Patina Miller: From Broadway Star to Ruthless Queenpin in "Raising Kanan"
Patina Miller has captivated audiences with her multifaceted talent, seamlessly transitioning from acclaimed stage performances to a commanding presence on the small screen. Known for her Tony Award-winning role in "Pippin" and her contributions to productions like "Madam Secretary," "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay," and "Into The Woods," Miller is now firmly entrenched in the world of gritty crime drama thanks to her portrayal of Raquel "Raq" Thomas in STARZ’s "Power Book III: Raising Kanan."
Set in 1990s Southside Jamaica, Queens, "Raising Kanan" delves into the formative years of Kanan Stark, a character originally brought to life by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson in the flagship "Power" series. Miller’s Raq is the driving force behind Kanan’s transformation, a complex and formidable mother figure who rules her drug empire with an iron fist.
Miller’s initial attraction to the role stemmed from Raq’s authentic, multi-layered personality. The character is far from a stereotypical gangster; she is a matriarch, a businesswoman, and a woman grappling with the challenges of navigating a male-dominated world while fiercely protecting her family. Miller, drawing inspiration from 50 Cent’s persona, online resources, and dedicated dialect coaching, meticulously crafted Raq’s distinct New York accent and imposing aura.
"All my theater training has prepared me for this," Miller explained, highlighting the demanding nature of the role. She embraces the complexities of Raq’s character, exploring the weight of motherhood, the pressures of leadership, and the moral compromises required to succeed in the ruthless drug trade.
"Raising Kanan" adheres to a strict code: silence, efficiency, and profit. This comes at a significant cost, one that weighs heavily on Raq as she balances her professional ambitions with her personal relationships. The familial facade, built upon loyalty between Raq and her brothers, the smooth operator Lou-Lou (Malcolm Mays) and the volatile Marvin (London Brown), is constantly threatened by the inherent dangers of their chosen lifestyle.
The series explores the devastating impact of Raq’s choices, particularly on her son, Kanan. Her decision in Season 1 to task the teenager with murdering Detective Howard (Omar Epps), who is later revealed to be Kanan’s biological father, marks a pivotal turning point in their relationship. Miller emphasizes the irreversible damage caused by this act, regardless of Howard’s paternity: "No matter if it was his dad or not, sending your son to go and take a life was 100% the turning point for the relationship."
Despite wielding considerable authority within her organization, Raq is not immune to making mistakes, her shortcomings often leading to devastating consequences. She harbors grand aspirations of building a lasting legacy, but her methods are often twisted and morally ambiguous. This becomes painfully evident in Season 2 when Raq, acting on faulty intelligence, orders the execution of her loyal foot soldier Scrappy (Ade Chike Torbert) for alleged snitching. This decision strains her relationship with Lou-Lou, culminating in a ferocious confrontation in the season finale.
The scene, widely celebrated by fans, features Raq revealing her hidden ownership stake in Lou-Lou’s record label, a venture he sees as his escape from the drug game. She further exacerbates the situation by admitting that Scrappy was innocent, yet berates Lou-Lou for his lack of ruthlessness. The exchange reaches its climax when Raq declares, "I own you," a statement that reverberates throughout the series.
Miller recalls the intensity of filming that scene with Mays, noting the palpable energy between them. "There were a couple of takes where I didn’t put my hand on his face, but there was one take where we were just like feeling it, and I just gently grabbed his face and said, ‘I own you,’ and walked off. It was powerful. We knew we had gotten it at that point."
Miller sees Raq as a groundbreaking figure in the landscape of crime television, traditionally dominated by male characters. Through Raq, she demonstrates that women can be equally complex, strong, and capable of assuming positions of power within these narratives.
"I think men get the opportunity to play these roles," Miller observes. "It’s a very powerful message to send to an audience…that women can be strong and complicated. I love that Raq is not a perfect mother. I love that she makes mistakes. I love how vicious she is, but at the same time, how she’s really devoted to family. She’s a mother, a sister, an aunt, but she’s a boss."
Beyond her ruthlessness, Raq’s character is also defined by her impeccable sense of style. She effortlessly blends 90s high-fashion couture with streetwear influences, creating a distinctive and memorable look that reflects her power and influence. "There’s something classy about Raq, classy about her fashion, but then there’s also something that’s so dope and swagged out," Miller explains. "You can really tell that Raq had a pulse on what was in, what was current at that time."
Despite her hardened exterior, Raq displays vulnerability in her relationships with Unique (Joey Bada$$), her rival-turned-love interest, and her niece, Jukebox (Hailey Kilgore). Her interactions with Jukebox, who grapples with her sexuality, family conflicts, and the loss of her first love, reveal a softer side to Raq’s character.
"I think people love that she’s dangerous, and they say she’s cold-hearted, but not really. She was there as a mother figure for Juke. I think that’s a big thing to take on the responsibility of another person’s child and a role model for her," Miller points out. "I think people don’t see that she is actually a good person that she loves deeply…She’s hard on the family, but that’s because they don’t listen."
The highly anticipated fourth season of "Raising Kanan" promises to further explore Raq’s character evolution, particularly in the aftermath of the shocking events that concluded Season 3. The season premieres on STARZ on March 7 and will delve into the fractured dynamic between Raq and Kanan following the elimination of Unique’s brother Ronnie (Grantham Coleman) and Detective Howard.
"At the beginning of the [new] season, she and Kanan are not in the same place as they used to be, but they found a way to be in each other’s orbit as business partners," Miller reveals. "Kanan and Raq are on their own paths this season of trying to build up their businesses separately. And you know, once you have power, you want to hold on to that power, and power makes people act a certain way. And Raquel, we all know, to keep the power, she might do whatever she has to do."
With Season 4 poised to deliver even more suspense, drama, and character development, Patina Miller’s portrayal of Raq Thomas solidifies her position as one of the most compelling and unforgettable figures in contemporary television. Her ability to embody the complexities of a ruthless queenpin while simultaneously revealing glimpses of vulnerability and humanity ensures that Raq remains a captivating force within the "Power" universe.
