Powermay be one of the most underrated TV shows of the 2010s, as the series provided some classic episodes throughout its six seasons. Following the story of James “Ghost” St. Patrick, the crime series was full of high-stakes action and drama as the protagonist’s double life constantly led to problems. Ghost owned a successful nightclub and became a popular figure among his community, but he was also a secret drug dealer, making him one of thePoweruniverse’s best characters. Additionally, his complicated lifestyle helped introduce a plethora of interesting personalities who made the show so entertaining.
Although many viewers were unhappy withPowerseason 6’s ending, the show hit way more often than it missed, producing some absolutely thrilling episodes of TV. Most seasons had incredibly strong conclusions, with the finales often providing captivating drama, tension, and story resolutions. In addition,Powerwasn’t afraid to provide some unexpected twists and huge character deaths, adding to how memorable some of its best moments were. While the spinoffs have done a good job of continuing the franchise’s quality, the original series was one of the best shows on TV during its era and provided some truly unforgettable episodes.
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10"Deal With The Devil"
Season 6, Episode 8
Season 6 was a rollercoaster forPower, as despite having some unpopular episodes, it also produced some of the show’s best. “Deal With The Devil” was a standout, as it had plenty of key moments that helped set up the final few outings for the series. Cooper Saxe was on a warpath, trying to get confessions from anyone he could, and often crossed the line in the process. His desperation to catch Ghost and take down his operation is spiraling out of control, making for some great scenes, while Ghost finally cuts ties with Andre, setting up the antagonist’s demise.
Ghost and Rashad Tate’s relationship also crumbles beyond repair, as the two pull one over on each other, resulting in the Queen’s Child Project being shut down. However, Keisha is by far the most important character of the episode, as she is manipulated into signing a cooperation agreement with the FBI, which Tasha finds out about. Their confrontation leads to Keisha being killed, which is still one ofPower’s most shocking deaths. The final moments of Tommy discovering her body are truly heartbreaking, and the emotional episode perfectly demonstrates just how brutal and unforgivingPower’s final season really was.
9"In My Best Interest"
Season 3, Episode 10
Season 3’s finale was a critical episode in thePoweruniverse, as it completely altered the trajectory of the show. Coming into the episode, Greg and Milan seem like the biggest threats to Ghost’s operation, yet this completely changes by the time the credits roll. Greg was an incredibly flawed character who wanted Ghost to see justice, and he was willing to do just about anything to make it happen. After finally getting the evidence to send him down, he talks with his boss, Mike Sandoval, but Greg finds out Mike is secretly involved in New York’s drug trade.
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This leads to Mike shockingly killing him. Meanwhile, Ghost and Tommy are able to hatch a plan that perfectly lures Milan into their trap, culminating in a satisfying ending for the villain, who takes several gunshots to the face. While the episode looks to end positively for the protagonists, Angela arrests Ghost on suspicion of Greg’s murder, which significantly shakes up the series. The episode was full of twists and suspense that made it hard to predict where the show was going, andPowerthrew in plenty of surprises that made “In My Best Interest” an all-time great episode.
8"A Friend of the Family"
Season 5, Episode 8
After Kanan teaches him about the drug game, Tariq becomes his protégé
“A Friend of the Family” marked the end of one ofPower’s best antagonists - Kanan Stark. 50 Cent’s character was a menace ever since he was introduced to the show, and his close relationship with Tommy and Ghost made him unpredictable. However, despite all the altercations he survived, it was Tariq who caused his death. After Kanan teaches him about the drug game, Tariq becomes his protégé, and the two form a close relationship. However, in order to avoid being put away for Ray Ray’s murder, Tariq frames his mentor, leading to a shootout with the cops.
While Kanan is able to outgun the police, he suffers a gunshot in the process and subsequently bleeds out. The shocking scene is by far the episode’s highlight, and while other interesting things going on, such as Ghost and Tommy trying to frame Dre alongside the FBI grilling Proctor, Kanan and Tariq’s scene is the most crucial. It proved how cold and cunningTariq could be alongside how hard Kanan is to kill, and the whole encounter seemed like it could potentially backfire on Ghost’s son, highlighting how much was at stake throughout this action-packed episode.
7"Time’s Up"
Season 2, Episode 9
With theconfirmation ofPower Book IV: Forceseason 3, it’s clear Tommy is still one of the franchise’s most important characters a whole decade after debuting, and season 2’s penultimate episode shows why he’s so great. Having been arrested in the previous episode, Tommy enters prison and is questioned by multiple FBI members, such as Cooper Saxe, Mike Sandoval, and Angela Valdes. Despite this, he doesn’t break and his talented lawyer, Joe Proctor, manages to find some legal loopholes to buy his freedom.
“Time’s Up” also marks the end of Shawn’s journey, who is tasked with killing Ghost by his dad, Kanan. Despite managing to lure the protagonist into a trap, Shawn can’t pull the trigger, allowing Ghost to disarm him before telling him to leave town. Shawn confronts Kanan and tells him he’s leaving, but the antagonist surprisingly kills his own son, proving how ruthless he is. Alongside having great drama and action, the dialogue is also fantastic in this episode, as evidenced by Ghost and Tommy’s wholesome interaction after the latter gets out of jail, which perfectly captures the duo’s friendship.
6"The Right Decision"
Season 3, Episode 6
Following the aftermath of Holly’s death, Ghost and Tommy manage to get back on the same page, which is a huge problem for their enemies. The duo is incredibly dangerous when working together, which Felipe Lobos finds out the hard way. During his transport to Washington D.C., the villain is intercepted by a bunch of his henchmen alongside Tommy, in a planned attempt to free the antagonist. However, this is part of Tommy and Ghost’s plan, who kill any surviving henchmen so that they can take down Lobos, with Ghost eventually pulling the trigger.
Despite being part of the FBI group transferring Lobos, Greg manages to survive after being shot and gains first-hand intel on what happened, adding more stakes going forward. Milan also reveals his true nature as a drug dealer and forces Ghost to work with him, since he has leverage on his businesses and family. “The Right Decision” had all the clever plans, twists, and tension that madePowerso iconicduring its peak, and it contained the sort of action typically reserved for finales, which helped it leave a lasting impact on the audience.
5"It’s All Your Fault"
Season 6, Episode 13
The final few episodes ofPowerwere a mystery around who killed Ghost
Although season 6 ended in underwhelming fashion, “It’s All Your Fault” was the main show’s last great episode, and it centered around Tommy. The final few episodes ofPowerwere a mystery around who killed Ghost, with each one focusing on a potential suspect. Tommy’s episode not only highlighted how great Joseph Sikora is in the role, but it also cementedTommy’s status as Ghost’s true replacement, as he ended the series riding off to Chicago. However, season 6, episode 13, was alsofull of great character interactions that gave Tommy the best sendoff out of every character.
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He had a one-to-one with Tariq, a final shootout alongside Ghost, and a surprisingly wholesome relationship with Elisa Marie Proctor, despite kidnapping her alongside killing her dad earlier in the season. Although he has a heartbreaking final encounter with Ghost as he watches his best friend bleed out, he at least gets a satisfying conversation with 2-Bit, one of the show’s best-supporting characters. Watching him tie up all loose ends by killing Vincent and Spanky was the perfect ending for Tommy, and his last episode certainly didn’t disappoint.
4"You Can’t Fix This"
Season 4, Episode 10
Raina’s shocking death in season 4, episode 9, proved that no one was safe inPower, but “You Can’t Fix This” also highlighted why you should never mess with Ghost’s family. The central characters are still trying to process the death of the St. Patricks' daughter, but no one is against taking action, with Ghost showing his brutality when he tortures Uriel for information. The villain confesses to killing Julio but explains he had nothing to do with Raina’s death before quickly being gunned down by the protagonist.
Tommy finds out Ray Ray is the killer, but Tariq already knows this since he witnessed his sister’s death and begins trying to find his location. The finale ends with Tariq, Tommy, Ghost, and Tasha all pulling up to Ray Ray’s location, with Tariq getting their first and killing the gangster, starting his dark path in the franchise. The episode was filled with emotion, allowing Naturi Naughton to deliver a phenomenal performance that proves Tashadeserves her ownPowerspinoff.
Her heartbreaking acknowledgment that her daughter is gone because of Ghost’s lifestyle is a powerful scene that makes this episode a must-watch.“You Can’t Fix This” is the perfect demonstration of how innocent people always sufferdue to the protagonists' actions, and no matter how likable they may be, they’re still killers and criminals. The episode is a reality check for the central characters, and a reminder of the brutality that is involved in the world of drugs, putting it among the franchise’s best outings.
Season 2, Episode 10
While “Ghost is Dead” may have been some early foreshadowing of the character’s season 6 fate, Ghost did come seriously close to dying in season 2, episode 10. His confrontation with Kanan during the episode’s climax sees the two have a brutal fight that is seemingly to the death. While Kanan is able to overpower the protagonist and nearly suffocates him, Ghost stabs the villain and leaves him for dead inside a burning building. While the entire episode and season built up to this moment, season 2’s finale had plenty more going on.
Dre informs Ghost about Shawn’s death, and the two begin working together. Lobos also gets stabbed in jail while Greg is fired from the FBI, which only makes his obsession with Angela worse. Additionally, Ghost and Tommy’s argument pits the two against one another, creating an intriguing third season.While season 1 began building the universe and characters, season 2 utilized them to perfection,showing just how exciting the series could be. With the finale masterfully tying everything together, “Ghost is Dead” provedPowerwas easily one of the best shows on TV during its heyday.
2"King’s Gambit"
Season 6, Episode 5
“King’s Gambit” makes a strong case for being one of the show’s best episodes, as there is so much happening. Cooper Saxe intensifies his investigation, with his desperation for a confession getting stronger. Alongside blackmailing Andre for information by showing he has custody of his daughter, Saxe also closes the walls on Proctor. While Tariq has an interesting subplot around selling drugs on campus while Tasha begins building her own empire, Proctor’s story is by far the most compelling, as is his final stand against Tommy.
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After Tommy finds out Proctor intends to give up vital information, he discovers that the lawyer is staying in Ghost’s place and tells Tariq to leave the door open for him and to get out of the house. The two have a shootout that leaves Ghost’s apartment destroyed, and Tommy eventually guns down his own defense attorney. Knowing there’s nowhere left to run, Proctor goes out with his head held high and even says goodbye to his daughterin a powerful scene.
While it was sad to see one of the show’s best characters killed off, his exit was handled perfectly, in one ofPower’s best episodes. The build-up to their confrontation was excellent, as both characters seemed to have strong plans in place, but despite how crafty Joe had been throughout the entire series, he couldn’t avoid his fate. Thankfully, his battle with Tommy was the dramatic and thrilling end the character deserved, helping the episode rank so highly among stiff competition.
1"When This Is Over"
Season 5, Episode 10
Powerhas an abundance of great episodes that could be considered the show’s best, but “When This Is Over” takes the top spot. The final few episodes of season 5 were arguably the series' peak, and the finale contained everything that madePowera hit show. As Angela faced the FBI for her involvement with James St. Patrick, she hatched a plan alongside Ghost, Tommy, and Tasha on how to evade the FBI. The plot focuses on the four main characters trying to gain alibis, while the FBI chases down these same people for confessions.
It showed how every character was willing to cut corners and get their hands dirty, including law enforcement. The episode includes Dre having a shootout with Tommy that eventually leads to him signing Angela’s confession, alongside the FBI pressuring Keisha to flip. However,the turning point comes when Saxe visits Tommy and tells him the truth about what happened to his dad. Saxe informs Tommy that his father never intended to snitch and that Ghost was the one who provided Vincent with intel about his father’s disloyalty, which Vincent confirms.
This moment changes the series forever, as Tommy then attempts to kill Ghost but shoots Angela instead, which proves to be fatal. The full circle moment of the show’s four most important characters being forced to work together was great and watching them all play their roles before their secrets were revealed was fascinating. “When This Is Over” was filled with action, betrayal, and some surprise deaths, which always make it a thrill to rewatch, and it epitomizes why the main series will always be thebestPowerbook show, making it the strongest episode of the series.
Power
Power, released in 2014, follows a successful New York entrepreneur who covertly leads a drug empire catering to wealthy elites. As he seeks to leave the criminal world behind and protect his family, he navigates the precarious balance between his dual identities.
