{"id":36294,"date":"2026-08-10T10:35:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T05:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=36294"},"modified":"2026-08-10T10:35:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T05:35:34","slug":"raising-kanans-mekai-curtis-talks-series-finale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=36294","title":{"rendered":"Raising Kanan&#8217;s Mekai Curtis Talks Series Finale"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>SPOILER ALERT: The following reveals major plot points from the series finale of the <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/starz\/\" id=\"auto-tag_starz\" data-tag=\"starz\">Starz<\/a> crime drama\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/power-book-iii-raising-kanan\/\" id=\"auto-tag_power-book-iii-raising-kanan\" data-tag=\"power-book-iii-raising-kanan\">Power Book III: Raising Kanan<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s no spoiler to discuss Kanan Stark\u2019s survival in the series finale of Starz\u2019s <em>Power Book III: Raising Kanan<\/em>, with even the most casual of fans knowing that Kanan Stark is alive and well in the original <em>Power<\/em> series. While it\u2019s the closing of another chapter in the Power franchise, there\u2019s still some time to spend with <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/mekai-curtis\/\" id=\"auto-tag_mekai-curtis\" data-tag=\"mekai-curtis\">Mekai Curtis<\/a> as the titular Kanan before going into Curtis \u201c50 Cent\u201d Jackson\u2019s era.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But before going into new business, let\u2019s handle old business. Raquel (Patina Miller) was shot and killed in cold blood by Jukebox (Hailey Kilgore) in the show\u2019s final episode. Raq was a surrogate mother to Juke, but when it came down to it, Juke had to avenge her father\u2019s murder at the hands of Kanan. She told her cousin while at the diner that she had killed his mother so as to take everyone that cares about him out of his life. Kanan was rather accepting of the news, something the actor confirms.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s acceptance. That\u2019s the ultimate version of Kanan understanding what Raq taught him at the beginning of the series. Now, more than ever, in Season 5, I think Kanan understands who he is and what he\u2019s done more than ever. When you\u2019ve experienced enough loss and tragedy, there comes a point where you\u2019re going to sit down and just take inventory: you\u2019re going to see where you went wrong, what you did right, where other people went wrong, and how things could have been done differently,\u201d shared Curtis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adding, \u201cKanan has gotten to have those moments. So, when he finally hears that Mom is gone, he understands. It doesn\u2019t mean it hurts any less, but he understands all the bad he\u2019s done. And for it to be his cousin when he just took out her father, it\u2019s poetic, right? He understands, \u2018Okay, I did it.\u2019 It doesn\u2019t mean that I\u2019m proud that I did it, but I did it.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"683\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pbk5-508-121324-0271-a-f.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1237017568\" srcset=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pbk5-508-121324-0271-a-f.jpg 3000w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pbk5-508-121324-0271-a-f.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pbk5-508-121324-0271-a-f.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pbk5-508-121324-0271-a-f.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pbk5-508-121324-0271-a-f.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pbk5-508-121324-0271-a-f.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pbk5-508-121324-0271-a-f.jpg?resize=630,420 630w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pbk5-508-121324-0271-a-f.jpg?resize=60,40 60w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pbk5-508-121324-0271-a-f.jpg?resize=352,235 352w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pbk5-508-121324-0271-a-f.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pbk5-508-121324-0271-a-f.jpg?resize=110,73 110w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pbk5-508-121324-0271-a-f.jpg?resize=285,190 285w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pbk5-508-121324-0271-a-f.jpg?resize=320,213 320w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pbk5-508-121324-0271-a-f.jpg?resize=640,427 640w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pbk5-508-121324-0271-a-f.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pbk5-508-121324-0271-a-f.jpg?resize=1280,853 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 250px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hailey Kilgore as Jukebox and Mekai Curtis as Kanan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before that moment at the diner, Kanan and Raq met up on a very public street to discuss the hit Stefano (Tony Danza) put on her, amongst other things. The duo opened up like never before.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI wasn\u2019t sure that that was a conversation that was going to happen. So I was casting the line in the wind, \u2018No, this is still my mother. I still love this person. These characters, this world, and this show could have been flat and stereotypical if we didn\u2019t add these layers that have you ask questions beyond what you\u2019re seeing. It was really fun to finally have that moment to justify the actions of all of the characters leading up to that, especially for me,\u201d Curtis reflected.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He continued, \u201cI feel like Kanan is so misunderstood, especially the younger version of him. You see he\u2019s doing things out of emotion, and he doesn\u2019t know how to articulate himself. But it\u2019s not simply just to be doing it. It\u2019s not simply to ignore the thoughts and the wisdom of the people around him. He\u2019s simply trying to find himself outside of the things that he\u2019s now been shown. He can\u2019t trust in the way that he wants.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Part of that, Curtis explained, was Kanan saying, \u201cYou did these things, and it hurt me, and I didn\u2019t know how to say that it hurt me because I was never taught how. But I still love you.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt was a constant back and forth between Raq and Kanan showing or saying that they love each other, but missing the mark,\u201d he said. \u201cI think they both had different love languages, and they didn\u2019t know how to come together and actually healthily do that until imminent death was in the air.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Playing Kanan across 5 seasons as part of this crazy world of Southside, Jamaica, Queens, the lesson that the actor is taking with him is a pretty special one.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe lesson is love for me. Not to get all preachy about it, but love is patient. It\u2019s kind. It\u2019s giving space when you need it. It\u2019s letting that person come back when they\u2019re ready. It\u2019s ugly. It\u2019s nasty, and that\u2019s everything that you see happen with these characters on the show, but that\u2019s also everything that\u2019s happened behind the scenes,\u201d said Curtis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think there\u2019s a rare level of vulnerability and safety that was fostered on this set that allowed us to translate with these characters even more. The lesson for me is: keep your heart open. Keep your heart guarded, but always be open and ready for the things that are around you. Be ready to receive, be ready to give,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"683\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Power-Book-Origins-Spence-Moore-22Ghost22-Charlie-Mann-22Tommy22-and-Mekai-Curtis-22Kanan-Stark22.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1236983386\" srcset=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Power-Book-Origins-Spence-Moore-22Ghost22-Charlie-Mann-22Tommy22-and-Mekai-Curtis-22Kanan-Stark22.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Power-Book-Origins-Spence-Moore-22Ghost22-Charlie-Mann-22Tommy22-and-Mekai-Curtis-22Kanan-Stark22.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Power-Book-Origins-Spence-Moore-22Ghost22-Charlie-Mann-22Tommy22-and-Mekai-Curtis-22Kanan-Stark22.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Power-Book-Origins-Spence-Moore-22Ghost22-Charlie-Mann-22Tommy22-and-Mekai-Curtis-22Kanan-Stark22.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Power-Book-Origins-Spence-Moore-22Ghost22-Charlie-Mann-22Tommy22-and-Mekai-Curtis-22Kanan-Stark22.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Power-Book-Origins-Spence-Moore-22Ghost22-Charlie-Mann-22Tommy22-and-Mekai-Curtis-22Kanan-Stark22.jpg?resize=630,420 630w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Power-Book-Origins-Spence-Moore-22Ghost22-Charlie-Mann-22Tommy22-and-Mekai-Curtis-22Kanan-Stark22.jpg?resize=60,40 60w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Power-Book-Origins-Spence-Moore-22Ghost22-Charlie-Mann-22Tommy22-and-Mekai-Curtis-22Kanan-Stark22.jpg?resize=352,235 352w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Power-Book-Origins-Spence-Moore-22Ghost22-Charlie-Mann-22Tommy22-and-Mekai-Curtis-22Kanan-Stark22.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Power-Book-Origins-Spence-Moore-22Ghost22-Charlie-Mann-22Tommy22-and-Mekai-Curtis-22Kanan-Stark22.jpg?resize=110,73 110w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Power-Book-Origins-Spence-Moore-22Ghost22-Charlie-Mann-22Tommy22-and-Mekai-Curtis-22Kanan-Stark22.jpg?resize=285,190 285w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Power-Book-Origins-Spence-Moore-22Ghost22-Charlie-Mann-22Tommy22-and-Mekai-Curtis-22Kanan-Stark22.jpg?resize=320,213 320w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Power-Book-Origins-Spence-Moore-22Ghost22-Charlie-Mann-22Tommy22-and-Mekai-Curtis-22Kanan-Stark22.jpg?resize=640,427 640w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Power-Book-Origins-Spence-Moore-22Ghost22-Charlie-Mann-22Tommy22-and-Mekai-Curtis-22Kanan-Stark22.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Power-Book-Origins-Spence-Moore-22Ghost22-Charlie-Mann-22Tommy22-and-Mekai-Curtis-22Kanan-Stark22.jpg?resize=1280,853 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 250px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Spence Moore (\u201cGhost\u201d), Charlie Mann (\u201cTommy\u201d), and Mekai Curtis (\u201cKanan Stark\u201d)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Onto new business, Curtis has already completed work on the first season of the brand new prequel series <em>Power: Origins<\/em>, a continuation of <em>Raising Kanan<\/em>, both shows from creator Sascha Penn. <em>Power: Origins<\/em> will reunite young James St. Patrick (Spence Moore II) and young Tommy Egan (Charlie Mann) with young Kanan. As a quick reminder, teen versions of James and Tommy appeared in the finale of <em>Raising Kanan<\/em>, played by Maxwell Davis and Andrew Bennett, respectively. At about 13 years old, the boys tried to work with Kanan, but even he had his limits. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat honestly is my favorite part because that is the crossroads that carries through into <em>Origins.<\/em> You can still see a slight shred of care. Kanan sees himself in these two kids, and while it is exciting, he\u2019s like, \u201cOh, we can get into all the things.\u2019 It\u2019s still like, \u2018Nah, they\u2019re still too young. I\u2019m not gonna be the person that exposes you to whatever is going to bring you back here. We get to see how he still kind of cares and nurtures them in <em>Origins<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SPOILER ALERT: The following reveals major plot points from the series finale of the Starz crime drama\u00a0Power Book III: Raising Kanan. It\u2019s no spoiler to discuss Kanan Stark\u2019s survival in the series finale of Starz\u2019s Power Book III: Raising Kanan, with even the most casual of fans knowing that Kanan Stark is alive and well&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36295,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pbk5-508-120924-0177-a-f.jpg?w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36294","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36294","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=36294"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36294\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/36295"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=36294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=36294"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=36294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}