

“Power” and its many spinoffs have the same formulaic, watchable factor that has made the “Law & Order” franchise a long-standing success. The drugs, violent deaths, sex, schemes, plots and betrayals aren’t new. While Lennon’s presence has undoubtedly stabilized the series, which had slid almost entirely off course, all of the familiar tropes of the “Power” Universe remain. The battery has been placed back in the Mustang driver’s back, empowering him to be as volatile and reckless as he was in “Power,” with glimmers of vulnerability showing through on occasion. Fans are no longer subjected to the tamed Tommy who was presented when the show first premiered. More than eliminating puzzling plotholes and rounding out characters, Sikora has his foot back on the gas.

By allowing viewers to linger among this unconventional family unit, secrets and dynamics are revealed, enabling the characters to unfold for the audience in a way they had previously been unable to.
#Tower of power in concert series#
Tommy’s mother, fan-favorite Kate Egan (Patricia Kalember), is also a thrilling addition who has returned to the series in a more robust role. In Season 2, Tommy’s family, including his older brother JP (Anthony Flemming III) and his nephew D-Mac (Lucien Cambric), keep him from flying off the handle completely.

In doing so, the show presents the layers and textures of the city and its citizens as they are.Īs showcased in the first season of “Force,” Tommy doesn’t work well as a lone wolf his impulsivity requires an anchor. Instead of ignoring the repercussions of gang wars, poverty, segregation and drugs, “Force” Season 2 is a reminder that violence doesn’t exist in a vacuum. cities, gun violence is a real issue in America’s Second City. The Chicago River and areas in the Lincoln Park and Pilsen neighborhoods are also highlighted. The camera pans toward familiar landmarks like Harold’s Chicken Shack, Leon’s BBQ and even the Sears Tower (born and bred Chicagoans wouldn’t dare call it the Willis Tower). In addition to rounding out the cast, Chicago is no longer just a pretty backdrop in the series. Hyman), and police lieutenant Bobby DiFranco (Chris Tardio), among others. This season introduces Miguel (Manuel Eduardo Ramirez), a volatile Mexican cartel leader, U.S. Tying a bow on these plot points enables Lennon to bring on some more intriguing players and narratives to orbit Tommy’s world. Moreover, Diamond’s rushed relationship with Adrianne (Blythe Howard), a turncoat reporter trying to dig into his past, quickly becomes a figment of Season 1. Lennon finds a resolution to that plot point by the end of the Season 2 premiere. Tommy and Claudia’s partnership to distribute the designer drug Dahlia never felt authentic, especially since there was very little trust between them.

However, he begins righting the ship immediately by ending ridiculous storylines. Placed in the driver’s seat after a confounding initial season, Lennon had some significant issues to combat. Beyond the issues he’s having with Walter (a commanding Tommy Flanagan), Vic (Shane Harper) and Claudia Flynn (Lili Simmons), the Serbian and Mexican cartels are encroaching on territory Tommy wants, and the Sampson brothers’ Chicago Brothers Incorporated (CBI) has split, with one faction being run by Diamond (Issac Keyes) and the other spearheaded by Jenard (Kris D. However, as Tommy has learned, Chicago is not New York. He begins plotting against the Flynn family - a faction of the Irish mob with a hold over the city’s North Side. Haunted and enraged by the murder of his business partner Liliana (Audrey Esparza), Tommy vows to avenge her death. The second season opener, fittingly named “Tommy’s Back,” begins just two days after the Season 1 finale. Before “Force” even premiered, Munic exited the series due to creative differences, and “Euphoria” producer Gary Lennon, who was instrumental in cultivating Tommy’s voice on “Power,” came aboard as showrunner for the sophomore season.
