Power Recap – Season 4 Ep. 9: “That Aint Me”

Tommy’s Maury-inspired family quest continues, and Dre shows his ambition on this week’s episode of POWER. Spoilers below. You have been warned!

Tommy’s complicated relationship with his mother reached its boiling point during this Teresi paternity drama. It was surreal to watch Tommy discover that Teresi bequeathed his surname and was at the hospital at the time of birth. You could understand why Kate withheld the information, but Tommy wasn’t in a forgiving mood.

Disowning his mother is harsh, but Tommy cherishes loyalty. Lying about his true father was Tommy’s breaking point. As Tommy continues to meet with Teresi, and learns more about his Sicilian roots, a family reunion may be on the horizon.

Tommy needs as much family as he can get, after Dre implemented his plan to destroy the organization without war against the Jiminez. Dre and Cristobal burning a million dollars worth of drugs to instill doubt among the primeras in Tommy was an extreme measure,  but you can’t convince Dre he isn’t on his way to making a “top 30 criminal masterminds under 30 list”. Dre has played the “unassuming young boy who just wants to get in the game” role since his first appearance, but he’s finally using that faux naivety to benefit his drug kingpin goals. So far? So good.

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Photo: Starz

The primeras are out, the Serbian connect is starting to lose faith in Tommy, and Dre got “fired” so he could walk away completely, shattering Tommy’s whole operation. Ordering a hit on Kanan is when I’d advise Dre to chill. Kanan  channeled his inner Jason Bourne to survive the hit. No amount of talking will save Dre from Kanan’s wrath. Hope his daughter is somewhere safe!

Tommy’s quest for clean money for the drug re-up showed how dangerous “Crack Tommy” is to himself and others. When Tommy is infused with booger sugar energy, his decision become rash. This brother sees the goal and nothing else. Keisha won’t fall for the rekindle with Tommy in exchange for cleaning money at her salon. Tommy and Ghost argue again over their past transgressions. That coked-up headbutt Tommy delivered to Ghost was HILARIOUS! I wish it were that simple to get a check from anyone. For someone who hates manipulation, Tommy uses emotions and personal relationships to get whatever he needs. With Tommy back on the rock, an abundance of mistakes will be made.

Councilman Tate showed his true colors this week, asking Ghost to bankroll a “community liaison” after Tate successfully argued in Ghost’s favor to get more ownership of the joint Venture with Stern. Nothing is for free, especially in politics. Does that make Tate dirty, or just a normal bureaucrat? So Ghost has to finesse that relationship with Tate and Stern. Fighting wars on multiple fronts isn’t ideal, but if anyone can handle it, it’s Ghost.

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Angela, after flirting with a possible defense attorney role in partnership with Proctor (!), gets Sandoval’s old criminal prosecutor job. Angela no doubt feels vindicated by this appointment. She got a promotion and paid no real consequences for her involvement with Ghost. It’s ironic that she would be presented with the “head of criminal” job at a “Destroy Injustice” gala where Ghost was the honoree. Their brief encounter, where they lament on choices they didn’t make, showed a semblance of attraction and regret. With everything that’s occurred, would Angie and Jamie reconcile? Seems like a bad idea but those relationship pitfalls are where Ghost and Angie reside constantly.

Raina’s murder sent be sprawling out of my chair. Tariq treated Raina like trash this season, and Raina throughout still cared for him. Raina gave Tariq his exit plan out of danger via Choate, and didn’t even get it herself. Raina stood up to Ray Ray and stood up for Tariq. You could see the hopelessness on Tariq’s face as he watched his sister get shot.

Tariq now understands the consequences with playing “stick-up kid” alongside real gangsters. He lost a sibling and a confidant, and Tariq has no one to blame but himself. Raina may have been insulated from the crime around her, but once it got real, she rose to the occasion, and only had a bullet to the chest for her trouble. What a way to go into the season finale.