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Draft:Dru Tejada

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Dru Tejada
Power Book II: Ghost character
First appearance
  • "The Stranger"
  • 2020
Created byCourtney A. Kemp
Portrayed byLovell Adams-Gray
In-universe information
Occupation
  • Artist
  • Drug dealer and gangster
AffiliationTejada organization
Family
  • Monet Tejada (mother)
  • Lorenzo Tejada (father)
  • Cane Tejada (brother)
  • Diana Tejada (sister)
  • Zeke Cross (half-brother)
Significant other
  • Everett Neal (Season 1-3)
  • Gordo Castillo (Season 3)
OriginQueens
Nationality American

Dru Tejada is a character from the Starz crime drama series Power Book II: Ghost, created by Courtney A. Kemp and portrayed by Lovell Adams-Gray. He is a reluctant drug dealer and artist disinterested in his family's criminal legacy. Created in part to challenge the series' audience, the character marked one of the first major LGBTQ representation in the Power Universe franchise.

Background

[edit]

As part of her aims to "challenge her audience" and incorporate discussion on race, gender, and sexuality on her shows, Book II showrunner and Power Universe co-creator Courtney A. Kemp, despite possible pushback, created Dru, the gay son in a drug-dealing family who starts a relationship.[1] Kemp was inspired by the Godfather character Michael Corleone in Dru's conception.[2] Dru is an artist who does not desire his family's legacy of drug dealing, and starts to pursue his independence after meeting the protagonist Tariq St. Patrick and being romantically involved with a member of his half-brother Zeke's basketball team.[3] The character is introduced in the series' first episode, "The Stranger".[4] Dru is the second-born child among siblings of Black and Puerto Rican descent.[2][5]

Dru's actor, Lovell Adams-Gray, studied Dru's favorite artist Jean-Michel Basquiat's art and took drawing classes to prepare for the role.[6]

Storyline

[edit]

Power Book II: Ghost

[edit]

Dru starts as a drug dealer reluctant to be in his family's drug trafficking organization,[3] acting as the peacemaker to the enforcement of his violent elder brother, Cane.[7][8] After his mother Monet, who leads the Queens-based family in her incarcerated kingpin husband Lorenzo's absence,[9] assigns the college student Tariq as their new business partner, she tasks Dru to tail him to his university, where Dru meets and starts a relationship with closeted basketball player Everett at an art class.[10] Dru defies the family as he continues his affair with Everett,[11][12] but the relationship later ends as Everett cannot fully accept his criminality.[13][14][15]

Meanwhile, Lorenzo wants him to be his successor as the family's leader because of Dru's levelheadedness and "decision-making abilities,"[16] which puts Dru into conflict with the impulsive and emotional Cane upon Lorenzo's release from prison as he prepares Dru for the role.[2][16] Dru later falls in love with Gordo Castillo,[15] a friend from a rival crime family,[13][17][18] who encourages Dru to take over the Tejada organization,[13][19] but their relationship dissolves when Dru kills him after Gordo murdered Lorenzo.[20][21][22][23] Having learned Monet's involvement in their father's death, and having tired of being under her control, Dru and his sister Diana attempt to set her up to die, which incites Monet, Tariq, and Cane to retaliate, but Monet decides to spare their lives upon learning about Diana's pregnancy.[24][25]

Over the course of the show, Dru evolves from being the compassionate child in a criminal family to a ruthless killer.[26][27] He also accepts his criminal side.[14] In the end, Dru decides to pursue legitimacy and return to his artistic pursuits after his mother's death,[28] following a series of personal losses to the drug business.[29]

Reception

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According to Kemp, more of Book II's audience received Dru as a gay character positively than not. Additionally, Kemp stated that a number did not like the inclusion of a gay character, with some negatively comparing it to the 2015 series Empire.[1]

Dru is one of the first central LGBTQ characters in the Power Universe franchise,[17] while his relationship with Everett marked one of its first LGBTQ relationships.[30][17] Ty Cole of Revolt described Dru as a "queer person who is strong, multidimensional, and can thug it out like the other guys" and stated that he commends Adams-Gray's "dynamic" portrayal.[31] Brenda Medley of Popculture.com stated that unlike most other series, Power's LGBTQ characters, particularly ones of color such as Dru, are not side characters "without much development".[22] Autostraddle's Carmen Phillips wrote that in the franchise Dru has "the juiciest of gay plots".[17] Dru and Everett's first intimate encounter caused surprised reactions among some fans on social media, who mentioned their unease with the situation.[32][33][30] Rapper Snoop Dogg expressed his surprise of Dru's homosexuality to producer 50 Cent on Instagram, after the latter posted a video Dogg sent him of him watching the aforementioned scene.[34][33][30] While Cent stated that Dogg must not have liked the episode as a result, Dogg clarified that it "threw him for a loop" after having just seen the show depict murder.[34][33]

Of Dru's transformation into a killer from his initial unwillingness, Panama Jackson of TheGrio wrote that Dru is "the one person who has morphed into the version of himself he least wanted to be", and that he tries to "understand a world where Dru Tejada — the artsy kid who hated the drug game — is even realer than his gangster brother, Cane", comparing Dru to a "future movie assassin".[26] Whitney Evans of TV Fanatic described Dru's "cold-blooded" turn as "intriguing", and stated that it surprised her.[27] Evans stated that Dru has "come a long way from the guy we met in season one", and described his pursuit of independence from his mother as a "new side" that has "been welcome."[35]

Appearances

[edit]
Power Universe
Year Title Notes Ref.
2020–2024 Power Book II: Ghost Main role [36]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b O'Connell, Mikey (October 7, 2021). "Courtney A. Kemp Is Trading 'Power' for Scale at Netflix: "I Want to Challenge My Audience"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Tinubu, Aramide (March 18, 2023). "'Power Book II: Ghost' Dru Is Slowly Transforming Into Someone Heartless". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Witter, Brad (September 6, 2020). "Meet The Cast Of Power Book II: Ghost". Bustle. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  4. ^ Yates, Shanique (September 3, 2024). "'Power' And 'Power Book II: Ghost' Top Moments". Blavity. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  5. ^ Tinubu, Aramide (June 24, 2021). "'Power Book II: Ghost': Woody McClain Says He Relates to His Character Cane Tejada on 1 Topic". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  6. ^ "Alumni Spotlight: Lovell Adams-Gray". Canadian Film Centre. August 3, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  7. ^ Roots, Kimberly (September 20, 2020). "Power Book II: Ghost Recap: While Tejada's Away, Monet Has Her Say". TVLine. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  8. ^ Shivonne, Adeja (March 17, 2023). "Woody McClain says playing 'Cane' in Power Book II, is "like therapy"". Fox 5 New York. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  9. ^ Reed, Anika (September 4, 2020). "'Power Book II: Ghost': Mary J. Blige on her role as a 'queenpin' survivor in sequel series". USA Today. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  10. ^ Roots, Kimberly (September 27, 2020). "Power Book II: Ghost Recap: Cash Money Millionaires". TVLine. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  11. ^ Anderson-Niles, Amanda (2022). "'Power Book II: Ghost' Recap: Time is Running out for Tariq + Dru Struggles to Be Ruthless". Urban Belle Magazine. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  12. ^ Roots, Kimberly (December 6, 2020). "Power Book II: Ghost Recap: Which Member of Tommy's Crew Is Back? (And Should Tasha Be Worried?)". TVLine. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  13. ^ a b c Smith, Terrell (March 17, 2023). "Meet the Power Book II: Ghost season 3 cast — who's who in the hit show". What to Watch. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  14. ^ a b Kundu, Tamal (March 25, 2023). "Why Did Dru Kill Nick the Personal Trainer in Power Book II: Ghost?". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  15. ^ a b Garrett, Ural (May 6, 2023). "Power Book II: Ghost season 3 episode 8 recap — Dru cracks". What to Watch. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  16. ^ a b Jennings, Kyesha (January 9, 2022). "Power Book II: Ghost Recap: Reunited, But Does It Feel So Good?". Vulture. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  17. ^ a b c d Phillips, Carmen (September 12, 2023). "A Guide to Starz Smash Hit "Power" Book Universe (But Only the Gay Parts)". Autostraddle. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  18. ^ Nelson, Byron (2023). "Power's Dru And Cane Tejada Bodied The Whole Castillo Family After Evelyn Castillo Threatened Monet Tejada". Landon Buford. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  19. ^ "Prime Video: Power Book II: Ghost - Season 3". Prime Video. Retrieved December 30, 2024. As Dru's ties to the drug game continue to drive a wedge between him and his boyfriend, he finds himself reconnecting with an old family friend, Gordo. [...] Gordo encourages Dru to show his family that he should be the one to take the Tejada throne. [...] their families' relationship takes a toll on their budding romance.
  20. ^ Garrett, Ural (April 29, 2023). "Power Book II: Ghost season 3 episode 7 recap — Dru seeks revenge for Lorenzo's murder". What to Watch. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  21. ^ Okon, Wongo (April 28, 2023). "'Power Book II: Ghost': Deal Or No Deal In Season 3, Episode 7". Uproxx. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  22. ^ a b Medley, Brenda (May 1, 2023). "'Power Book II: Ghost's' Lovell Adams-Gray and Erik Hernandez on Dru's Quest for Love, Impact of Lorenzo's and Gordo's Murders, and LGBTQ+ Representation (Exclusive)". Popculture.com. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  23. ^ Evans, Whitney (May 5, 2023). "Power Book II: Ghost's Lovell Adams-Gray & Erik Hernandez Talk Dru and Gordo's Relationship & Gordo's Fatal Flaw". TV Fanatic. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  24. ^ Jackson, Kourtnee (June 28, 2024). "'Power Book II: Ghost' Actors Discuss Diana and Dru Running for Their Lives". CNET. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  25. ^ Jacob, Ennica (June 28, 2024). "'Power Book II: Ghost' Stars Tease How Diana & Dru's Plot to Kill Monet May Reunite Tejada Family". TV Insider. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  26. ^ a b Jackson, Panama (September 16, 2024). "'Power Book II: Ghost' Season 4, Episode 7: Dirty Diana doth dare do dastardly deeds … and other things". TheGrio. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  27. ^ a b Evans, Whitney (September 13, 2024). "Power Book II: Ghost Season 4 Episode 7 Review: I Can't Fix This". TV Fanatic. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  28. ^ Roots, Kimberly (October 4, 2024). "Power Book II: Ghost Series Finale: Who Lived? Who Died? Who Came Out on Top? Plus — Grade It!". TVLine. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  29. ^ "Prime Video: Power Book II: Ghost - Season 4". Prime Video. Retrieved December 30, 2024. [...] After losing two lovers and a father to the world they live in, Dru begins to wonder if there's any true peace waiting for him at the end [...]
  30. ^ a b c Henderson, Taylor (May 24, 2024). "From Broadway star to shaking ass, Bradley Gibson enters his pop star era". Out Magazine. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  31. ^ Cole, Ty (July 25, 2024). "Hear from the "Power Book II: Ghost" cast about all the drama that has had fans on the edge of their seats". Revolt. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  32. ^ Jones, Jiggy (September 29, 2020). "Snoop Dogg Shocked By Gay Scene in Recent Episode of 'Power Book II: Ghost'". The Source. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  33. ^ a b c "Snoop Dogg reacts to gay scene in 50 Cent's 'Power Book II: Ghost'". Capital Xtra. September 30, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  34. ^ a b Eustice, Kyle (September 29, 2020). "Snoop Dogg Screenshots 'Power Book II: Ghost' Gay Sex Scene To 50 Cent On Instagram". HipHopDX. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  35. ^ Evans, Whitney (July 22, 2024). "Power Book II: Ghost Season 4 Midseason Report Card". TV Fanatic. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  36. ^ Grobar, Matt (August 6, 2024). "'Power Book II: Ghost' Star Lovell Adams-Gray Signs With Luber Roklin Entertainment". Deadline. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
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