Power Ending Explained: Why Tariq Killed Ghost

After six acclaimed seasons, Power came to an end in 2020 by resolving its season-long whodunit premise. Created by Courtney A. Kemp in collaboration with Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Power is a crime drama that centers on James St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick), the smart, smooth-talking drug dealer-turned-nightclub-owner who isn't afraid to be a little ruthless. Known by the alias "Ghost," James struggles to balance his business endeavors with the needs of his family. Ghost's wife, Tasha (Naturi Naughton), and their three kids — namely Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr.) — don't always have the best relationships with James, as the finale proves.

Power's cast of characters is rounded out by Tommy Egan (Joseph Sikora), Ghost's best friend, and Angela Valdes (Lela Loren), James' enduring love interest. All of these principal characters — and a few others, like 50 Cent's Kanan — come into play in the 15-episode final season of Power. At the beginning of the sixth outing, Tommy and Ghost are on the outs, while Tasha plans to move against her ex. It's clear that Ghost's story is meant to end in death, and Power teases various would-be murders who want James dead. In the end, however, the St. Patrick family's story ends in a very Shakespearean way.

Power Finally Reveals That Tariq Killed Ghost

In true anti-hero fashion, James dies at the end of Power's six-season run. "With Ghost, it was always dead or in jail," Kemp explains (via USA Today). "Toward the end of his life, he got arrogant enough to think that he could escape it." Unfortunately for Power's main player, that's not how life works. The identity of Ghost's shooter remains a mystery; for awhile, Tariq, Tasha, and Tommy all seem like fully capable, probable suspects. Both Tariq and Tasha realize that the only way to escape the sticky situations they're both in is to kill Ghost, but, ultimately, Power reveals that Tariq pulls the trigger on his father.

Buoyed by his recent wins, James thinks he's an unstoppable force. And then his son shows up out of the blue. Tariq calls his dad out for years of lies and, most especially, for not revealing his alias. James claims he'll be there for his son, as he's "always" been, but it's also clear Ghost is ready to turn both Tasha and Tariq in for their own criminal activities. "When the f--- are you gonna pay for all the bull---- you've done, huh, dad?" Tariq asks, revealing a gun. After some more verbal back and forth, Tariq decides he can't go back and fires at Ghost, just as Tasha appears.

Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson Returns As Kanan In Power's Finale

Before Tariq resolves to kill his own father, he receives a visit from a key Power character who technically died in season 5. Played by Power's 50 Cent, Kanan was once Ghost's mentor, though he quickly became his drug-dealing rival. In a very Richard III moment, Kanan returns to Tariq as a vision, hammering home Kemp's very Shakespearean take on the St. Patrick family's rise, downfall, and rebirth. Although Kanan's role is minor, his presence definitely pushes Tariq to shoot his father. In doing so, Tariq definitely hopes to distance himself from Ghost's legacy — but that's easier said than done.

Ghost Tells Tommy To Spare Tariq

After Tasha bursts onto the scene of Ghost's death, she panics about what to do next. Tariq assures his mom that he knows what to do and gives her some instructions. Once Tasha leaves, another central character pops up: Tommy. Gun drawn, Tommy runs to his dying best friend's side, propping Ghost up. In previous Power episodes, Tommy promised to be there for Tariq, but that changes very quickly when he puts two and two together. Tommy aims his gun at Tariq, though he doesn't shoot. With his dying breath, Ghost tells Tommy to, "let him go," ultimately sparing his son the same tragic fate.

Tasha Ends Up In Jail At The End Of Power Season 6

After Tariq kills Ghost, Tasha works to shielf her son (and herself) from any involvment in James' downfall. Tasha had actually intended to do the deed herself with the help of her beau, Quinton. Put more precisely, she had planned to lead police into believing Quinton was Ghost's shooter by planting some detailed evidence. However, that doesn't quite pan out. At the very end of the Power season 6 finale, Tasha is arrested for her connections to her ex's death. In the final scenes of the series, Tasha is in a jail cell, unable to skirt the fate that James had wanted to condemn her to before his death.

Tariq Goes To College In The Power Finale

Tariq's Power season 6 ending sets up the show's direct sequel, Power Book II: Ghost, which centers on Tariq. In the parent show's finale, Tariq is able to avoid blame for his father's death. In order to receive the massive inheritence James St. Patrick left behind, however, Tariq must attend and graduate college. In the final scenes of the series, Tariq is in his dorm room, cementing that Ghost follows Tariq as he navigates a new life. In Power Book II: Ghost, Tariq tries to leave his dad's legacy behind, but, given the pressure to keep his family together, he finds himself becoming even more like James.

What Power Season 6's Post-Credits Scene Means

While the main segment of the episode ends with Tasha in jail and Tariq at college, there's still more after the credits role. The Power finale's post-credits scene is a flashback to 1996, and it features high-school versions of Ghost, Tommy, and Angela. While it seems like the perfect setup to a prequel series — Angela even encourages Ghost to check out a college outside the city and escape Queens — Kemp claims it isn't. Instead, she says the flashback moment is "just a coda to our main story" (via USA Today). So far, that's been proven by the content of all four Power shows and spinoffs, but who's to say where the popular franchise goes next.

Sources: USA Today