‘Raising Kanan’ Boss Breaks Down That Explosive Finale and Shocking Post-Credits Scene

‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ has officially come to an end, but creator Sascha Penn says Kanan Stark’s story is far from finished. The series finale closes one chapter of his life while setting the stage for ‘Power: Origins,’ the upcoming prequel that will bring young Kanan together with Ghost and Tommy.

Speaking with Deadline, Penn reflected on the ending of ‘Raising Kanan’ and explained why the series needed to put Kanan through so much loss. By the end, Lou, Marvin and Raq are all gone, leaving Kanan with almost no one from his old life.

Penn said the point was always to show how Kanan became the man fans eventually meet in the original ‘Power.’

“The show was always called Raising Kanan, and it has always been that,” Penn told Deadline. “We are a product of our families and our environment and our experiences.”

According to Penn, the events of the series were meant to explain Kanan’s personality, choices and darker side. He admitted viewers may not like the journey, but believes the story gives them a better understanding of the character.

The finale also surprised fans by introducing very young versions of James “Ghost” St. Patrick and Tommy Egan. At this point in the timeline, the two boys are still far too young to become serious players in Kanan’s world.

Penn explained that fans had been asking about Ghost and Tommy for years. He said he always wanted to give viewers a quick glimpse of them, even before ‘Power: Origins’ was officially in development.

One of the finale’s most interesting details came after the credits. The scene showed Kanan as a baby, with Raq holding him while an episode of the classic sitcom ‘Good Times’ played in the background.

Penn told Deadline that ‘Good Times’ was one of the most important television shows from his childhood. He specifically liked the contrast between the Evans family and Kanan’s much more troubled family life.

“That family felt like this idealized family to me,” Penn explained. He said showing Raq as a new mother was also important because she had no idea what Kanan would eventually become.

“I felt like it was meaningful to have the last image of this series be a mother loving her son,” Penn said. Now the story moves forward with ‘Power: Origins.’ Penn revealed that the new series takes place around 2002 and 2003 and will have a different tone from ‘Raising Kanan.’

He described it as faster and lighter in places, comparing its style to ‘48 Hours’ and ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.’ However, he warned that the show will still have plenty of dark moments.

Penn also confirmed that production on the first season has wrapped, with 18 episodes completed. He praised the actors playing young Ghost and Tommy, saying they bring familiar elements of the original characters while creating versions of them that feel fresh.

With Kanan, Ghost and Tommy finally sharing the same story, ‘Power: Origins’ could become the next major chapter in the franchise.

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