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Black Lightning series premiere synopsis: The Resurrection

By Zoe West

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 06: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally enhanced.) (L-R) Actors James Remar, China Anne McClain, Marvin Jones III, Cress Williams, Damon Gupton, Christine Adams, and Nafessa Williams of the CW network television show 'Black Lightning'' poses for a portrait during the 2018 Winter TCA Tour at Langham Hotel at Langham Hotel on January 7, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Maarten de Boer/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 06: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally enhanced.) (L-R) Actors James Remar, China Anne McClain, Marvin Jones III, Cress Williams, Damon Gupton, Christine Adams, and Nafessa Williams of the CW network television show 'Black Lightning'' poses for a portrait during the 2018 Winter TCA Tour at Langham Hotel at Langham Hotel on January 7, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Maarten de Boer/Getty Images) /
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There’s a new superhero show coming to the CW. When Black Lightning premieres this week, it will try to stand out by presenting a slightly different side of the story.

If there is such a thing as “peak superhero” in entertainment, we must be getting close. This week the new Black Lightning will join an already crowded slate of these programs on The CW. Others on the network currently include Supergirl, The Flash and Arrow. It is interesting to note that all of these have so-far co-existed quite admirably. The Flash and Arrow have openly shared a universe for a while now, while Supergirl was theoretically on its own. However, crossover episodes with varying degrees of complexity between all the shows have taken place.  These culminated in “Crisis on Earth X,” a four-episode epic that aired late last year.

Even though the character and story of Black Lightning have their origins in the same comic material as the other shows on The CW, it seems as though the stories will remain separate, at least initially. Part of that may simply be because the show is in its infancy and they don’t really know if it will stick around. So it will be interesting to see if that changes as the show may progress.

However, it also may be because the heroes in the shows are so different. In most of the other CW shows, the heroes are young adults, establishing themselves. Black Lightning is a middle-aged father, making the decision to return to the fight for justice.

The pilot episode of Black Lightning will introduce us to the character of Jefferson Pierce and his return to the crime fighting scene as his alter-ego Black Lightning. According to the official synopsis:

"A retired superhero is drawn back into his old lifestyle when his daughter seeks to serve justice to evil-doers."

The first episode of the series is called “The Resurrection,” presumably in reference to the character of Black Lightning being brought out of retirement or metaphorically back from the dead. The trailer also seems to draw some biblical parallels for the story, which may or may not be followed up in the actual show.

Next: All Arrowverse shows likely to be renewed for 2018-19 season

You can watch a trailer for the premiere (and the entire season HERE, and catch the show itself on the night of Tuesday, Jan. 16.