Where does Power end and Power Book II: Ghost begin?

If you haven’t already streamed all six seasons of incredible crime drama Power, produced by 50 Cent and starring Omari Hardwick as James Ghost St. Patrick, watch it on Showmax.

Then stream the spin-off series, Power Book II: Ghost, that is set days after the Season 6 finale. What’s it all about? What do you need to know? And why are you going to love it? Let us count the ways.

The producers have kept the cast the same while expanding the drama. Michael Rainey Jr returns as Tariq St Patrick, the teenage son of gangster James St Patrick aka Ghost (Omari Hardwick) and Tasha (Naturi Naughton). He’s trying to explore the big bad world out there that’s waiting to eat him up, especially because he is nothing like his drug-pedalling criminal old man. Instead, he has a new challenge to focus on: graduating – because it holds the key to his future.

Watch the trailer

Expect to see more familiar faces from the Power world, like Victor Garber as Ghost’s ex-business partner Simon Stern and Mark Feuerstein as politician Steven Ott, while also introducing new talent like and Melanie Liburd as troublemaker Carrie Milgram.

Only the first five episodes are available right now – blame the COVID-19 pandemic that caused chaos by shutting down productions around the world for most of 2020. Don’t stress though – not only was Power Book II: Ghost renewed for a second season after just two episodes, there are still at least another four episodes coming soon to finish up season 1, bringing the total to 9 episodes and an expanded episode count for the second season.

Drama is the name of the game

…because his mama has got a load of drama and she’s broke. So while Tasha is hiring the best of the best lawyers to get her out of trouble, Tariq is the one scrambling to fund her mounting legal fees. Why is the varsity student so willing to pay his mother’s debts? Remember when we told you to first binge Power?

***SPOILER ALERT! ***

Tariq ordered his dad’s assassination, while Tasha took the fall to protect her son. She’s been around the block and can take care of herself in prison, so keeping Tariq “innocent” ensures her longevity.

“This show is not Power. It’s not Power season 7,” says co-creator Courtney Kemp. “Power Book II is really about Ghost’s absence and about how his shadow looms over everyone – especially his son. Tariq has a very millennial energy and penchant for calling people out on their BS. If fans of Power get to know this version of Tariq, who is confused and alone and has so much pressure on his shoulders, they will see that all he’s trying to do is survive, which couldn’t be more relatable.”

More like Power Book II: Ghost

Famous faces will be leading the action – and many of them are musicians. Okay, so we know that rapper 50 Cent (remember his hit In Da Club?) was an executive producer on Power, as well as playing criminal genius Kanan Stark (who hated the St Patrick family and wanted to make them suffer at every turn). He could reprise his role for a couple of cameo episodes, but upfront fans will recognise rapper-turned-actor Method Man (part of ’90s rap group Wu-Tang Clan) as demanding high-power attorney Davis Maclean who wants $500 000 before he’ll even talk to Tariq, and RnB singer Mary J Blige (2002 song No More Drama) as vicious, protective mother Monet Stewart Tejada who wants to replace Tasha as crime queenpin.

Watch the first five episodes of Power Book II: Ghost on Showmax.