‘Power Book IV: Force’ Series Premiere ‘A Short Fuse and A Long Memory’
Culture Editor Bianca Gregg brings you ‘Power Book IV: Force’ recaps each Sunday. Focusing on Tommy Egan, a fan-favorite, who is now building his own empire in Chicago. The show features new faces, and new threats as Tommy begins his quest to be his own boss.
Thomas Patrick Egan, better known as Tommy, has set his sights on Chicago. After a long drive from New York and mentally beign haunted by the deaths that have taken the deepest toll on him, Tommy nearly crashes his car. He quickly brakes and gets back on the road. It’s clear Tommy has come to Chicago in search of family. He finds the home of his grandmother and a neighborhood menace informs Tommy that his grandmother is alive living in an assisted living facility.
Tommy heads to the facility and initially struggles to appear to his grandmother. He quickly leaves and heads to a local bar. He meets a young woman by the name of Gloria. The pair flirt as Tommy requests a pot of pepper pot soup that Gloria says will not be available until later that night.
We meet Diamond on his last day in prison. He gives a final haircut to one of the C.O’s that appears to be sad yet proud that Diamond will finally be free. Upon Diamond picking up his clothing, the guard tries to barter a pair of retro Jordans that Diamond has but Diamond is aware the sneakers are worth way more than what the guard offered. Instead the guard gifts Diamond a very nice set of tools for his barbering craft. As a thank you, Diamond let’s the guard keep the Jordans. Diamond is picked up by his brother Jenard who has been the head of the CBI Brothers since Diamond went to prison.
While Tommy is parked outside waiting for that soup, He has his first run in with the Flynn family. A notorious crime family in Chicago. He has a bad exchange with Vic Flynn who also happens to be Gloria’s ex. While at the bar, Vic tries to convince Gloria to give him a chance to get from under his father and allow them to be a couple. Gloria shoots him down. Vic asks one of his guys to stay behind and look out for Gloria but when he becomes disrespectful to one of the bar patrons and to Gloria in front of Tommy, Tommy decides to handle the situation himself — the Tommy way. Gloria ultimately thanks Tommy by sleeping with him.
We meet the head of the Flynn family Walter and his daughter Claudia who has ambitions to become the head of the family one day. Walter is old school and does not want his daughter to lead a crime family. Claudia goes to a nightclub and discovers a brand new designer drug that she wants to learn more about, likely for distribution.
When Vic tries to make contact with his guy from the bar, Tommy approaches him with the ringing cell phone and forces his way to Vic’s drug deal. At the meet Jenard is already there with two young and high dealers. The two men are erratic to say the least which prompts Tommy to kill one of them and allow the other to escape. He saved both Vic and Jenard and takes their money for the drugs as payment.
Tommy stops by the assisted living home again to see his grandmother. She is very still and mute in her wheelchair. Tommy tries to jog his grandmothers memory and she briefly turns to him in excitement and says his name. However, she quickly returns to her muted state and gives Tommy no more information. As Tommy is leaving, he is being followed by a man that tells Tommy they are half brothers. Tommy and JP discuss their individual relationships with Kate, one being completely abandoned and the other actually being raised by her. JP gives Tommy his phone number.
Jenard surprises Diamond with ownership of the barbershop the brothers grew up in. As happy as the pair are, things seem off when Diamond tells Jenard he has no desire to run CBI like before. He does not want to kill people and Jenard does not care for Diamond’s opinion on how things should be ran, Jenard leaves and an undercover officer comes in the shop welcoming Diamond back to freedom. Diamond has not been free 24 hours yet and the police are already tailing him.
Tommy is continuing to ignore calls from California when his car is surrounded on the road by several black SUV’s. Tommy gets out and is met with guns drawn, however he is patted down and told to drive. He ends up at the Flynn Estate and comes face to face with Walter Flynn who does not seem pleased by Tommy’s presence in Chicago. Tommy gives Walter his bag of money back and Walter tells Tommy to leave Chicago. Tommy calls his boss in Los Angeles to tell him he plans on staying in Chicago for awhile and he quits. Tommy has no desire to work for anyone moving forward and will establish himself in Chicago.
Takeaways:
The dynamic between Jenard and Diamond will be interesting one considering they wish to rule the streets differently.
The Flynn family is the classic high level drug family with a head and heirs vying for the thrown. Claudia appears to be very smart and calculated where Vic seems more ruled by emotion. And I have to assume Walter may not be fond of Black people, just an observation.
Tommy quickly establishes enemies but hey it’s Tommy. He is still deeply pained by the deaths of Raina, LaKeisha and Ghost as well as hurt by the betrayal of Tariq.
