Review: Luke Cage is the third Marvel character to get his own Netflix
series after being introduced on Jessica
Jones. As with Daredevil and Jessica Jones, Luke Cage has its own unique feel to it. This series takes place
for the most part in Harlem and has a 70s blacksploitation feel to it. The
music very much helps accentuate that feeling. There is also a good amount of
live music sung by known artists.
The
story itself is about Luke Cage cleaning up some crime in Harlem. The storyline
changes a bit in the second half of the season and goes in a different
direction while still somewhat keeping the initial focus. Mike Coulter does a
fantastic job as the titular character. He plays Luke as calm and cool but gets
angry when the time is right. The show has a large cast of supporting
characters. Simone Missick as detective Misty Knight becomes a stronger
character as the season goes along. Her character is a good folly for Luke as
she is at times an ally and an adversary. On the villains side it is hit and
miss. The main villain Cottonmouth, played by Mahershala Ali, is sometimes an
intelligent criminal mastermind, but then he’ll fly off the handle and do
something stupid. His cousin Mariah (Alfre Woodard) is the super fake
politician you love to hate. Theo Rossi as Shades is the most interesting one.
He’s like the devil, whispering in everyone’s ear to do evil acts.
The
action on this show is smaller scale. There isn’t much grandiose superhero fighting.
It keeps in line with Daredevil and
is hand to hand without being overly superheroey. Granted Luke Cage has
bulletproof skin and is super strong, but everything happens with guns and hand
to hand fighting and not flying and eye lasers.
The
show splits in 2 sections. Unfortunately, I found the first half better than
the second. The first part focuses on Cage trying to take down Cottonmouth, whilst
the second part looks into Cage’s origin and brings in another villain. The
second half was less strong primarily because it felt like it was a different
show. There were long stretches that took the characters away from the elements
that made the show what it is. It wasn’t that bad but it was a sidetrack that
took us away from the action.
Overall
it is a good show but not quite as strong as Daredevil and Jessica Jones
were. The season does end conclusively but it does leave some open ends for
another season that are quite interesting and I do look forward to the show’s
eventual return.
Score: 7/10
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