Carrying the Weight of a Legacy: Power Book II and the Rise of Tariq St. Patrick
By Trinity Barnette
When Power ended with a bang — literally — the torch wasn’t just passed to a new series. It was passed to a new Ghost.
Power Book II: Ghost opens in the shadow of James St. Patrick’s death, but the story that follows is anything but a eulogy. It’s a rebirth, a reckoning, and a full-circle moment for a son who once vowed he’d never become his father… only to end up haunted, hunted, and shaped by the man he killed.
Set at Stansfield University, the series follows Tariq St. Patrick as he tries to balance a prestigious college life with the drug empire he never wanted — but can’t escape. With Tasha behind bars, a new kingpin family in the mix (the Tejadas), and the ghost of Ghost himself influencing every decision he makes, Tariq’s story isn’t about reinvention. It’s about survival. Strategy. Power. And legacy.
Season 1: The Weight of a Name
Power Book II: Ghost picks up in the immediate aftermath of the original series, but this isn’t just a continuation — it’s a reinvention. Season 1 centers around Tariq St. Patrick, the son who pulled the trigger, trying to survive the aftermath of a legacy built on blood, betrayal, and illusion.
Tariq’s Balancing Act
This is the season where Tariq is forced to become a man — fast. He’s grieving his father, hiding the murder, and trying to get his mother out of jail for a crime he committed. He’s also enrolled at Stansfield University, a high-pressure Ivy-adjacent college where he’s doing double the work: his own and that of a basketball star he’s tutoring just to stay enrolled.
Tariq is hustling on every level — academically, legally, emotionally. And most of all, in the streets.
Back in the Game
To pay for top defense lawyer Davis MacLean, Tariq is forced into the one world he swore he wouldn’t follow — his father’s. With no support and no trust fund, he starts selling drugs on campus, which quickly leads him to the Tejada family, a cold-blooded cartel dynasty led by the iconic Monet Tejada (played by Mary J. Blige).
This is where Tariq starts to replicate Ghost’s blueprint — building a secret empire while maintaining a double life. Sound familiar?
The Tejada Web
The Tejada family is nothing like Ghost’s old crew. They’re tighter, meaner, and messier. Monet runs her family like a general — ruthless, unrelenting, and constantly testing Tariq’s loyalty. Her kids (Diana, Cane, and Dru) are each tangled in family trauma and power plays of their own, but Tariq still manages to weasel his way into their inner circle. He’s not just selling anymore — he’s embedded.
Love, Lies, and Loyalty
While trying to survive the streets, Tariq’s also trying to maintain a college-student facade. He’s torn between two love interests — Lauren Baldwin, who represents the life he could have if he ever got clean, and Diana Tejada, who represents the world he’s trying to master. But just like Ghost, Tariq can’t commit to one path, and his divided heart reflects his divided identity.
The Jabari Problem
One of the more overlooked but important subplots is Professor Jabari Reynolds, who becomes obsessed with Tariq and his secret life. Jabari’s fixation gets dangerous, and eventually fatal. By the end of the season, Tariq adds another body to his count — and this time, it’s a scholar, not a street rival.
Legacy, Rewritten
Tariq’s whole arc this season is about control. He wants to protect his mother. He wants to build a name. But more than anything, he wants to rewrite his father’s story — to prove he can be better. Smarter. Cleaner. But that ambition is a trap.
He doesn’t just follow in Ghost’s footsteps. He starts to become him.
Finale Fallout
The season ends with Tommy Egan re-entering the frame, pissed off and dangerous. Tasha tries to take the fall for Ghost’s death, but Tommy sees through it. His return raises the stakes for everyone and reminds us that Tariq may have inherited Ghost’s ambition — but he also inherited his enemies.
Season 1 Character Ranking:
Power Book II: Ghost
1. Tariq St. Patrick
This is his show now. Season 1 showed Tariq trying to become his own man while still moving through the mess his parents left behind. He’s running drugs, writing papers for two people, keeping his mother out of prison, and dodging enemies on every side. A criminal mastermind in the making—but with more emotional awareness than Ghost ever had. King of duality.
2. Brayden Weston
Brayden had no reason to be this loyal. Rich, privileged, and still ready to risk it all for Tariq. You can’t buy that kind of loyalty. He’s funny, fearless, and lowkey smarter than people think. Ride-or-die status: certified.
3. Monet Stewart Tejada
A real mother and a real menace. Monet is stone cold but always ten steps ahead. You feel her presence in every scene. Her decisions are ruthless, but she runs her family and her corner like a boss. She’s not Ghost, she’s something scarier—a matriarch with no softness left.
4. Davis MacLean
He’s not in it for justice—he’s in it to win. Davis is slick, performative, and plays both sides. And yet… we need him. His courtroom scenes? Chef’s kiss. His ambition is dangerous, but in a world like this, dangerous is necessary.
5. Diana Tejada
She’s the brains and the baby of the family. You can tell Diana wants more for herself, but she’s so deep in her mother’s control that she can’t even breathe without permission. Still, she plays the game smarter than people realize. Don’t underestimate her.
6. Cane Tejada
Wild, angry, and operating at 100% testosterone at all times. Cane is a certified hothead, but when it comes to protecting the family (or punishing disloyalty), he gets it done. A true Power character: morally bankrupt but captivating.
7. Dru Tejada
Quiet and creative, Dru is the sibling with the most depth and the least chaos—at least on the surface. You can see him struggling with the life he’s trapped in, and that inner conflict adds texture to the Tejada crew.
8. Lauren Baldwin
Lauren represents everything Tariq could have had if he weren’t in the game. She’s smart, ambitious, and truly likes him—but she doesn’t fully get the world he lives in. Still, she grounded him in a way no one else could.
9. Effie
Effie doesn’t care about your feelings—she came to win. She’s blunt, strategic, and knows how to survive. Her chemistry with Tariq is undeniable, even when she’s screwing him over. That’s a Power girl through and through.
Honorable Mention: Tasha St. Patrick
Tasha was in jail, but her impact was felt. Her connection with Tariq, her desperation, her willingness to take the fall for Ghost—it all shaped the emotional tone of Season 1. Even behind bars, she was a main character.
The Hate Section: Cooper Saxe
Who let this man stay employed this long?
Cooper Saxe is like a cockroach in a courtroom—just refuses to go away. Season after season, he fumbles the bag, breaks the law, and still somehow lands in powerful positions. He went from trying to take down Ghost to obsessively chasing Tariq, and not once did he ask himself if he was just bad at his job. Ambitious for the wrong reasons, sloppy, and always lurking around with a smug face and no morals.
He’s the kind of man who will risk the Constitution just to feel powerful—and still act like he’s the victim. Cooper Saxe is a walking ethics violation. We do not claim him.
Season 2: Sacrifice, Secrets, and Survival
Season 2 of Power Book II: Ghost dives deeper into the chaos left in the wake of Season 1, following Tariq St. Patrick as he continues to juggle his double life—college student by day, drug kingpin by necessity. Haunted by the murder of his professor Jabari Reynolds, Tariq is now entangled in a dangerous web of deception, power plays, and survival instincts.
With Tasha in witness protection and his family fractured, Tariq is forced to rely on high-powered allies like defense attorney Davis MacLean, his crooked partner Cooper Saxe, and political manipulator Rashad Tate. But aligning himself with these men comes at a steep cost. As the heat intensifies around the Jabari investigation, Tariq must protect his little sister, navigate Stansfield’s suspicions, and keep his business alive—especially now that he’s locked in with the Tejadas.
Monet Tejada, now questioning if Tariq is an asset or a liability, finds her authority slipping. Her relationship with her children is strained: Dru is hesitant, Diana is disillusioned, and Cane—who previously betrayed her—is somehow back in the mix. Meanwhile, Monet takes up with Mecca, a mysterious figure with his own vision for her future, pulling her deeper into a dangerous path she may not be ready for. All of this explodes into tragedy when Lorenzo, recently released from prison, accidentally kills Zeke—Monet’s nephew and the family’s basketball ticket out.
Tariq’s personal life is just as messy. He’s still reeling from Lauren’s death, dealing with Effie’s betrayal, and manipulating everything and everyone to survive. By the finale, he’s lost allies, dodged murder charges, and learned that the legacy he’s trying to outrun may be the very thing defining him.
Season 2 Character Power Ranking (From Best to… Bless Their Heart)
1. Tariq St. Patrick
He’s exhausted, grieving, manipulating, and still running the campus drug scene like a seasoned vet. Despite being 19 and barely sleeping, this man is holding court with lawyers, murderers, and grieving mothers—while passing Econ. His calculated moves and willingness to get his hands dirty cement his #1 spot again. A boy genius in a world that wants him dead.
2. Brayden Weston
Our loyal white king is back and better than ever. He takes the stand, lies to save Tariq, and keeps his poker face clean under pressure. He navigates betrayal, family pressure, and criminal risk like a pro. Brayden might’ve been born with a trust fund, but Season 2 proved he’s not just built for the game—he wants it.
3. Monet Tejada
Monet’s icy control starts to slip as secrets boil over. Her affair with Mecca, mistrust of her own children, and attempt to juggle a collapsing family empire make her a complicated queenpin. But she still commands power, and her grief after Zeke’s death gave us depth. She was doing too much and not enough at the same time. Legendary.
4. Davis MacLean
Slick, sharp, and just as shady as the people he defends. He makes legal corruption look elegant. With Cooper Saxe by his side (unfortunately), Davis keeps Tariq out of jail, finesses witnesses, and cashes checks. He’s a survivor—and he makes it look easy.
5. Effie Morales
Listen… she’s sneaky, unbothered, and low-key terrifying. Effie made her move on Lauren and got her gone—even if we didn’t know it right away. Her ability to move like a ghost in Tariq’s life while being in love with him is wild. She’s not loyal, but she’s efficient. And in this world, that’s enough.
6. Diana Tejada
She flipped the table literally and figuratively this season. Her dinner table exposé on Monet’s secrets was iconic TV. She’s messy, ambitious, and no longer playing second to her brothers. Diana found her voice in Season 2, and everyone caught a stray because of it.
7. Dru Tejada
Still reserved, but starting to step up. Dru got more hands-on this season and proved he’s not just the quiet artist brother anymore. His arc isn’t flashy, but he’s emotionally grounded and knows what time it is. Respectfully underrated.
8. Cane Tejada
An agent of chaos. He’s annoying, dangerous, and somehow still not the dumbest in the room. Cane will always choose violence first and logic never, but he kept the plot spicy. We don’t trust him, but we’d miss him if he was gone.
9. Lorenzo Tejada
Fresh out of prison and already ruining lives. Lorenzo’s big power play? Accidentally killing Zeke. Sir. His return destabilized the family and gave Monet her breaking point. Lorenzo has presence, but not wisdom.
10. Lauren Baldwin
Sweet girl. Didn’t stand a chance. She got caught in the web and paid the price. Her relationship with Tariq was pure, but this show chews up innocence. She deserved better—and we deserved to see her fight harder.
11. Mecca (aka Dante)
The mystery man. Smooth, dangerous, controlling. He added luxury and paranoia to Season 2, but not much emotional depth. Mecca felt like a plot device more than a character. Still, his presence pushed Monet into some of her best moments.
12. Zeke Cross - Sweet, slow Zeke. He gave us memes, confusion, and tragedy. Zeke was never built for this life, and it showed every time he opened his mouth. RIP to the man who just wanted to hoop.
Season 3: Betrayal, Bloodlines, and the Business of Legacy
By Season 3, Power Book II: Ghost is no longer just about Tariq’s survival — it’s about his ambition. His desire to break free from the game, to shed his father’s shadow, and to finally live on his own terms clashes violently with the reality he’s built. A new connect drags him, Brayden, and Effie right back into the drug trade, this time expanding beyond the campus walls of Stansfield and onto Wall Street. The dream of going legit is once again just that: a dream.
The deeper Tariq tries to bury Ghost’s legacy, the harder it claws its way back. Working as an intern at Brayden’s family hedge fund, he finds a way to move weight through elite financial systems — a clever but dangerous upgrade from the campus distribution of earlier seasons. And yet, despite the polished front, everything’s unraveling. Trust fractures. Loyalties fade. And just like his father before him, Tariq learns the most brutal truth of all: your biggest threat usually comes from the people closest to you.
Meanwhile, Monet Tejada is unraveling. Still grieving Zeke and more paranoid than ever, she’s willing to risk it all to protect her operation — and avenge her firstborn. With Diana and Dru increasingly challenging her control, and Cane maneuvering behind her back, the Tejada household becomes a powder keg. Monet finds herself leaning more and more on Tariq, even as her family teeters on collapse.
Then there’s Davis MacLean, still fighting to keep the feds at bay while dealing with personal loss and professional pressure. A R.I.C.O. case looms, threatening to take down everyone involved. And when a shocking betrayal hits Tariq from within his own circle, the illusion of control is shattered. It’s no longer about escaping the game — it’s about surviving it.
This season hits a turning point. It’s not just about choices anymore. It’s about consequences. The cost of power. The weight of legacy. The inevitable pull of who you are — no matter how far you run from it.
Season 3 Character Ranking:
1. Tariq St. Patrick
He’s the nucleus of the chaos and the only one who seems to understand the rules of the game he was forced into. His growth, rage, ambition, and unraveling all peak this season.
2. Monet Tejada
Love her or hate her, Monet was in her villain arc. Grieving Zeke, clashing with her children, clinging to power… she was cold, calculating, and deeply layered.
3. Brayden Weston
Once again proving he’s more than just a rich kid with access. His loyalty to Tariq is tested, and his place in the game becomes more dangerous than ever.
4. Effie Morales
Still smart, still cold, still playing everyone. Effie’s betrayal hits hard, and her inability to fully open up is her greatest weakness and weapon.
5. Davis MacLean
His strategy is unmatched. Every scene he’s in feels like a chess move. He’s trying to hold the line while watching the board collapse.
6. Cane Tejada
Strategic, violent, and finally stepping into the role he’s always wanted. His manipulation game levels up, and you almost start to respect it.
7. Diana Tejada
Sneaky. Unstable. And tired of being overlooked. Diana steps into her own power by being untrustworthy to everyone around her — including herself.
8. Dru Tejada
Continues to struggle with loyalty, sexuality, and identity, and this season he’s caught between love and blood.
9. Saxe (Not Ranked)
He’s still dead to us.
Season 4: The Final Descent
Season 4 of Power Book II: Ghost is the beginning of the end—an explosive, chaotic unraveling of everything that’s been building since Ghost’s death. With old secrets resurfacing, loyalties tested, and enemies multiplying, this season is all about legacy: who carries it, who destroys it, and who runs from it.
Tariq St. Patrick is now fully entrenched in the world he once tried to escape. Haunted by the weight of his father’s legacy and the aftermath of past decisions, he’s forced to choose between leaving the game or becoming the new kingpin. Meanwhile, Brayden starts to spiral, embracing a reckless side that threatens both their lives and partnership. Monet Tejada is left for dead, the Tejada family is crumbling, and Davis MacLean is facing disbarment—every major player is cornered, and the cost of survival is rising fast.
Noma’s presence brings a new level of violence and unpredictability, and her daughter Anya’s involvement only adds fuel to the fire. Diana and Dru are growing disillusioned with their roles in the family, while Cane climbs higher up the food chain, working with Noma in a power play of his own. Effie, as always, is navigating her own survival, this time with a focus on her academic future at Stanford. But in this world, even “normal” dreams come with blood on them.
With Detective Carter and his task force tightening the noose, the characters are faced with impossible choices. The season parallels Ghost’s own rise and fall—“Like father, like son”—and leaves Tariq questioning whether he’s doomed to repeat history, or rewrite it entirely.
Season 4 Character Ranking:
1. Tariq St. Patrick
It’s his show. The pressure, the legacy, the game—he’s carrying it all. Cold, calculated, and finally stepping fully into his power.
2. Brayden Weston
He went from loyal sidekick to loose cannon real quick. Unhinged, reckless, and spiraling… but never irrelevant. His downfall hurts because we saw it coming.
3. Monet Tejada
Left for dead in Episode 8, sacrifices herself in Episode 9. Her villain era ends in tragedy, but her presence shaped the entire Tejada collapse.
4. Davis MacLean
Legal genius on the edge. Even facing disbarment, he’s still operating like a chess master. Every move is calculated, even when the board’s on fire.
5. Cane Tejada
Ruthless and finally unleashed. With Monet gone, he steps into his own power, no longer a pawn—he’s a player now.
6. Effie Morales
Always in survivor mode. Still scheming, still unreadable. Her independence makes her dangerous, but her emotional walls limit her.
7. Noma
Wildcard turned villain boss. Her control slips fast, but her unpredictability and violence leave a mark. She ruled through fear—until fear caught up with her.
8. Diana Tejada
Torn between loyalty and self-preservation. Finally pushing back against Monet and the dysfunction she was raised in.
9. Dru Tejada
Grieving, lost, and brutal. He’s been through it, but his emotional spirals don’t take away from how pivotal he is in the Tejada family collapse.
10. Detective Carter
Still bringing pressure, still a threat. He represents the system closing in, even if he’s not always center stage.
Power Book II: Ghost – Season 4 Breakdown
Season 4 of Power Book II: Ghost is the final act in Tariq St. Patrick’s journey from a hesitant son to a ruthless kingpin. While earlier seasons focused on his internal tug-of-war between legacy and legitimacy, Season 4 throws him headfirst into the fire. His enemies multiply, his allies grow unreliable, and his decisions grow colder. What makes this season stand out is the full-circle nature of Tariq’s transformation—he’s no longer just running from Ghost’s shadow; he’s actively stepping into it.
Tariq’s Identity Crisis Comes to a Boil
Tariq starts the season grappling with a crossroads: get out of the game and try to salvage a clean future—or take over entirely. But by the end of this chapter, that choice is already made for him. The moment Monet comes for his head, the last of his illusions about peace, family, or any semblance of safety are shattered. And instead of running? He fires back.
The season explores his growing clarity and coldness. He’s no longer just a smart kid who reads people—he manipulates, strategizes, and even isolates himself like Ghost once did. In fact, his distance from Brayden and Effie mirrors Ghost’s old “lone wolf” stance with Tommy and Tasha. By the time we hit the finale, Tariq is completely in his bag—shutting Brayden out, cutting ties, and rewriting the chain of command.
Tejada Family Implosion
The Tejadas go through absolute hell this season—and it’s not survivable for all of them. Monet spends the season trying to assert control, but between her secrets, her attempts to kill Tariq, and the cracks in her relationship with her kids, she ends up alienating everyone around her. Diana and Dru question her loyalty. Cane starts looking elsewhere for power. The result? A complete fracture.
Monet ultimately dies in Episode 9, the penultimate episode, sacrificing herself to protect Cane from Russian hitmen. Her death is a rare moment of redemption—but it comes too late. By the time she tries to save someone, she’s already burned every bridge behind her.
Brayden Spirals
Brayden is a liability this season. He’s high, erratic, and finally caught in the kind of chaos he’s been dancing around for seasons. He can’t keep his business straight, his drug use escalates, and his loyalty to Tariq falters. By the time Tariq strips him of partnership, it’s both business and personal. It’s heartbreaking, but necessary. Tariq outgrows Brayden, just like Ghost outgrew Tommy—and that’s part of what makes this season so heavy. The betrayals feel inevitable.
Effie’s Struggle for Independence
Effie has always been a survivor first, but this season puts her in survival mode emotionally too. With everyone pulling away and the consequences of her Season 3 betrayal still looming, she tries to carve out a future that doesn’t involve anyone else. It’s not that she stops caring—but she learns caring doesn’t guarantee safety. She tries to secure her own bag, her own future, and her own footing without needing validation from either Tariq or Brayden.
The Rise and Fall of Noma
Noma enters as the big bad drug lord from overseas, and for a minute, it seems like she might run the entire season. But she loses her grip. As Monet collapses, Noma also sees her empire slipping. Her death in the finale (Episode 10) clears the board. With her out of the picture, Tariq becomes the last man standing.
Davis Maclean’s Downfall
Davis’s past finally catches up to him. The loss of his brother left him reeling in Season 3, but Season 4 forces him to reckon with the legal and ethical lines he’s crossed. He faces disbarment and scandal, and though he tries to stay useful, his influence in the game is quickly fading.
Legacy, Strategy, and Full-Circle Parallels
Season 4 leans heavy into legacy. The theme is everywhere—Tariq vs. Ghost, Diana vs. Monet, Effie vs. her past, Brayden vs. his privilege. What’s chilling is how many of these characters are becoming their parents, whether they mean to or not. Tariq especially starts mirroring Ghost: isolating, plotting, going off-grid, and planning moves three steps ahead.
We also see the true meaning of power: it’s not just about territory—it’s about perception. Tariq ends the season not just alive, but feared, invisible, and untouchable.
Finale Breakdown: “Yeah, a Ghost.”
The Power Book II: Ghost finale delivers the closure this universe needed—and solidifies Tariq’s transition from a grieving son to a legend in his own right.
Setting the New Chain of Command
Tariq officially removes Brayden from his operation, citing his erratic behavior and drug use. It’s cold, but it’s necessary. Tariq knows weakness gets you killed, and loyalty doesn’t mean much in war. Effie is sidelined too. He’s not running with partners anymore—he’s building an empire solo.
Noma Is Taken Out
With Monet already dead (Episode 9), Noma is the last threat standing. By the end of the finale, she’s eliminated, and her brother Chinedu takes over—but not without making a new deal with Tariq. That deal? Pure strategy.
Chinedu supplies the product, while Tariq works with Carter’s former dirty task force to fly under the radar. It’s a brilliant move: law enforcement is distracted, Chinedu gets his cut, and Tariq becomes untraceable. No more street-level dealing, no more exposure.
The Ghost Reveal
In the final moments, Tariq outlines the brilliance of his plan:
“No one will know where this product is coming from. They won’t know where the money is going. They won’t even know that we know each other.”
Then, when Chinedu suggests, “A ghost?” — Tariq doesn’t flinch.
“Yeah, a ghost,” he says, sealing the deal.
It’s poetic. Not only has he embraced his father’s legacy, he’s become it. He’s now the invisible force moving everything from behind the curtain. Not a player in the game, but the one who rewrote the rules.
Endgame Secured
With Noma and Monet both dead, and Brayden out of the loop, Tariq stands unchallenged. No family. No love. No weak links. Just power. The finale ends on that declaration—not of vengeance or rage—but of ghost-like strategy and silence.
This isn’t just a continuation of Ghost’s legacy—it’s a mutation. And this time, it belongs fully to Tariq.
