'Power Book II: Ghost' Episode 1 Review: Will Tommy return to kill Tasha for pinning Ghost's murder on him?
There's the saying —in order to cover up one lie, you have to keep telling more lies. And that's the predicament circling Tasha (Naturi Naughton) and her son Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr) as they struggle to cover up their crime trail in the aftermath of Ghost's death. Though 'Power Book II: Ghost' is a spinoff series devoid of the overtly familiar Ghost, his shadow looms in the foreground of the show.
Tasha is determined to not let Tariq go to jail and at first heroically takes the blame for it, while a rattled Tariq prepares for college. However, this is no time for him to enjoy frat parties, booze or even the company of a possible girlfriend as his mother is still rotting in jail and making rather mundane moves that are landing her further in trouble.
The attorneys know that something is up and that Tasha couldn't have killed Ghost. But Tasha sticks to her story, for at least most of the episode. The most epic twist was in the courtroom drama when she decides to throw Ghost's old friend Tommy Egan under the bus and pin the blame on him. But, when do courtroom dramas disappoint? This backfires spectacularly and Tasha is back to square one: in jail.
The episode was every bit as nerve-wracking and thrilling as you would expect from a 'Power' spinoff. There was much trepidation on whether the show could succeed without Ghost or Tommy, but surprise, surprise, the first episode seemed to take off on a wild ride of its own, with most of us clutching our seats frantically. The episode sets up an intriguing season, and hopefully, it will not be disappointing as Michael Rainey Jr proves that he is just as capable of taking the lead.
Mary J Bilge's Monet is a surprise as well, and clearly, the shocks are from over. For starters, Tommy might just well return and extract his pound of flesh from Tasha, which is what fans are hoping for, anyway. Tariq might not get the college life he has been planning for, not with his mother in jail. Perhaps this isn't the time for blossoming romance?
Tune into all the action and drama of 'Power Book II: Ghost' which airs on Sundays on Starz at 9 pm.