This week’s episode of Power Book III: Raising Kanan is one of the darkest, most emotionally raw hours the series has ever delivered. Tension, betrayal, and grief ripple through every scene as alliances crumble and personal reckonings unfold, all centered around one character who remains both the target and the torchbearer: Raq.
Raq’s Enemies Are Everywhere—Even Within
From the opening moments, it’s clear Raq is cornered. Not just by her enemies in the streets, but by suspicion from her own son. When Kanan drives by and sees her handing cash to some cops, the mental math is immediate and flawed—he assumes she orchestrated Famous’s murder. There’s no evidence, just vibes, but that’s all anyone needs this season to vilify Raq. She’s become the scapegoat for every misstep, and this episode drives home that she’s more isolated than ever.
The irony is that Raq didn’t kill Famous—but she is guilty of creating the kind of chaos where assumptions like that can grow. The hatred aimed at her this season is relentless, and her inability to shake it feels like a punishment for every calculated move she’s ever made.
The Kitchen Standoff: Raq vs. Unique
The highlight of the episode is without question the kitchen showdown between Raq and Unique. A long-awaited confrontation that burns with old resentment and explosive accusations. Unique has emerged from the ashes of his supposed death like a phoenix—but one powered solely by revenge and paranoia.
From the jump, Unique has the upper hand. He’s got Quan backing him, a plan in motion, and a fury that blinds him to reason. He doesn’t even wait to regroup with Pernessa—his obsession with taking Raq down trumps everything else. Raq, ever the strategist, tries to talk sense into him, listing the inconsistencies in his logic, but it’s no use. Unique is deaf to anything that doesn’t confirm his vendetta.
There’s something tragic about watching him unravel like this. The head trauma he suffered seems to have altered his ability to see the world clearly, and he’s become a weapon that no longer knows who it's actually fighting for. Raq is left scrambling, with no product to move and no clear counter to the wave of opposition building around her.
Stefano Makes His Move
As if Unique wasn’t enough, Stefano has now entered the game board with a dangerous new perspective. He’s never been a fan of Raq, his bigotry and misogyny simmering just beneath the surface. Now, with Unique back, Stefano starts wondering if maybe he backed the wrong horse.
His criticism of Raq reeks of double standards. He paints her as reckless and emotional, ignoring that Marvin, the man he runs to for help, has a shorter fuse than a firecracker. Stefano’s hypocrisy is glaring—but it also pushes Marvin into a decisive moment.
Marvin reminds Stefano—and himself—that no matter the drama, family ties run deep. He might not always agree with Raq, and he’s made his own moves in the shadows, but he’s not about to betray her for someone like Stefano who sees him as just another pawn.
Kanan’s Hypocrisy Reaches Its Peak
Kanan, meanwhile, is spiraling. He’s grieving Famous, furious at the world, and willing to believe the worst about his own mother. His assumption that Raq orchestrated Famous’s death isn’t rooted in evidence—it’s born out of rage and unresolved pain.
The anger makes sense. O-Cee ran off with his money, Famous is dead, and Kanan feels powerless. But blaming Raq? That’s a leap, and a hypocritical one at that. He lashes out at her for dragging them into dangerous situations, forgetting all the times she pulled him out of the fire. Kanan’s been deep in the mess himself, and his moral outrage feels selective.
Still, the scariest part of this episode is the shift in Kanan’s demeanor. When he talks about avenging Famous, there’s a coldness in his eyes that mirrors the adult version of Kanan we’ve seen in the Power universe. It’s the same icy stare he had when he killed Shawn. No hesitation. No remorse. Just business.
Raq and Joyce’s Final Goodbye
But for all the chaos and violence, the episode ends with something heartbreakingly quiet—Raq euthanizing her mother.
It’s a gut-wrenching moment that underscores just how alone Raq has become. Joyce had long been more of a critic than a comfort to her daughter, constantly making Raq feel like she was more of a burden than a blessing. And yet, in her final moments, Joyce acknowledges the truth: she failed Raq and asks her to take care of the family in a way she never could.
Raq’s choice to fulfill Joyce’s wish isn’t out of cruelty—it’s control, perhaps even love in the only way she knows how to show it. Unlike Marvin and Lou-Lou, who were too afraid to act, Raq steps up, as she always has.
Lou-Lou, for his part, has grown. He’s no longer drowning in pain like last season. He visits their mother, not to forgive but to understand. He’s learning to hold multiple truths at once—to feel hurt and still seek closure. It’s a testament to how far he’s come.
What’s Next?
As the episode ends, you can feel the storm coming. Raq’s down but not out. Unique is out for blood. Kanan’s grief has turned him into a potential threat. And with Stefano hedging his bets, the power dynamics are shifting dangerously.
We’re three episodes away from the finale, and it’s hard to imagine a path where everyone walks away intact. The mother-son collision course seems inevitable, and Raq may have to fight the battle of her life—not just for her empire, but for the soul of her son.
Whatever happens next, one thing is clear: Power Book III has never been more explosive, or more emotionally gripping.
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