Power Book IV: Force – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Power Book IV: Force

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2022

55%

WISE Score

8.1

IMDb

Tommy Egan trades NYC for Chicago to do what he does best: break hearts, bones, and every drug law in the book.

8.1/10

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Power Book IV: Force

show

TV-MA, 2022

55%

WISE Score

8.1

IMDb

Tommy Egan trades NYC for Chicago to do what he does best: break hearts, bones, and every drug law in the book.

8.1

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8.1/10

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Screenwise Verdict

Tommy Egan is the guy you love to watch but would never want to meet in an alley. Force delivers exactly what the Power universe promises: high-stakes drug deals, brutal betrayals, and a body count that rivals a small war.

It’s well-made and Joseph Sikora carries the show with ease, but there isn't a 'wholesome' bone in its body. It’s strictly for the grown-ups who want a gritty escape after the kids are in bed. If you're looking for moral lessons or 'safe' viewing, you're in the wrong neighborhood. But if you want a fast-paced crime epic, this is one of the better ones out there.

Age Fit

This is for adults, period. If your teenager is watching this, they're seeing things you probably aren't ready to discuss over breakfast. It's a solid 18+ recommendation.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The show centers entirely on the drug trade, revenge, and criminal empires. There is zero intent to be wholesome here.

Imaginative

While it's a spin-off using established tropes, the move to Chicago allows for some fresh world-building and clever power-play dynamics.

Safe

Extreme graphic violence, frequent nudity, explicit sex scenes, and constant heavy profanity. It is the definition of 'not for kids.'

Enriching

The acting—particularly Joseph Sikora's—is top-tier for the genre, and it offers a look at loyalty and the weight of past choices, even if those choices are all illegal.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Joseph Sikora is magnetic as Tommy Egan, arguably the best character in the Power universe.
The pacing is an absolute adrenaline shot for fans of gritty crime dramas.
Chicago provides a cold, cinematic backdrop that feels much grittier than the previous New York settings.

⚠

What to Watch For

It's a Starz show, so expect the 'triple threat' of graphic violence, explicit sex, and enough swearing to make a sailor blush.
The storyline glamorizes high-level drug dealing and organized crime throughout.

Conversation Starters

"Is Tommy actually a 'good' guy to his friends, or is he just a shark who knows how to act human?"
"How does the show portray the difference between the NYC and Chicago drug scenes?"
"What’s the actual cost of the 'kingpin' lifestyle shown here beyond just the money?"

Deep Dive

The Tommy Egan show

If you watched the original Power, you know Tommy Egan was always the wildcard. While other characters were busy trying to go "legit" or worrying about their public image, Tommy was the one comfortably leaning into the chaos. Moving him to Chicago for Force was the smartest move the franchise made. It strips away the baggage of the New York City ensemble and lets the show focus on what works: a high-octane, unapologetic crime thriller.

Critics and fans on Reddit generally agree this is the strongest spin-off in the universe, largely because it doesn’t try to be a prestige drama. It knows it’s an adrenaline rush. The acting feels more grounded than some of the more "soap opera" moments in Ghost, and the pacing is relentless. If you’re looking for a show where you can actually root for a guy who is objectively a "walking liability," this is your fix.

Chicago as a character

The shift from New York to Chicago isn't just a change of scenery. The show treats the city like a cold, industrial battlefield. It introduces the Flynn family—local Irish mob royalty—who provide a different kind of friction than the street-level dealers Tommy dealt with back East. The conflict here feels fresher because Tommy is an outsider. He doesn't know the rules, he doesn't care about the established hierarchies, and watching him dismantle a city’s entire criminal infrastructure by sheer force of will is incredibly satisfying.

The cinematography leans into the "Windy City" vibe, using the architecture and the weather to make everything feel a bit more brutal and isolated. It’s a "balls to the wall" production that looks and feels more expensive than your average cable drama.

The "after hours" calculus

This is the quintessential "kids are finally asleep" show. It is loud, graphic, and intense. Because it’s on Starz, the creators have a blank check for violence and nudity, and they cash it in every single episode. There is no version of this show that is appropriate for a family movie night.

If you’re sharing a Starz account with a teenager who thinks they’re ready for this, check out our Starz Streaming: A Parent’s Guide to PINs, Profiles, and 'Power' before you hand over the remote. You’ll want those profiles locked down because the jump from a PG-13 action movie to Force is a massive one.

If you liked Sons of Anarchy or The Shield

If your viewing history includes shows about "bad" men with a strict personal code, Force will hit the spot. It shares that same DNA of high-stakes betrayal and shifting alliances. It’s less about the "why" of the drug trade and more about the "how." Tommy Egan isn't looking for redemption; he's looking for a throne. As long as you’re okay with a protagonist who is a true anti-hero, this is one of the most entertaining rides on TV right now.

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