After six acclaimed seasons, Power came to an end in 2020 by resolving its season-long whodunit premise. But why did Tariq kill Ghost in the finale?
Summary
- Power's finale reveals that Tariq killed Ghost, showing the Shakespearean downfall of the St. Patrick family.
- Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson returns as Kanan in Power's finale, pushing Tariq to shoot his father.
- Tasha ends up in jail at the end of Power season 6, while Tariq goes to college, setting up the sequel series Power Book II: Ghost.
After six acclaimed seasons, Power came to an end in 2020 by resolving its season-long whodunit premise. Created by Courtney A. Kemp in collaboration with Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Power is a crime drama that centers on James St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick), the smart, smooth-talking drug dealer-turned-nightclub-owner who isn't afraid to be a little ruthless. Known by the alias "Ghost," James struggles to balance his business endeavors with the needs of his family. Ghost's wife, Tasha (Naturi Naughton), and their three kids — namely Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr.) — don't always have the best relationships with James, as the finale proves.
Power's cast of characters is rounded out by Tommy Egan (Joseph Sikora), Ghost's best friend, and Angela Valdes (Lela Loren), James' enduring love interest. All of these principal characters — and a few others, like 50 Cent's Kanan — come into play in the 15-episode final season of Power. At the beginning of the sixth outing, Tommy and Ghost are on the outs, while Tasha plans to move against her ex. It's clear that Ghost's story is meant to end in death, and Power teases various would-be murders who want James dead. In the end, however, the St. Patrick family's story ends in a very Shakespearean way.
Power Finally Reveals That Tariq Killed Ghost
In true anti-hero fashion, James dies at the end of Power's six-season run. "With Ghost, it was always dead or in jail," Kemp explains (via USA Today). "Toward the end of his life, he got arrogant enough to think that he could escape it." Unfortunately for Power's main player, that's not how life works. The identity of Ghost's shooter remains a mystery; for awhile, Tariq, Tasha, and Tommy all seem like fully capable, probable suspects. Both Tariq and Tasha realize that the only way to escape the sticky situations they're both in is to kill Ghost, but, ultimately, Power reveals that Tariq pulls the trigger on his father.
Buoyed by his recent wins, James thinks he's an unstoppable force. And then his son shows up out of the blue. Tariq calls his dad out for years of lies and, most especially, for not revealing his alias. James claims he'll be there for his son, as he's "always" been, but it's also clear Ghost is ready to turn both Tasha and Tariq in for their own criminal activities. "When the f--- are you gonna pay for all the bull---- you've done, huh, dad?" Tariq asks, revealing a gun. After some more verbal back and forth, Tariq decides he can't go back and fires at Ghost, just as Tasha appears.
Power Book II: Ghost returns to Starz in December 2023.
Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson Returns As Kanan In Power's Finale
Tariq hopes to distance himself from Ghost's legacy- easier said than done.
Before Tariq resolves to kill his own father, he receives a visit from a key Power character who technically died in season 5. Played by Power's 50 Cent, Kanan was once Ghost's mentor, though he quickly became his drug-dealing rival. In a very Richard III moment, Kanan returns to Tariq as a vision, hammering home Kemp's very Shakespearean take on the St. Patrick family's rise, downfall, and rebirth. Although Kanan's role is minor, his presence definitely pushes Tariq to shoot his father. In doing so, Tariq definitely hopes to distance himself from Ghost's legacy — but that's easier said than done.
