Jefferson Pierce
| Jefferson Pierce | |
|---|---|
| Arrowverse character | |
| First appearance | "The Resurrection" |
| Last appearance | "The Book of Resurrection: Chapter Two: Closure" |
| Created by | Tony Isabella Trevor Von Eeden |
| Based on | Black Lightning by DC Comics |
| Adapted by | Salim Akil |
| Portrayed by | Cress Williams |
| Information | |
| Alias | Black Lightning |
| Species | Meta-human |
| Occupation | School principal of Garfield High |
| Spouse | Lynn Stewart |
| Children | Anissa Pierce Jennifer Pierce |
| Home | Freeland |
Search Jefferson Pierce (Arrowverse) on Amazon.Jefferson Pierce is the titular main character of the superhero television series Black Lightning, based on the DC Comics superhero of the same name. In the series, Jefferson is the vigilante known as Black Lightning, and is a meta-human with electricity powers. The character is portrayed by Cress Williams, who reprises his role for the Arrowverse crossover event "Crisis on Infinite Earths". The character has the possibility to appear in the five-episode premiere of the eight season of The Flash, which is also set in the superhero franchise.
Kaden Washington Smith portrays Jefferson as a child throughout the series.
Casting and characterization[edit]
On February 24, 2017, Cress Williams was announced in the lead role of Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning.[1] Williams returned as the character for the second season, along with all the other main cast members and Jordan Calloway, who portrays Khalil Payne and was promoted to the main cast for the remaining season after being a recurring character in the first season.[2] Williams, along with every other main cast member, reprised their roles for the third season.[3] Finally, Williams appears in the fourth season of the series which is also its last.[4]
Series showrunner Salim Akil called the Jefferson character "the epitome of what black men are: He loves his wife, his children, and the community." He described Jefferson and his family as "the Obamas of the superhero world" and commented that "[t]heir powers, like their race, is only part of who they are." In order for the series to have an "authentic black voice" to support its setting and characters, Black Lightning utilizes a predominantly African-American writing staff.[5] Akil also compared the duality of Jefferson Pierce and his alter ego Black Lightning to the duality of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. He said that Jefferson takes after King, where he "would prefer to educate and to love and to be peaceful, but [he understands] that there's a different side." The Black Lightning side of him, in turn, favors the philosophies of Malcolm X, and believes that, "There are some things that I have to do and react to in a way that I'm not going to turn the other cheek."[6]
Black Lightning's costume was designed by Laura Jean Shannon.[7] While the suit's design is meant to invoke protection from the character's vulnerabilities such as his age, and bullets in particular, Salim Akil stated that there were "a lot of iterations" of the Black Lightning costume, and that "at one point I had covered his face and his eyes, but what was more important to me was the emotion, and you need to see that. You need to see his eyes when his daughters have a gun pointed at them."[8][9] The third season features a new suit design for Jefferson Pierce as Black Lightning. In place of the previous suit's glowing blue and gold bolts across the chest, a textured gold design with blue and black weaving is featured throughout the torso, arms, and gloves. The mask is also slightly redesigned with dark red-tinted lenses.[10]
Fictional character biography[edit]
Black Lightning[edit]
At the beginning of season one, Jefferson has retired crime-fighting as Black Lightning due to the urges of his ex-wife Lynn and the safety of his two daughters and is the benevolent school principal of Garfield High who is loved by his students and his daughters. His foster father, Peter Gambi, urges him to return to the streets and use his metahuman abilities to give hope to the inhabitants of Freeland, their city, which is under duress by the 100 Street Gang. Jefferson adamantly refuses to return and resists using his powers even against a group of racists police officers who pull him and his daughters over unjustified suspicions, but after his daughter Jennifer is captured by the 100 (and later his other daughter Anissa), he uses his metahuman abilities (which allow him to generate and control electricity offensively) to fight off the gangsters holding them captive as Black Lightning, adorning a new suit built for him by Gambi (although, he initially only does this as a once-off for his daughters). Initially, Jefferson only returns to being Black Lightning to save his daughters and promises his ex-wife Lynn that it was a never to be repeated occasion and Black Lightning is gone and the two begin to explore reuniting, with Jefferson believing he can do more as Jefferson than Black Lightning could ever do as the community believes in his ability to get things done as a school principal and elder. As the series progresses, it revealed that Jefferson's ability to stand up for the community is so effective that he has come to be affectionately known as "Black Jesus" as revealed by his former student LaWanda White. Members of Freeland's community complain to Jefferson about the looming threat of the 100 taking young girls, including LaWanda's own daughter and having them forcibly work for them, but Jefferson continues to resist Black Lightning and promises to help find another way. He speaks to Latavius (who insists to be called "Lala"), one of Jeff's former students and a high-ranking member of the 100 gang, and asks him to back off to no avail, forcing LaWanda to confront Lala only for him to shoot and instantly kill her. Unbeknown to Latavius, she has recorded the event and it is found by the police, who use this as evidence to imprison Latavius. LaWanda's death forms the catalyst to convince Jeff that he is not doing better as Jefferson Pierce but must fully return and act as Black Lightning, much to Lynn's chagrin. As Black Lightning once more, Jeff attacks and hands Lala over to the police, who apprehend him, although is soon murdered by Tobias Whale, the secret true leader of the 100 gang.
Jeff continues to act as Black Lightning during the night and principal and parent during the day, dealing with the stress of Jennifer's adolescence and Anissa's incessant cry for action against the 100. Gambi helps him by watching through a camera in his glasses and a com and has surveillance watching most parts of the city. It is later revealed that Jefferson's father was a journalist who was killed by Tobias after he wrote an article about him. Jefferson retired shortly after a confrontation with Tobias that left the gangster believing he'd killed Black Lightning, making a name for himself on the streets for the past decade. Upon discovering he is alive, Tobias attempts to have Black Lightning killed while citizens of Freeland pay tribute to his return, but the bullet instead hits Jennifer's boyfriend Khalil, severing his spinal cord and crippling the track star. After discovering Tobias's resurgence, Jefferson attempts to kill him to avenge his father, but is convinced he's better by Lynn, who reminds him he is a hero and not a murderer shortly before she is attacked by some 100 gangsters for biological research into the drug Greenlight (a high addictive drug which the 100 had begun selling to the youth that seems to temporarily give them enhanced strength while under its frenzy). The gangsters are chased off by Anissa, who is revealed to have inherited her father's metahuman genes, has powers and has started to act as a vigilante as well. Upon arrival, Black Lightning fights a masked Anissa, believing her to be the one attacking a gagged and tied-up Lynn. After a heated confrontation, Jefferson knocks Anissa out only to realize who she is. Lynn laments that she is also a metahuman and that she has followed in Jeff's footsteps but the two are forced to accept her need to fight for good just like Black Lightning and Lynn has Gambi make her suit. Jefferson though is displeased with Lynn's apparent hypocrisy and briefly voices his outrage on the matter.
In season three, Agent Odell gives Jefferson a special watch. When this watch is charged to a specific point, Jefferson gains a new costume through nano-technology. This enabled Odell to win Black Lightning into assisting against the Markovian invaders. After returning to Garfield High, he learns from Principal Mike Lowry that the A.S.A. had him reassign Jefferson to the occupation of guidance counselor. Due to the A.S.A.'s oppression, Black Lightning starts to work alongside the rebels. After the crossover event, Black Lightning returns to Freeland and continues assisting the resistance. When Lynn is taken to Markovia, Jefferson has a parley with Major Sara Grey when it comes to a plan for a rescue mission. Jefferson agrees to help the A.S.A. rescue Lynn under the condition that the metahumans that assist them are off limits afterwards. When it came to the raid on a Markovian facility, Jefferson came up with an idea to have Thunder strike Erica Moran until she has absorbed enough kinetic energy to break down the strong door. Despite being hit by a laser gun wielded by Gravedigger, Black Lightning catches up to the group and shocks Gravedigger into submission. Then he and Lynn retreat to Freeland. When the Markovians attack Freeland, Black Lightning assists in defeating the ones that were attacking the Perdi. Lynn later informs Jefferson that his DNA and Gravedigger's DNA are a match meaning that they are both related. When Gravedigger defeats Lightning, Black Lightning begins to fight him. After Black Lightning tries to reason with him while mentioning that they are related, Gravedigger uses a microwave move to cause some burns to Black Lightning. When some Markovian soldiers make off with Lightning, Black Lightning makes a tactical retreat. He receives help from Brandon to rescue Lightning. After Henderson dies in his arms after shooting the soldiers that were planning to attack him, Black Lightning fights Gravedigger in the Pit. With help from Lynn using an anti-boost serum on Gravedigger, Black Lightning defeats him and gets everybody out of the Pit before it self-destructs. Following Odell being wounded by Khalil, Black Lightning is accompanied by Lynn, Thunder, and Lightning where they present the briefcase to a congressional committee that exposes the A.S.A.'s experiments as well as Markovia's own experiments.
Crisis on Infinite Earths[edit]
In part three of Crisis on Infinite Earths, which takes place during the third season, he is recruited by the Flash and his team in an effort to stop an anti-matter wave from annihilating the entire multiverse after he was teleported away while his world was erased. In the final part, Jefferson is restored when his Earth is merged with Earth-1 and Earth-38 to form Earth-Prime. He later become the founding members of a "league of heroes" alongside Barry and several other heroes.
The mid-season finale and ninth episode of the season titled "The Book of Resistance: Chapter Four: Earth Crisis" ties into the Arrowverse crossover event "Crisis on Infinite Earths" and leads into Cress Williams' appearances as Black Lightning in Part Three and Part Five (which were episodes of The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow, respectively) of the crossover.[11][12] Following the event, Black Lightning officially joins the Arrowverse franchise and, beginning with the season's tenth episode, retroactively shares a new continuity with the other series of the shared universe, all of which now collectively inhabit the new world of Earth-Prime.[13] Though not an official mutli-series crossover, Williams has the possibility to return as Jefferson in The Flash season eight.[14]
Reception[edit]
Critical reception[edit]
Accolades[edit]
In 2018, Williams was nominated for the Black Reel Award for Television in Outstanding Actor, Drama Series for his role as Jefferson Pierce.[15] Additionally, in 2021, the character was nominated for the Critics' Choice Super Awards in Best Actor in a Superhero Series.[16]
References[edit]
- ↑ Swift, Andy (February 24, 2017). "Black Lightning: Cress Williams to Star in The CW's Latest DC Comics Pilot". TVLine. Archived from the original on February 25, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ N'Duka, Amanda; Pedersen, Erik (July 21, 2018). "'Black Lightning': Jordan Calloway Upped To Series Regular As Painkiller – Watch The Comic-Con Sizzle Reel". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 8, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2018. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Damore, Meagan (July 20, 2019). "Black Lightning Strikes At SDCC With Season 3 Details". CBR. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2019. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Mitovich, Matt Webb (January 19, 2020). "Black Lightning: Original Cast Member Damon Gupton Out Ahead of Season 4". TVLine. Archived from the original on January 20, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Abid, Areeba (July 22, 2017). "Here's Why Black Lightning Will Be the Wokest Superhero on TV". Zimbio. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2019. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Abrams, Natalie (July 12, 2017). "Black Lightning boss: 'This is an American story, this is not a black story'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Goldman, Eric (March 29, 2017). "First Look At Black Lightning From The CW's New DC Comics Pilot". IGN. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2017. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Abrams, Natalie (July 12, 2017). "Black Lightning boss: 'This is an American story, this is not a black story'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Turchiano, Danielle (January 16, 2018). "'Black Lightning' Boss on Telling a Tale of 'African-American Paranoia'". Variety. Archived from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2019. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Aguilar, Matthew (September 20, 2019). "Black Lightning Gets New Costume in Leaked Photo From Season 3". ComicBook.com. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
- ↑ Drum, Nicole (December 9, 2019). "Here is How Black Lightning "Earth Crisis" Ties to "Crisis on Infinite Earths"". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Agard, Chancellor (November 26, 2019). "Black Lightning star teases his 'surprising' 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' entrance". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 28, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Drum, Nicole (January 20, 2020). "Here's How Black Lightning's World Has Changed Post-Crisis on Infinite Earths". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Agard, Chancellor (May 25, 2021). "The Flash season 8 to begin with 5 'crossover-type' episodes featuring Arrowverse heroes". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2021. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "2nd Annual Black Reel Awards for Television Nomination Announcement". BlogTalkRadio. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ↑ Hammond, Pete; Hammond, Pete (2020-11-19). "'Palm Springs', 'Lovecraft Country' Top Movie And Series Nominations For Inaugural Critics Choice Super Awards; Netflix Lands 35 Nods". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
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