Black Lightning doesn't normally get the same buzz as other Arrowverse TV shows but it's actually the most critically acclaimed superhero TV series to be made in recent times. With a score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, it ranks way above the rest. In the Arrowverse, only The Flash comes close with a score of 89%. Even when compared to the Marvel TV shows, Black Lightning still towers above the rest. Agents Of Shield (94% on Rotten Tomatoes) is the highest-rated Marvel TV show.
The CW series revolves around Jefferson Pierce (Black Lightning), a teacher who is able to harness and manipulate electricity. The show has a string of compelling characters, some who have grown a lot and some who have remained the same or gone on a downward trajectory. Let's take a look at them.
Grown: Khalil (Painkiller)
Khalil has evolved from student to killer and then to a hero. He started out as a student of Garfield High before joining The 100 and becoming a henchman for the supervillain Tobias Whale. Tobias enabled him to get genetic modifications that enabled him to walk since he was previously paralyzed. Given that the best villains enjoy killing even their own men, Khalil had his spine ripped out after failing to please the master.
Luckily for him, he was resurrected by the ASA who put a chip on his brain and used him as a ruthless living weapon. They even made him kill his own mother without realizing it. However, Jefferson, Jennifer, and Gambi found a way to bypass the chip's functions and brought him back to normal.
Hasn't Grown: Bill Henderson
Detective Bill Henderson—from the fictional Freeland PD in Georgia—has remained pretty much the same person since the show started. He is a good cop who is eager to eradicate crime but the superpowered criminal elements are too complicated for the force to handle.
He is also Jefferson Pierce's friend. At first, he never knew that Pierce was Black Lightning but after making this discovery he was okay with it. Henderson is normally more than glad to allow Black Lightning to hunt criminals using the methods he deems fit.
Grown: Dr. Lynn Stewart
Lynn is a very competent doctor and neuroscientist. She is also the sometimes-wife, sometimes-ex of Jefferson Pierce. The two just can't decide whether they want to be together or not. Lynn has morphed from a humble soul working at Browman College to an adventurous and ambitious researcher working for the ASA to stabilize the metahuman gene.
Sadly, she ends up getting addicted to Green Light and becomes hostile towards Jefferson. However, in the latest season, she has been quite efficient in manipulating villains. While in Markovia, she tricks Gravedigger into giving him a sample of his blood hence she manages to get his mind control powers from his DNA. She also develops an Anti--boost serum that helps Black Lightning defeat Gravedigger.
Hasn't Grown: Tobias Whale
It can be argued that the criminal career of Tobias has regressed rather than progressed lately. In the 3rd season, he has only been a supporting character. This is in huge contrast to the first two seasons where he caused all the havoc and established himself as one of the best villains in the Arrowverse.
Even when he was influential, Tobis remained pretty much the same person. He was always using people to do his bidding before killing them. His fate took a hit when he was captured and remanded at the meta-human prison known as the "Pit." Since then, he has been reduced to witty conversations with Lynn.
Grown: Jennifer Pierce (Lightning)
Of all the names possible, Jennifer chose Lightning as her superhero name, which is more than similar to her dad's name Black Lightning. Where's the creativity, Jennifer? Throughout the series run, Jennifer hasn't always been an easy character to like. When she first learned that she had powers like her father and sister, she was reluctant to use them despite them needing her help. All she wanted was to be with Khalil.
By Season 3, she has accepted that she is different and she is more than glad to wear her superhero suit. However, Agent Odell manipulates her into doing secret missions for him. Luckily, after "Crisis Of Infinite Earths", she learns the importance of her powers and becomes a more responsible person.
Hasn't Grown: Latavius "Lala" Johnson
Despite being introduced into the show very early, Lala has never had much to do. He's only been a common thug who keeps dying and coming back from the dead. But every time he comes back, he never quite does something major that is instrumental to the plot.
In Season One, he was killed by Tobias for failing to get rid of Black Lightning. He was letter resurrected by Lady Eve's magic. In Season Two, he tries to get revenge on Tobias but the supervillain overpowers him. In Season Three, he becomes Lady Eve's rival and that's pretty much it.
Grown: Jefferson Pierce (Black Lightning)
At the start of the first season, Jefferson was a retired superhero. Lynn had given him the ultimatum that every man dreads: "You have to choose. It's either me or your dangerous job." He was now just the principal of Garfield High and the students loved him.
However, he soon decides to choose the people over Lynn after his home town of Freeland starts getting terrorized by Tobias' gang The 100. Luckily, Lynn eventually understands. Throughout the rest of the series, Jefferson keeps fighting crime and even takes his daughter Anissa as his sidekick. We even see a suit change at some point. And of course, he had the pleasure of fighting alongside Superman, Superwoman and The Flash in "Crisis Of Infinite Earths." We bet he is proud of his career progress.
Hasn't Grown: Gambi
Nothing much has changed about Gambi. This isn't necessarily a bad thing since he's a very likable character. He has always been Jefferson's friend in need and friend indeed. Jefferson's daughters even call him "Uncle Gambi", which is sweet, we guess. Gambi helped design Jefferson's superhero suit and also those of his daughters. His cover career is a tailor after all.
But what Gambi is good at is technology. He has hundreds of sophisticated gadgets. As a former member of the ASA, he also understands all the inner workings of metahumans. Gambi is always more than glad to offer help to Jefferson and any other metahuman who his willing to do good.
Grown: Reverend Jeremiah Holt
Holt has grown from just being a preacher criticizing The 100 during his sermons to being actively involved in the fight against criminal elements in Freeland. Holt has survived attempts on his life twice, First, when he was shot by Tobias Whale's henchwoman, Syonide, and second, when his handkerchief was laced with poison.
Holt later joined Freeland's resistance. In the third season, he went into A.S.A.'s facility and even managed to offer help to Blackbird. Holt and Blackbird have had a great relationship so far, with the reverend gladly accepting cash donations that Blackbird had taken from criminals.
Hasn't Grown: Agent Percy Odell
At some point, it seemed like Odell would take over from Tobias as the overarching antagonist for many seasons to come. However, fate hasn't been so kind to him lately. During Jefferson Pierce's meeting with the congressional committee, where he exposed the ASA's illegal activities, it was announced that Odell would be prosecuted.
Odell also ended up getting shot in the spleen by Khalil. Quite a downfall for a man who once managed to manipulate both Jefferson's wife and daughter. Hopefully, he'll come back much stronger in the future and with new schemes as well.