‘Power Book II: Ghost’ Showrunner on Killing Off [Spoiler]
[Warning: This article contains spoilers for the Power Book II: Ghost Season 2 finale.]
Power fans have experienced a lot of loss over the years, but this one hits differently than others. In the Power Book II: Ghost Season 2 finale, released on Feb. 6, Zeke Cross was shot and killed in a case of mistaken identity. A hooded Zeke was boarding Mecca’s jet when Lorenzo Tejada ambushed him, confusing Zeke for Mecca.
In an interview, Power Book II: Ghost creator and showrunner Courtney Kemp opened up about Zeke’s death, the inevitability of it, and what it means for the next season of the show.
Kemp on why Zeke’s death in ‘Power Book II: Ghost’ was ‘inevitable’
Kemp did an interview with Entertainment Weekly discussing the episode and what happened to Zeke. While many viewers were shocked by his fate, Kemp feels it was inevitable.
“To me, Zeke’s death is inevitable based on Zeke’s growth over the series,” she told the outlet, pointing to his inability to see beyond his family’s interests and make decisions for himself.
“There was a purpose behind this character, which is that he wasn’t taught to think for himself — he was taught to put the ball in the hoop,” she said. “And that happens to a lot of kids, where their athletic prowess becomes the thing that people value for them, even within their own families, which is exactly what happened to him. He became the escape plan for everyone. And his own desires and his own needs took a backseat.”
“Remember, he said, ‘I might want to stay in college,’ and everyone said, ‘Shut the f*** up, Zeke, put the ball in the hoop,'” Kemp continued. “I think there’s actually a serious story there about what happens when you take away someone’s guardrails.”
She added: “In episode 9 we gave Monet a very specific line: ‘Zeke isn’t good at thinking things through for himself.’ So when he starts to think things through for himself, what happens? He gets himself into terrible trouble. And the repercussions from what he’s done by going behind everyone’s back to Det. Whitman will reverberate through season 3. It’s a mess, for sure. So, would I say it was inevitable that Zeke would die? Well, if you know me, any character that is really a good, good person is probably earmarked for some sort of bullet.”
Zeke’s death will turn Monet Tejada into a different person
Elsewhere, Kemp spoke about the impact Zeke’s death will have on Monet Tejada.
“She’s going to be a very different person next year,” Kemp told TVLine. “Next season, the version of her that was trying to hold onto control in her world, that’s gone now. That’s over.”
“The plan’s gone. Her son’s gone,” she continued. “And if you were watching all along, she preferred him, did she not? She preferred him to her other kids. So now the chickens will come home to roost in terms of how she treated those children, in terms of what she was hoping for her future, all of that. And plus, her husband is guilty of the crime! There is that. She’s going to find out in a big way and that’s going to be… well, I’ll leave that for Season 3.”
Well, that doesn’t sound good for anyone.
‘Power Book II: Ghost’ Season 3 is now filming
Although the show is fresh off of season 2, the next season is seemingly already filming. While the release date for Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 is uncertain, it seems possible that the show could return later in 2022. (The series completed its first season in January of 2021 and returned that November.) But we’ll see.
In the meantime, fans can have Tommy Egan’s spinoff Power Book IV: Force to watch. The first episode aired on Feb. 6, and is available to watch now on Starz.
