The Tasha/Shawn scenes in the episode, for instance, feel like missed opportunities to do something new, so they drag to some extent. It’s more that that deliberate pacing isn’t doing any favors for some storylines. It’s not that the other developments going on in Power are poor. That’s a rare gift and it’s one that’s easily taken for granted in a secondary role, but it gives the episode an added layer of entertainment that it’s somewhat in need of. Tommy loves this part of his job, and when he’s in full attack mode with that twisted grin on his face, it’s impossible to see Sikora acting on the screen–he is Tommy. It’s also the way Sikora’s face lights up when Ghost is essentially telling Tommy to take care of the drug dealer who brought in the bad coke in last week’s episode. It’s not just that he’s able to (kind of) stand in for Ghost at the sit-down and take charge in a way that’s probably unnatural to him (Tommy is best used as an enforcer, not a leader). Maybe more indicative of the character, though, is what Ghost asks of him in the episode. That is who he is, and people will either find it repulsive or weirdly charming. And, when given the opportunity, he throws down with some guy who is trying to make a move on Holly. He tells stories about growing up fighting as he pounds his drinks back. What’s most enjoyable about Tommy as a character is that he is never putting on a facade, and he’s never asked to be someone he’s not (something that almost every other character in the series has to do at some point).

Having made dinner reservations, he instead drags her into the first bar they pass on the street, which is certainly where he feels more comfortable.

Tommy’s date with Holly is actually kind of cute in a “this guy is totally out of his element” kind of way. Yet, “Who Are You?” is a great example of how that character works within Power and how Joseph Sikora brings him to life so well and believably. Tommy, however, is a bit more tricky to structure episodes around. The enigmatic Ghost demands attention all on his own through sheer force and confidence. With that style of storytelling, Power allows itself to pay more attention to its characters than its plot. There are moments when the pace quickens to what you might expect from a thriller, but they are few and far between–and for good reason, it seems. Power, Season 1: Episode 4 – “Who Are You?”Īlready halfway through its first season, Power has shown no interest in leaving its story in fifth gear.

Starz power season 1 episode 4