Raising Kanan: There Is Nothing Happy About This Show
From the moment Kanan appeared onscreen in the original Power show, viewers wanted to know more. Who was Kanan Stark and what was his relationship with Ghost, Tommy, and Tasha? The intrigue left fans wanting more and when he killed his son Shawn, and cousin Jukebox, the mystery just grew. When it was announced we would get a spinoff titled Raising Kanan, we knew the answers would be delivered. But we got much more than what we expected.
In the original, there was not much said regarding Kanan and his family. We would learn later on about how and why he was sent to prison. But it was in Raising Kanan that everything began to take form. Kanan didn’t start out the “billy badass” he was in the original. He hustled because he wanted to prove a point, not because he had to. His mother made sure he had everything he wanted so the notion of Kanan growing up poor and on the streets for survival was non-existent.
But still, why was he the way he was when viewers were first introduced to him? What made him tick? As Raising Kanan heads into its 3rd season, we’re starting to see the monster come to life. But his story is so much more than the cold-hearted killer he was in Power.
With Raising Kanan, it’s hard not to feel sorry for the title character. His life is a complete mess. He was lied to regarding who his father was and to make matters worse, his mother had him shot his biological father. His best friend, Famous will either end up dead or in prison for committing murder, and truth be told, Kanan has no one in his corner.
The one male figure he did have, Justice, moved to get away from his mother and her treacherous ways. The bond he shares with Juke is close-knit but we all know how that ends. As far as others go, what happens to his mother and uncles?
The speculation is that all three of them die which leaves Kanan to fend for himself. So a kid who had the love of his mother, uncles, and cousin will more than likely have none of that support. He does meet Tommy and Ghost but once again, we all know how that turns out.
Raising Kanan is a great show but knowing how the ending plays out leaves us a bit on the weepy side. Although we shouldn’t feel sorry for Kanan because this is the life he choose, we also know that this was the life he was born into as well. It’s a great coming-of-age story but one that ends in heartache for all parties.
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
