‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ Season 5 Episode 4 Turns Kanan Into the Villain of His Own Story

‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ delivered one of its most consequential hours yet with season 5 episode 4, an installment that pushed Kanan Stark firmly into the role of antagonist against his own mother. Titled “Pawns and Rooks,” the episode leaned hard into its chess metaphor, and by the closing minutes it was clear the show is setting up a final collision between Kanan and Raq that neither of them will be able to walk back from.

The hour did not put Raq and Kanan in the same room, but their operations collided in ways that will carry consequences for the rest of the season. Raq and Kanan have been estranged since Lou-Lou’s funeral, and the show had not pitted them against each other in business until this episode.

Kanan and Raq’s War Reaches a New Breaking Point

The central conflict of the episode revolves around Kanan working to undermine Raq’s fledgling partnership with Flossy. Stefano had been pressuring Pino and Flossy to cut ties with Raq, and when that failed, he sent Kanan after her instead. That decision produced immediate fallout for Raq’s operation.

Kanan’s method was brutal and calculated. He kidnapped one of Flossy’s escorts and forced her to swap the drugs meant for a client with a lethal batch, and the client who received the tainted product turned out to be a federal judge who died from the overdose. The damage to Raq’s new alliance was immediate and severe.

Raq was not idle on her end either. She and Marvin attempted to neutralize Stefano by arranging a hit through the Memphis crew, but one of the three contract killers switched sides, leaving Stefano alive and fully aware of what Raq had been planning. That failure leaves her exposed on two fronts at once, with her business compromised and her safety now in question.

Elsewhere, Raq continued expanding her business into Lower Manhattan while Jukebox kept paying off a corrupt officer she still owes money to, with the officer making clear there would be consequences if she missed another payment. Pino also tried to broker peace between Raq and Stefano, but Stefano showed no interest in settling their differences.

Taz Meets His End at Kanan’s Hands

Taz’s arc came to a violent conclusion in this episode, closing out a storyline that had been building toward confrontation for weeks. Kanan figured out that Taz had never actually been short on his count, realizing that Breeze had been testing him the entire time. That revelation set the stage for Taz’s downfall.

The show framed Taz’s fate as largely self inflicted. Taz’s real issue was with Breeze, who understood exactly what he was doing by pitting Taz against Kanan, and Taz walked into the trap without much resistance. His death felt inevitable from the moment he first challenged Kanan, though the graphic aftermath involving the disposal of his body was a notably harsher touch than the franchise typically shows.

Breeze’s role in orchestrating the fallout between Kanan and Taz reinforced his position as a manipulator working several angles at once. Taz reminded Kanan that he only speaks when told to, while Breeze sat quietly playing chess and studying everyone around him. That patience is becoming a defining trait of his character this season.

Jarita’s Introduction Ties Back to the Power Universe

One of the episode’s biggest reveals had nothing to do with violence and everything to do with franchise continuity. Kanan’s escort connection was revealed to be a young Jarita, a name familiar to longtime ‘Power’ fans as the eventual mother of Shawn. Viewers also learned more about her personal circumstances, including a special needs brother, a grandmother in rehab, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology that has not translated into the life she expected.

Kanan’s fixation on her adds another layer of tension given what he is simultaneously doing to Raq’s network. Despite piecing together that she has been working for Raq, Kanan remains drawn to her and even attempts to take her shopping, an offer she quickly rejects.

The character’s introduction carries weight beyond this season alone. According to Variety, Jarita will continue as a guest star for the remainder of ‘Raising Kanan’ before transitioning into a series regular role on the upcoming spinoff ‘Power: Origins,’ which is currently in production in New Jersey. That detail positions episode 4 as connective tissue for the wider franchise rather than a standalone character beat.

The Breeze and DefCon Bombshell Changes Everything

The episode saved its biggest twist for the final scene. Breeze told Kanan that the two of them are brothers by blood, both claiming to be sons of DefCon. Whether that claim is true or another layer of manipulation is left deliberately unresolved.

Breeze may genuinely believe the connection, or he may be using it to bind Kanan to him through a sense of family loyalty that would make betrayal feel unthinkable. Either way, the revelation reframes everything Breeze has said about Kanan’s potential up to this point.

Raq’s first meeting with Breeze in the episode only adds to the tension building around him. There was immediate chemistry on Breeze’s side, but he stayed focused on business, explaining that the hustle revolves around women and money while warning that women are dangerous to the game, a philosophy Raq countered by making clear that money is her only priority.

Looking ahead, episode 5 arrives July 10 at 8 p.m. ET on Starz, with the preview teasing Stefano sending Kanan after Raq once again. Episode 4 closed with Kanan killing Taz and Breeze revealing the DefCon connection, setting up a final stretch where Raq’s business and her life are both under threat.

With Kanan now working against his own mother and Breeze’s true motives still uncertain, how do you think Raq will respond when she learns exactly how far her son has gone to protect his new alliance.