Power Book III: Raising Kanan landed on STARZ in 2021 as a standalone prequel to the crime drama Power. It follows Kanan Stark as a young man in South Jamaica, Queens, in 1991, getting into the drug game to help his mother’s growing business. The series ran five seasons, 48 episodes, and ended on August 7, 2026. This review covers the show’s strengths, its cast, and why it earns a perfect score.
Trailer, via STARZ.
The Premise
Kanan Stark is the focus of Power Book III: Raising Kanan. The series is set in 1991, and it follows him as he comes of age in South Jamaica, Queens. His mother, Raquel “Raq” Thomas, runs a drug business, and Kanan helps her grow it. The show is a prequel to Power, and it treats Kanan as a character who later appears in that series, first played by executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
The Cast
Mekai Curtis plays Kanan Stark. Patina Miller plays Raquel “Raq” Thomas, his mother. Hailey Kilgore plays LaVerne “Jukebox” Ganner. London Brown plays Marvin. Malcolm M. Mays plays Louis “Lou-Lou” Thomas.
The Seasons
The series premiered on July 18, 2021. Its third season began on December 1, 2023. Ahead of that premiere, the show was renewed for a fourth season, which started on March 7, 2025. On March 27, 2024, the series was renewed for a fifth and final season, which began on June 12, 2026.
What Works
The show succeeds because it commits fully to its setting and its characters. The 1990s New York of the series is rendered with care, and the relationships between Kanan, his mother, and his friends carry the weight of the story. The crime drama genre is handled with confidence, and the show does not shy away from the violence and corruption that define it.
Comparing the Spin-Offs
| Series | Premiere Date | Setting | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Original series | Various locations, present day | Tommy Egan |
| Power Book II: Ghost | Second spin-off | Various locations, present day | Tariq Stokes |
| Power Book III: Raising Kanan | July 18, 2021 | South Jamaica, Queens, 1991 | Young Kanan Stark |
The table shows how Power Book III: Raising Kanan differs from the other spin-offs in the franchise. While those shows are set in the present day, this one travels back in time to a specific neighborhood and era.
The Final Season
The fifth season brought the series to a close. It wrapped up the story of Kanan’s youth and set the stage for his future role in Power. The ending ties directly into the larger narrative of the franchise, giving longtime viewers a satisfying payoff.
Why It Scores Perfectly
Power Book III: Raising Kanan succeeds because it respects its audience and its characters. It does not rely on cheap thrills or easy answers. Instead, it builds a world that feels lived-in and populated with people who matter.
The show also benefits from strong performances across the board. Mekai Curtis carries the lead with conviction, and Patina Miller anchors the series as the mother figure. The supporting cast, including Hailey Kilgore, London Brown, and Malcolm M. Mays, rounds out the ensemble with depth.
The show’s commitment to its setting is notable. The 1990s New York of South Jamaica, Queens, is rendered with specificity, and the show takes care to situate its characters within a particular moment in time. That attention to detail pays off in a story that feels grounded and real.
The series also handles its crime drama elements with skill. The show does not shy away from the violence and corruption that define its world, but it balances those elements with character development and emotional weight. The result is a show that feels both tense and human.
The Verdict
Power Book III: Raising Kanan is a standout entry in the Power franchise. It tells a compelling story about a young man coming of age in a difficult environment, and it does so with intelligence, craft, and a clear sense of purpose. The show’s dedication to its setting and its characters is evident throughout, and its final season delivers a satisfying conclusion that ties into the larger narrative of the franchise.
The show’s perfect score reflects its consistent quality across all five seasons. From its premiere in 2021 to its finale in 2026, it maintained a high standard of storytelling, acting, and production. It is a worthy addition to the Power universe and a strong example of the crime drama genre.
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