Power Book IV: Force Season 1 Episode 5 Review: Take Me Home

In order to. A lot of. Brain. splash.

Power has never shied away from violence in the world of drugs, guns and vast amounts of money. But Power Book IV: Force Season 1 Episode 5 was on another level.

How many different gunshot wounds to the head have we seen in this hour?

We knew war would come after the events of Power Book IV: Force Season 1 Episode 4, and it went well.

Killing Tatiana was an emotional move, but a necessary one. If the end goal is to get the Serbs pipeline, you have to eliminate the Serbs. That’s just simple math.

But as we’ve seen in this hour, the Serbs are a well-oiled machine with soldiers spread across the city, and it would never be easy for Tommy to pull off the ultimate heist.

One of the coolest things about this spin-off was that Tommy tried to navigate this new world on his own. All his life he had Ghost by his side in some way, shape or form. So he was never really alone in that regard.

Even when they were one of the underdogs, Tommy always had someone to watch his back.

Pulling Up - Power Book IV: Force Season 1 Episode 5

But he came to Chicago all by himself, and while he’s slowly accumulating fortune, he has no spirit in Chicago. However, Liliana is far from the worst partner.

Tommy is crazy. We all know that. But when he cares about someone, he cares a lot. And he can play it off like he doesn’t care about Liliana, but we all know he does. His attempt to herd her out of town stemmed from a desire to protect her.

Marković wouldn’t rest until he found Tommy, and getting his hands on Liliana was the perfect way to lure him in.

Poor Liliana just can’t take a break. Though Tommy warned her more than once not to touch the dahlia.

The potency of this drug is unequivocal like nothing else on the street. Anything strong enough to kick Tommy Egan’s butt is a strong drug.

Business Plans - Power Book IV: Force Season 1 Episode 5

Claudia’s dahlia subplot was slow-moving, but things picked up speed here when she finally made the move to work with Tommy. It’s all well and good to have the product of your life, but if you can’t get it on the road, you’re not making any money.

The partnership with Tommy works well for Claudia because her father can’t do anything with it. Tommy won’t tell Walter, and the two are free to grow the business in their own way.

Tommy isn’t bound by any of the old Chicago rules, and that’s a good thing, especially when it comes to a drug like this that will no doubt set the streets on fire.

Just as Claudia went to Tommy for help spreading the product, Mai originally went to Claudia believing that she was the Flynn who could help get the product to market. But Claudia struggled with that part of the equation, and Mai grew restless.

When Mai started questioning Claudia, you knew their arrangement was about to explode. But I didn’t see Mai’s death coming at all.

Time for a Drink - Power Book IV: Force Season 1 Episode 5

Claudia is many things, but she doesn’t strike me as a murderess. And considering how she looked like she’d melt away afterwards, she doesn’t often do that.

Was that her first murder? If so, it will be fascinating to see where she goes from here. She’s more like Walter than Vic, so this murder could be the catalyst that propels her into a whole new stratosphere of evil.

But back to the war with the Serbs, Tommy had no choice but to bring everyone together and negotiate a deal to save his life.

Vic, desperate to make a name for himself outside of his family name, was already on board, but convincing Diamond took a little more work.

Jenard: If we roll with Team White Boy, what do we get, D?
Diamond: 34%. Now you’re a numbers person. Tell me what is this?
Jenard: That’s big. I mean shit, that one point adds up like a motherfucker. Bring us to the top financially.

Diamond is a practical man with a conscience (to an extent). He’ll weigh the pros and cons before jumping into things, and the more we see him, the more obvious it becomes why he’s helped take CBI to such great heights.

Keeping an eye out - Power Book IV: Force Season 1 Episode 5

He sees the opportunities Tommy offers him and wants to use them for the good of his organization. Taking on the Serbian pipeline and controlling stake puts them at the top of the pack. It opens doors that were previously closed and takes CBI to new heights.

Jenard steps in, but you can tell he’s not fully invested. He still doesn’t agree with Diamond being in charge of CBI, and he’s still salty towards Tommy in general, so it only took one thing if he didn’t go to plan and he would crash.

And Elijah’s death definitely rocked Jenard.

There’s been a lot of bloodshed in Power Book IV: Force up to this point, but this was probably the first hour where the deaths felt really shocking.

The deaths of Simon and Elijah were unexpected and hit the heart of what these guys are trying to do. You’re going to lose people if you take that ride to the top.

Elijah Is Ready - Power Book IV: Force Season 1 Episode 5

Vic and Jenard are now their most loyal soldiers, which will affect them. Will they blame Tommy since it’s his fault they got into this war in the first place?

The jury is still out on Vic, but Jenard felt kind of safe.

Although Tommy has business partners and people willing to fight with him when it comes to something for themselves, all of his partners were ghosts when he needed reinforcements to help Liliana.

He had to meet up with Marković to get Liliana back, and Jenard’s decision to defect and kill Tommy actually went in Tommy’s favor this time. The distraction drove the Serbs away and Tommy and Liliana escaped, although the latter took a bullet for their troubles.

Jenard lost it. And I tried to stand up for him because it’s easy to see why he’s upset. But now he has crossed a line.

Shape Up - Power Book IV: Force Season 1 Episode 5

The joint pursuit of the Serbs cemented the partnership between the three factions, and this move against Tommy cannot be undone.

I don’t think Jenard and Tommy can ever really be on the same team, at least not at this point in the game. So where is Diamond?

We have this little boxing match, but that feels like a no-brainer compared to the inevitable clash of these two titans.

While all hell was breaking loose elsewhere, poor Gloria just couldn’t escape the Flynns!

First she has to contend with Walter and his liquor breath is in her face to ensure she will never be a suitable choice for his son as if it were something for him to decide.

Facing Off - Power Book IV: Force Season 1 Episode 5

And then she has to put up with Claudia sauntering in and trying to pay her off and it’s all so unnecessary. Vic is a grown man, and yet his daddy and sister are trying to decide his future for him.

Walter’s threats make sense here. He is a vicious racist and although his health is steadily deteriorating, he worries about his unborn grandchildren and makes sure they are not a specific color. We expect that kind of meanness from the older Flynn, but what does Claudia have to gain here?

Why does she care who Vic ends up with?

The only thing that makes a little bit of sense is that she thinks these kinds of moves will endear her to Walter, but at this point she has a serious shot at making herself bigger than her family if Dahlia takes off.

Or maybe she’s a rabid racist like her father and just keeps it more covert.

Tense Meeting - Power Book IV: Force Season 1 Episode 5

Time will tell, but hopefully Gloria decides to do what is best for her and the life she wants. Damn the Flynns.


Everything else you need to know

  • As if the brain mass wasn’t enough during this episode, Liliana’s arm was also violently fractured.
  • I’m royally confused by the image JP found and what it means. JP is a likable character and I want to invest in Tommy’s family but it’s a very stagnant storyline.
Vic Listens - Power Book IV: Force Season 1 Episode 5
  • We’ve got the reasons for Bennigan’s disdain for Diamond, but now what?
  • Vic’s gesture of buying this property was cute, but it literally looked like they were in the middle of a swamp. What kind of house can you build there?

Alright folks, fly your hot takes over Jenard in the comments section and let me know what you think of the class!

As always, you can always watch Power Book IV: Force online via TV Fanatic!

Gloria Responds - Power Book IV: Force Season 1 Episode 5

Whitney Evans is a permanent writer for TV Fanatic. keep following her Twitter.

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