'Black Lightning' Season 3 promo shows Jefferson Pierce in shackles, perhaps forcing daughters Anissa and Jennifer to step up
Since the very beginning, 'Black Lightning' has been a story about a dad trying to keep his children safe. Season 3, however, may put Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning (Cress Williams) in a position where his children will have to be the ones to do the saving.
The CW dropped a new teaser for the upcoming season September 11. Based on the short preview, it would appear Jefferson has been imprisoned (he is in shackles) at a time when his city needs him the most. The teaser shows armed soldiers occupying Freeland, which is to be expected considering the last season's finale revealed that the rogue nation of Markovia was preparing to invade Jefferson's hometown.
We catch a glimpse of Jefferson, seemingly in a prison of some sort, with an overgrown beard and an unkempt look that suggests he's been there for at least a few months.
The preview also reveals that the world at large believes Black Lightning to be dead, causing his daughters to take his place as Freeland's resident heroes. We get a quick look at his daughter Anissa Pierce/Thunder (Nafessa Williams) as she takes on a group of armed men using her superhero identity.
If Jefferson really has been taken off the board for so long, this might be the season we finally get to see his daughters come into their own as heroes. The teaser does show Jefferson's younger daughter Jennifer Pierce (China Anne McClain) in her civilian guise but not as the superhero Lightning.
That said, we will certainly be seeing more of Lightning this season, especially after how season 2 set her up to join her father in his mission to make Freeland a better place for all. Though the show itself is not part of the crossover, Jefferson will be making an appearance during 'Crisis on Infinite Earths', suggesting his absence from the streets of Freeland may extend past his imprisonment. As much as the citizens of Freeland would miss having their resident superhero in action, we think it's definitely worth it if it means we get to see his children become the heroes they're meant to be.
'Black Lightning' Season 3 premieres on The CW October 7.