Patina Miller is an undeniable powerhouse as the queenpin Raquel “Raq” Thomas in Power Book III: Raising Kanan. As the matriarch of a family-ran drug empire, Miller effortlessly brings her character to life, captivating audiences with her strength, commanding presence, and unapologetic confidence. Ahead of the fourth season of the hit Starz series, Miller opened up to VIBE about the importance of representation — particularly in roles that highlight what it looks like for a Black woman to sit at the top of a criminal empire.
“I think it’s super important,” she says of portraying powerful women in roles traditionally dominated by men. “We see men playing these roles all the time, and it’s celebrated, but when women portray these same characteristics, it often comes with a negative connotation.” Miller also believes that Raq, much like Mary J. Blige’s Monet Tejada character in Power Book II: Ghost, challenges the typical depiction of women as merely emotional or nurturing figures.
“This type of woman… she’s powerful, she’s resilient, she’s a dreamer. She owns herself,” Miller explains. “And I think that’s really amazing to watch.”
Elsewhere, Miller teased that fans should “expect the unexpected” this season, as viewers will get a deeper glimpse into Raq’s vulnerabilities, especially in her relationships with her son Kanan (Mekai Curtis), and Unique (Joey Bada$$). “There are some moments where you get to see, not the softer side, but the more vulnerable side,” she teased. “It’s family drama on a much larger scale this season. It’s real big family drama with meaningful stuff that’s going to start happening.”
Regarding Raq’s complicated bond with Unique, Miller explained how the perceived loss of her lover/opp has impacted her more than she anticipated. “Unique coming back is going to be entirely different… It’s going to be interesting to watch them navigate whatever they have between them,” she revealed. As Raq now runs the business Unique once started, the tension surrounding that shift will unfold throughout the season.
Miller also touched on the evolving relationship between Raq and Kanan, which has matured significantly over the course of the show. “At this point, there are no more lies between the two of them. Kanan is who he is, and Raquel is who she is. They see each other,” she explained. The two are now business partners, navigating their shared world with a new understanding and less of a personal input.
Check out the fourth season trailer for Power Book III: Raising Kanan below, along with Patina Miller’s thoughts on her character, Raq, above.
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