Ghost Struggles to Leave the Drug World in ‘Power’ Season 3 Premiere

Omari Hardwick and Lela Loren in Season 3 Premiere of Power

With honesty on the fritz and tension simmering, Omari Hardwick reprises his role as Ghost, who struggles to sever himself from the drug world in the long-awaited premiere of the third season of Power on Starz.

In spite of pleas to call him “James,” and attempts to cement his new identity as a nightclub owner, Ghost finds himself often looking over his shoulder and realizing that his work as a drug kingpin isn’t quite done, spoiling his continual attempts to start fresh with his family, Angela, and his expanding nightclub business. The pressure from all sides that he fought off in the final episodes of last season intensify in Tasha, who presses Ghost with concerns about their children’s future and Shawn’s final moments, Dre’s impatience regarding lining his pockets, and Angela, ever looking to her future with Ghost, ceaselessly on edge, fighting to validate his legitimacy, and dealing with her evolving life as a federal prosecutor.

Angela holds her breath at every corner she turns with Ghost, scrutinizing his every move—she carries a gun in her clutch in the opening sequence, questions him over Chinese about a frantic Julio approaching him at Truth, and warns him not to finish Lobos off. Yet her worries don’t end at home, because she’s keeping an eye out for Greg, further disturbed and hell-bent on taking both her and James down after she sabotaged his career.

Tommy, still furious at his ex-boss’ new path and itching to get back on the streets, runs into the complications of being at the top. His hot-headed and comical encounters with the new batch of distributors helps build his reputation, but he’s reminded that his new role as head of the organization won’t come easy, as he finds his and Holly’s dog dead in their kitchen; he seems surprised after each of Lobos’ reminders for him to take care of Ghost—a pause after a phone call, getting the hint at the sight of his dog—and, perhaps, seems to realize part of why Ghost wanted out in the first place.

What Ghost hoped would remain an impenetrable wall quickly crumbled, not just from his perspective—discovering that Lobos survived the hit—but from mistakes he’s failed to realize he’s made, beginning with axing Santos, who tried to warn him of Greg’s prodding beforehand, and making new enemies, following his dismissal of Julio and the shady Dre, Ghost’s new right-hand man.

After realizing that he’ll have to become “Ghost” again in reaching out to Tommy, he’s plunged back into chaos; but Ghost is clever, and he’s gotten out of chaotic situations before, only, with his promises to Angela and his children, and his commitment to be legitimate on the line, how far will he go to protect his future?

I you have lingering questions about the season 3 premiere make sure to follow Power on Twitter. Rotimi will be answering questions today:

You’ve got questions about the #PowerPremiere. Get answers from @Rotimi in a live Twitter Q&A tomorrow at 1PM ET. pic.twitter.com/kB8w3eS7cI

— Power (@Power_STARZ) July 18, 2016