Netflix and Marvel have had two great series take place in Hell’s Kitchen with Daredevil and Jessica Jones but now they took us uptown to Harlem for their latest joint venture, Luke Cage. Cage is a character who was introduced to us in season 1 of Jessica Jones and has the ability of super strength and impenetrable skin. The show focuses more on the character and the man behind the extraordinary abilities. I am glad they went this route because a show just based on a man just being invincible for 13 episodes would have gotten old quick.
The show focuses on the black community of Harlem in New York City and their journey to bring back the glory of the neighborhood and stop the violence of the street gangs and the organized crime society. This show is unapologetically Black, in every aspect and you can tell this was done on purpose. From the social issues to historical references and the soundtrack, this show kept its focus on the history and culture of black people living in Harlem. Some people obviously might like it or be turned away by that but the theme is an integral part of the story throughout the season.
As I mentioned before the show focuses more on character development rather than showcasing the power of the protagonist. Mike Colter does an excellent job bringing the character to life with his amazingly close resemblance to his comic book counterpart and the amount of mystery and overall cool factor he delivers on screen. His flashbacks with his wife Reva and his relation with Pops (Frankie Faison) really bring depth to his past and his character. The flashbacks, in particular, give you a glimpse into the past he is always trying to run away from but still leaves you with a few questions we’ll have answered in future seasons.
There are other key relationships that are put into focus throughout the season as well. Two of the key antagonists are the cousins, Cornell ‘Cottonmouth’ Stokes (Mahershala Ali) and Mariah Dillard (Alfre Woodard). One is a notorious gangster and the other is an up and coming politician who seemingly wants to better the community. The mix of their stories and personalities add intrigue to their past since they grew up so close and took two different paths to get to where they are at this point of the story, yet they still share similar traits. Both actors do a great job portraying just how evil and manipulating their characters could be and how they would stop at nothing to claim Harlem as their own.
There is a turning point in the middle of the season where a big event happens and the show goes a completely different direction than anyone could have predicted. I was completely surprised by this moment and it left me wondering where the show was going to take me next. I thought this was a brilliant move, especially considering the power that Luke Cage has and how he has been handling the obstacles in his way up to that point, but once the show takes the turn, he gets tested in ways he was not sure he can handle both physically and mentally.
One of the outstanding aspects of this series is the soundtrack. It is a great mix of hip hop and jazz and really brings the soul of Harlem into every scene with the exceptional score. The heart of the music is not only shown in the scenes themselves but also in the title of every episode. Each episode is titled after a song from the legendary hip hop duo Gang Starr. The influence of hip hop is sprinkled everywhere in the series including appearances from hip-hop pioneers and an iconic scene featuring Cottonmouth and a Notorious B.I.G. canvas.
Some additional standout performances through the show include Simone Missick as Misty Knight, Theo Rossi as Shades, Frankie Faison as Pops and Rosario Dawson reprising her role as Claire Temple. There are also some low points in the show that did bring my score down a bit. The outfit they give the final villain during the last fight was laughable compared to everything we’ve seen in the Marvel universe and some of the minor characters’ acting left much to be desired as well. One huge thing that brought the character of Luke Cage down a little was his flip flopping on whether he actually wanted to help the people of Harlem or just run away and start a new life all over again. It happens way more than it had to for a person who is supposed to be the hero of the story.
In closing, this show was another excellent show in the collection of Marvel/Netflix programs. Compared to the other two shows, Daredevil and Jessica Jones, this would place third for me but it still holds its own as a great addition to the Marvel universe. With Iron Fist coming soon and the announcement of The Defenders show being in the works, this is a great complete introduction to what Luke Cage will bring to the team.
Reel Talk gives the first season of Luke Cage 3 Reels
