This week’s episode of Power Book III: Raising Kanan delivered one of the most devastating hours in the history of the franchise.
By the time the credits rolled, three major players were gone: Snaps, Pop, and, most heartbreakingly, Marvin Thomas. It was a brutal chapter that shifted the balance of power once again while pushing Kanan further down the path fans already know he is destined to follow.
Marvin’s death hit the hardest because it felt avoidable. For years, both he and Lou allowed Raq to manipulate every situation and every member of their family. This season finally saw both brothers stand up to her and tell her the truth about herself, but it came far too late. Their willingness to protect Raq and follow her lead ultimately cost them everything. Neither brother died directly because of Raq, but her choices created the domino effect that destroyed the Thomas family from within.
The downfall of Snaps and Pop also felt inevitable. While they had built an intimidating operation, they underestimated how quickly the power structure around them had changed. Raq had lost key allies, Unique was gone, Lou was spiraling, and new players like Breeze and Kanan were taking control. On paper, Snaps and Pop looked untouchable, but they failed to realize that looking strong often makes you the next target. Jukebox finally putting an end to them was a long overdue payoff and one of the episode’s most satisfying moments.
One storyline that still feels incomplete is the lack of acknowledgment surrounding Krystal’s death. Her murder was the event that truly pushed Kanan toward trying to kill Raq. When he confronted his mother, his anger centered on Krystal just as much as Famous. Yet after the truth about Snaps and Pop came out, there was barely a mention of her. Even a brief conversation between Kanan and Jukebox connecting the dots would have strengthened the emotional impact, especially considering Jukebox had her own history with Krystal.
This episode also gave viewers their clearest look yet at Breeze. The original Power described him as intelligent but reckless, and this installment backed that up perfectly. His decision to orchestrate the attack on Marvin and his crew demonstrated strategic thinking while also showing a willingness to embrace chaos if it served his goals. The sequence itself was beautifully directed and immediately established Breeze as a dangerous force heading into the finale.
Kanan’s decisions became even more disturbing. Watching him kill his own uncle to prove his loyalty to the same people responsible for murdering his best friend showed just how warped his thinking has become. Whether Famous cooperated with law enforcement or not almost feels irrelevant at this point. Loyalty has become whatever benefits Kanan in the moment, and that moral collapse mirrors the ruthless version of the character audiences met years later in Power.
Marvin’s final words carried even greater significance because they perfectly foreshadowed the man Kanan eventually becomes. Combined with 50 Cent’s closing narration about hate and consequences, the episode connected the younger Kanan to the adult version who murdered Shawn, Jukebox, and countless others without hesitation. Every season of Power Book III: Raising Kanan has asked what transformed Kanan Stark into one of television’s most feared criminals. After this episode, there are very few questions left. The answer has always been the same. Raq’s influence shaped every step of his descent.
This was an emotionally exhausting episode, but it also cemented Power Book III: Raising Kanan as the strongest series in the Power universe. With only the finale remaining, the show has positioned itself for what could be one of the franchise’s most unforgettable endings.
