Black Lightning: The Complete Third Season Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Black Lightning: The Complete Third Season Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown January 2, 2025

While Warner Bros. proper released the complete first season of Black Lightning on Blu-ray, the reigns for subsequent seasons passed to The Warner Archive Collection. Thankfully the change seems to be in department only, as the series' second and third seasons feature the same high quality AV presentations as the first season. Extras are still slim but that's par for the course for releases of Arrowverse titles.

Click here to read Michael Reuben's excellent review of the series' first season, which he calls "an inventive addition to its superhero lineup that respects the conventions of the genre while adding a distinctive new flavor to DC's ever-expanding TV roster." Adding "Black Lightning doesn't shy away from contemporary hot-button issues... good dramatists make creative use of the era in which they work. Salim Akil and his team have skillfully reimagined Black Lightning for today's world, and the results are satisfying, memorable and highly recommended."

Season Three follows former now current superhero Black Lightning -- Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) -- as he absorbs, channels and controls electricity alongside his daughters and fellows supes in a fight against the corrupt government of Freeland, an agency called the ASA, and emerging threats from the country of Markovia. It also marks the series' full induction into the Arrowverse with its connections to the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover in its ninth episode. The series stars China Anne McClain, Nafessa Williams, Marvin "Krondon" Jones III, Christine Adams, Damon Gupton, Jordan Calloway and James Remar.

Episodes include:

1. Birth of Blackbird - With Black Lightning locked up in a testing facility, the ASA tightens its grip on Freeland. Anissa and Gambi work to smuggle metas out of the city.

2. Maryam's Tasbih - Lynn struggles to pull meta Maryam back from the brink. Anissa clashes with the Perdi over the influx of refugees. Odell deploys a new weapon.

3. Agent Odell's Pipe-Dream - Lynn investigates a deadly virus sweeping through the meta camp. Odell recruits Jefferson and Jennifer for separate missions against the Markovians.

4. Lynn's Ouroboros - Desperate to find a cure for the virus, Lynn samples an altered form of Green Light. Jefferson adjusts to the realities of martial law.

5. Requiem for Tavon - At her father's urging, Anissa takes on a risky mission. Lynn finds a patient who could unlock the meta gene. Henderson sets a secret plan in motion.

6. Knocking on Heaven's Door - The ambush leaves Anissa locked in a life-or-death battle. Jennifer breaks into Brandon's apartment to find out what he's up to.

7. Henderson's Opus - The resistance ratchets up its fight against the ASA. Gambi and Lynn uncover the truth about Khalil. Anissa asks her father for a favor.

8. The Battle of Franklin Terrace - When the ASA tries to force a teacher out of her home, Jefferson takes a stand. Anissa and Gambi attempt to get a message to the outside world.

9. Earth Crisis - As Jennifer wrestles with divided loyalties, a massive storm knocks her into parallel dimensions. Odell moves to weaponize the metas at the camp.

10. Blessings and Curses Reborn - Jennifer returns with a new sense of purpose. TC breaks into Gambi's hideout. Lynn's erratic behavior worries her family.

Black Lightning: The Complete Third Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Warner Archive's release of Black Lightning: The Complete Second Season and Complete Third Season feature excellent 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentations that are every bit as striking as their first season predecessor. Colors are stylized but gorgeous, with vicious reds, chilling blues and sickly greens bathing the screen in evocative splashes of emotion. Primaries pack plenty of kick and skin tones remain lovely and lifelike throughout, while black levels are rich and perfectly inky, as if they've dripped off a comic-book inker's brush. Crush is present but not remotely a distraction, and blocking, banding, noise and other issues are nowhere to be found (outside of a few problematic CG-laden effects sequences). Detail is top notch too, with razor-wire edges free of artifacts and halos, beautifully resolved fine textures, and a mounting string of flawless closeups, midrange showdowns and wide establishing shots. Black Lightning is easily one of the best looking Arrowverse series in terms of cinematography and, now, its Blu-ray releases.

Black Lightning: The Complete Third Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Seasons Two and Three also boast complimentary DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround tracks, both of which add plenty of thunder to Black Lightning's fight against crime. Dialogue is clean, clear and intelligible at all times, with precision-crafted prioritization and terrific dynamics. Music is especially engaging, joining punches and energy blasts in pound-for-pound LFE representation. The soundfield is extremely active too, utilizing the rear speakers to nice effect both in terms of ambient environmental support and more aggressive and enveloping action beats. Directionlity boasts dead aim, channel pans are slick and smooth, and the entire soundscape pulls together to create an immersive, altogether electrifying adventure.

Black Lightning: The Complete Third Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• The Best of TV's Comic-Con Panels: San Diego 2019 (Disc 4, HD, 51 minutes) - Highlights from Arrow, Batwoman, Black Lightning, The Flash and Supergirl's comic-con panels. This is the same reel from the Blu-ray release of Batwoman: The Complete First Season.

Black Lightning: The Complete Third Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Though the series was cancelled, there's still a lot to love here for Arrowverse fans who've never given Black Lightning a try. Backed by a solid season of episodes, an excellent video presentation and a strong DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, the only disappointment to be found here is a small selection of extras. Recommended.