‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ Season 3 Episode 8 ‘Reckonings’
Entertainment Editor Bianca Gregg is back with her weekly recaps of all things Power Universe with the return of ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan.’ The saga continues with the origin story of one of the universe’s most notorious characters; Kanan.
Lou Lou and his alcoholism may have gone a bit too far in the latest episode of ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan.’ While Raq is quietly at home, seemingly reflecting on her new-found loneliness, we hear a very loud and belligerent Lou Lou telling the whole neighborhood that Raq has ordered him to kill people. She rushes outside to quickly silence her brother, but he continues on his tirade, exclaiming that they both are killers. Raq gets him inside, where he passes out in Kanan’s room. Marvin stops by to witness the condition his brother is in. Marvin insists on Lou Lou needing help beyond what they can currently do for him, but Raq seems far less sympathetic.
Raq and Marvin discuss what Kanan has been up to. Marvin informs her brother that he is now dealing with Ronnie as well as Snaps and Pop. Raq wants Marvin to find out what Kanan is involved in. Raq also continues to deny her role in Lou Lou’s current demise and Kanan’s growing distance from her.
Kanan has a little dinner with Ronnie, Snaps, and Pop, who try to offer him a drink at the dinner. Kanan seems a bit apprehensive about drinking the alcohol. Snaps asks Kanan if he desires to be feared or respected, and Kanan feels the question is a trick. For him, there is no respect without some fear. I kind of agree. While leaving the restaurant, Snaps questions Kanan about his mother’s awareness of his business. Snaps reveals that Raq is back in the game and has now become Kanan’s competition.
Jukebox and Iesha hang out and practice some dance moves. Iesha spots a picture of Juke and Nicole and asks again why they broke up. Juke finally opens up to Iesha and tells her Nicole died. Iesha expresses her gratitude to Juke for opening up to her.
Raq pays her mother to keep an eye on Lou Lou because, of course, making sure her son is okay is her job to her. What a mother! She does the job we knew she would do, serving Lou Lou some nasty burnt toast and eggs. He leaves Raq’s house with no fight from his mother — the mission failed!
The following day, Marvin tails one of Kanan’s couriers. When the courier comes out of the stash spot, Marvin attacks him and requests to see what is in his bag. He discovers that Kanan is selling heroin.
Raq meets with Terry and his brother to lock in a deal. Terry wants the same cut as Hong, but ultimately, Raq refuses to budge on her offer.
Butta performs a very SWV-coded song, and I must say — they did very well. Jukebox is also made the leader of the group. Juke and Iesha are extremely excited, but of course Krystal is giving big, bitter hater vibes! As Juke and Iesha are leaving the dance studio, they spot Krystal and Kanan outside kissing. Juke suggests going to check Krystal, but Iesha stops her, stating that she has no reason to care about them because she has Juke.
Patrick Burke pays a visit to Nicole’s father. He discovers that although Nicole’s dad did not believe Burke gave those drugs to Nicole, a male detective convinced them that she did it. Although Nicole’s dad cannot tell Patrick who gave him that information, he figures out that it was Malcolm.
Lou Lou goes to the bar and tells Shirley to give Famous his song if he comes by. She can tell something is wrong with Lou Lou, and she tries to convince him that things are never as bad as they seem. He does not receive her message and leaves anyway. Shirley calls Marvin to tell him what has happened to Lou. When Famous stops by, Shirley gives him his song and tells him Lou Lou may be gone for a while. As Famous turns around to leave, he decides to ask if it would be okay for him to still use the studio while Lou is gone. Shirley admits it’s not her equipment to loan out, but she thinks Lou Lou would appreciate him continuing with his music, her only ask is that Famous help around the bar.
Marvin and Raq exchange notes on what Kanan is doing, and Marin tells Raq that Lou is in the wind. Raq would rather prioritize the business than search for Lou. She questions Marvin about his increased willingness to help everyone else around him, as opposed to thinking about how to make money.
Marvin is still the FBI’s target in their investigation. Malcolm is officially aware of it now and is told to start shaking some trees for information.
While Kanan and Krystal get better acquainted with Kanan’s blow-up mattress on the floor, his social worker comes to the door. She reveals that Raq told her that he has not been staying at home. She tells Kanan that if he does not go back to his mother’s, she will return with the police and arrest him.
Raq pays a visit to Snaps and Pop. She asks the pair to step away from her son. Snaps tells her that Kanan is simply an associate of an associate. When Raq tries to go toe to toe with the couple, they let her know that her dealings with Stefano are likely because he is attracted to black women and that Stefano is only dealing with her so long as they do not pull the plug. Snaps reminds Raq that he and Pop were the ones who started the business and paved the way for the likes of her. As Raq gets up from the table, she tells the pair again to stay away from her son. When Pop asks Snaps if working with Ronnie is worth all of the trouble, Snaps says this is now beyond Ronnie. Raq coming in and telling the veterans what to do has left a bad taste in Snap’s mouth.
Marvin follows Terry as he leaves his warehouse. He is sleeping with his assistant, and Marvin gets pictures of him in the act. Marvin pays off the assistant and tells Terry to accept the deal with Raq; otherwise, his wife will see the photos.
Now why did Kanan have Ronnie press his social worker like that? Scared the lady half to death, I’m sure. The good news for Kanan is that she will be leaving him alone moving forward.
Jukebox is jumped by two of Krystal’s friends on her way to practice with Butta. Jukebox shows up late but proves she held her own against two young women. Even though she arrived a little banged up, she reminds Krystal that she and her friends are nothing to her.
Raq meets up with Pernessa in hopes of getting some information on who Ronnie’s plug is. Pernessa slips and reveals that Ronnie has a girlfriend. When Raq questions her about Ronnie’s alleged girlfriend, Pernessa says he has been hanging with the lady from the bodega — Julianna. When Pernessa realizes she may have said too much, she ends the conversation. Raq tells her to stay safe.
Raq and Joaquin finally exchange some notes on Julianna and what she has been up to behind Joaquin’s back. He feels she has changed since her husband was killed, but Raq says Julianna was always that person; she simply needed to be free of her husband. Joaquin needs to get the okay from his people before Raq can move in on Julianna.
Marvin meets with Gerald and his daughters to discuss his article. Gerald starts to ask some uncomfortable questions about Bulletproof Records and the mafia. Marvin questions why Gerald is asking these questions, and he mentions that he has a friend in the police department. He says it has nothing to do with the police, but he is just doing his job by writing a thorough profile on Jukebox. Marvin is angered by the revelation from his friend and asks that Gerald stay within the lines.
Jukebox questions Sergeant Healey about what she would have to do if she wanted to back out of service. He tells her that since she signed the contract, technically she is obligated to serve. He says getting out is harder than getting in and that she cannot break a promise to her country.
Later, at his home, Gerald receives a signal from a parked car outside. When he goes outside and gets in the car, we discover that Gerald is an FBI informant, and they are asking him for information on Marvin. They have some type of charge over his head and tell him that if he does not give up some information, he will be going to prison.
Raq finally executes the revenge we have all been waiting for on Julianna. Oh, how satisfying it was to see Julianna discover that her cousin sold her out and permitted Raq to kill her. Julianna offers money to Raq, which only prompts Raq to shoot her in the leg. She explains to Julianna that this is simply a correction on something she should have handled before. She shoots Julianna twice in the chest and once in the head, killing her instantly.
New episodes of “Raising Kanan” are available Friday at midnight on the STARZ app, all STARZ streaming, and on-demand platforms. On linear, new episodes will premiere every Friday at 8pm ET/PT on STARZ.
