History Series / BlackLightning2018

** Inspector Henderson from ''Radio/TheAdventuresOfSuperman'' appears in the series, but he's a black man rather than white, similar to his appearances in season one of ''Series/LoisAndClark'' (before he's recast as Richard Belzer) and ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', as well as the introduction of an unrelated Inspector ''Mike'' Henderson in ''Comicbook/Supergirl2005''. (The 2009 ''Black Lightning: Year One'' comic book, for those keeping track, featured the white Bill Henderson.)

** In "Lawanda: The Book Of Burial", Grace suggests Anissa dress up as ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}. The three girls were teammates in the [[ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders Outsiders]] back in the 00's.

* PoorlyDisguisedPilot: The season 5 episode "Painkiller" is intended as a spinoff for the character of Painkiller, after the ''Black Lightning'' series ends. Only two of the seven main characters are present, they are sidelined, and the episode is set in Akashic Valley, while ''Black Lightning'' is set in Freeland.

* TeamPowerWalk: see UnflinchingWalk. Has the classic elements: the heroes side-by-side, SloMo, [[HitlerCam slightly low camera angle]], and dramatic backdrop (an exploding building).

* AdaptationalLocationChange: In the comics, Black Lightning operates in the Suicide Slum section of [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Metropolis]]. This show places Black Lightning in the fictional city of Freeland, a location completely unconnected to Metropolis.

* RecursiveReality: The show was intended as a more grounded show than the Franchise/{{Arrowverse}}, and has made reference to more familiar DC heroes like Franchise/{{Supergirl}} being fictional within its own universe.

** Freeland's location in the United States isn't initially specified, as it is [[CanonForeigner an original]] city specifically created for the show and not from the comics (wherein Black Lightning is based out of [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Metropolis]]), but in the second season it is revealed to be located in [[UsefulNotes/GeorgiaUSA Georgia]], a nod to the fact that the series is filmed in UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}.

* BackForTheFinale: [[spoiler: After exploding in the ionosphere and reforming into a completely different looking person (played by Laura Kariuki) for several episodes, the original Jennifer (played by the original actress China Anne McClain) reforms herself in the ionosphere and returns to face-off with her in the final episode.]]

Though originally not set in the Franchise/{{Arrowverse}}, Jefferson eventually appeared in the ''Series/{{Crisis on Infinite Earths|2019}}'' crossover event, while the ''Black Lightning'' series itself aired a tie-in episode around the same time. Alongside ''Series/{{Supergirl|2015}}'''s Earth-38, the world of ''Black Lighting'' [[MergedReality was then folded into]] the Arrowverse's new, unified Earth-Prime [[note]] the universe it was set in previously was dubbed "Earth-BL" by [[TheWikiRule the Arrowverse Wiki]], but it didn't have an official designation on-screen[[/note]] as a result of the storyline's events, with Jefferson becoming a founding member of the Arrowverse's ComicBook/JusticeLeague.

* PowerWalk: see UnflinchingWalk. Has the classic elements: the heroes side-by-side, SloMo, [[HitlerCam slightly low camera angle]], and dramatic backdrop (an exploding building).

* UnflinchingWalk: In "The Book of Little Black Lies", Black Lightning and Thunder PowerWalk away from an exploding warehouse.

* OverprotectiveDad: Jefferson suggests he can come off as this to Anissa and Jennifer, who agree with him. There doesn't seem to be any resentment about it, however; they even laugh about it.

The series was developed by Salim Akil, who executive produced it with his wife, Mara Brock Akil, and Arrowverse creator Creator/GregBerlanti. As with many CW series, it was streamed as a Creator/{{Netflix}} Original in certain countries, which did cause some {{continuity lockout}} issues as a result of the aforementioned ''Crisis''.

Though originally not set in the Franchise/{{Arrowverse}}, Jefferson eventually appeared in the ''Series/{{Crisis on Infinite Earths|2019}}'' crossover event, while the ''Black Lightning'' series itself aired a tie-in episode around the same time. Alongside ''Series/{{Supergirl|2015}}'''s Earth-38, ''Black Lighting'''s Earth [[MergedReality was then folded into]] the Arrowverse's new, unified Earth-Prime [[note]] the universe it was set in previously was dubbed "Earth-BL" by [[TheWikiRule the Arrowverse Wiki]], but it didn't have an official designation on-screen[[/note]] as a result of the storyline's events, with Jefferson becoming a founding member of the Arrowverse's ComicBook/JusticeLeague.

Though originally not set in the Franchise/{{Arrowverse}}, Jefferson eventually appeared in the ''Series/{{Crisis on Infinite Earths|2019}}'' crossover event, while the ''Black Lightning'' series itself aired a tie-in episode around the same time. Alongside ''Series/{{Supergirl|2015}}'''s Earth-38, ''Black Lighting'' [[MergedReality was then folded into]] the Arrowverse's new, unified Earth-Prime [[note]] the universe it was set in previously was dubbed "Earth-BL" by [[TheWikiRule the Arrowverse Wiki]], but it didn't have an official designation on-screen[[/note]] as a result of the storyline's events, with Jefferson becoming a founding member of the Arrowverse's ComicBook/JusticeLeague.

Though originally not set in the Series/{{Arrowverse}}, Jefferson eventually appeared in the ''Series/{{Crisis on Infinite Earths|2019}}'' crossover event, while the ''Black Lightning'' series itself aired a tie-in episode around the same time. Alongside ''Series/{{Supergirl|2015}}'''s Earth-38, ''Black Lighting'' [[MergedReality was then folded into]] the Arrowverse's new, unified Earth-Prime [[note]] the universe it was set in previously was dubbed "Earth-BL" by [[TheWikiRule the Arrowverse Wiki]], but it didn't have an official designation on-screen[[/note]] as a result of the storyline's events, with Jefferson becoming a founding member of the Arrowverse's ComicBook/JusticeLeague.

* NamingConventions: Jennifer Pierce from this Earth visits two other realities labeled "Earth-1" and "Earth-2" that clearly can't be the universes in the Series/{{Arrowverse}} the Monitor calls Earth-1 and Earth-2. This may be explained by the scientists in her world coming up with their own numbering system, or may even just be names Jennifer came up with on the spot.

* RecursiveReality: The show was intended as a more grounded show than the Series/{{Arrowverse}}, and has made reference to more familiar DC heroes like Franchise/{{Supergirl}} being fictional within its own universe.

* SchrodingersCanon: Whether or not the series exists in the ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}'', given that it's a Creator/{{DC|Comics}} superhero series on Creator/TheCW [[note]]although it should be noted that it was ''originally'' in development for Creator/{{FOX}}[[/note]] that has Creator/GregBerlanti as an executive producer. In August 2017, CW president Mark Pedowitz said the following:

* VoiceOfTheLegion: Heroic example. When using the suit, Black Lightning's voice has this effect at times. Later on, he's shown using it even without the suit, implying he's using his powers to vibrate his vocal cords, similar to how speedsters can do that in the Series/{{Arrowverse}}.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/81d0h4xgwjl_ri_5.jpg]]

** The flashbacks show Black Lightning wearing his classic costume and even sporting BaldOfAwesome like in the comics. Only time will tell if he ever wears it again instead of the new one.

* AmicablyDivorced: It's revealed early in the pilot that Lynn and Jefferson aren't together anymore, though they still share an attraction to each other and are very friendly in public.
* AndTheAdventureContinues: [[spoiler: The series finale sees Jefferson retiring (for good this time) and handing off Freeland protection duties to Anissa, Jennifer and Grace. The final scene sees Lala breaking free of his concrete prison and in the position to take over as Freeland's new BigBad.]]

* SchrodingersCanon: Whether or not the series exists in the ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}'', given that it's a [[Creator/DCComics DC]] superhero series on Creator/TheCW [[note]]although it should be noted that it was ''originally'' in development for Creator/{{FOX}}[[/note]] that has Creator/GregBerlanti as an executive producer. In August 2017, CW president Mark Pedowitz said the following:

** Season 3: A BigBadEnsemble:

* RealityEnsues:
** Jefferson's a good martial artist with lightning powers, but he isn't invincible and his nights as Black Lightning often end with him bleeding out in the tub. He eventually had to retire for his own health. There's also the fact that his wife never signed up for his vigilantism and the stress of her husband repeatedly risking his life and getting injured [[TheMasqueradeWillKillYourDatingLife led to their divorce.]]
** Anissa is tough and acts bravely under pressure when kidnapped and threatened, but later shows signs of trauma and possible [=PTSD=] from the experience. Bravery doesn't prevent trauma.
** Anissa's use of a ShockwaveStomp to destroy a Confederate statue with a nearby crowed results in the shards injuring several people.
** Lowry's tyrannical rule over the school and near ZeroPercentApprovalRating damages his and the school's reputation after his actions get caught on video. Leaving the school board looking bad for hiring what looks like a racist to run a predominantly black school.
** The series as a whole is practically a deconstruction of peaceful talks and methods. For all the good Jefferson does for the students in the school; it does not prepare or protect them for a world larger than the school. Many come to see Black Lightining as a much needed punch to help preserve the peace the citizenry don't have from police that are either apathetic at best or corrupt at worst. The show takes care to show some positives of peaceful methodologies such as Jefferson's guidance on his school delivering positive results and a healthy learning environment to the youth which has a legitimately positive impact on the students. But the show seems to be saying that those alone aren't enough; and sometimes violence against those who don't want to negotiate or are outright strike first, ask questions later must be taken to preserve that peace.