This week’s episode of Power Book III: Raising Kanan delivered another strong chapter that pushed several storylines forward while setting up what should be an explosive finish.
One of the biggest reveals came through Kanan’s relationship with the escort working for Raq. We finally learn she is a young Jarita, a familiar name for longtime Power fans as she is Shawn’s mother. We also learn more about her personal life, including her special needs brother and her grandmother being in rehab. She mentions having a bachelor’s degree in psychology, but circumstances have clearly pushed her into a different life. Kanan started to put the pieces together that she has been working for Raq. Despite that information, he is completely wrapped around her finger and even tries to take her shopping, but she immediately shuts the idea down.
Kanan continues building his own operation with his crew selling on the corners, but tension with Taz reaches a boiling point. Taz reminds Kanan that he only speaks when told to, while Breeze quietly observes everything as he sits alone playing chess. Breeze never wastes a moment, and it becomes clear he is studying everyone around him.
Marvin shares another meaningful conversation with the pastor as they discuss whether Lou could have gone to heaven. Marvin questions how anyone can truly know where someone ends up after death, leading the pastor to invite him to church. These scenes continue to show Marvin’s personal growth in a way that feels genuine.
Raq keeps expanding her business into Lower Manhattan while Jukebox continues paying off the corrupt officer. She still owes him money, and he makes it clear there will be consequences if she misses another payment. Meanwhile, Pino tries to get Raq and Stefano to settle their differences, but Stefano has no interest in making peace. Their meeting quickly reminds everyone how much resentment still exists, with Stefano admitting he should have killed Raq and Lou when he had the chance.
Raq also finally meets Breeze. There is immediate chemistry from his side, but Breeze stays focused on business. He explains that the hustle revolves around women and money, adding that women are dangerous to the game. Raq makes it equally clear that money is her only priority as she continues keeping a close eye on Kanan’s growing independence.
Kanan’s revenge against Raq creates one of the episode’s biggest consequences. He manipulates one of Flossie’s girls into serving tainted cocaine to a client after coercing Raq’s escort into helping him. The client turns out to be a federal judge, who dies from the overdose. Flossie is furious, and this is exactly the type of fallout I expected when these two started working together. I said a few reviews ago that this partnership would eventually become ugly, and that prediction is already proving true.
The conflict between Kanan and Taz finally reaches its end. Their confrontation ends with Kanan shooting and killing Taz. Afterwards, Kanan tells Breeze he figured out Taz was never actually short on the count and realizes Breeze had been testing him the entire time. Breeze then shows Kanan how to properly make a body disappear, another lesson in preparing him for the life ahead. The most surprising moment comes when Breeze says he believes he is Kanan’s half-brother because Kanan’s father had been involved with Breeze’s mother before meeting Raq. That theory completely caught me off guard, and I am still trying to understand why Breeze is so convinced since Kanan’s father was Detective Howard.
Marvin and Raq also share an emotional conversation about family. Marvin reminds her that they are the last two standing and tells her she has to be better than this. He admits he should have been there more for Lou and reminds Raq that, above everything else, he is still her big brother. It is another reminder that despite everything they have done, family remains at the center of this story.
The only negative part of the episode was the introduction of the three cowboy hitmen from Memphis. They got entrance music and a slow motion sequence that felt more like a parody than a serious threat. It reminded me of Avon Barksdale’s iconic entrance in The Wire when he visited the pit and at least, he was intimidating. The situation becomes even stranger when one of the gunmen suddenly turns on the others after revealing he has actually been working for Stefano. The entire sequence felt out of place compared to the grounded tone of the rest of the episode.
Overall, this was another excellent episode of Power Book III: Raising Kanan that balanced character development, major reveals, shocking deaths, and escalating tension across every storyline. With Kanan becoming more ruthless, Breeze continuing to shape him, Raq expanding her empire, and Stefano preparing for war, the season is building toward what should be a memorable finish.
