Plot Synopsis

Set in South Jamaica, Queens in the early '90s, POWER BOOK III: RAISING KANAN is a prequel about the early years of the now-deceased iconic POWER character Kanan Stark. This sprawling family drama revolves around the coming of age of Kanan Stark; Ghost and Tommy's mentor, partner and adversary, who ultimately dies in a hail of gunfire in the eighth episode of POWER's penultimate season.

In this series, Kanan is the 15-year-old only child of Raquel "Raq" Thomas, a cocaine distributor with an emerging network of dealers across the city. Much like the original POWER, RAISING KANAN explores themes of identity, violence, and legacy, but it is also a deep dive into the very pathology of family; the unique, complicated and fraught dynamic between parent and child, mother and father, brother and sister. In an increasingly fractious world, family often feels like the only refuge from all the divisiveness and discord and yet, at the same time, we often discover that it is those closest to us who betray us and our values most. The first season of RAISING KANAN is an exploration of these betrayals, the secrets and lies that accompany them and the ways in which they fester, metastasize and ultimately erupt. The overarching theme of this first season is, "You reap what you sow." In other words, actions have consequences; betrayals are always uncovered; secrets are inevitably revealed; chickens come home to roost. Every character in RAISING KANAN is hiding something. From the world, from each other, from themselves. And as our story unfolds, they each will have to grapple with the unintended and destructive consequences of the information they've hidden and withheld. And while the ways in which these betrayals, secrets and lies reveal themselves will vary, one truth will remain constant: no one can be trusted and nothing is ever as it seems.

The 10-episode sophomore season of RAISING KANAN premieres on Sunday, August 14, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT on Starz. Raquel 'Raq' Thomas has gained control over the city's drug trade, but her son is slipping away. Kanan Stark returns to Queens uncertain of his future with the family business, and because of Detective Howard's lingering secret, he's even more uncertain of his past. Kanan searches for the truth while Raq boldly expands the business into hostile Mafia territory. Lou-Lou has other plans that revolve around his emerging record label, but Raq isn't about to let his side hustle get in the way of her expansion. Although Marvin remains Raq's loyal soldier, he struggles to earn Jukebox's forgiveness and become the father she deserves. The ties that bind this family are becoming undone, but Raq will stop at nothing to hold them together.

Season 3 of POWER BOOK III: RAISING KANAN premieres Friday, December 1, 2023 at 8pm ET/PT on Starz. With emotions high and the stakes even higher, we return to Southside Jamaica, Queens right where we left the Thomas family at the end of season two, with the family in turmoil and reeling from the Mob's coordinated attack on Raquel, Marvin and Lou-Lou. Over the last two seasons, Kanan Stark has slowly learned the truth about not only his mother, but also himself. It has been a tortuous journey for him and everyone around him. With each new revelation, Kanan has been forced to confront his family's seemingly never-ending web of secrets and lies. He has spent much of this time in a state of denial, but now, Kanan's blinders are finally off, and he doesn't like what he sees. In season three, Kanan finds himself grappling with the very notions of right and wrong. Good and evil. Fidelity and disloyalty. And he's not alone. Every member of the Thomas family must confront an existential crisis that challenges their very identity. Whether it's Marvin, who's still trying to redeem himself, or Raq, who's finally coming clean, or Lou, who's wrestling with his own evil, or Jukebox, who's simply trying to break free from her family's pathology, they are all attempting to redefine and reinvent themselves. They won't all be able to complete this intensely personal quest, but for those who do, the destination may reveal the most terrifying secret of all. There is no right and wrong or good and evil. There are no absolutes. In the end, there's just you.
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On Friday, February 9, 2024 at 8pm ET/PT, Starz premiered "Made You Look," the Season 3 finale of POWER BOOK III: RAISING KANAN. Desperation sets in as Howard tries to evade the Task Force and Ronnie goes on the attack, leaving Raq and Kanan to make some fateful choices.

POWER BOOK III: RAISING KANAN has been renewed for a fourth season.