Genre: Action/Superhero
Director: Steven Caple Jr.
Writers: Jimmy Ellis & H.G. Hansen
Based on DC Comics characters
Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Trevante Rhodes, Mark Rylance, Jimmy Tatro, Mustafa Shakir, Harry Belafonte, Teresa Palmer, Laura Linney, Anika Noni Rose, Mekhi Phifer, Anais Lee, KEvin Bacon, Vanessa Kirby
Plot: In Zambesi, Africa, seated around a fire was children and on a seat, Mari’s mother (Anika Noni Rose), she tells the children of an ancient totem, the Tantu Totem, a fox shaped talisman created by the African trickster god Anasi the spider. It allowed the holder to access the abilities of different animals. Tantu then to use the totem to become Africa's first hero and legend.
Later that night, Mari’s father Richard Jiwe (Mekhi Phifer), walks in and tells Mari (Anais Lee) that one day the totem will be hers. As this happens poachers drive into the village, Mari’s mother confront them and demand they apologize to the gods for killing animals, they instead grab her and take her into a hut where we hear screams, young Mari is crying. Her father runs out to find the poachers gone and villagers crying. He pleads to the gods that his wife is okay. A close up to Mari’s eyes transitions to the next scene.
Mari (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) atop a building looking out for crime, hears alarms of a local jewellery store being raised. A monkey spirit is shown; she climbs down the building and swings along to the store. She finds men stealing. She scratches at the men, who have guns shooting at her but she dodges. A supersonic scream comes from behind the men. It is Black Canary (Vanessa Kirby). Mari walks up to her and gives her a hug. She then asks her what brings her to to her neck of the woods as she never shows up without some news. She says they need to talk, Mari decides to go back to her apartment for a chat.
Back in her apartment Dinah pulls out a folder entitled Zambesi. Dinah says that she has been looking into Zambesi. Dinah tells her to prepare herself and shows Mari a photo of women and children slaughtered, and a man next to that picture. That man is Aku Kwesi (Mustafa Shakir), her mother’s murderer. Mari looks at Dinah but Dinah already knows, she says that she must go back to Zambesi to find him. Dinah nods and hugs Mari.
We go backwards as Richard is having a man train his daughter in hand to hand combat. She knocks the man over and laughs. Richard pulls her to the side. He believes she is ready to be the new totem bearer. However Richard’s half-brother General Maksai wanted the totem for his own and killed his brother for it, but Richard didn’t have the totem he had given it to Mari, who he had told to run.
Ronnie Raymond (Jimmy Tatro) is seen with Caitlin Snow (Teresa Palmer) as they wake up in bed together. They joke along as Ronnie forgets he needs to pick up Professor Stein. Stein (Mark Rylance) gets ready for work as he is frantic. His wife, Clarissa (Laura Linney), helps him find his suitcase and tie. Stein thanks her and she goes for a kiss but he avoids trying to look for his case files. Ronnie honks the horn and Stein heads out without saying goodbye.
Mari is arriving on the plains of Zambesi and heads to her village, as she does four men on motorbikes ride into the village with guns waving; telling all the villagers to come outside, Mari runs over to them. The spirit of the rhino is her and she charges at the men on the bikes, they go flying and some villagers cheer, however others are not as happy, many of the villager ask her to leave as they fear her supernatural powers and don’t want Kwesi to show up with his powers. She tells them not to fear, she will not hurt them, but rather she will try to protect them.
The next day, Kwesi shows up with some other men he yells out to Mari, telling her to come out otherwise he destroys the whole village. She goes out towards him; he insults her and calls her out for not being a true Zambesian. With a look of vengeance in her eye, Mari storms towards Kwesi, she yells, “Listen to me, you monster. Fifteen years ago, you killed a woman, the wife of a priest. I am her daughter and I have come to kill you!” Kwesi called her mother a warning of what was to come, and he sent General Maksai, to kill her father too. Mari charges at Kwesi, however he takes her down. She comes back with the call of “Eagle!” She launches herself towards him and attempts to kick him, however Kwesi doesn’t move, instead he grabs her by the neck and chokes her. He calls her the animal, for not knowing who she is or where she comes from. He slices her stomach and throws her to the ground. Jumping on top of her, he says, “You will die as your mother did.” However he is stopped by one of his goons. Who does not think it would be wise to kill her. The goon does not think it would be wise because she is a guest of the village and Kwesi would look desperate.
Kwesi demands the man’s gun, he hands it over, and Kwesi aims it at Mari. Mari tries to change into every animal she can think of, but her wounds don’t heal. She tries to stand but is kicked back down. Kwesi picks her up by her neck and tells her that it is not over! Before disappearing into thin air. The villagers grow scared as they believe there is black magic at work.
The goon picks up Mari and helps her walk to the desert, she asks the man why he is helping. Jefferson says he is from America and shows off his powers by sending a lightning bolt at a nearby tree. Mari is amazed but feels light headed, Jefferson says that they are coming upon the house of Brother Tabo; he will be able to help her wounds. Mari passes out.
Mari awakens to an old man, she asks who he is, he answers saying he is Brother Tabo and he helped with her wounds. She tries to stand but is still too weak to even sit up. Tabo tells her to rest and regain her strength. Later, Jefferson sits outside the hut looking at the moon. Tabo sits next to him and talks about how the moon always knows how to appear to those who need it. Jefferson gets direct to where Tabo is going with this conversation as he knows he leads with something before his main point. Tabo relates maybe the reason Jefferson is helping Mari is maybe to redeem his own mistakes. Jefferson becomes defensive but he knows what Tabo is talking about and reminds him he can’t go back home. Tabo says a wise man poem about those who leave home never find another. Jefferson tells him to forget it for it’s been too long and it should stay that way. Mari is seen wide awake as she is hearing all of this.
She calls Jefferson in and asks how he got his powers. He acts like he has no idea what she means and she tells him how she hears Tabo talk to him about his past.
He hesitates for a moment but swallows his pride and explains that in his home city of Brick City. Peter Gambi, who was like a second father to him. He explains that Gambi made him a belt that would allow him to control electrical currents; he adds that he used a round item from Zambesi. There were riots about him and it led to the death of his mother. Mari becomes shocked; she apologizes, and asks if it was a totem. Jefferson not sure asks what the totems are. Mari explains about all the totems; there is a life totem, a fire totem, an earth totem, an air totem and a water totem. Mari believes that the round object they used was the air totem.
Professor Stein is seen writing on a chalkboard figuring out an equation. Ronnie makes a joke if Stein ever takes a break. Stein says "The only way to escape the corruptible effect of praise is to go on working." Ronnie loves it when Stein quotes Einstein. It reminds him of his dad and how he tried to get him into science. Stein comes down his ladder and asks if it worked. Ronnie laughs as it's the reason he's Stein's personal assistant. Stein asks what the time is and Ronnie is confused the great Professor Stein doesn't own a watch. Stein remarks how watches or keeping track of time makes him nervous. Ronnie tells him the presentation is about to begin. Stein then hurries to grab his notes or files and hurries off to not be too overly fashionably late.
Stein walks with a purpose as Ronnie asks what the deal is. Stein tells him he can't repeat anything he’s going to say for he has discovered the answer to his atomic molecular transfusion. Ronnie acts like he knows what that means and Stein rolls his eyes. Stein tells him an artifact was found that may be the totem of the Fire God. Ronnie reminds Stein that they both thought it was a myth and magic isn't real. If he can find the source of the totems powers it could mean no one will live without heat or energy. Ronnie is cautious but believes the doc got it handled. Stein doesn't want to waste time and asks how he looks. Ronnie gives him a look and remarks how that's the first time Stein's asked how he looks.
They walk into the room to see a group of investors gathered around. The dean greets Stein and is very excited for this display. Stein excuses his manners and introduces his partner, Ronnie. Ronnie helps the engineering of the machine. The dean then tries to introduce some of the potential investor which Stein is hesitant to do. But the dean just wants to introduce one special guest, one Eobard Thawne (Kevin Bacon).
Eobard is excited for this especially after having him look closely at the machine. Stein gives a look where he is kind of upset and Thawne excuses himself as he can read a room. Stein upsettingly talks to the dean that he was told not to have anyone be near the machine. The dean tells the professor to relax as he was late for the meeting and had to entertain the guest who will be probably paying for this experiment. It was the only way to keep someone like Thawne in the room since he's a main contributor for S.T.A.R. Labs. Ronnie interrupts before Stein loses it and tells the dean that won't be a problem. The dean walks away trying to smooth with the other investors.
Stein begins to hyperventilate as he worries that something might happen now. Ronnie calms him down and says everything will go right the calculations are right. Stein agrees and calms down. He thanks Ronnie as he has no idea what he'd do without Ronnie's people skills. Ronnie smiles and pats the professor on the back. Stein looks at him oddly and then goes to get everything ready.
Stein gives a speech to the investors as he tells them he has for years tried to find a way to eliminate the endless chaotic production of harmful ways to make energy. He says that after finding a way to use some "magical" item to solve this solution he may have ridden the lifeless need for energy. Using clean nuclear energy, he will open the artifact and absorb the key ingredient to complete the process. He credits Ronnie for inventing the device they will use and Ronnie makes a joke how that's history itself since Stein doesn't like to give credit. Everyone laughs as Stein falsely shows amusement. They waste no time to start the experiment.
In a thrilling slow burn way, they begin as the nuclear laser begins to cut into the totem but some readings give off of some danger. Stein ignores this and tells Ronnie to continue anyway.
As they get closer to the core, radars give out a sign that the nuclear energy is becoming unstable. Stein worries as he sees they may have set off a trigger event that the totems energy is not mixing well with the nuclear. Ronnie asks what needs to be done and Stein tells him that show has to shut it off from the inside of the containment zone. Ronnie wastes no time to volunteer but Stein doesn't want to risk his life. Ronnie comforts the professor and how if he guides him through it, everything will be fine.
Ronnie goes to disconnect everything some nuclear energy flakes on him. Ronnie struggles to shut it off as it makes Stein want to go in to help him which the dean is not okay with. Eobard shakes the dean off and Stein goes in. They struggle with the Laser as some nuclear energy and the totems energy flakes on to them. At the last second, they shut it off and everything is okay.
They all breathe a sigh of relief as Ronnie tells the professor he sometimes need to believe in luck but it interrupted but the totems cracks breaking open more and they slowly turn their heads to see the cracks widen and explodes into the containment zone. As the flames shoot out we cut to black.
Mari wakes up in a memory where Tabo helps Mari up when she was wounded. They walk in the plain and he asks for her story, what her hopes are. Mari says that she is here to put an end to Aku Kwesi. Tabo reminds her about how her destiny is to become the protector of the tribes not it’s avenger. Mari interrupts in saying, “I don’t know where Vixen starts and where Mari stops. I also don’t know how much I owe myself and how much I owe the totem.” Tabo puts his hand on the totem, and asks if it’s a part of Vixen. Mari replies it is Vixen without it she can’t focus her powers. Tabo tells Mari to show her powers. She obliges and starts running then saying Falcon, she embraces the Falcon and starts soaring, only to look at Brother Tabo and he is holding the totem, she seems stunned and starts descending uncontrollably, however she gets a grip and flies to the ground safely. She questions Tabo about the totem; she thought she needed it to control her powers and her mind. Tabo tells her she is more than mind, that she is soul. And the soul knows no master. Mari wakes up and looks at her totem as Jefferson is asleep.
Aku is seen walking to a dark alley as he seems to be waiting for someone. He then tells whoever he can hear their breath. Eobard Thawne walks out of the shadows as he is amazed by this. He wants to know if the fire totem has a carrier. Eobard promised to deliver and he did, no one knows what he’s done and Aku should be more grateful considering he grabbed the other totem while his past decided to arrive for him. Aku is upset cause he knows he means Mari and asks where the carrier is now. Eobard tells him the hospital and then walks away. Aku asks what he wants out of this. Eobard tells him he doesn’t like to give out spoilers. A blast of flames shoots into the air.
Mari sees a blast of flames, which wakes up Jefferson. Jefferson asks what that was and Mari notices how the flames are controlled while being wild. Mari knows exactly what’s happening.
People run away from a room in the hospital. Flames can be seen but aren’t spreading. A group of soldiers charge to the room and get ready to contain the threat. Ronnie walks up with white eyes and flames on parts of his body. Ronnie is in a trance of anger as he can hear a voice ringing in his head. He takes out the soldiers. The voice gives a sharp pain as Aku and his gang gather to collect him. Aku uses his abilities to give Ronnie a decent fight.
Mari and Jefferson get to the hospital. Jefferson goes to help get those out before the flames get out of control. Mari isn’t worried though because she knows what it is. Mari runs to the spot and stops when she sees Aku fighting a raging Ronnie. Mari begins to be filled with rage as she now focuses on Aku. Aku seems to have Ronnie in his hands. But Mari charges at him. Aku is caught off guard but is prepared to handle her. Jefferson helps everyone out and quickly heads up to see Mari in blind rage attacking Aku. He goes to help but sees Ronnie screaming to make the voice stop.
Mari almost gets the best of Aku but he counters and begins to choke her. He smiles as he’s glad to kill two birds with one stone. A piece of lighting shoots at him as Jefferson stands tall. Aku looks at the traitor as he will get them all and runs off. Jefferson tells her they need to go before more soldiers get there.
Aku gets to his hiding space as a machine is seen being made. One of the henchmen says something about Mari. Aku slices the guy’s face. Then Aku gets an idea about what the guy just said.
Mari begins to lecture Jefferson about getting in the way which makes him roll his eyes. She sees someone peeking behind the corner. She prepares to fight but Jefferson tells her to relax. Jefferson tells the person it’s okay and we see its Ronnie. Mari can’t believe he brought him here but he reassures her when he tells her what he saw at the hospital. He saw Ronnie was in pain talking about a voice in his head. Jefferson calmed him down and told him where to go.
Mari doesn’t get what he was talking about and he tells her about how he talked about a voice in his head and how he lost his friend. Mari is confused to which Jefferson shows her. He helps Ronnie to control the voice, clear his mind, and connect. Ronnie does this to discover the voice was Stein. Ronnie is filled with happiness as he begins to talk to Stein, who then lectures him. They begin a talk how the experiment formed them together. Ronnie worries about Caitlin as Stein does for Clarissa but they must focus on untogethering.
Mari goes after Aku. Jefferson can’t believe it, after everything that just happened, she still is sidetracked. Mari snaps at him as she would have had Aku if he didn’t interfere. Jefferson can’t believe her short-sightness. They argue as Mari is focused on revenge and Jefferson is ashamed to go home and that will be the same if she went home without her vengeance for her mother. Jefferson tries to comfort her but Mari doesn’t want to hear it.
Mari goes to track Aku down but he was waiting for her. He uses her to find out where Jefferson and Ronnie are and plans to use them to transfer their powers into him along with the other totems. Mari tries to fight him with her anger but he lets her know that’s why she loses. She doesn’t deserve the life totem. He takes the totem from her and then knocks her out.
Mari has a dream sequence where she sees her mother. Her mother acts like she’s seen her minutes ago. Mari says she’s sorry. She looks at her daughter and is proud to see her become a woman. Mari tells her she failed her but she doesn’t believe so. She tells her that what happened was not her fault. The world is full of wickedness but it’s up to those who can challenge to shape it. Mari doesn’t believe she can let go of her anger toward Aku. Her mother tells her Aku is another angry person who is lost, don’t be like him or else you’ll lose everything. Mari doesn’t think she has anything but mother reminds her of her friends she neglected and her home she left. All she has to do is fight for them, not for hate. She kisses Mari on the forehead and Mari is suddenly young again. “I love you… My little vixen…”Mari wakes up and weakly gets up. She looks in the mirror to see her expression has changed.
Aku starts draining the men’s powers. Then Vixen accepting who she is starts using her powers to help free the guys. Vixen outsmarts Aku and uses his anger to blow up the machine, the guys get their powers back. Vixen then goes to take her revenge until she hears both Jefferson and Ronnie stop her and she remembers what her mother said. Aku taunts her into finishing the job but she doesn't cause she isn't like him anymore. Aku then presses a button where the machine goes to blow in case the draining worked and didn't want them to reverse it and then runs away. The gang escapes before the big bang. Aku is running away till a flash shoots past him. The flash knocks him down, he then sees Eobard standing before him. Aku is stunned as Eobard has come for his part of the bargain. He wants the earth and water totems and wants to take the powers for a certain use. Aku has no idea how he would know who to give it to unless he was from, then Eobard's hand is seen vibrating rapidly into Aku's chest. Aku tries to mouth out "speedster" but dies before he can. Eobard reminds him he doesn't like spoilers. Aku is seen dead as a bright red flash speeds past and Eobard is gone.
Mari encourages Jefferson to go home, and tells him what her people call the person holding his power is, Black Lightning. He smiles and chuckles and says he likes it. Ronnie walks up to them as he tells them thank you and they ask what he will do now. Ronnie tells them he and Stein plan to figure away apart. But first Ronnie needs to see a loved one. Jefferson makes a joke about Ronnie being a firestorm when they first met and how funny it is that they're friends. Ronnie smiles as Stein tells him in his head not to be comfortable with the name. Ronnie flies away as Jefferson takes a taxi. He looks back at Mari who looks at the sun. He asks if she'll be okay. Mari turns to reassure him that for the first time, in a long time, she is.
Mari then monologues as we see Ronnie build a device that separates Ronnie and Stein. Clarissa runs to Stein in joy as Ronnie looks at a photo of him and Caitlin. Jefferson returns to Brick City as he stands outside his family home. "My name is Mari and I have been lost for a long time... I lost my way but my friends who have powers like me have shown me what it means when you are lost... Whether you don't know how to go with the changes... Or how to fit your place in the world... I learned I'm not just a protector... That I am not just a hero... I am Vixen... Hear the Animal Kingdom Roar..."
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