyline and good actors to boot.

Those lamenting SJW, BLM etc, may have agendas, but if yours is good TV fare, watch it.

Black Lightning has kept me watching

[bardofely · 7/10 · 17 June 2022]

I write as a fan of all Arrowverse superhero series and discovered Black Lightning via a crossover episode. I thought I would give the series a go and soon got hooked. It loses points for season 4, which I feel started badly, though it picked up in later episodes. Super-villain Tobias Whale (Marvin Jones III) is a very memorable character throughout the series and his evil chuckling fits well with his psychopathic nature. He makes an excellent opponent for Black Lightning and his family, as do the Markovians. I found I enjoyed the soundtrack too, and I am a singer-songwriter myself, and the choice of backing music can help make or break a TV drama for me. On the whole Black Lightning is an enjoyable superhero drama and one I will probably watch again some time in the future.

I dont get it

[striker_undercover · 1/10 · 5 August 2019]

So many good series get cancelled after 1 season and this crap gets 3 seasons. Incredible!

Why isn't there a laugh track?!

[rsvp321 · 16 February 2018]

I can't believe there is *anyone* happy with this show. Talk about setting the bar low! lol It is blatant ridiculing - can't you see that?!

Yes, if there was a laugh track added to every episode, it would make more sense, and I'd give it a higher rating.

Not 'Flash' or 'Arrow' but worth Watching

[EdeBorrett · 6/10 · 4 November 2021]

This is NOT as bas as some reviewers have made out - it is fairly entertaining and does have some nice plot twists.

The acting is generally good albeit that, probably because of direction (see below), it is more than occasionally melodramatic in the style of a 1910 silent.

The two places that this series truly fails is in terrible direction with constant switches of camera angle and shot - sometimes quite literally every time a character speaks in a conversation we switch (not pan, switch) to a new camera and the constant 'jumping' this creates actually serves to destroy the narrative.

The second fail, whether direction or production I don't know, is in the constant, irritating and intrusive music. Sometimes the music track is so loud it is actually louder than the conversation or action that it is supposedly underlaying and not dominating! Do we need the constant, loud drone of rap music throughout every fight?

Overall a good series, it IS entertaining even if the writers have made Black Lightning into a "woe is me" wimp without the conviction of his principles or the inner strength to be the hero. Lightning and Thunder, the two daughters, are much better heroes.

Give it a chance but 'The Flash' or 'Arrow' it isn't, which is a shame.

CW has hit the mark with BLACK LIGHTNING

[dubwize · 9/10 · 17 January 2018]

Most new TV series these days have the same lame formula, not this one.

Black Lightning Episode 1 gave me chills, thrills and a realism that most TV just does not have these days. It is current, topical, political and has all the elements of a great superhero series. I was hesitant to watch it but was so glad that I did.

Teenage social media and Smartphone addiction, gangs of disaffected youth in a society that doesn't care and Police that behave as a law unto themselves, it's like real life on the screen with zero MSM rubbish. These are the serious issues affecting not just America but every 5 eyes Western nations today.

A bit heavy on the family drama but all necessary to the plotline. Really excited to see more of this however knowing The CW, this will be lucky to make it past season One, as all their good shows fail to do. The flashbacks to the past are few and only appear where needed. Clever editing, good script and decent special effects. This show deserves a 9/10

Great but could be better

[rameenfr · 6/10 · 6 February 2018]

I'm not here to hate but it is significant to know this isn't the best show out there, it is great but it's not the best. Hollywood is fairly new to the whole diversity thing so it's interesting to look at how they take on issues as sensitive as police brutality, racism ingrained in the justice system and gang violence. The show could definitely be so so much better but as of yet I haven't seen anything very eye-catching and the story line seems uncertain and predictable.

Tried to like it. Struggled. Failed.

[Colin0001 · 3/10 · 2 March 2018]

I'm black, and of an age where I was hugely into superhero and comic book culture from back in the day. And now seeing these stories brought to the screen, makes me more happy than you can know. With the high production values of Black Panther, and Luke Cage before it (I preferred Luke Cage actually), I was hoping for more of the same with Black Lightning. Instead, I tried to be loyal because at least I am represented as a black person on screen. But I didn't like the characters. Some were just jarring. The acting often seemed wooden.

It aims for grittiness, but it doesn't come across as gritty. It comes across as some very disinterested actors earning a quick buck, in something that they don't truly believe in.

Love this Show

[Trupiaar · 9/10 · 21 November 2018]

All around good show true to basic CW story writing, but honestly without a lot of cringey stuff they normally do.

SO apparently someone complained about white peoples being bad guys. Totally not true, Gammby of course excellent exception, I have had zero problem with it as white viewer. There is of course govt conspiracy against the townsfolk, but anyone who got stuck on that never watched a CW show - everyone a conspiracy experiment victim, lol.

Now onto the good stuff. Jefferson Pierce is a great stand up high powered super hero without being a 'Mary Sue' if you will. The rest of cast is easily the most believable 'super powered' family scenario on screen yet possibly. Their exchanges feel very genuine.

The daughters are a great highlight of the show. One super powered and struggling with it, the other embracing it and going to town. Both feel like very real reactions and are played like real people.

Tiny Spoiler: There is a scene in latest episode where Anissa gets pulled over by a local sheriff and sees super fast humans start circling car. Does she get out n look around? Does she cooperate with sheriff in obviously bad situation? No! She literally says 'Hell no!' and starts driving down the road. That's real, these little things make the show for me, and I enjoy it each week.

best DC tv show ever

[scottkama · 6/10 · 24 January 2018]

I just watched the first episode and it was awesome. the cast was great. I love how he was a retired super hero and he made a comeback. I got to know the characters so fast. . the whole episode was so exiting and thrilling. I can't wait for the next episode! you should go watch this show now. good job to the cast and crew

GO BLACK LIGHTNING!

How can this series have 6.4???

[bjarte-rorvik · 3/10 · 24 March 2018]

Bad acting, weird fighting scenes, the main caracter is a well known principal at a high school and all he wear is a litte mask and then nobody recognize him. There are so many good series out there, dont waste time on this crap.

Black Power Literally.... Lol.

[intreeslive · 10/10 · 19 January 2018]

This is not great but its good... and its better than a lot of other shit out there. Im only giving it a 10 because it seems to have caused a lot of butthurt in the white american community... Im white, but I aint American, so I can enjoy this show without the guilt...Lol... Check it out for yourself.

I really kind of like it

[reddish68 · 7/10 · 12 July 2021]

I'm up to season 3 and I kind of like it. If you treat it like a visual and audio representation of a comic book (like 1980's era) then it's exactly right.

Easily dismissable

[takato0524 · 2/10 · 15 December 2020]

Bad acting, bad stories, bad everything. I watched the entire first season hoping things would get better, but they didn't. Trying to play off the success of Marvel's Luke Cage, black lightning falls short at every turn. It wants to be a drama, it wants to be action, it wants to be a super hero show, but it isn't any of that. It's just loud noise throwing every black social issue at you possible. I am a black man and I felt this was just too much all at once. How it has lasted 3 seasons baffles me. Maybe the cw needs to have a "black" show since every other show barely has us on it, but this shouldn't be what they go with.

You can tell how bad they even think this show is because they didn't include him in their week long crossover event until his third season (tho he didn't get an entire episode for his show) yet batwoman did in her first season. Just saying.