Power: The Complete Third Season Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		4.0

Power: The Complete Third Season Blu-ray Movie Review

Powerful Television.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 10, 2017

Power isn't the first name one is likely to rattle off when listing the top shows on television today, but it's easily worthy of the greater conversation. Creator Courtney A. Kemp's program, which follows the life and trials of a successful drug dealer and entrepreneur looking to get to, and stay, on the up-and-up, has evolved from a solid first season into one of television's must-watch shows. Season three continues the tale, expanding not only the story but also the emotional depth and breadth that have come to truly define the characters well beyond their external actions. It's continuously riveting, never wastes a moment, and maintains a sharp edge for the duration. Readers who have yet to watch the first two excellent seasons of Power are encouraged to check out the season one and season two reviews and buy the sets before proceeding.

Ghost.

James St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick) is a successful businessman who remains committed to escaping the drug business and finding happiness not in the arms of his wife Tasha (Naturi Naughton) but rather Angela Valdez (Lela Loren), the federal prosecutor charged with bringing down his drug empire alter-ego, "Ghost." His trusted ally Tommy (Joseph Sikora) has ventured out on his own, torn between his own prospects for success and eliminating his competition, who just happens to be his longtime associate and closest friend. As new dangers, truths, and consequences emerge on the field of play, the fate of all, and all they love, hangs precipitously in the balance.

Power's third season begins much the way the series began in season one's opening minutes, portending not a reboot of the show but certainly a repositioning for Ghost where he's essentially back to where he was as the series began two seasons ago. It certainly won't end on the same note, however. Season three is a roller coaster, more so than either of the previous two outings, that sees the world around the show's protagonist change in ways the previous two seasons didn't dare explore. Of course, the show has developed and succeeded enough to push and prod and reshape its identity, but season three is certainly unafraid of going to some dark places, particularly as Tommy sets out on his own, away from Ghost, ready to step out of his shadow, but incapable of dealing with the consequences thereof, not so much on a business level but certainly on an emotional level. That increasingly strained relationship, and Tommy's choices as it pertains to it, will have the most consequential impact throughout the season. Tommy is pushed hard, harder, perhaps, than any character along the show's arc thus far.

Meanwhile, Ghost continues to struggle to find his place, to battle with that desire to go straight but unable to escape the darker world in which he's become forced to operate. Season three gets more personal than ever before. Focus on Ghost's family is increased, but so too is the focus on his inner self, which is much more laser-like than before. Ghost is certainly one of the most interesting characters on television, a deeply conflicted man who has it all yet is so far away from being where he wants to be and who he wants to be. There's the characters most basic arc driving the story, but it's the much deeper, much more substantial arc underneath where the show finds its momentum and maintains audience interest beyond the more crude, yet certainly essential, narrative comings-and-goings and actions that propel each episode. Season three pushes harder and digs farther than ever before. Ghost's fate for the end of the season will certainly be different than it has been at the end of either season one or two. Meanwhile, the season introduces new characters, returns old and gravely wounded favorites, and promises even more enticing inter-character and world drama than ever before for season four.

Power remains one of the sharpest and most engaging shows on television. It's smart, well written, and its world is brimming with carefully constructed dramatic ebbs and flows that never relent, whether large-scale, world-altering chaos or smaller, more personal and intimate, yet no less startling and striking, details. Characters are not simply well developed and performed; they're alive, extraordinarily complex inside and out, and the show is unafraid of pushing them, hard, by way of draining exterior conflict or dark inner conflict. Even as they're often larger than life, they're very relatable, very intimately drawn, very human beyond the façades. That's what really drives the show. These are real people struggling through real problems, many brought on by their own foolish choices and directions in life but they're all very much a product of their actions, and those actions play not only to the moment, but to the entire arc. Power may be escapist entertainment, but it's escapist entertainment that takes reality into account along every step of the way. It's remarkable just how well conceived and executed a show this is from the very top to the very bottom. Good stuff.

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

Power: The Complete Third Season may now technically be a Lionsgate release, but the 1080p picture quality is still right in line with Anchor Bay's work on the previous two seasons. The image is gorgeous, digitally photographed and revealing a very clean but highly detailed presentation. Textural nuances are plentiful. Skin textures are intimately revealing, environments -- whether high-class interiors or grittier urban exteriors -- are precisely defined, and pinpoint clothing features on high-dollar shirts, jackets, and neckties are flat-out gorgeous; the latter is practically tactile and three-dimensional. Colors are rich and pleasing, neutral but showing plenty of vitality and accuracy across a diverse city-inspired palette. Black levels are terrifically deep and engrossing. Skin textures are very accurate and consistent. Minor noise and a few examples of banding creep in here and there, but there's nothing out of the ordinary for a top-tier new TV release.

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

Power: The Complete Third Season features a wonderful Dolby TrueHD 7.1 lossless soundtrack. Music is the unequivocal highlight in a field of quality elements. Spacing is perfect, depth and clarity are outstanding, and the track's ability to present nuance even through the bigger sound layer is terrific. Surrounds don't play a major role, favoring more of a support element, but the low end does add a beautifully balanced heft to the music. Environmental ambience around the city springs to life with remarkable precision, opening up the stage as necessary but opening into a more intimate, realistic posture as needed as well. Action effects are detailed and prodigious, again as necessary. No matter the element, the track handles it with the utmost accuracy. Dialogue is clear, well positioned, and naturally prioritized throughout the ten-episode season.

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

Power: The Complete Third Season contains two extras on disc three.

• Power Season 2 Recap (1080p, 4:27): For those who missed season two, or if it's been a while since watching, this offers a brief recap of the second season.
• Inside the World of Power (1080p, various brief runtimes): Episode-by-episode recaps of season three that also offer some deeper insight into various plot and character developments at the same time. Unlike the similar supplement on the season two release, this breaks down by selectable episode-by-episode snippets, allowing viewers to watch one-by-one after finishing each episode.

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

For those who have yet to watch Power, it's well worth checking out. Season three continues the series' upward trend. It's engrossing, well written, and strongly performed. It's certainly not the best show on television, but in a seriously overcrowded marketplace, it stands out as one of the best ones going and is a worthy addition to any TV rotation. Power: The Complete Third Season offers rock-solid video and audio. Supplements are a bit thin, but the season, and the series, comes highly recommended.