'Crisis on Infinite Earths': The chemistry between Barry Allen and Jefferson Pierce is electric and charges every scene
Black Lightning (Cress Williams) has finally entered the Arrowverse proper, though it's under tragic circumstances.
The last survivor of his universe, snatched up at the last minute from Freeland by the Pariah (Tom Cavanaugh), Jefferson Pierce is understandably upset to be dragged headlong into events so soon after the death of his family.
Fortunately, he's not alone, and he finds that he has a lot in common with the other lightning inspired hero — the Flash (Grant Gustin).
Finding out that there are multiple Earths isn't easy. Finding out about them when they're all about to be destroyed is worse. Having to deal with all of that when you've been told that your family has just been wiped out of existence should be more than any man can bear.
Luckily, there is someone around to whom this sort of thing has become a tragic old hat — the Barry Allen of Earth-1. It's Barry-1 (there are two Barry Allens in this scene, so the distinction is important) who is able to talk Black Lightning down from his rage and grief, long enough to do what needs to be done.
Dealing with the Anti-Matter Cannon is a rough ordeal for everyone involved. Siphoning off the energy that the unstable cannon is putting out nearly kills Black Lightning.
Barry-1 has to watch as the Flash of Earth-90 steals Barry-1's speed to be the one to sacrifice himself to stop the Anti-Matter wave in its tracks. Once again, Barry-1 has to watch a father figure die before his eyes.
Fresh from the tragedy, Barry and Jefferson find comfort in each other. Bonding in the way only superheroes can, they swap origin stories and find that they share much more than just yellow lightning bolts on their costumes.
Both heroes were inspired by their fathers, and try to honor their fathers' memories in their lives as heroes. Both heroes have lost family in tragic circumstances — their fathers, their loves, their daughters. They share a unique grief, and out of that comes a unique strength.
Black Lightning, ever the teacher, quotes Dylan Thomas as he speaks of raging against the dying of the light. Neither hero knows if they will make it out of the Crisis alive, but there’s no way that they’re going gently into that good night.
There's powerful, quiet respect that both heroes have for each other that charges each scene they share. They've had vastly different experiences, but share very common ground.
Their time together in the Crisis was brief, but now that they know of each other's existence, when the world is restored they may hopefully team up under much better circumstances.
For now, however, there aren't any Earths left for the Flash to crossover to, and Black Lightning has been lost to the Anti-Monitor's final push to erase the Multiverse from existence.
The next episode of 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' airs on 'Arrow' on January 14 on The CW.
