- This page is about the first season of the Power spin-off Power Book III: Raising Kanan. If you're looking for the first season of Power, see Season 1.
The first season of Power Book III: Raising Kanan was announced on February 18, 2020. It premiered on July 18, 2021 and ended on September 26, 2021.
Synopsis[]
Set in South Jamaica, Queens, in 1991, "Raising Kanan" is a prequel to the original "Power" franchise. It is a sprawling family drama that revolves around the coming of age of Kanan Stark; Ghost and Tommy's mentor, partner and adversary, who ultimately dies in a hail of gunfire in the eighth episode of Power's penultimate season. When we catch up with Kanan here, he is the fifteen-year-old only child of Raquel "Raq" Thomas, a cocaine distributor with an emerging network of dealers across the city. Much like the original "Power," "Raising Kanan" explores themes of identity, violence, and legacy, but it is also a deep dive into the very pathology of family; the unique, complicated and fraught dynamic between parent and child, mother and father, brother and sister. In an increasingly fractious world, family often feels like the only refuge from all the divisiveness and discord and yet, at the same time, we often discover that it is those closest to us who betray us and our values most. The first season of "Raising Kanan" is an exploration of these betrayals, the secrets and lies that accompany them and the ways in which they fester, metastasize and ultimately erupt. The overarching theme of this first season is, "You reap what you sow." In other words, actions have consequences; betrayals are always uncovered; secrets are inevitably revealed; chickens come home to roost. Every character in "Raising Kanan" is hiding something. From the world, from each other, from themselves. And as our story unfolds, they each will have to grapple with the unintended and destructive consequences of the information they've hidden and withheld. And while the ways in which these betrayals, secrets and lies reveal themselves will vary, one truth will remain constant: In "Raising Kanan," as in the "Power" Universe, no one can be trusted and nothing is ever as it seems.[1]
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
- Mekai Curtis as Kanan Stark
- Patina Miller as Raquel Thomas
- London Brown as Marvin Thomas
- Malcolm Mays as Lou-Lou Thomas
- Hailey Kilgore as LaVerne "Jukebox" Ganner
- Omar Epps as Malcolm Howard
- Toby Sandeman as Symphony Bosket
- Joey Bada$$ as Kadeem "Unique" Mathis
- Shanley Caswell as Shannon Burke
- Lovie Simone as Davina Harrison
Recurring Cast[]
- Antonio Ortiz as Shawn "Famous" Figueroa[2]
- AnnaLynne McCord as Toni Deep[2]
- Quincy Brown as Crown Camacho[3]
- Ade Chike Torbert as Scrappy[4]
- Natalee Linez as Jessica Figueroa[5]
- Annabelle Zasowski as Nicole Bingham[5]
- Rosal Colon as Juliana Ayala
- Stefan Holbrook as Lil' Rob
- John Clay III as Worrell
- Kelly Deadmon as Linda Bingham
- Paul Fitzgerald as James Bingham
Episodes[]
| No. in series | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Air Date | ||
| 1 | 1 | "Back in the Day" | Rob Hardy | Sascha Penn | July 18, 2021 | ||
|
In 1991 in South Jamaica, Queens, 15-year-old Kanan Stark is eager to join his family's growing drug business that is led by his mother, Raquel "Raq" Thomas. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Reaping and Sowing" | Mario Van Peebles | Sascha Penn & Bashir Gavriel | July 25, 2021 | ||
|
After a rival crew member is killed, Raq does whatever is necessary to get the target off Kanan’s back. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Stick and Move" | Lisa Leone | Josef Sawyer | August 1, 2021 | ||
|
Still reeling from a shocking death, Kanan pushes his way into the drug game with Marvin's help while Raq plots to take down her competition. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Don't Sleep" | Hernán Otoño | Santa Sierra | August 8, 2021 | ||
|
All bets are off when a police raid clears out Raq's competition; promises are broken, secrets are revealed, and revenge is swift. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Choose Your Battles" | Eif Rivera | Mike Flynn | August 15, 2021 | ||
|
Eager to transform and re-imagine her business after the stash house is hit, Raq overhauls her operation. Meanwhile, Kanan is detained after a fight with Scrappy, raising some serious questions for Detective Howard. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Level Up" | Kieron Hawkes | Dylan C. Brown | August 29, 2021 | ||
|
Lou’s new artist showcase becomes the nexus of the rivalry between Raq and Unique. At the same time, Kanan cooks up a drug-selling scheme with Marvin. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Stay In Your Lane" | TBA | TBA | September 5, 2021 | ||
|
Kanan and Marvin's side hustle goes awry. Raq seeks revenge for the attack on Scrappy. Jukebox suffers a devastating blow. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "The Cost of Business" | TBA | TBA | September 12, 2021 | ||
|
Kanan struggles with a harsh truth after word gets back to Raq that he's behind the bad crack on the streets. Jukebox learns the troubling facts behind Nicole's death. Lou finds himself caught in a crossfire. | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Loyal To The End" | Bart Wenrich | Matt K. Turner | September 19, 2021 | ||
|
As Lou recovers in the hospital, Marvin seeks revenge. Feeling the pressure, Raq turns to Kanan to take out the biggest threat to their family. | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Paid In Full" | Rob Hardy | Kevin Fox | September 26, 2021 | ||
|
|
As the situation in the neighborhood turns dire, Raq scrambles to get Kanan out of harm's way. | ||||||
Trivia[]
- Filming started on February 11, 2020 and ended on May 18, 2021.
- On March 14, 2020, production for both Power Book II: Ghost and Power Book III: Raising Kanan were temporarily shut down due to Coronavirus concerns.
- Like the first season of the main show, no main characters died in the first season.
- the first season of Raising Kanan takes place 23 years before the events of the first season of Power.
Gallery[]
Promotional photos[]
Posters[]
Episodic Images[]
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ Overview - Stazr Media Room
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 French Descriptions of Power Book III: Raising Kanan Characters in Starz's Press Release
- ↑ ‘Power’ Prequel ‘Raising Kanan’ Adds London Brown, Malcolm Mays, Shanley Caswell, Toby Sandeman, Joey Bada$$ - Deadline
- ↑ ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’: Ade Chike Torbert to Recur In Starz Prequel Series - Deadline
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’: Natalee Linez, Annabelle Zasowski Set To Recur In Starz Prequel Series - Deadline