Power Book III: Raising Kanan returns to Lionsgate Play with yet another exciting season featuring more betrayal, ambition, and electrifying drama than ever before!
Are you ready to re-enter the gritty streets of Southside Jamaica, Queens, where loyalty, power, and betrayal rule the day? Power Book III: Raising Kanan has returned for another electrifying season, and things are about to get even more intense. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the Power franchise or a newcomer curious about the buzz, here’s everything you need to know before catching up on Season 4, which is coming soon to Lionsgate Play.
What Is Power Book III?
Power Book III is a gripping prequel to the Power universe, created by Sascha Penn. Set in the 1990s, it explores the origins of Kanan Stark (played by Mekai Curtis) and his rise in the dangerous drug trade. Guided—and sometimes manipulated—by his fierce and calculating mother, Raquel “Raq” Thomas (Patina Miller), Kanan learns that the pursuit of power often comes at a brutal cost.
The series is more than just a crime drama; it’s an exploration of family dynamics, ambition, and the lengths people go to in order to survive. If you loved the original Power, this prequel delivers all the same nail-biting tension with a nostalgic twist.
Do You Need to Watch Power First?
One of the most frequent questions about Raising Kanan is whether you need to watch the original Power to understand it. The answer? Not necessarily. Power Book III stands firmly on its own, offering a self-contained story that dives deeply into Kanan’s early life. However, if you’re familiar with the original series, viewing Kanan’s backstory in Raising Kanan will add layers of depth to key moments in his adult life.
For newcomers, Power Book III is an excellent starting point into the universe.
Season 3 Recap – What You Need to Know
[SPOILER WARNING: If you haven’t watched Seasons 1-3 of Power Book III, put that on your to-do list and skip the next section.]
Before jumping into Season 4, here’s a quick rundown of Season 3’s key events:
A Fractured Family: Raq’s attempts to leave the drug business fail miserably as her estranged relationships with her brothers Marvin and Lou-Lou, as well as her son Kanan, spiral further out of control. By the season finale, Raq has fully reclaimed her role as the leader of her drug empire, but her family ties are hanging by a thread.
Kanan’s Betrayal: Kanan’s resentment toward Raq reaches its boiling point. He stages his own kidnapping to extort money from her, taking a step further into darkness as he grows his own heroin operation—and eventually turns into his mother’s competitor.
Unique’s Tragic End: Unique’s rivalry with his brother Ronnie turns deadly, culminating in his brutal death. But a jaw-dropping twist reveals that Unique isn’t finished yet—stay tuned.
Raq’s Survival Instincts: By the end of last season, Raq has fought her way back to power, proving once again that she will stop at nothing to maintain control. Her ruthless decisions, including shocking betrayals, have left her isolated from her family, yet stronger than ever.
Season 3 set the stage for explosive consequences in Season 4—and trust us, you don’t want to miss what comes next.
Mark your calendars for April 11, when the first four episodes of Season 4 of Power Book III drop on Lionsgate Play.
