Power's Creator Explains Why You-Know-Who Had to Die

[Warning: The following contains spoilers for the Season 6 premiere of Power. Read at your own risk!]

The wait is over. It's really true: Angela Valdes (Lela Loren) is dead.

After months of speculation from devotees and coy hints from co-creator Courtney Kemp (who said Angela would return for Season 6), Power fans finally learned the tainted prosecutor's fate. After years of putting her safety and career on the line for her lover James St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick), Angela Valdes' luck ran out and she succumbed to the bullets she took from Tommy's (Joseph Sikora) gun. It happened in the first few minutes of the episode, immediately setting into motion events that will no doubt shape the remaining 14 episodes of Power's last season.

Now Ghost wants Tommy dead, Tommy is "at war" with Ghost, investigators are even more resolved to bring James St. Patrick to justice, and Angela's sister Paz (Elizabeth Rodriguez) is more than willing to help them do it. Though Angela's demise might not be altogether shocking -- Power is known for holding no one sacred and, nearing its end, it'll need stakes higher than ever to retain its intensity -- her homicide drastically disrupts the natural order of the show. Why'd Power decide to kill her?

Mary J Blige will star in the first Power spin-off

"It's indicative of how every character on our show is given a choice," Kemp told TV Guide. "They always buy their own death. With Kanan, he bought his death; Tommy says early in the season, 'Stay away from Tariq.' Tommy warned him and what happens? The same is true with Angela. In Episode 510, Paz says to her, 'Come home with me. Don't do this.' Angela can't stay away from him. She loves him. And love is stupid."

Ramifications begin right away. Tasha (Naturi Naughton), ever the strategist, is now aware of the threats she and her family face on all levels, ominously Telling Tommy he "took a shot at the devil and missed." She has to remind Tariq (Naturi Naughton) of just how much Angela kept them all out of prison too, a hint that pressure from the Feds is about to build, quickly. Tommy doubles down on his intention to kill Ghost, recruiting Keisha (La La Anthony) to both hide the weapon and commit to whatever it takes, which puts her at odd with onetime friend Tasha. Ghost sends a first frightening warning to Tommy, riddling the car he thought Tommy was in with more holes than a cheese grater. It's full-on chaos now, and as the show speeds to Episode 8, which Kemp said marks a huge shift, Kemp reminded fans that nobody on Power is safe. "This is a show where anything can happen," she said.

Power airs Sundays on Starz.