In the Power universe, avoiding street politics comes with consequences regardless of who you are. Raqs decision to expand the business in Jersey has caused her more problems than it has made her money. While en route to make a drop in Newark, Jersey, one of Raqs men gets attacked by the Italians, accompanied by a specific message from Sal Boselli , head of the mob: No one does business in Newark without Boselli profiting.
Word eventually gets back about the hit in Jersey, and while the team gets together to come up with a solution, Kanan steals a stack of bread from the closet where the dead body of the super is hidden. The room stinks badly, but somehow everyone seems to ignore it. This is Kanans second time stealing , so now he’s a full-blown thief. Raq is super heated about Jersey, so of course she doesn’t notice.
Ain’t nobody gonna tell me where I can and cannot do business. Not the Italians and not neither of you, says Raq to her brothers after Lou-Lou suggests they lay low. Instead, she requests a meeting with Boselli during which she remains unapologetic. He offers her a number, what he refers to as a toll to continue doing business in Jersey. In true Raq fashion, without even looking at the number she rejects his offer and rips up the paper in a disrespectful manner.
“Taking out Nique is one thing. These mafia … that’s something else, Lou Lou says to Raq after being scolded for trying to keep the peace in the meeting. He thinks his sister has lost her mind. Raq’s solution to her mafia problem is to get rid of the trucks and come through the city driving a short yellow school bus .“Taking out Nique is one thing. These mafia that’s something else Lou Lou says to Raq after being scolded for trying to keep the peace in the meeting. He thinks his sister has lost her mind. Raq’s solution to her mafia problem is to get rid of the trucks and come through the city driving a short yellow school bus.
Jukebox has been on a mission of her own to finally meet her mother, and this week she gathers up the courage to show up on her doorstep and ring the doorbell. When Kenya Pierce, played by Letoya Luckett, opens the door, she is surprised to see her teenage daughter standing before her. The reaction is not exactly an I miss you soooo much let me give you a big hug mother daughter reunion it might even be more appropriate to call this a “reintroduction, with Kenya saying Jukebox’s government name . As a new momma to a daughter, I found the emotionally raw scene well played by Luckett and Kilgore it’s hard not to feel bad for both mom and daughter.
The semi awkward introduction is a reminder that in the Power universe, the women struggle with motherhood and are far from what many would consider a good mom. But mothering is quite complicated. Although Kenya hasn’t been a mom to Juke, she volunteers with the youth group at her church. After viewing a photo of her mom looking motherly while posing with a group of kids, Jukebox questions her. Why did you leave me? I wasn’t even a year old and you just bounced. I wanna know why, she says, cutting Kenya off mid-sentence. She explains that she was immature and ran off to pursue her dreams of becoming a star with the hope of coming back for Juke. For now, the duo appears to be on a track toward grace and forgiveness. With Jukebox estranged from her father, she needs her mother now more than ever.
When she returns home to grab a few dresses so she can attend church with her mother, she finds her childhood room newly decorated with a fresh coat of blue paint. The color just felt like you,” Marvin says, adding, I found some shit to hang I thought you like.” There’s a collective understanding in the Black community that Black parents do not apologize, they just come back acting nice. The room makeover is Marvin’s way of asking for forgiveness and expressing that he understands his daughter’s sexual identity. His daughter is not interested in what he has to say though.
With all of the parental issues in this episode, Maury Povich or Dr. Phil could have made cameos. After Detective Howard dropped a truth bomb on Kanan, he’s been obsessing over whether Def Con is his real father. To get some answers he heads to visit his father’s brother, who ends up telling Kanan what he wants to hear: that Def Con is his daddy and that he looks just like him. The visit leaves Kanan feeling even more confused. Marvin kindly reminds him that he has a mother who loves him more than anything on this goddamn green earth. He hears Marvin and knows this to be true, but at the same time, he doesn’t hear Marvin.
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