The title isn’t just decorative. Professor Milgram lectures on The Prince , specifically the idea that “it is better to be feared than loved.” The episode then cuts between Tariq applying that lesson (executing the dealer) and Monet living it (intimidating Vic with her lawyer’s retainer). The show finally leans into its Ivy League crime-drama hybrid concept effectively.
The Godfather Part II (the Michael Corleone darkening arc), Snowfall (family-run drug empires), or Ozark (ordinary people becoming killers).
Unlike earlier episodes where Tariq’s killings were reactive (Ray Ray) or accidental (Ghost), this episode has him pull the trigger on an unarmed, begging young man simply because Monet ordered it. The cinematography in this scene is stark: tight close-ups on Tariq’s trembling hand, the victim’s tearful eyes, and then the gunshot cut to black. It’s the first time the show makes you question if Tariq is beyond redemption. power book ii: ghost s01e04 libvpx
The episode climaxes with Tariq forced to execute a young dealer from Vic’s crew to prove his loyalty—a pivotal moment where Tariq stops imitating Ghost and starts becoming him. 1. Mary J. Blige’s Dominance as Monet This is the episode where Monet transforms from “scary mom” to a full-fledged kingpin. The scene where she calmly dissects a rival’s weakness while ironing clothes is masterful. Her line, “You don’t become a queen by asking permission” , encapsulates the episode’s theme. Blige’s physicality—cold, still, but coiled—is terrifyingly effective.
Would you like a comparison to other episodes in Season 1, or a breakdown of the real Machiavelli themes used in the show? The title isn’t just decorative
He attends class, deals drugs, executes a man, launders money, and still has time to study for a midterm—all in 48 screen hours. The show’s refusal to acknowledge time passing (is this week one of school? Month one?) breaks immersion.
The B-plot follows Saxe and Tate as they continue building a RICO case against Monet, using Tariq’s father (James “Ghost” St. Patrick) as the historical link. Zeke’s basketball future becomes a bargaining chip between Monet and her estranged husband, Lorenzo (still in prison), revealing that the Tejada family’s power is more fragile than it appears. The Godfather Part II (the Michael Corleone darkening
Cane’s jealousy of Tariq is one-note. In this episode, he literally snarls and punches a wall. For a show aiming for nuanced antagonists, Cane’s “dumb muscle who hates the new guy” trope feels beneath the writers. He needs a motivation beyond “I don’t like him.”