After spending two months in Cedar Shores, Lou Lou Thomas has returned to Queens in Raising Kanan Season 4, Episode 3. During his absence, he underwent rehabilitation for both addiction and the pressures of his past life. Yet, even though Lou has tried to walk away from the game, the game refuses to let him go. His predicament is remarkably similar to Ghost’s in the original Power series. Both men sought a legitimate way out but were caught up in the same world they wanted to escape from.

Lou’s Journey Towards Redemption

Lou’s downward spiral was evident from the beginning. His internal conflict has been evident since D-Wiz was eliminated in Season one. Although he had no interest in being part of the street life, circumstances, specifically his sister Raq, kept pulling him back in.

He intended to build Bulletproof Records as his escape, passion, and way to find a purpose beyond crime. Raq made it clear that his dreams were for her, which stripped him of his autonomy and caused him to seek solace in alcohol. His actions led to his addiction.

D-Wiz, Scrappy, and even his own mother’s deaths harmed him. Raq and Marvin stepped in and paid for his stay at Cedar Shores when he finally reached his lowest point. It wasn’t an act of charity but a calculated move to ensure that Lou could be used again.

“”I just want to say, thank you, Marvin. Raq told me you’re helping out with that rehab bill. You’ve always been there for me, through thick and thin,” said Lou in episode 2 of season four.

“I just need you to know—it doesn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated. I heard what you said. And you weren’t lying, though brother. That therapy is on some other, other sh¡t.”

A Return to the Streets

Lou cannot resist the urge to repay the debt he owes his family as he returns to the world he tried to leave behind. He understands that Raq will come knocking eventually, and refusing is not an option. The similarities to Ghost are unquestionable. Both men sought to flee, both sought legitimacy through business, and both faced relentless forces that were determined to draw them back into the fray. Lou’s new involvement with music has given him a short taste of a fresh start, resulting in a deal with a big-name record label.

Power fans are aware that success in the business world often involves betrayal. Lou may have escaped the streets, but a new type of predator now confronts him. Men in suits employ the same ruthless tactics as those in the drug game, but they opt for contracts over bullets.

The Boardroom is Just Another Battlefield

The parallels between crime and corporate America are one of the most powerful themes in Raising Kanan. 50 Cent, who has contributed a lot of his personal experience to the Power universe, once said, ‘Men in suits are no superior to those criminals on the streets.’ At least in the streets, you know who your enemies are. This sentiment rings especially true for Lou, who may soon realize that the boardroom is just as cutthroat as the corners of Queens. Will Lou be a victim of the same cycle that didoms Ghost? Or can he finally break free from the game? The remaining Season 4 will explore the possibility of redemption or if Lou, just like Ghost, is destined to meet his end in pursuit of a dream that was never meant to be.