The great thing about premium cable networks is that they actually understand television shows need time to build an audience. So, when Starz’s 50 Cent-produced crime drama Power debuted down from the network’s pirate series Black Sails but roughly on par with limited series The White Queen, it certainly wasn’t a kiss of death for the show. In fact, Starz today displayed its confidence in the Omari Hardwick-led series by picking it up for an expanded second season.
Though Power has only aired one episode of its eight-hour first season so far, Starz clearly believes in the vision of showrunner Courtney Kemp Agboh and the appeal of the show’s cast. Its new season order for Power means that the next season of the crime drama will run for ten episodes, up from the first season’s eight. The cast and crew of the series is expected to get to work filming season 2 in September.
Power centers on a successful club owner named James “Ghost” St. Patrick (Hardwick). He lives a life of luxury, with a beautiful wife and a thriving business. However, Ghost has a secret. He also runs a drug empire, using the club as a cover. When Ghost decides he wants out of the criminal lifestyle, he soon finds that old habits die hard – and that his colleagues in the drug business may not be willing to let him out alive.
When I reviewed the premiere of Power, I found it to be a flawed yet highly promising drama, so it’s exciting to see that the writing staff won’t have to worry about wrapping up plot threads too quickly, now that they have 18 episodes to work with instead of just eight.
Da Vinci’s Demons and Black Sails similarly earned early pick-ups, as did Starz programs in previous years like Spartacus, Magic City and Boss, so Starz’s show of confidence in Power wasn’t entirely unexpected.