Though a spinoff series has already been greenlit, so it’s possible that some of the characters will pop up again, it would be nice for the show to live on in some form. Black Lightning, for those who are unaware, follows Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) and his two daughters, Anissa/Thunder (Nafessa Williams) and Jennifer/Lightning (China Anne McClain/Laura Kariuki). Jefferson works at a local high school in addition to his service to his community as a superhero. Anissa is a medical student and a teacher at the high school her father works at. Jennifer, meanwhile, is just a regular teenager trying to get by. Or so she thinks in the beginning. This family of heroes saves their community regularly and always does what is right. They fight not just for some lofty ideals but for very relevant and human reasons. They fight to protect their family and their community and are therefore very easy to relate to.
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A whole family full of heroes is not common, but it’s certainly interesting. The heroes of Black Lightning, then, should not have had their story cut short. They should have been able to continue fighting evil for at least another season or two, if not more. If Arrow could have 8 seasons on the CW, Black Lightning could have had more. Of course, ratings for the shows probably play a role. Yet Black Lightning, Thunder, and Lightning deserve to go on, even if the ratings aren’t amazing. These characters are well-written and well-developed and that’s no small thing. Especially in a sea of similar superhero stories, they definitely stand out. That’s definitely an admirable trait in a story.
Perhaps DC could take a page out of Marvel’s book and bring characters who viewers met in TV shows into movies. It certainly wouldn’t hurt, especially since the heroes of Black Lightning are so easy to relate to. That likability makes them stand out in a sea of less easy to relate to heroes like Superman and Wonder Woman.
The family element also can’t be ignored. A whole family of heroes is something unique and would draw crowds. As would the diversity that the characters of Black Lightning bring. Imagine the main characters of the DC series showing up next time Superman or Wonder Woman needs help. That would make fans of both the show and the wider DC universe happy. And fans of Black Lightning’s role in DC Comics would also be happy. It would be a win-win situation for everyone, hopefully.
So will it happen? Perhaps not, but it would definitely be a good idea. Black Lightning, Thunder, and Lightning, if they live to see the end of the show, of course, would be great assets to DC. Not only would they increase the diversity of the movies, but they would also be a breath of fresh air for the stories with their realism and family dynamics. They are definitely realistic heroes without being depressing ones. They would add so much to the DCEU, so perhaps DC/Warner Bros. will consider it?
Fans of the characters can certainly dream of this positive outcome after having the show canceled, and it makes sense that they would, given the well-done representation in the show, which matters to so many, not only of the black community through all the main characters but of the LGBTQ+ community, through Anissa. Such good representation is rare.
Of course, not every DC fan will be interested in the characters of Black Lightning. Some DC fans might prefer their heroes less realistic, and that’s fine. Yet, the characters deserve better than to end their story so suddenly. Certainly, if they had been allowed to continue the show, that would have been the best outcome. If not, seeing the characters again in DC’s movies or perhaps other DC shows would be a good alternative.
All fans can hope for is that Black Lightning, Thunder, and Lightning will live on in some form. They’re too good as characters not to do so. Of course, there are always comics, but some fans might prefer their heroes on screen. So hopefully, this won’t be the end for these heroes on screen, though they will hopefully go out with a bang if it is.
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