Debashine Thangevelo
EMPIRE might have paved the way for slick urban dramas, but Power brings it home with its adroit depiction of organised crime.
This gangster drama series is loosely drawn from rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s life. He is also an executive producter on this show.
Of course, creator Courtney Kemp Agboh does a splendid job of meshing different worlds and builds it up to the massive collision course.
What helps is securing the perfect cast to bring her vision to life. And she bagged a truly stellar one. Each character is so wonderfully etched with their own insecurities, needs and wants. And so the cracks in relationships deepen, which invites unimaginable problems on the (illegal) business and home fronts.
In many ways, Omari Hardwick is going to cast a shadow on Terrence Howard’s reign with this role.
His wardrobe is enviable. Everything about Ghost oozes class and finesse. Beneath that cool and calm veneer, he is ruthless. He is also ambitious and while his business ventures, with several laundromats and a high-end nightclub called Truth, are fronts to clean up dirty money – he has this yearning to go legit.
However, his vision isn’t shared by his partner and childhood friend, Tommy Egan (played by Joseph Sikora). Tommy is rough. He lacks foresight when it comes to planning for the future. He is the kind of guy who sticks to what he knows best rather than venturing onto a road less travelled. But he is loyal.
The show started with Ghost attending the opening of his club with his gorgeous wife, Tasha. At first, they seem like the perfect couple. And they have an idyllic life with their three kids – notwithstanding his patronizsing mother-in-law.
However, Ghost can’t shake the feeling that there could be more; especially after his new club manager throws an interesting proposal his way.
But he has other issues to deal with – his illegal drug network is being hit and his boss isn’t happy.
And then he bumps into his ex – Angela Valdez – which complicates things further.
What he doesn’t know is that she is investigating his crime boss and is unaware about his link in the investigation.
Meanwhile, Tasha is feeling insecure about her marriage for the first time and starts acting out in her own way.
Laden with plenty of sex scenes, Power is stylishly packaged. The drama is injected with ample tension as Ghost tries to find his way out of this maze of conflict that he finds himself in. His reputation may precede him on the streets of New York, but his secrets could ruin him. Then again, so too could the blast from his past.
This is truly edgy storytelling with smidges of reality that heighten its clout.
Power airs on Vuzu Amp (DStv channel 114) on Mondays at 9pm.