‘Power Book II: Ghost’ Season 2 Episode 7 ‘Forced My Hand’
Culture Editor Bianca Gregg brings you ‘Power Book II: Ghost’ recaps each Sunday as the episodes air. Focusing on Tariq St. Patrick who is now in college, the show features familiar faces, and new formidable characters.
Lorenzo and Dru kill Kino in an effort to secure the expansion of Lorenzo’s drug business on the street level. Frank’s wife, Evelyn, pays a visit to Monet in the disappearance of her husband. Monet makes it known that Frank was a snitch and suffered the consequences of the life he lived. She gives Evelyn money and Evelyn warns Monet that Lorenzo needs to be careful.
Monet is angered by Lorenzo’s use of Dru to handle business. She wanted to keep the business off the streets to protect her children. Monet wants out but Lorenzo refuses to live off of Zeke. Lorenzo promises to always keep his family safe.
When shown footage from the night of Ramirez murder, Tariq informs Sax and Davis that he was not the person in the video considering he met with Paula that night. Sax insists that Tariq reveal who is setting him up to take the fall for Ramirez and Jabari but he refuses. Davis reminds Sax that he does not understand street code.
Tariq warns Brayden that he needs to use the blackface photo to help bring down Sweeney. Brayden does not want his father brought down in the process. Tariq tries to leverage keeping the Westin’s name clear in the process of getting Sweeney’s seat but Rashad shoots down the idea. He wants what was promised to him regardless of the blow back on the Westin family.
Tariq is back in class and Cari is sick about it. Lauren is in class clearly displaying her discourse towards Cari by saying under her breath professors are exploiting their students.
Tariq finds out Lauren was taken into custody for drugs being found in her room. He tries to ask her why he never told her and she snaps back at Tariq over his own secrets. Lauren is still bitter about their relationship ending.
Paula meets up with Davis in hopes she will corroborate Tariq’s alibi. She will not involve herself in the case but tells Davis to get Tariq a deal, considering he is a murderer. Paula is out as an alibi and now Yaz is potentially being brought in to take the stand. Tariq does not want her to have to testify at his trial.
Tariq tells Davis and Sax about Lauren potentially being a witness for prosecution. Sax suggests Tariq stay away from her for now. Sax confirms to Davis that Lauren is indeed going to be a witness.
Mecca walks up on Zeke on the basketball court and reveals he is his father. Mecca goes so far as to show Zeke how he got his name. Zeke is defensive of the news but Mecca tells him to ask his mother about the truth. Zeke reveals to Monet that a man came to him on the basketball court and said he was his father.
Monet lies and tells Zeke his father is in prison for life and says the man claiming to be his father is lying and is looking for a come up. Zeke is hesitant because of the tattoo but Monet convinces him that it was all a lie. Monet goes to confront Mecca about visiting Zeke.
We discover that Monet was likely forced to give up Zeke, Mecca was arrested at the time so he had no say in what happened and he was presented with the opportunity to join the military. Mecca makes it clear had he known he would have never left Zeke or Monet. Monet ultimately tells Mecca she does not need him and neither does Zeke.
Cari is listening in to a Clubhouse room about Professor Reynolds and realizes she has been outed for sleeping with both him and Zeke. Her boss approaches her and requests she not give a speech at Jabari’s memorial dinner but Rashad goes to bat for her and insists that she still be able to give the speech for optic reasons. Dean Wong agrees with Rashad.
At Jabari’s memorial dinner, Cari attempts to speak with Lauren about Tariq but Lauren has had enough of Cari and her disingenuous advice.
The Westin’s are also in attendance. Rashad speaks with Brayden’s father and warns him about a photo that is about to be released to the public. Rashad says he can put a stop to it if he convinces Sweeney to give up his seat. Brayden’s father accuses Rashad of blackmail but Rashad tells him this is not blackmail– it’s blackface.
Meanwhile Cari’s speech goes left as she can hear all the chatter in the room about her involvement with Jabari and Zeke. Rashad follows her back to her office and tries to offer some encouragement to Cari.
Lorenzo and Dru meet with Mecca. Mecca offers up all of his product to Lorenzo as well as soldiers to handle some things for him. Later on Cane and Dru have it out over Lorenzo picking Dru to be second in command. Cane reveals he killed Jabari because Dru’s name was brought up. He tried to protect the family. Cane tells Lorenzo Everett is a snitch and it forces Dru to have to handle the situation before someone else does.
Dru makes the attempt to kill Everett himself but when he receives an “I miss you” text from him, he changes his mind.
Lauren makes an attempt to apologize to Tariq for not supporting him. Diana shows up and Tariq let’s her into the room. He tells Lauren that he should not be speaking to her, per advice from his lawyer. Diana and Tariq end up sleeping with one another.
Cane tells Monet that the plug is no longer giving them product. She tells Cane they need the product to make money and pay Davis. She tells Cane that he knows what he needs to do. Cane sneaks up on Davis in his car and threatens Davis at gunpoint. Davis tells Cane that Tariq had a chance to snitch and did not. He tells him that helping Tariq will help him also and that no one would be in this situation had he not planted the badge in Tariq’s room. He assures Cane that so long as the money keeps rolling in his name will not be mentioned in the case.
Lorenzo surprises Monet with a romantic evening and a bunch of gifts to make up for his absence over the years. She also tells Lorenzo she is no longer working with Tariq, which is not true.
Tariq meets with Tameka for advice on what he should do about his case. Tariq is honest with her about his involvement in the murders. Tameka suggests that Tariq take a deal and reveal who truly killed Officer Ramirez and Jabari. Yaz is proven not to be fit to take the stand for Tariq based on her pre-trial questioning. Her answers change and she admits she would do anything to protect her brother. Tariq ends the cross examination and says he does not want his sister to testify. Tameka meets up with Sax and tells him to get a deal for Tariq. She believes there is still good in Tariq.
Tameka, Sax and Jenny go to present a deal to Tariq but he refuses to sign the paperwork. Tameka tells Tariq not to call her again and wishes him good luck at his trial. Davis confronts Sax on trying to make a deal for Tariq. Davis asks who was Lauren’s legal counsel at the police station and they discover it was Cari. Davis goes to confront Cari on using Lauren to get Tariq arrested under the guise of being her legal counsel. He reminds Cari that she has slept with four people involved in the case and that she is playing a very dangerous game.
Cane visits Tariq and tells him there is no product so there is no money. He tells Tariq he needs to figure out his money situation.
Takeaways:
It’s about time someone reminded Cari of her little nasty ways. Lauren and Davis read her for filth tonight! All deserved.
Mecca/Dante is a bold man. He walked up on that court and spilled tea to Zeke and never flinched. A man that truly fears no one, including Lorenzo. There was a lot of foreshadowing to something happening to Lorenzo in the coming future. Did ya’ll peep?
Not all these girls giving up the draws to Tariq in a matter of a few days. Now Effie and Diana ain’t gonna appreciate being sister-wives chile.
Cane just knows how to make matters worse. I tried to stick beside him last season but you are on your own now Cane.
