Power Book II: Ghost - 5 Reasons Tariq Will Be A Better Drug Kingpin Than His Father (& 5 Reasons He Will Not)
Like father, like son, chip off the old block, or even cut from the same cloth are phrases that simply refer to children (sons) who act like their parent (fathers). Does this also imply that sons will take on the same professions as their fathers? And if so, will they be just as good? Is this genetic or simply will and/or desire?
What if this is applied to a father and son who reach the highest position in a not so favorable occupation. Sometimes a son has proven to be better at the business than his father and, then again, sometimes not as Tariq St. Patrick (Michael Rainey, Jr.) found out in Starz continuing saga, Power Book II: Ghost.
10 Better: Tariq Has The Support Of His Mother
The greatest support for a son is his mother. Tariq’s mother, Tasha (Naturi Naughton) loves him unconditionally. She went to jail for Tariq and tells him to live his life, get an education, and get away from this detrimental lifestyle.
His father, Ghost or James St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick) did not have that luxury of unconditional love by Tasha (because of lying and cheating) and in the end, it contributed to his downfall. She does everything she can in jail to protect Tariq, including threatening Lorenzo (Berto Colon) to make sure that he is not to be touched.
9 Worst: Tariq Is Young
Tariq is too young to understand the complexities of the drug game. Who to trust versus who not to trust or what to look for at every unexpected turn.
Although he is still learning and has had good mentors in Kanan (Kurtis "50 Cent" Jackson), and Tommy (Joseph Sikora), he is still striving to keep his head above water and stay afloat. For example, he was forced to give money after he blackmailed by 2-Bit (Michael J. Ferguson) who just got out of prison. He also failed to watch his back when Moet’s son, Cane (Woody McClain) sent a hitman to kill him.
8 Better: Tariq Is Smarter and More Patient
Tariq (Michael Rainey, Jr.) does not rush into things. He is methodical, looking at different angles for advantages. Tariq consistently analyzes all the “players” involved to determine their struggles, weaknesses, and how they can benefit him.
Just look at what he did with Effie (Alix Lapri). He got her to supply him with the product for free, using her guilt of getting him expelled from Choate for selling drugs against her.
7 Worst: Tariq Has No Money
It is hard to live up to your father’s drug business/empire that he created when you have no money. The little money that Tariq has is not enough to save his mother from prison plus start or continue the family drug business. He needs business partners/ investors to help him, but this may lead him down the wrong path of who to trust?
He forms a partnership with Monet (Mary J. Blige) and her family where he must give loyalty and respect. When Monet asks him who in her family she can trust, Tariq tells her that she can trust him. Not the two sons or her daughter, but him.
6 Better: Tariq Is Misjudged Due To His Boyish Looks And Innocence
There is a saying, never judge a book by its cover. Tariq has everyone fooled; from his classmates to his professors. People believe that he is a smart kid who never got a chance because of his upbringing.
No one escapes his charm. Tariq has one of his love interests, Lauren (Paige Hurd) bedazzled by his allure. Telling her that he cannot get involved due to his studies, but the real reason is that he is selling drugs on campus with the use of a tutorial program.
He has his college counselor Carrie Milgram (Melanie Liburd) fooled as well. She has helped him with late assignments and arriving to class late because of the demands of the drug business, of course in which she is not aware of. She even speaks to the Dean and his professor, Jabari Reynolds (Justin Marcel McManus) on his behalf.
5 Worse: Tariq Does Not Have The Resources Like His Father
With a high school education, barely any friends except for those he acquired in school, what resources does Tariq bring to the table? The resources he has are relationships built on lies. Tariq uses his charm and the possibility of commitment with three women, Lauren, Effie, and Diana (LaToya Tonodeo) to manipulate them.
Ghost had his night club, Truth, with connections to politicians, city police, and businessmen. Also, Ghost had Tommy (Joseph Sikora) who was his right-hand man (for the majority of the time), and even Angela Valdes (Lela Loren), a government attorney for the FBI.
4 Better: Tariq Is A Better Liar And Manipulator Than His Father
One thing about smooth James St. Patrick was he was a businessman, a non-assuming pillar of the community; or so it was perceived. But as Ghost, he was a lying manipulating sociopath. The only thing less assuming is a teenage boy straight out of high school with boyish looks and a favorable charm. But as viewers, we were quick to find out, “like father, like son.”
Tariq is masterful in his manipulation. Friends and foes never know if he is lying or telling the truth (or at least some version of the truth). His profile is a poor college kid, constrained or influenced by the deadly lifestyle his family provides. But all along, playing the game like a master of chess, he has slowly built his drug empire and sacrificed powers to become king.
3 Worse: Tariq Is Not Strong Like His Father
Tariq wants to be strong, but like every adolescent boy who is in over their head, he often falls short. He wants all the bearings of the fruit but is not willing to roll up his sleeves to sow the seeds.
Often Tariq talks a good game to those who do not know him, but when “the crap hits the fan,” he generally finds himself on the edge of catastrophe. As seen on episode 8 of Power Book II: Ghost, he was on the side of the pool, curled in a fetal position until he is saved by 2-Bit, a former worker for Tommy.
2 Better: Tariq Is All Business, All The Time
Unlike his father, with Tariq, it is all business, nothing personal. At times, Ghost would let his jealously or sociopath tendencies get in his way. For example, although he and Tasha were separated, he hated the fact that his estranged wife was dating her lawyer, Terry Silver (Brandon Victor Dixon). He killed him and left him in the trunk of his car in a parking garage that ultimately led to his demise.
Tariq sets up his allies and foes alike, determining their strengths and weaknesses. His roommate Brayden (Gianni Paolo) is no exception. Bringing him close as a friend but only using him to help generate money for his drug business.
1 Worse: Tariq Does Not Have A Killer Instinct
Tariq protects himself through manipulation and lies. He cannot defend himself very well. He cannot walk into the room and emit fear in the faces of others like his father. When Tariq walks into the room, it has the opposite effect. His adversaries look at him as some sort of joke. They believe that they can take advantage of him because of his boyish looks and young age.
Tariq is hesitant in his means to take action. He is constantly thinking not sure what corrective action to take, especially if it involves violence. Tariq does not have or embrace the cold-blooded mentality until the season finale, “Guess Whose Back” where he realizes that his father may not be here anymore but his spirit lives within him.
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