‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’: Jukebox Could Know Some Unsettling Family Secrets
Power Book III: Raising Kanan acts as the origin story of Kanan Stark (Mekai Curtis). Set in the ’90s, the series follows Kanan trying to navigate his teen years in Queens, New York. The series also showcases the coming-of-age of his cousin, Jukebox (Hailey Kilgrove).
While Kanan has been sheltered by his drug queenpin mother Raquel “Raq” Thomas (Patina Miller) who runs her business with her brothers Lou Lou (Malcolm Mays) and Marvin (London Brown), Jukebox knows a lot of family secrets.
‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ shows Jukebox’s origin story
When we first met Jukebox in Power (portrayed by Anika Noni Rose), she had no qualms about using her authority as a police officer to murder and steal from anyone that was in her way. In the end, Kanan (portrayed by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson) killed his cousin to save Tariq’s (Michael Rainey Jr.) life.
Now in Raising Kanan, fans are learning how Jukebox transformed into the person she became. Desperate to go after her dreams of being a singer despite her family, Jukebox is also hiding her sexuality.
“Now people can better appreciate why Jukebox became so tough as an adult because of the things she had to deal with growing up,” London Brown who portrays Jukebox’s father Marvin told TVLine. “Her girlfriend died, and she had a strained relationship with her father. All of these layers help us understand why these characters turned out the way they did.”
Jukebox knows some unsettling secrets about the family
Kanan has always been way more naive than Jukebox. In fact, because her parents were not stable for some time, Jukebox lived with Kanan and Raquel and she and her aunt shared a close bond. In the first season of Raising Kanan, Jukebox revealed to Kanan that she knew some secrets about their family that he would never need to know.
We know now that Kanan knows that Raquel sent Lou Lou to kill his friend D-Wiz. However, he doesn’t know that Detective Howard (Omar Epps) is his real father, not Def-Con. Moreover, Jukebox might also know that Raquel had Marvin set up and sent to prison so that she could take over the family’s drug business.
Fans are convinced there are some other dark secrets that Jukebox knows, but only time will tell if they are revealed.
Jukebox may have a negative reaction to her mother’s return in ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ Season 2
Though Jukebox never has any intention of being like her family, Jukebox has experienced so much at such a young age. Now that her mother is set to return in season 2, it’s likely going to push Jukebox down a darker path. LeToya Luckett has been cast as Jukebox’s mother, Kenya.
According to the Starz press release, “Luckett will play Kenya, Jukebox’s mother, and Marvin’s ex. She left their family when Jukebox was very young, tried to make it in LA as a singer, but three years ago, she moved back to New York. Upon her return, she settles in Harlem where church is a big part of her life.”
Still reeling from her girlfriend’s death, we highly doubt Jukebox is going to react well to her mother’s return.
