Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Black Lightning's season 3 finale.
The season 3 finale of Black Lightning teased a bold new direction for the upcoming 4th season - one that will change the scope of the series and the Arrowverse at large. Despite this, there are still a number of plots in play and many more surprises to be expected.
"The Book of War: Chapter 3: Liberation," saw the final battle for the fate of Freeland play out. As the Markovian army invaded the city, led by the super-soldier codenamed Gravedigger, the ASA turned tail and fled, stopping only to cover their tracks and destroy all evidence of their crimes while occupying the city. This left only Black Lightning, his metahuman allies, and the Freeland Resistance to protect the ordinary citizens caught in the crossfire and stop Gravedigger before the ASA could call in a nuclear strike on the city.
It spoils little to reveal that Freeland was not nuked. Despite this, it's fair to say that things will never be the same in Jefferson Pierce's hometown. For everything that came to a close in the season finale, a number of new beginnings have also been suggested.
Black Lightning Has Been Renewed For Season 4
Black Lightning season 4 was confirmed in late January 2020. It was renewed along with all of the other superhero shows on The CW network that are based on DC Comics' properties. While not the most popular of the shows making up the Arrowverse, Black Lightning is still a solid performer for the network and more popular than ever now that it is set on Earth-Prime.
Black Lightning Season 4 Release Date
An official release date for Black Lightning season 4 has yet to be announced. It is believed that the show will return sometime in Fall 2020, most likely in October. This has been the pattern for Black Lightning's season premieres for the past two seasons, though it is possible it may be held for a Spring 2021 release. It is also unknown if Black Lightning will continue airing on Monday nights or if it might move to another time slot.
Black Lightning Season 4 Story Details
The biggest takeaways from Black Lightning's season 3 finale is that the ASA is no more and the metahuman children they created (aka the Green Light Babies) have been stabilized. The final scene of the finale saw Black Lightning, Thunder and Lightning testifying before Congress as to the crimes of the ASA while they occupied Freeland, and offering up a briefcase full of secret ASA documents as proof of their decades-long campaign to create an army of super-soldiers by experimenting on the children of Freeland. This resulted in the immediate dissolving of the ASA. The same special Congressional committee investigating the incident in Freeland also authorized funding for a special boarding school, proposed by Dr. Lynn Stewart, that would be able to see to the special needs of the metahuman kids.
It seems a safe bet that Jefferson Pierce - a beloved educator, greatly respected man in Freeland, and ex-husband of the doctor overseeing the school - will have a role to play in helping to manage this special school once it gets up and running. It also seems likely that the young metahumans Jefferson recruited to help him with saving the city will have a place in this school, either as teachers or students.
The future isn't all bright, however. While the ASA may be shut down and the sinister Agent Odell in prison, crime-boss Tobias Whale is still at large and ready to reclaim his seat on the throne of Freeland's underworld. Since that seat is currently being held by his former minion Lala and Lala has the backing of a recently resurrected Lady Eve and the mysterious Shadow Board behind her, it's unlikely the passing of the crown will be peaceful. Throw in the fact that Gravedigger is still alive and at liberty and that means there's a lot of trouble brewing for the heroes of Freeland when Black Lightning Season 4 begins.