Power Book 2: The 10 Best Characters | Screen Rant
Events in the second season of the Power spinoff, Power Book II: Ghost are currently unfolding in a satisfactory manner. There is progress for everyone, with Tariq making more inroads in the New York underworld and Zeke looking forward to getting drafted into the NBA. But which characters have been the most exceptional so far?
The first among three spinoffs perfectly merges legal battles, college life, and the drug trade into one palatable offering. And in all three areas, a few characters have awed fans a lot more than the rest. Some of them are characters that had already established themselves on the original show while others have only just shown up but stepped up.
Tariq hasn't been haunted by demons after slaying dead. Instead, life has been really good to him. He has not only applied himself in Stansfield University but he is also building his own criminal empire, brick by brick.
Despite being one of the most hated characters in Power, Tariq has morphed into a darling in the spinoff. It's almost like his IQ has been doubled as he keeps outfoxing everyone and proving that even though he's young, he is the most astute gangster in this universe. Apart from making street smart moves such as tricking the celebrated lawyer Davis McClean into representing his mother for only $50,000, Tariq is depicted as one of the brightest minds in his Canonical Studies course too.
The talented Stansfield athlete struggles to get good grades so the school administration forces Tariq to offer him private tutoring. Away from the classroom, Zeke becomes entangled with his professor and gets caught up in the street drama surrounding his drug-dealing aunt, Monet.
Zeke might be green but through him, several critical issues are explored. His relationship with Professor Milgram isn't illegal because he is over 18 but the ethics part of it all remains a grey area. Additionally, the basketball star is used to highlight how tough life is is for focussed children who get raised by outlaws. It's impossible not to pity him when he almost gets shot in the leg because of a turf war.
Brayden becomes Tariq's confidante when the two are allocated the same room at Stansfield University. It turns out they both love selling drugs and as such, they become the college distribution duo.
Brayden is the stereotypical spoiled student from a wealthy family. He doesn't need to be selling drugs but he is extremely good at it. It's him that gives Tariq the expansion idea, resulting in them selling narcotics outside Stansfield. Brayden should also be lauded for helping Tariq set up a clean image. He often does this by making his roommate accompany him to high-profile galas organized by his father.
The former prosecutor takes up a job at Stansfield as a Canonical Studies professor. While at her new workplace, she rekindles a relationship with her colleague, Professor Jabari, and also begins sleeping with basketball star, Zeke.
As a character, Professor Milgram mostly serves as a means to examine unconventional relationships and the "forbidden fruit" concept. Is it okay for a teacher to date a student when the said student is over the age of 18? Do workplaces courtships interfere with productivity? Questions such as these are answered, bit by bit, as the show progresses.
Having won dozens of cases, MacLean has become an in-demand lawyer who requires $500,000 before he can even hear a client out. He happens to be a lothario too.
MacLean might be the lord of heartbreaks but he keeps redeeming himself in the courtroom by proving just how gifted a lawyer he is. His notoriety for winning cases without needing a private confession from the clients qualifies him as one of the smartest characters in Power Book II: Ghost. He is quite charming too, with the ability to talk anyone into doing anything. He even convinces the self-centered Cooper Saxe to work for him after the Tasha case comes to a conclusion.
The Canonical Studies professor doubles as an author. He is obsessive and possessive, not only with Professor Milgram but also with Tariq, who he badly wants to be the subject of his next book.
Professor Jabari is the kind of character that's easy to predict doom for and sit still, waiting for it to happen. He is extremely conscientious but his aggressiveness makes the people around him feel uncomfortable. Consequently, the more dangerous ones like Tariq are left with no choice but to hurt him.
As the US Attorney, Saxe is tasked by the DNC with charging Tasha St. Patriq under the Continuing Criminal Enterprise Kingpin Statute. He fails to do that and loses his job but luckily for him, MacLean recruits him into his law firm.
Saxe remains an interesting character because his life is always such as seesaw. Whenever he is up, he normally comes tumbling down but he never stays down forever either. Within a short time, he has gone from being a suspect in James' murder to dining with kings as US Attorney to working for the egoistical MaClean. It's always impossible to tell what will happen to him next.
Tasha has spent most of her time in jail and the courtroom, trying to prove that she had nothing to do with her late husband's illegal business or death. When she is paroled, she is forced to go to witness protection to keep herself safe from Tommy.
Tasha was one of the best characters in the original Power series and she maintains that status here. She becomes a contender for "mother of the year" by sacrificing her own freedom to ensure Tariq doesn't get implicated so that he gets to finish college. There are no lengths she won't go to. She even fires Tameika Washington, a lawyer close to making her win just because the said lawyer almost finds out about Tariq.
Monet's oldest son is a major part of the Tejada Drug Organization. He mostly serves as an enforcer, a position that has brought out the best of his abilities.
Cane is a perfect secondary antagonist since he is extremely ruthless and remorseless. Whether it's in the streets or at a party, there is nowhere he won't pull the trigger. He is great at following orders too, making him the perfect street soldier. People in his position also need to be as intimidating as possible and this is something Cane has got covered since he constantly makes junior gangsters cower when they see him.
The leader of the Tejada Drug Organization has steered the faction into top-tier status ever since her husband got locked up a decade ago. Additionally, she has molded her children to be major players in the drug trade.
Monet breaks the cliche that is so common in shows like this where the majority of drug lords tend to be men. She switches brilliantly between being a ruthless boss and being a loving mother. There is hardly any flaw in Monet as a criminal mastermind. She is as intimidating as she is careful. And despite being a boss, she doesn't need henchmen to protect her. Whenever her life has been in danger, she has done a great job of fending off attackers.