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'Black Lightning' Season 3 needs to give Jefferson Pierce a power upgrade if he is to survive the Markovian invasion

While he is still a very athletic person and a formidable fighter, there's only so much Jefferson can hope to put his body through. Even in the first season, after Jefferson made his comeback, we saw how his powers drained him and left the veteran hero barely able to get out of bed

'Black Lightning' Season 1 introduced Cress Williams' Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning as a retired hero who left the vigilante business behind because of the physical toll it took on his body. Once he made his return to superheroics, however, his experience in the field more than made up for the ravages of time and despite his age, Jefferson has done pretty well as a vigilante.

That said, the character is fast reaching the point where he may not be able to continue as a hero without upping his game in some way or the other. While he is still a very athletic person and a formidable fighter, there's only so much Jefferson can hope to put his body through.

Even in the first season, after Jefferson made his comeback, we saw how his powers drained him and left the veteran hero barely able to get out of bed. Since then, he's faced much bigger threats and put himself through far worse but Jefferson's health and endurance haven't really kept up. 

On the one hand, it has been quite interesting seeing such a powerful, superhuman figure display very human frailties. But that said, if Jefferson were to continue the way he's been going, there's no way he can survive the impending Markovian invasion of Freeland which will see him facing multiple metahuman threats.

And even if he were to find a way to beat back the Markovians, there will always be another threat after that and it's only a matter of time before Jefferson's body gives up on him. There's a possibility the ever-enigmatic Agent Odell (Bill Duke) may have recognized this fact.

Season 3 will be beginning with Jefferson and his ex-wife Dr. Lynn Stewart (Christine Adams) being held at an unknown facility by Odell and the A.S.A. where it appears the hero is being experimented on. While we see in promos that Jefferson feels like he's in prison, there's still a good chance that Odell is actually trying to find a way to improve Black Lightning's metahuman abilities so that he can finally transcend his limitations and become powerful enough to face the threats that are surely on the way.

'Black Lightning' Season 3 will premiere on The CW October 7.