“No man should have all that power . . .”
– Kanye West. Power is defined as the
ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something. Over the course of history, the pursuit of
power has led to wars, death, jealousy and many other bad things. That being said, the new show titled “Power”
is appropriately named. If you watch the
first episode, you will understand.
When I began watching the first episode
of Power, I honestly did not know
what to expect. I must admit that I was
somewhat skeptical when I learned that the show iss produced by Curtis “50
Cent” Jackson. Prior to watching Power, I had only seen 50 Cent involved with
one movie, Get Rich or Die Trying. Needless to say, after watching this movie, I
was not in any particular hurry to catch 50 Cent starring in another movie,
television show, commercial or ad.
However, after watching the first episode, I knew 50 Cent was on to
something that could potentially become a big hit. After watching the first episode, I actually
watched 6 episodes consecutively over the course of a little more six hours. I watched the 8th and final
episode the following morning when I woke up.
The last time I watched that many consecutive episodes of a show
occurred about two years ago when I began watching Game of Thrones. Power is
reminiscent of the show The Wire, but
has a New York spin to it. You can also
see influences from other movies on the show, including: Sugar Hill, New Jack City, Scarface and Carlito’s Way. If you are
someone who enjoys watching intense situations, you will almost certainly enjoy
this show. Let me be crystal clear when
I say, however: “this show is not meant for children; this is a show for adults
only.”
This show boasts a nice range of
characters—some being more involved than others—but all being important to the
authenticity and raw edge that has defined the show thus far. Although there are multiple characters on the
show, I will briefly discuss a few of the most important characters. My goal is to give you a little background
without spoiling it for you.
Ghost is the main character and is the
brains behind the operation of his criminal organization. His character is interesting because he was
raised in the streets of New York City and worked his way up to his position of
power. His character is very similar to
the role played by Al Pacino in Carlito’s
Way. Ghost truly is a man torn
between the street life and his dream of becoming a legitimate
entrepreneur. You will have to watch the
show to learn more about his journey.
Tommy is Ghost’s business partner and
best friend. He and Ghost grew up
together and learned the hustling game together. He is the enforcer of their operation. I get the sense that he wants a bigger role
in the operation, and as the season progresses, it is interesting to watch his
transformation. His character reminds me
of Avon from The Wire in the sense
that he is kind of a live wire. Ghost,
just like Stringer Bell in The Wire,
is the calm, collected half of the duo. Together, they form a very formidable
combination.
Angela comes into the picture pretty
early in the show. She represents a part
of Ghost’s past that kind of slipped through his fingers. She is a lawyer, who was involved in a
relationship with another man when she reconnected with Ghost. Ghost and Angela were in love when they were
in their early 20’s, but she left Ghost’s life abruptly (she is the “one who
got away”) and he had not seen her in about 18 years when they
reconnected. She always supported him
and saw him as more than a street kid. I
believe their relationship will eventually become the most critical one on the
show.
Without giving away too many details
regarding the show, I want to talk a little bit about the plot. Although there are a number of twists and
turns, the show, at its most fundamental level, is about a drug dealer who wants
to transition out of his life of crime into a legitimate life. Sound familiar? The problem—as is always the case—is that his
past will not release its grip on him so that he can become a legitimate
businessman. Remember Kane in Menace II Society? What about Carlito in Carlito’s Way? How about Romelo in Sugarhill? These are just a few examples
of reformed street hustlers who attempted to leave their criminal lives behind
so that could move towards living a legal life, but because of their past
interactions, they found it nearly impossible to do so. Ghost, just like his
predecessors, has a past that is littered with drugs, infidelity, corruption,
betrayal, distrust, and jealousy. As you
watch the show, you will see that these ills make it extremely difficult for
him to become the man he ultimately wants to become. If you have not watched the show, do yourself
a favor and check it out. If Time Warner
is your cable provider, you can watch the entire first season On Demand.
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