SPOILER ALERT: The following reveals major plot points from theseries finaleofStarzsPower Book II: Ghost.
Could there be a third?
More on that in the Q&A below.
Michael Rainey Jr as Tariq St. Patrick in the ‘Power Book II: Ghost’ series finaleStarz
What has this journey been like playing this character and growing with him?
MICHAEL RAINEY JR.: Man, it is a second ending.
I think thats crazy.
Caroline Chikezie as Noma in ‘Power Book II: Ghost’Starz
The journey portraying Tariq has been a roller coaster.
Its been super fun.
You know, people hated me for all the crazy stuff I was doing in the beginning.
[Laughs] Fast forward, it turned like a 180 which was super dope to experience.
This has been a blessing.
DEADLINE:You had many impactful moments in the finale but one sticks out the most.
seems as if, for the first time, Tariq feels worthy of the title.
In that moment, Tariq realizes, yeah, this is what Ghost would do.
This is the scene where Tariq fully accepts that hes just like his dad, for sure.
At that point, hes like, Forget all that!
So he kicks back into gear and he heads back out.
He just loves the thrill of being on the streets.
Its an inevitable conversation for the future.
RAINEY:Yeah [laughs], you see that little hallucination that he has and everything.
It all goes back to his history with his dad.
Unfortunately, that was taken from him way too early.
You know, you guys didnt even get to see half of what that was gonna be like.
DEADLINE:What could that have looked like?
RAINEY: Man, who knows what Tariq St. Patrick Jr would have been like.
He probably would have been the best gangster/businessman ever!
He would have had a little bit of Tariq and Diana and a little bit of Ghost.
He would have beenthat guy.I feel like he would have beenthat dude.
Diana wouldnt have let him be in the game but he would also be Tariqs son.
Whos gonna stop him when he wants what he wants?
RAINEY: They would be a great couple, you know?
Diana is the balance that Tariq needs.
Plus, she doesnt push him towards living a different life because she knows the street life.
Diana knows everything basically, so that would make for a relationship with good balance.
Thats actually crazy because I didnt make that connection before.
That is some foreshadowing right there, theyre on the same little path right now.
DEADLINE:Its been great seeing the return of Naturi playing your mom in the last couple of seasons.
Particularly in Season 3 when Tasha and Tariq reunite with Tommy (Joseph Sikora).
What was it like on set bringing the OGs back together?
RAINEY: Man, man, man, man, shooting that was dope.
It felt like the originalPowerdays.
It brought us back to a moment in time, a full-circle moment.
You never knew when something was about to happen but it was always so fun.
It definitely felt like the old days.
DEADLINE:Do you think Ghost would approve of how his son turned out?
RAINEY: I think he would be disappointed and turning in his grave.
[Laughs] Or maybe, he could have made peace with his son turning out just like him.
Look, its over with now and we cant even…
DEADLINE:Is it over though?
RAINEY: Listen, in our universe … Coming back from the dead is like, I dont know.
MRJR:[Laughs] We gotta get you to write the return of Ghost.
RAINEY:[Fake crying and laughing] Its so sad and I hated that.
It reminds me of when Ghost and Tommy were beefing and had their problems.
Its like, Ah, no, were supposed to be [tight].
Why cant we be brothers like were supposed to be?
But, you know, things happen.
Sometimes people end up having to take different paths.
[Tariq] had to make that decision even though he didnt want to for their mutual benefit.
Brayden has a drug problem right now and hes dealing with losing Elle (Talia Robinson).
Hes not focused and for what we do, you have to be on point.
Do you read those?
MRJR:Ive seen a lot of Tweets like that.
I read these fan theories and Im like, Yo!
Yall be cooking up though.
The theories be crazy and there are so many different ones.
My favorite one is about Kanan being Tariqs dad; that was the funniest theory.
They say Kanan slept with Tasha back in the day and hes Tariqs dad.
What can you share?
MRJR:I dont know what is going on.
You know, the Power Universe never ends.
Personally, Im just excited to see what they got next.
[When I read that scene], I was thinking, What are yall talking about?
Im excited for whatever.
If they call me, Im picking up my phone.
Im just about giving the fans what they want.
If they want Tariq to live until hes 50, Ill do that.
Tariq is just a call away.
I might just have to cut my hair first.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
