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From the moment Power first debuted, fans have been glued to the drama series. Since then, it has spawned an entire franchise that includes Power Book II: Ghost, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, Power Book IV: Force, and Power Book V: Influence. The series all center around the drug game in some way as well as some interesting characters.

Fans of the Power Universe also know to expect some main characters to die. Now creator Courtney Kemp is explaining how she decides to kill people off.

Melanie Liburd as Carrie Milgram in 'Power Book II: Ghost'
Melanie Liburd as Carrie Milgram in ‘Power Book II: Ghost’ | Starz

The ‘Power’ Universe is known for its explosive deaths

From Kanan (Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson) killing his son Shawn (Sinqua Walls) to the shocking death of Raina (Donshea Hopkins) as Tariq looked on, there have been numerous deaths in the Power Universe. Certainly, no one expected Tariq to kill his own father James “Ghost” St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick), and many of us are still reeling from Tasha (Naturi Naughton) killing her best friend LaKeisha (La La Anthony).

Let’s not even get into all of the deaths on Tommy’s hands, including his own father Tony (William Sadler) and girlfriend Holly (Lucy Walters).

But how do the writers determine who dies and who gets to live?

Courtney Kemp revealed how she decides to kill people off

During a recent Instagram Live, Kemp explained her thought process behind deciding who won’t make it through a season of any of the Power Universe shows.

“Here’s the thing about the big deaths at the end of the season, so what we ask ourselves at the beginning of the season is, ‘Who are the innocent?'” she said. “I know that sounds terrible, but if you think about it, if you are a hardcore Power fan, if you look back, we always off someone who is an innocent. Because the reality of the drug game is that people get hurt. There is collateral damage. The villains don’t always just get hurt. They hurt bystanders all the time so that’s an important thing. Toward episodes eight, nine, or 10, we will actually kill someone who is an innocent.”

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How has Saxe survived in the ‘Power’ Universe for so long?

We know that attorney Cooper Saxe (Shane Johnson) isn’t exactly innocent, but he’s certainly meddlesome. He spent all of Power going after Ghost and Tommy (Joseph Sikora), then he spent the first season of Power Book II: Ghost going after Tariq (Michael Rainey).

Now, he’s found himself in the clutches of Davis Maclean (Clifford “Method Man” Smith). But how has he survived for so long?

During the Feb. 8 Instagram Live, Kemp explained why Saxe is thriving. “There’s a bunch of different reasons,” she said.

“From the beginning, Shane Johnson came in and he murdered this part. It was not supposed to go this long. I definitely did not see this character from the beginning living this long. But what happened was Shane was so amazing, and then the character became so adaptable because he really wasn’t a person with principles.” Kemp continued, saying “And, you know I love to write about people without principles. So that’s why it became more interesting. I always like that push and pull of cops and robbers. And you guys know, I love to write about lawyers, so that’s why Saxe has lived so long. He also does know way too much information which is perfect for us because that gives you thread.”

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