This week’s Power Book IV: Force saw the death of JP Gibbs in the hands of Jenard.
The scene was unexpected as it drew parallels to when Franklin Saint killed Teddy’s father while Teddy was on the phone on Snowfall. Here on Force, it happened while Tommy Egan was on the phone.
D-Mac, who has not yet learned that his father has died, will be brought up to speed in either the next episode or the series finale. Anthony Fleming and Lucien Cambric look back on this pivotal moment in Power Book IV: Force, reflecting on its significance within the story.
Fleming explained that he had never filmed an on-screen death scene before, which made the experience especially exciting for him. Fleming spoke about going through the process of filming it and being aware of all the technical elements involved, as well as the careful attention given to that moment. He also noted how meaningful the scene was, both for his character and for the overall direction of the story.
“I knew that it was going to be a jump off point, a catalyst for the rest of the series,” said Fleming. “It was a really great scene to shoot. It was actually the first day that my wife was on set. So she got to see me get shot in the head about ten times, you know, and get beat up by three big brothers.”
Fleming added that the moment ultimately served the story in a powerful way, especially with the series coming to an end. He felt it was the right way for his character to go out and appreciated the boldness of that choice. He also shared that he loved the fact that Jenard was the one responsible, noting that JP had been watching him closely ever since season one.
Earlier in the episode, JP was able to confront Jenard directly and physically stand up to him, winning that initial battle. Although Jenard ultimately returned and won the larger conflict, Fleming emphasized that his character still had the opportunity to take a stand, particularly for D-Mac, which made the moment even more meaningful.
Lucien Cambric shared that anytime someone dies on a set, it’s personally difficult for him, especially on a Power set where everyone genuinely gets along in real life. He explained that being on set is usually filled with great, positive energy, so JP’s death was hard behind the scenes. However, in hindsight, he believes that while it wasn’t easy for the cast and crew, it was ultimately a good decision for the progression of the show.
“And when someone dies off on the show, it basically means they won’t be on set anymore, and that makes me sad,” said Cambric. “Anytime one of my castmates isn’t there, it affects me. But for the sake of the story, especially with the series coming to an end, I understand it and everyone wants to go out with a bang.”
Unlike characters such as Tariq St. Patrick in Power Book II: Ghost or young Kanan in Power Book III: Raising Kanan, who initially struggled with regret after entering the drug and gang lifestyle, D-Mac embraces it without hesitation. Lucien Cambric noted that D-Mac had wanted to join CBI for some time, which sets him apart from the others. From his introduction in season one, D-Mac was portrayed as a street kid and a hitman as he was fully immersed in that world from the start. According to Cambric, the key difference is that while most characters want to be good, D-Mac has always been comfortable in the streets.
“Everyone wants D-Mac to take a different route, but he’s already chosen the street life. That’s what really separates him as a character and opens the door for a lot of development. One of the first things I asked Gary Lennon when we discussed D-Mac was what his dream was, because a person’s dreams say a lot about who they are. D-Mac’s dream is to be the top gangster, and that’s how I approached portraying him this season by staying true to his wants and desires.”