The Rise, Reign, and Ruin of Ghost St. Patrick
By Trinity Barnette
Season 1: The Rise of Ghost
When I first wrote about Power, it was a summary and character ranking. A short post, straight to the point — Ghost, Tommy, Kanan, and Tariq. But as I kept watching (and rewatching), I realized this show deserves better than a ranking. It deserves a breakdown. A deep dive. A full dissection of every betrayal, every arc, every shift in power.
If you’ve been here a while, you already know I live for these kinds of breakdowns. I’ve done it with Succession and How to Get Away with Murder — two of the most psychologically layered shows of the last decade. But “Power”? It hits different. It’s raw. Unfiltered. And every season leaves a scar.
Season 1 doesn’t come in loud. It doesn’t need to. It creeps in quietly — a wealthy nightclub owner, a forbidden love affair, and a drug empire running in the background. But beneath the surface, the foundation is already cracking.
We meet James “Ghost” St. Patrick, a man with two identities and one impossible dream: to leave the drug game behind and build something legitimate. But Ghost isn’t just trying to escape his past — he’s still feeding it. Still supplying it. Still lying to every single person who loves him. Including himself.
Season 1 introduces the key players and plants the seeds of betrayal that will define the entire series. The show isn’t about “good guys” or “bad guys” — it’s about power, and what people are willing to risk (or destroy) to hold onto it.
From Ghost’s double life…
To Angela’s moral spiral…
To Tommy’s loyalty, Tasha’s control, and Kanan’s looming revenge…
It all starts here. The rise of Ghost — and the beginning of his downfall.
Key Plot Points – Lies, Loyalty, and the Illusion of Control
Season 1 sets up the board — and every single piece is already in motion.
At first glance, it seems simple: Ghost wants out. He’s trying to go legit with his nightclub, Truth, and leave behind the world that made him. But the second Angela walks back into his life, nothing stays simple. She’s not just a federal prosecutor — she’s the girl from his past. The one who sees him as James, not Ghost. And that illusion? It costs him everything.
Meanwhile, Tommy — his ride-or-die since day one — is holding the drug business down, running shipments, making moves, and slowly watching his best friend lose sight of who they are. Tommy is reckless, but he’s real. He sees Ghost slipping, and he’s not with the fairytale. He wants loyalty. Control. And respect.
Tasha, Ghost’s wife, isn’t some passive housewife, either. She knows the game. She helped build the game. And she’s not about to watch Ghost throw it all away chasing a fantasy with his high school sweetheart. Tasha is smart, calculating, and maybe the only one who truly sees what’s at stake.
Then there’s Kanan — the ghost of their past, quite literally. Still behind bars in Season 1, but his name haunts everything. You don’t see him much… but you feel him. And that’s the point. His return is coming, and the streets are already whispering.
Angela, meanwhile, is investigating the very organization Ghost runs — and she doesn’t know it yet. She’s sleeping with the man she’s trying to take down, blindly believing the version of him she remembers, not the one standing in front of her. Her entire arc is built on this contradiction: love vs. duty, truth vs. desire.
Other pieces fall into place too:
Ghost’s club is being used to launder money.
Pink Sneakers is cleaning up loose ends.
Lobos is introduced as the connect.
Holly gets pulled into the chaos.
And every episode pushes Ghost further into the lie he swore he was leaving.
Season 1 isn’t just about setting the scene. It’s about exposing how fragile it already is.
Character Arcs – Who They Were vs. Who They Pretended to Be
James “Ghost” St. Patrick: The Man With Two Faces
Ghost spends Season 1 torn between two lives — not just as a nightclub owner vs. drug kingpin, but as James vs. Ghost. He wants out, or at least he says he does. But does he really? Because the second Angela walks back into his world, he doesn’t hesitate. He jumps right into her arms like the past twenty years never happened. He says he wants a clean life, a real future — but every move he makes says otherwise. His club is laundering money. His crew is still in rotation. And Ghost? He’s lying to everyone — including himself.
This season shows us how badly he wants to believe he can be someone else. And that delusion? It’s not noble. It’s dangerous.
Tommy Egan: Loyalty in Its Rawest Form
Tommy is Ghost’s enforcer, his partner, and arguably his only true friend. But he’s not just muscle — he’s emotional, reactive, and way more loyal than anyone in this show deserves. He doesn’t want out. He wants in deeper. To him, Ghost’s new dreams are a betrayal. And when Angela shows up? It’s personal. Tommy sees her as a threat, not just to the business, but to their bond. His loyalty is his strength, but it’s also his weakness. He’ll go to war for Ghost, even when Ghost is lying to his face. That loyalty will cost him more than he knows.
Angela Valdes: Blinded by Love
Angela is smart — a federal prosecutor with a good head on her shoulders… until James. She falls fast, and hard, for a man she thinks she knows. Her entire character arc in Season 1 is built on denial. She’s literally investigating the drug operation that James runs, and somehow still believes he’s clean. Her love for “Jamie” blinds her to everything — his lies, the red flags, the truth right in front of her. And by the time the pieces start clicking, it’s already too late. She’s compromised — morally, emotionally, and professionally.
Tasha St. Patrick: The Power Behind the Throne
Tasha isn’t just a wife — she’s a strategist. A partner. She helped Ghost build this empire, and she doesn’t understand why he wants to burn it all down. Especially for Angela. Tasha is fiercely protective of her family, her image, and her position. But her arc is layered with betrayal — she’s betrayed by Ghost, by the lie of the life she thought they’d live, and slowly begins to realize she might have to protect herself first. In a world where women are often written one-dimensionally, Tasha is complex as hell — calculated, hurt, and always watching.
Kanan Stark: The Phantom Menace
Kanan is still behind bars in Season 1, but his presence is felt in every whisper, every warning. He was once Ghost and Tommy’s mentor, and his absence has left a power vacuum. But what nobody knows yet is that he’s coming back, and he’s not coming back to rebuild — he wants revenge. What’s powerful about Kanan’s arc here is that it unfolds in the shadows. He’s a ticking time bomb we don’t even see coming… yet.
Season 1 Character Ranking: Who Ran the Game?
1. Ghost (James St. Patrick)
No matter how delusional he is, Ghost ran the show in Season 1. He played both sides like a pro—businessman by day, kingpin by night. He held the most power, pulled the most strings, and kept the illusion going longer than anyone else.
2. Tommy Egan
Loyal to a fault and reckless as hell. He doesn’t always make the smartest moves, but he never lacks fire. He’s 100% ride-or-die and 0% bullshit. He’s not #1 yet only because he’s not calling the shots.
3. Angela Valdes
Blind to the truth, but still a force. As a federal prosecutor with pull, she impacts both sides of Ghost’s world. She’s smart, lethal, and dangerously in love. Half love-struck, half law.
4. Tasha St. Patrick
Always ten steps ahead emotionally and financially. She sees Ghost’s downfall coming before he does—but instead of pivoting, she clings to the role of wife. Her power is real, but she holds herself back.
5. Kanan Stark
He’s not even out of prison yet, and the streets are already shifting. His presence alone brings fear. Power is perception—and Kanan has people trembling offscreen.
6. Holly
Messy, chaotic, and nosey. She has no clue what she’s stepping into, but her arrival marks the start of serious cracks. She’s not in control, but her presence changes things.
7. Pink Sneakers
No words, just action. Handling people for Lobos with silence and precision. She’s one of the scariest players this season and barely speaks a line.
8. Lobos
Late entry but unforgettable. Violent, eccentric, and unpredictable—a true wildcard. He’s not fully in play yet, but his shadow looms over everything.
Doubling Down and Closing In
I. Introduction to Season 2
Season 2 picks up immediately where Ghost’s first real downfall begins — with his empire under fire and every lie more dangerous than the last. This is the season where ambition becomes desperation, and every choice ghosts him back.
Ghost is more determined than ever to protect his nightclub, Truth, which he continues to use as a front for his drug operation. But he’s running out of time — and options. Angela’s suspicions sharpen into a full-blown investigation, and her pursuit of “Ghost” intensifies… based on the wrong man. At this stage, she believes Tommy Egan is Ghost, not James St. Patrick — a dangerous assumption that fuels the early case and gives Ghost room to maneuver behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, threats from Lobos close in, Tommy’s temper grows reckless, and Tasha begins plotting for her own survival. Every alliance starts to fracture, and the world Ghost built begins to turn on him.
After seeing how fragile his rise was in Season 1, Season 2 makes clear just how catastrophic his fall could be.
Key Plot Points – Power Plays & Paybacks
Ghost’s Balancing Act
Truth is booming — but it’s bleeding cash thanks to rising laundering costs and cartel demands.
Ghost juggles Tasha’s growing mistrust with Angela’s federal investigation.
Lobos threatens to cut Ghost out of the game entirely if he doesn’t pay up, raising the stakes to deadly levels.
Tommy’s Revenge Tour
Still reeling from the loss of their associate Nomar and stressed by Angela’s digging, Tommy lashes out.
His loyalty to Ghost becomes strained as the FBI’s pressure and Ghost’s secrets drive a wedge between them.
Tommy’s rage and impulsiveness become liabilities as his paranoia about Ghost and Angela escalates.
Angela’s Full-Throttle Hunt
Angela is now part of a joint FBI task force and goes all in on the “Ghost” case.
She digs into Truth’s books, interviews employees, and thinks Tommy is the man behind it all.
Her personal and professional lives blur more than ever as she continues falling for James — unaware he’s the real Ghost.
Tasha’s Power Move
Tasha steps up at the club and tightens her control, trying to protect their family’s stake.
She confronts Ghost about his lies, meetings, and dangerous new alliances.
By season’s end, she’s preparing to protect herself — with or without him.
Kanan’s Return
Just released from prison, Kanan re-enters the game with a mission: revenge.
He manipulates his son, Shawn, trying to turn him against Ghost.
When Shawn fails to kill Ghost, Kanan coldly kills his own son — reminding everyone that Ghost’s past will never stay buried.
Season 2 Character Rankings: Who Rose, Who Fell, and Who Snapped
1. Ghost (James St. Patrick)
Despite spiraling further into delusion, Ghost remains the central player. His ability to manipulate Angela, manage the cartel, and keep both his business and family from collapsing (barely) is impressive — but not sustainable. He’s playing chess with fire, and the board is burning. This is the season his “I can do it all” fantasy starts eating him alive.
2. Angela Valdes
Angela levels up in both ambition and recklessness. She thinks she’s in control, but she’s actually the most manipulated person on the show. Her obsession with “Jamie” blinds her from the truth, and her entire FBI career is on the line. Still, her intelligence and hustle can’t be denied — she’s a woman on a mission, even if it’s the wrong one.
3. Tasha St. Patrick
Tasha is done playing second fiddle. While Ghost spirals, she sharpens. She sees Angela for the threat she is, calls Ghost out on his BS, and starts positioning herself for solo survival. She’s calculating, loyal to a point, and fierce when cornered. Season 2 is when Tasha stops being the sidekick and starts thinking like the boss she is.
4. Kanan Stark
Fresh out of prison and already top-tier menace. Kanan’s calm, calculated villainy is terrifying. The way he manipulates Shawn, tests Ghost’s defenses, and sows chaos makes him one of the best-written threats in the show. And when he kills Shawn? Cold. Iconic. Evil. But iconic.
5. Tommy Egan
Tommy’s loyalty is cracking under the weight of Ghost’s secrets and Angela’s investigation. His paranoia is valid — because he’s right. Ghost is hiding everything. He’s still raw, real, and violent as hell, but this season exposes how emotionally reactive Tommy really is. That’s his Achilles heel, and it starts to show more and more.
6. Shawn
Shawn finally grows a spine… and immediately dies. His relationship with Tasha shows a more tender, human side — and it’s clear he’s desperate for real connection. But when it comes to power, he’s still too soft, too loyal, and ultimately caught in a crossfire he wasn’t ready for. Kanan killing him is the wake-up call we all felt in our chests.
7. Julio
Loyal, quiet, underrated. Julio stays holding it down with minimal drama. He runs product, follows orders, and does his job — which in this world, is a rare and valuable thing. He doesn’t shine much this season, but you can tell he’s one of the few solid ones in the operation.
8. Holly
Holly’s chaos enters full swing. She’s messy, impulsive, and manipulative — but you also see the vulnerability underneath. She loves Tommy but doesn’t understand the game she’s in. She’s a walking red flag, but she’s also a product of the dysfunction swirling around her.
9. Lobos
Still mostly a looming presence, but increasingly terrifying. His pressure on Ghost and Tommy escalates everything, and you start to see that he isn’t just a boss — he’s a threat to everyone’s long game. His eccentric, unhinged nature makes him stand out even with limited screen time.
10. Simon Stern
He’s not central yet, but his smug businessman role foreshadows bigger trouble down the line. He’s got power, money, and no morals — which makes him the perfect nemesis for Ghost’s “legit” ambitions. He represents the world Ghost wants to be part of… but never will truly belong to.
Power Season 3: When Ghost’s Double Life Starts to Crumble
If Season 2 was about consequences, Season 3 is about erosion. Ghost is still pretending he can straddle two worlds — club owner James St. Patrick by day, drug boss by night — but his grip on both is slipping. Fast.
He says he wants out of the game for real this time. He’s trying to go legit, but we’ve heard that before. And in the meantime? Lobos is still alive, Angela’s still dangerous, and Tommy is done playing second fiddle.
Ghost’s Identity Crisis:
He’s finally closed the drug network, but his enemies didn’t disappear just because he tried to. Angela’s still in the picture, but trust between them is fading fast. Ghost is trying to manipulate everyone — Tommy, Angela, even Tasha — to keep his hands clean, but the deeper he goes, the messier it gets. The entire season feels like a man racing against his own unraveling.
Tommy’s Breakaway:
This is the season Tommy goes rogue. After Ghost cuts ties with Lobos behind his back, Tommy feels betrayed — like Ghost never saw him as an equal. He starts working directly with Lobos and asserting his independence, even when it means killing people he cares about. The friendship between Ghost and Tommy, once unshakeable, is now hanging by a thread.
Angela’s Career vs. Conscience:
Angela’s starting to realize the man she’s sleeping with might actually be the man she’s supposed to arrest. Her loyalty to Ghost is cracking as her FBI responsibilities start hitting too close to home. She’s smarter now — more suspicious, more determined — and it shows. Her scenes carry a tension that wasn’t there in earlier seasons.
The Lobos Threat:
Lobos is still alive, still crazy, and still dangerous. The feds want him, the streets want him dead, and Ghost wants him gone quietly. But that’s easier said than done. His presence keeps the entire season on edge, especially as Ghost and Tommy are forced to team up again to handle him — even if they don’t trust each other anymore.
The Fall of Shawn:
One of the most gut-wrenching parts of this season is Kanan killing his own son. It’s brutal and unflinching, and it solidifies Kanan as one of the coldest villains in the Power universe. Shawn, who had finally started seeing through the lies, never stood a chance.
Season 3 Character Rankings: Cracks, Crosses, and Cold-Blooded Moves
Season 3 Character Rankings: Cracks, Crosses, and Cold-Blooded Moves
1. Ghost (James St. Patrick)
This is the season where the mask starts to slip — and it’s glorious. Ghost is trying harder than ever to convince everyone (including himself) that he’s “out.” But the truth is, he’s deeper in the game than ever — just cleaner about it. His manipulation tactics reach a new level of twisted brilliance. He plays Angela, lies to Tommy, and tries to hold it all together with this fake image of control. But that control? It’s rotting from the inside. Ghost is unraveling — and he doesn’t even see it.
2. Tommy Egan
Tommy fully steps out of Ghost’s shadow this season. And while it’s messy as hell, it’s powerful. His heartbreak over Ghost’s betrayal fuels his independence arc. He teams up with Lobos, gets his hands dirtier than ever, and starts making calls Ghost would never dare. But Tommy is also spiraling — his rage, grief, and growing drug use make him volatile. He’s becoming his own man, but he’s also losing pieces of himself in the process.
3. Angela Valdes
Angela finally gets suspicious — and it’s about time. Her inner conflict between duty and desire sharpens into paranoia. She starts digging deeper into Ghost’s past, even while still sleeping in his bed. Every scene with her feels like a ticking time bomb — because we know she’s getting closer to the truth. Her moral compass is still spinning, but her instincts are sharpening. She’s no longer just love-struck — she’s dangerous.
4. Kanan Stark
Kanan cements himself as one of TV’s most heartless villains by killing his own son with zero hesitation. It’s cold, calculated, and personal. He’s lurking in the shadows this season, rebuilding his plan, and waiting for the right time to strike. What makes him terrifying isn’t just what he does — it’s how calm he is while doing it.
5. Julio
Julio is quietly one of the most solid characters in Ghost’s circle. He stays loyal, gets his hands dirty without complaining, and starts becoming a real player in the organization. He doesn’t get a lot of flashy scenes, but his consistency is refreshing in a world full of liars and backstabbers. We start to see his value in Season 3 — and it’s only going up from here.
6. Tasha St. Patrick
Tasha’s role is a little more muted this season, but her strategy is evolving. She’s no longer reacting to Ghost’s moves — she’s anticipating them. Her scenes with Angela carry that signature venom we love. She’s still protecting the family, still playing the long game. You can tell she’s getting tired of waiting, though… and when Tasha gets fed up, people bleed.
7. Lobos
Unhinged, hilarious, and terrifying — Lobos might be one of the most chaotic villains in the Power universe. His mannerisms are comedic, but his threats are real. He pushes Ghost and Tommy into corners they can’t scheme their way out of. Even though he eventually gets dealt with, Lobos owns every scene he’s in.
8. Holly
Holly’s descent is painful to watch. Her love for Tommy turns obsessive, and her inability to stay out of the game costs her. She oversteps, manipulates, and tries to pull Tommy away from Ghost — and ends up paying the ultimate price. Her death is one of the most shocking moments of the season, but it also breaks Tommy in ways we don’t fully see until later.
9. Milan (aka Dean)
He’s introduced quietly as Ghost’s head of security… and then reveals he’s actually a Serbian drug lord. A brilliant twist. Milan is calm, controlled, and clearly a big threat. He doesn’t rank higher because we’re still getting to know him, but his reveal sets the stage for a whole new kind of enemy in Season 4.
10. Dre
Dre is still simmering in the background — loyal to Kanan but inching closer to Ghost. His double-dealing nature is starting to show, and while he hasn’t blown up yet, the warning signs are flashing. Ghost sees him as a protégé. Kanan sees him as a pawn. We, as the audience? We see a snake in training.
Season 4: Consequences, Control, and Collapse
If Season 3 was about unraveling, then Season 4 is about reckoning. Ghost has spent three seasons trying to play both sides—husband and lover, kingpin and businessman, Ghost and James. But in Season 4, the mask is off. The government is coming for him, his enemies are circling, and worst of all? He can’t control any of it.
The season opens with Ghost behind bars for the murder of Greg Knox—something he didn’t do, but something that ironically reflects the blood already on his hands. Angela, once his ride-or-die, has now flipped sides. She’s emotionally gutted, professionally embarrassed, and out for vengeance. This is where the love story turns into a full-blown war.
Key Themes:
Accountability: Ghost’s past finally catches up with him. For once, he’s not being hunted for something he did, but the metaphorical weight of his crimes still drags him down.
Powerlessness: For a man who built his empire on control, Ghost being caged—physically and metaphorically—forces him into a new kind of vulnerability.
Family Fallout: Tasha is done playing loyal wife. Tariq is spiraling. Raina is trying to hold things together. The family Ghost swore he was doing all this for is now the most broken part of his life.
Major Plot Arcs:
Ghost in Jail: His time in prison forces him to rely on allies like Proctor and even Tommy. The fragility of his empire becomes clear as he fights to protect Truth, clear his name, and survive the federal system.
Angela’s Breakdown: Angela realizes that her pursuit of Ghost might’ve blinded her to the actual threat, and her identity as a woman and a prosecutor starts to fracture.
Tariq’s Descent: This is the real beginning of Tariq’s villain origin story. Manipulated by Kanan, ignored by his father, and enraged by the lies—he starts to follow in Ghost’s footsteps with no brakes.
Raina’s Death: One of the most tragic moments in the entire Power universe. Raina’s death marks a turning point for the St. Patrick family—and it breaks whatever remained of Ghost’s illusion of control.
The Fallout: In the final episode, Ghost and Tommy team up to get revenge, but it’s too late to undo the damage. Tasha is forced to clean up Tariq’s mess, setting the tone for the dark, bitter pivot into Season 5.
Season 4 Character Rankings: Breakdown, Betrayal, and Blood on the Floor
1. Ghost (James St. Patrick)
This is the season where Ghost finally loses control — and we see who he is without power. Locked up, betrayed, grieving, and clinging to a version of himself that no longer exists, Ghost is a walking contradiction. His intelligence and composure still shine through, especially in those scenes with Proctor and Silver, but he’s clearly unraveling. For the first time, James St. Patrick is truly vulnerable. Watching him fight to keep his empire, his family, and his own mind intact? That’s the heart of Season 4.
2. Tariq St. Patrick
Tariq officially starts becoming the son Ghost feared — the lies, the sneaking around, the secrets. He’s insufferable, but it’s also the most layered version of him we’ve yet seen. Underneath the anger is deep betrayal. He’s not just acting out, he’s becoming a product of everything Ghost tried to hide. You want to slap him and hug him at the same time. And the fact that he sets the events in motion that get Raina killed? Chilling. The ghost of that choice follows him into every season after.
3. Angela Valdes
Angela is spiraling and finally showing it — both emotionally and professionally. Her obsession with Ghost cost her everything, and now that she’s trying to reclaim her power via the law, she’s no longer operating from love. She’s cold. Calculated. But still vulnerable. She’s torn between her career, her past, and her power — her tether to one edge of redemption and destruction, and it’s never clear which way she’ll fall. That complexity makes her fascinating.
4. Tommy Egan
Tommy stays ten toes down, even as everything burns. He’s reckless, emotional, and trigger-happy — but he’s also one of the only people truly loyal to Ghost. Their bond gets tested (again), but when it comes time to ride, Tommy never hesitates. His arc this season deepens, especially as he steps in to protect Tariq and avenge Raina. He’s still unpredictable, but there’s a quiet strength underneath his chaos that anchors the season.
5. Tasha St. Patrick
Tasha finally breaks free from the role of dutiful wife and steps into full survival mode. She’s protecting her kids, managing the fallout from Ghost’s arrest, and preparing for a world where she’s on her own. And when Raina dies? That’s her villain origin story. She doesn’t just mourn — she moves. And the way she starts teaching Tariq the game? That’s the shift. Tasha’s evolution this season is subtle but powerful.
6. Kanan Stark
Kanan is in full manipulation mode — grooming Tariq, taunting Ghost from the shadows, and playing the long game with brutal precision. He’s not just trying to kill Ghost anymore, he’s trying to corrupt everything Ghost loves. That slow psychological warfare? That’s more terrifying than bullets. Kanan’s calm, quiet plotting this season shows just how dangerous he really is.
7. Raina St. Patrick
Raina may not get a ton of screen time, but her impact is unforgettable. She’s the moral center of the family, the one kid trying to do things the right way. Her death is a gut punch not just because it’s tragic, but because it represents the loss of innocence in the St. Patrick household. Her final act — standing up for her brother — is brave, heartbreaking, and a defining moment in the entire series.
8. Joe Proctor
Proctor is the lawyer Ghost didn’t deserve but desperately needed. He’s smart, slick, and always three steps ahead. His ability to navigate the legal system while keeping Ghost out of prison (barely) is impressive as hell. Plus, he doesn’t fold under pressure — even when his law license is threatened. In a world full of snakes, Proctor remains (relatively) loyal and ethical.
9. Terry Silver
Silver comes into the picture as Ghost’s new attorney, and from the jump, he’s skeptical. He’s got morals — or so he says — and doesn’t trust a thing Ghost tells him. But the way he slides in with Tasha? Messy. Complicated. He becomes a decent support system for her, but you can’t fully trust his motives. He’s either genuinely trying to help… or trying to replace.
10. Councilman Tate
Tate’s introduction is subtle but ominous. He’s smooth, savvy, and clearly playing the long game. While he doesn’t have a huge role in Season 4, the way he enters Ghost’s orbit and starts sniffing around power? It’s giving snake. He’s the type to smile while gutting you. And you know he’s not here to uplift the community — he’s here to rise.
Season 5: The Fallout Begins
The aftermath of Raina’s death changes everything.
By the time we reach Season 5 of Power, the show is no longer just about Ghost’s double life. It’s about survival. Revenge. Ruin. After the devastating loss of Raina, every character spirals in their own way, and the fragile alliances we’ve seen stretched across previous seasons begin to completely unravel.
Ghost and Tommy are barely hanging on as partners, both out for blood after what happened to Raina — but even vengeance isn’t enough to keep them on the same side. They’re both hunting Dre, who’s rising fast and not afraid to get dirty. And as if they didn’t have enough problems, Angela’s legal troubles start to boil over, threatening to drag them all down.
If Season 4 was the bomb dropping, Season 5 is the fallout. Everything is unstable. Every character is on edge. Trust is nonexistent. From political ambition to cartel drama to FBI investigations, this season throws every possible force at our main cast and dares them to survive it.
Even the streets aren’t safe anymore. The same men who used to control everything are now being hunted, plotted against, and manipulated. The ending proves that when you play both sides for too long, eventually the bullets come for you — even if they weren’t meant to.
Character Arcs in Season 5
Where loyalty ends and betrayal begins.
Ghost: Grief, Guilt, and the Ghost of a Father
Ghost is emotionally wrecked after Raina’s death — and instead of healing, he chooses destruction. He’s grieving, but also unraveling. His desire for revenge clouds his judgment, and his already-complicated relationship with Angela becomes even messier as the walls close in. He tries to keep control — over Dre, over Tommy, over his image — but his grip slips more with every episode. This is the season where Ghost is no longer the man with the plan. He’s desperate, reckless, and emotionally unstable… which makes him more dangerous than ever.
Tommy: The Betrayed Son
Tommy’s arc this season is one of betrayal layered on top of betrayal. His bond with Ghost weakens as their goals and methods start to differ. But the deepest cut comes from within: Tommy finds out his own father, Tony Teresi, is working with the feds. That betrayal isn’t just personal — it’s existential. Tommy has always had one rule: loyalty above all. So when that’s shattered by his own blood, it pushes him past the point of no return. His final decision in Season 5 is brutal but completely aligned with the Tommy we’ve come to know: if you lie to him, you die.
Angela: From Prosecution to Target
Angela’s downfall is in full motion. She’s juggling career-ending secrets, trying to protect Ghost while also holding onto her job and reputation. But the feds are closing in — and they’re using everything she’s done as ammunition. Her relationship with Ghost, once her biggest risk, becomes her biggest liability. She spends the entire season trying to outrun a system she used to serve. And just when it seems she might escape… boom. That bullet in the finale hits more than just her body — it shatters every illusion she had about control.
Dre: The New Threat
Dre spends the season on the rise. He’s confident, calculated, and finally moving like a real boss — but that also paints a huge target on his back. Ghost and Tommy are out to kill him. The Jimenez cartel is using him. And even the streets don’t fully trust him. He’s fighting on too many fronts, and the pressure shows. What makes Dre so dangerous is that he’s smart — but not invincible. And Season 5 proves that no matter how high you climb in this world, someone’s always plotting to pull you down.
Tariq & Kanan: The Student Becomes the Snake
Tariq is still grieving Raina in his own warped, cold way — and Kanan takes full advantage. What starts as manipulation turns into mentorship, and we see Tariq begin to transform into the kind of man his father never wanted him to be. He’s learning the rules of the game. But he’s not just absorbing — he’s adapting. By the end of the season, it’s clear: Tariq isn’t just playing both sides. He’s playing everyone.
Major Events + Turning Points
Every move is a setup. Every alliance is temporary.
1. Ghost and Tommy Try to Frame Dre
With Raina gone, Ghost and Tommy are united by one thing: revenge. But instead of a clean kill, they plot a setup — trying to pin Raina’s murder on Dre by connecting him to Ray Ray. It’s a risky move, full of desperation and ego. And it backfires in more ways than one. Dre doesn’t go down — but their brotherhood does.
2. Angela’s Investigation Turns Inward
Angela starts the season investigating the Jimenez cartel, but it doesn’t take long before she becomes the target. Her own colleagues flip the script and use her connections to Ghost to try and take her down. Every episode is a balancing act between justice, career, and survival. Angela isn’t just walking a thin line — she’s sprinting on it.
3. Kanan Plays Everyone — and Pays for It
Kanan is back in full manipulation mode, whispering in Tariq’s ear, working with Tommy and Ghost, then betraying them all. He’s playing puppet master until he finally overplays his hand. When he dies — again — it feels permanent. But the damage he left behind? That’s forever. His influence on Tariq is the real legacy.
4. Tommy Kills His Father
This might be the most gut-wrenching moment of the season. Tommy finds out his dad, Tony Teresi, was working with the feds. After years of wanting a father, a family, a real blood tie — Tommy has to kill the one man who gave him that hope. It’s not just about trust. It’s about identity. And after this, Tommy is colder, harder, and more isolated than ever.
5. The Shooting — Angela Takes the Bullet
The final twist is both poetic and tragic. Tommy pulls the trigger aiming for Ghost… and hits Angela instead. One bullet shatters every relationship — Ghost and Angela, Ghost and Tommy, even Tommy and Tasha. It’s the moment that sends the series into full chaos. Because now it’s not just about power. It’s about payback.
Themes + Impact
Season 5 isn’t just messy. It’s irreversible.
1. The Breakdown of Brotherhood
Ghost and Tommy’s partnership — once the heart of this show — completely unravels. Trust dies with Raina, and everything after that is survival mode. The more they try to manipulate the world around them, the more they lose control of it. Their loyalty is poisoned by grief, revenge, and secrets.
2. When Love Becomes a Liability
Angela’s love for Ghost ends up being her undoing. She’s no longer protected by the law or her position. She’s trapped — professionally and emotionally. This season makes it clear: in Power, love is leverage, not safety. And when Angela gets shot, it confirms the truth — you can’t love someone like Ghost and stay clean.
3. Political Ambition Meets Criminal Reality
Ghost tries to build a new life in politics, but his past doesn’t just follow him — it punches him in the face. The rise of Councilman Tate, the RICO investigation, and Ghost’s own inner turmoil show that legitimacy is a pipe dream. Every time he gets close to “clean,” someone bleeds.
4. Everyone Is a Target Now
No one’s untouchable anymore — not Ghost, not Angela, not Tommy, not even Tasha. This season raises the stakes and drops the illusion of safety. The RICO case isn’t just legal pressure — it’s a warning: there will be consequences. Season 5 makes it clear that the game isn’t about money or power anymore. It’s about survival.
5. Tariq’s Corruption Is Complete
This is the season where Tariq crosses over. He’s no longer just a grieving son or a misled teen — he’s learning to manipulate, lie, and kill. Kanan’s mentorship, Ghost’s lies, and Raina’s death all shape him into the cold, calculated version of himself we’ll see in Power Book II. Season 5 is the funeral for Tariq’s innocence.
Final Takeaways from Season 5
No one comes out clean. No one gets out alive.
Season 5 isn’t just the turning point in Power — it’s the season where survival becomes the only goal. Everyone’s mask slips. Everyone’s lie catches up. And everyone is forced to confront the damage they’ve caused — or become collateral.
Ghost isn’t a man in control anymore. He’s a man haunted by his past, obsessed with legacy, and willing to lose everything to protect the version of himself he still believes in. But the thing is… that version doesn’t exist anymore. Not after Angela. Not after Raina. Not after everything.
Tommy, meanwhile, is fully in his villain arc. He’s grieving, bitter, and brutal — but still oddly principled in his own way. His final shot wasn’t just out of rage — it was personal. And it tore the entire core of the show apart.
Angela’s fall is tragic. Not because she didn’t deserve some of it — but because she tried so hard to save everyone, and ended up getting used, betrayed, and shot in the back by the only people she trusted. She became a casualty of Ghost’s world, just like everyone else who gets too close to him.
And then there’s Tariq — officially no longer a child. He’s smart, calculating, dangerous. He’s not a side plot anymore. He’s becoming the plot. And Season 5 proves that Power is no longer just about Ghost’s rise and fall — it’s about the next generation, and what kind of monster this world is grooming next.
Season 5 Character Rankings: Grief, Guns, and Ghosts of the Past
Season 5 Character Ranking: Grief, Guns, and Ghosts of the Past
1. Ghost (James St. Patrick)
Ghost is at his most unhinged here — not in a sloppy way, but in that chilling, eyes-glazed-over, I’ll-burn-the-whole-city-down-if-it-means-I-win type of way. He’s grieving Raina, spiraling emotionally, lashing out, and yet still trying to manage political ambitions, cartel wars, and legal threats. But he’s not a mastermind anymore — he’s a man possessed by grief and ego. His scenes with Angela are haunting, his manipulations are transparent, and his loss of control is the most compelling thing about him. He’s slipping, and everyone knows it but him.
2. Angela Valdes
Angela’s arc this season is a masterclass in collapse. She starts off juggling secrets like she always does, but this time, they’re closing in from all sides — the feds, her job, her own conscience. She’s no longer just “the prosecutor who fell for a drug dealer.” She’s a woman who knew what she was doing and lost her. It didn’t end at one moment (her near-death, depending on where you draw the line) in the finale is poetic: she was always trying to fix what couldn’t be fixed. And in the end, she got caught in the middle — again.
3. Tommy Egan
Tommy goes through it. He loses his ride-or-die bond with Ghost, and any shred of emotional stability he had left. His trust issues turn deadly, his temper is unmatched, and that trigger pull — the one aimed at Ghost but hitting Angela — is the season’s emotional core. He’s doing what he thinks is right, but he’s hurting the people he loves. His loyalty is fierce, messy, and pure. Every time he shows up, he gets burned. And by the end, he’s colder than ever, with no neutrality left.
4. Tariq St. Patrick
Tariq completes his transformation from spoiled, naive teen to miniature Ghost 2.0. He’s manipulative, calculated, and shockingly calm under pressure. The bond with Kanan takes him to a dark place — but the part that hits hardest is how easy it is for him to adapt. You can’t even call it a “descent” anymore. This boy is already in the game, and Season 5 makes it terrifyingly clear.
5. Kanan Stark
Kanan goes out like a villain — and it’s beautiful. Every scene of him grooming Tariq feels like slow-motion sabotage. He’s smart enough to play both Tommy and Ghost, but his pride is his downfall. He thinks he’s untouchable. That’s why his death is so satisfying: not just because of what he did to Riq and the family, but because he was too confident for too long. Still, the psychological damage he leaves behind?
6. Dre Coleman
Dre is annoying, yes, but in a “you’re doing your job as a villain” way. He’s slick, ambitious, and arrogant — and this season really pushes him to the edge. He’s dodging Ghost and Tommy while trying to run his own empire, and you almost admire his hustle… until he starts making desperate, messy moves. His reign is flashy but fragile. He’s a reminder that just because you rise fast doesn’t mean you rise well.
7. Tasha St. Patrick
Tasha is grieving in silence. She’s furious, exhausted, and realizing that no one — not Ghost, not Tommy, not Angela — will ever truly protect her or her kids. She starts stepping up for Tariq, teaching him the game, preparing for the inevitable. She doesn’t have a major arc this season, but her subtle shifts — especially with Silver — show that she’s slowly learning how to move like the men around her. Not emotionally, but tactically.
8. Tony Teresi
Tommy’s dad has one job this season: make us believe he might actually love his son. And for a while? We almost do. But his betrayal hurts because it feels avoidable. He could’ve made a choice. Instead, he played both sides. The way Tommy finds out — and the way he handles it — is brutal. Teresi’s death is inevitable, but still heartbreaking because it closes the door on Tommy’s fantasy of family.
9. Joe Proctor
Proctor stays solid. Still Ghost’s best legal lifeline, still operating with one foot in the game and one foot in the courtroom. His role may be smaller this season, but his presence is always crucial. He’s one of the few characters who balances loyalty with self-preservation — and hasn’t lost his soul doing it. Yet.
10. Councilman Tate
Tate starts slithering up the ranks here — mixing political ambition with street-level awareness. He’s shady as hell, and every smile feels like a warning. His scenes with Ghost are dripping with double meaning, and you can already see where this is headed: a man who uses Ghost’s image for power, then turns around and tries to bury him with it.
The Fall of Ghost: Power’s Final Tragedy
Ghost’s final arc is nothing short of Shakespearean. Season 6 marks the tragic unraveling of everything he tried to build — the illusion of legitimacy, the fantasy of political power, and the dream of escaping the streets. What began as an ambitious pivot to Lieutenant Governor ends with a bullet from his own son. A Greek tragedy in a fitted suit.
Ghost’s Delusional Dream
Since Season 1, Ghost has been deep in delulu mode — convinced he could clean up a dirty empire by throwing on a tie and a club name like Truth. But you can’t build a future on a foundation of bodies, lies, and betrayal. His idea of “going legit” was flawed from the start, rooted in ego, denial, and fantasy. He didn’t want a new life — he wanted to rewrite the past.
By Season 6, that delusion had evolved into full-blown political ambition. Running for Lieutenant Governor wasn’t about helping the community — it was about validation. About proving to the world (and himself) that James St. Patrick deserved power on both sides of the law. It was about rewriting his own myth.
Angela Haunting Him (Literally)
Angela’s death was Ghost’s final tether to humanity, and her loss broke him. She wasn’t just a lover — she symbolized redemption. A clean slate. Her ghost — appearing in visions and conversations — reminded us how deeply he loved her… and how much of himself died with her.
Every hallucination felt like a gut punch. A mirror to his guilt. A haunting. Tommy pulled the trigger, but Ghost never recovered. Angela was his Ophelia. His Lady Macbeth. His last hope. And without her, he was already gone — a walking shell in a tailored suit.
Ghost vs. Tommy: Brotherhood Broken
Tommy and Ghost’s relationship had always ridden the line between ride-or-die and mutual destruction. But Season 6 took it to its breaking point. They’d lied, shot at each other, watched each other bleed. Yet even after all that, when Tommy found Ghost lying in a pool of blood and saw Tariq standing over him — he nearly shot that little boy on sight.
That was the depth of their bond. The complexity of their love. Ghost and Tommy weren’t just business partners — they were soulmates in crime. And when that brotherhood finally snapped, the series snapped with it.
The Son Becomes the Bullet
Tariq killing Ghost wasn’t just shocking — it was inevitable. Ghost’s biggest blind spot was always his son. He underestimated Tariq. Believed he could mold him into a better version of himself. But Ghost raised a mirror — not a successor.
Tariq didn’t just kill his father. He killed the myth. The myth of Ghost. The myth of reinvention. The myth that power could erase pain.
Delusion Meets Destiny
Ghost died believing he could have it all: the office, the family, the redemption arc. But he died James St. Patrick — a name he never truly lived. The truth is, he was always Ghost. Always in the shadows. Always bound by the blood that built his kingdom.
A King’s Death: Ghost’s Shakespearean Tragedy
There’s a reason Power hits different — it’s more than a crime drama. It’s a modern-day Shakespearean epic. And no character embodies that tragic hero arc more than Ghost.
Like Macbeth, he was consumed by ambition. Like King Lear, he was blind to the betrayals around him. Like Hamlet, he was haunted by love and loss. His hallucinations of Angela? Shakespearean as hell. A guilt-ridden man spiraling under the weight of his own sins.
Ghost tried to straddle two worlds: the street and the statehouse. But the thing about Shakespearean heroes? Their downfall is psychological. Self-inflicted. Ghost didn’t just lose — he orchestrated his own fall.
He died thinking he’d won. Standing above his club like a king surveying his empire — but it was a paper throne. His kingdom wasn’t real. His allies were enemies. His son was his undoing.
And just like in Shakespeare, the betrayal came from within the bloodline.
Ghost’s Final Act: A Tragedy in Motion
From the moment he stepped into politics, we knew Ghost was doomed. His enemies weren’t just external — they were spiritual. Guilt. Loss. Ego. Denial. The streets he tried to escape were the same streets that swallowed him whole.
Every ally was a threat. Every move a miscalculation. His downfall didn’t happen overnight — it was a slow erosion of trust, relationships, and reality. Ghost died chasing a dream that never existed.
Alternate Ending: If Ghost Had Lived…
Let’s imagine a different ending — one where Ghost survives the shot.
He wins the election. Becomes Lieutenant Governor. Tasha goes to prison. Tariq vanishes. Tommy’s cut off for good. Ghost thinks he’s won.
But what’s left?
Angela is still gone. Ramona starts asking questions. The feds re-open old cases. Dre (if still alive) flips. Ghost is politically powerful but emotionally hollow. Alone. Paranoid. Eventually, the empire falls — not with a bullet, but with handcuffs.
In this version, Ghost doesn’t die fast. He crumbles slow. Tragically. Publicly. Alone in a suit, not a coffin.
Season 6 Character Rankings: Final Betrayals & Fatal Illusions
1. Ghost (James St. Patrick)
This is Ghost’s curtain call — and it’s haunting. He’s delusional, ambitious, obsessed with legacy, and unraveling by the hour. What makes him #1 isn’t that he’s right — it’s that he’s fascinatingly wrong. Every choice he makes is clouded by ego. He thinks he’s invincible, presidential even, when in reality he’s burning every bridge in his reach. He’s betrayed, paranoid, hallucinating Angela, and campaigning for power like nothing ever happened. And that’s what kills him — the inability to admit he’s already lost. It’s a finale only a Shakespearean antihero could deliver.
2. Tariq St. Patrick
Tariq became what Ghost feared most — not his enemy, but his equal. He learned all of Ghost’s tactics, all of his charm, all of his deceit — and then used it against him. Tariq’s transformation is no longer just “the kid turned cold.” It’s full-circle storytelling. He became everything Ghost always dodged. The most dangerous part? Tariq never flinched. No tears. No regret. Just strategy. His emotional detachment makes him terrifying. And the way he stepped over his father’s legacy like it meant nothing? Pure villain origin energy.
3. Tommy Egan
Tommy went through hell this season — and he never once looked away. Losing LaKeisha, watching Ghost lose himself, pulling that trigger and realizing he almost shot Tariq? That shook him. His pain is buried under sarcasm and violence, but you feel it. What elevates Tommy in this season is the way he shows us he loved Ghost — even when he finds Ghost dirty, dishonest, and dangerous. Underneath all the chaos, Tommy’s instincts were never wrong. He didn’t just lose a partner — he lost the only person who ever really understood him.
4. Tasha St. Patrick
Tasha’s arc this season is all about erosion — personal, emotional, and strategic. She’s severing ties — from Ghost, from the game, from being used as everyone else’s pawn — but the toll she takes for Tariq is quietly the most devastating. She’s strong on the surface, strategic as always, but she’s tired. Worn down. And watching her walk the line for Tariq is like seeing the end of a soldier’s campaign. She’s not just ghost’s fantasy. Her final scenes — bitter, vast, and alone — leave her more haunting than ever.
5. Angela Valdes (Ghost Vision Edition)
Yes, she’s dead. But the ghost might be more powerful than her living presence ever was. The hallucinations — the way she haunts Ghost, questions him, confronts him — show how deeply she carved into his psyche. She’s no longer just a prosecutor or a lover. She’s his guilt. His conscience. His shadow. In death, she became the truest mirror Ghost ever had. A woman he couldn’t control, couldn’t save, and couldn’t forget.
6. LaKeisha Grant
LaKeisha’s death was a slow bleed through the season. She wanted out, but the life wanted her more. Her love for Tommy was real, but her fear was stronger. Watching her try to be a mother, a partner, and a criminal all at once was painful — and her downfall was inevitable. She didn’t belong in that world. And when it came time to choose between the lie or loyalty, Tasha made the call.
7. Cooper Saxe
Saxe is the roach that never dies. Annoying, bitter, always yelling in someone’s office — but persistent. He knows Ghost is dirty, but he can’t prove it. His desperation this season makes him almost pitiful — but you also root for him in a weird, twisted way. He’s the only one still chasing truth in a world full of liars. He doesn’t get his big moment, but he never stops showing up.
8. Dre Coleman
Dre had one mission: Get out clean. And he doesn’t. Deserved. He betrayed everyone, played both sides, and thought he was smarter than the entire system. His death — brutal, fiery, final — was a long time coming. But before that? He gave us some of the best rat-under-pressure content we’ve ever seen. Every sleazy lie, slick maneuver, and failing upward.
9. Ramona Garrity
Ramona was Ghost’s political angel — until she wasn’t. She believed in his redemption arc, in his clean image, and his charm. But what makes her interesting is that she’s not stupid. As the season goes on, you see her start to question the fantasy. Her presence is quieter than the rest, but essential. She’s what Ghost wanted Angela to be — until she started asking the wrong questions.
10. Elisa Marie & Benny
Minor players, but their subplot adds weight to Tommy’s final arc. Elisa Marie’s possession of that recording threatens to blow everything open, and Benny’s death is a reminder that even Tommy’s coldness has limits. It’s not a huge storyline, but it adds emotional texture and another layer of “your sins will find you.”
Final Analysis: Power as a Cultural Classic
Why I’ll Always Recommend This Show — and Why Ghost’s Story Still Matters
Power isn’t just a show about drugs, money, and betrayal. It’s a psychological thriller dressed up in streetwear and ambition. It’s Shakespeare with a Glock. It’s the American Dream through a cracked lens — where every character is trying to climb, escape, rewrite, or dominate… and every single one pays for it.
From Season 1 to Season 6, the writing isn’t perfect — but the world-building is. You don’t watch Power for flawless execution. You watch it because it feels real. The betrayals feel personal. The tension feels earned. And the downfall? It’s inevitable. There’s something tragically beautiful about watching a man try so hard to escape who he is… and fail spectacularly.
James “Ghost” St. Patrick is one of the most complex TV antiheroes of the last decade. He’s charming, strategic, ruthless, romantic, hypocritical, and delusional. He wants to be better — but not enough to actually change. He wants legacy, love, legitimacy… but he doesn’t want to give up the very tools that poisoned him. That contradiction is what makes his story so rich — and his death so final.
What elevates Power beyond the genre is its psychological insight. It’s not just about what these characters do — it’s about why they do it. Why Ghost lies. Why Tommy snaps. Why Angela stays. Why Tariq kills. It’s about identity, ego, trauma, guilt, and survival — not just survival in the streets, but in the soul.
Yes, it’s violent. Yes, it’s messy. Yes, some seasons are stronger than others. But Power does what few shows manage: it sticks with you. Even when you hate what’s happening, you care. Because these characters — flawed, broken, dangerous — are still human. You understand them, even when you’d never want to be them.
And that’s why I’ll always recommend Power. It’s not perfect — but it’s powerful.
The Story Isn’t Over: Setting the Stage for
Power Book II: Ghost
Ghost may be dead, but the world he built? Still very much alive. His son, his enemies, his choices — they all bleed into Power Book II: Ghost, a sequel that doesn’t just continue the story… it flips the whole thing on its head.
In Book II, we watch Tariq become the very thing he hated — and feared. We watch Tasha try to protect him from a game she can’t control. And we see a whole new roster of players step into a world that’s already rigged against them. But if Power was about ambition and identity, Book II is about inheritance. About what happens when power doesn’t just corrupt — it passes down.
In my next article, we’ll dive into Power Book II season by season, exploring how Tariq’s journey mirrors — and in some ways surpasses — his father’s. We’ll break down the evolution of the Tejada family, Monet’s reign, Cane’s chaos, and the ongoing theme of generational curses.
Because Ghost might be gone… but his legacy? That’s just getting started.
