Black Lightning has released the synopsis for the upcoming episode "Painkiller," which will serve as the backdoor pilot for the eponymous spinoff series. The episode will see Jordan Calloway reprise his role as Khalil Payne/Painkiller, with the series itself given a pilot order by The CW back in November.
The synopsis describes Khalil as "a young man ridden with the guilt of his troubled past from his former life in Freeland City" and briefly recaps his time as both an underling for Tobias Whale and an agent of the A.S.A. Now having tried to "bury the darker, devastatingly lethal Painkiller part of his persona," Khalil has moved to Akashic Valley in the hopes of finding peace. But that is easier said than done as Khalil is forced back into action with a new mission. To pull it off, he has to "deal with and harness his darker side, Painkiller."
The full synopsis for "Painkiller" can be found below:
PAINKILLER – Khalil Payne (Jordan Calloway) is a young man ridden with the guilt of his troubled past from his former life in Freeland City, where, as a super-enhanced killing machine known as Painkiller, he was both a member of Tobias Whale’s gang and a weapon of Agent Odell and the shadowy ASA. After attempting to bury the darker, devastatingly lethal Painkiller part of his persona, Khalil has distanced himself away from everyone he knows and loves in a new city, Akashic Valley, in order to find peace…but peace never comes easy for men with pasts like Khalil Payne and Painkiller. As his violent, destructive history crashes his idyllic new beginning, Khalil is thrusted back into action with a new mission - bring justice where he once gave out punishment – but to do that, he will first have to deal with and harness his darker side, Painkiller. The episode was written and directed by Salim Akil (#407). Original airdate 4/12/2021.
Black Lightning stars Cress Williams, Laura Kariuki, Nafessa Williams, Christine Adams, Marvin "Krondon" Jones III, Jordan Calloway, Chantal Thuy, and James Remar. The series returns April 12 on The CW.
Source: The CW