Marvel and Netflix looks to have another solid hit on their hands with Marvel’s Luke Cage starring Michael Colter. Luke Cage is the third series to premiere on Netflix and is also the third piece of what will become the Defenders along with Daredevil, Jessica Jones and the soon the be released Iron Fist that is set to debut on March 17, 2017. The following is a breakdown of the 13-Episode first season. Warning, spoilers ahead…
In the series opener, “Moment of Truth”, we’re introduced to Luke Cage as a low-key sweeper at a Harlem barbershop that’s owned by an ex-gangster Henry “Pop” Hunter (Frankie Faison). We also learn that he’s a dishwasher at a nightclub called Harlem’s Paradise, owned by local crime boss Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes (Mahershala Ali). When an arms deal goes terribly wrong and Stokes money goes missing, detectives Mercedes “Misty” Knight (Simone Missick) and Rafael Scarfe (Frank Whaley) take on the investigation. We’re later introduced to “Shades” Alvarez (Theo Rossi) who we’ll learn has ties to Cage’s past and works for arms dealer “Diamondback” Stryker, as he helps Stokes track down his money and the person who stole from him. Meanwhile, Cage confronts some street thugs trying to shakedown his landlady by demanding “contribution” or more accurately, protection money as part of an initiative that is led by Stokes cousin, Councilwoman Mariah Dillard (Alfre Woodward).
A drive-by shooting by one of Stokes men ends up accidentally killing Pop and injuring who of the men who stole from Stokes. Angered by Pop’s death, Stokes kills the man responsible. Detective Knight becomes suspicious of Cage as problems seem to follow him and yet he remains unharmed. Honoring Pops memory, Stokes pays for the funeral and warns Cage to let things go and to not pursue any further action that could result in Cage being the next one who has a funeral. Cage ignores his warning and starts to retaliate against some of Stokes local interests. War between the two has only just begun.
As it would turn out, Stokes has a cop on his payroll, Detective Scarfe who has already killed for him. Stokes learns of Cage’s location and uses a missile to take him out. While trapped in the rubble, we get to see through flashbacks a lot of Cage’s past at Seagate Prison where he went by his given name of Carl Lucas. It is here where the connection between Cage and Alvarez is shown as they were both inmates. At Seagate, Cage is forced to engage in some illegal fights by C.O. Rackham. When prison psychologist Dr. Reva Connors learns of this, she and Cage try to expose Rackham only to have Rackham find out about it and have Cage brutally beaten and a friend of his, a fellow inmate by the name of Squabbles murdered. Connors asks Dr. Noah Burstein, a scientist who conducts experiments on inmates to save Cage. He complies but Rackham interferes. Rackham’s sabotage is what gives Cage his powers. Cage escapes the prison and adopts the name “Luke Cage”.
With Cage still alive, Alvarez offers Stokes a weapon stolen from Hammer Industries nicknamed the Judas that could kill Cage with its alien technology. Stokes task Scarfe to retrieve the weapons but decides to keep them himself and hold out for my money from Stokes. A confrontation between the two occurs that leaves Scarfe critically wounded. Meanwhile Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson) arrives in Harlem just in time to help treat Scarfe’s injuries after Scarfe found his way to the barbershop seeking Cage’s help.
Another cop on Stokes’ payroll named Perez is on the hunt to find and kill Scarfe but Knight is on to him and arrests him after tricking him into a confession. Knight finds them but is too late as Scarfe eventually dies from his injuries after Stokes’ men ambushes them. With no evidence to prove Stokes’ involvement, he is exonerated of any wrong doing and set free. Stokes gives Cage one last warning to let things go or he’ll expose his real identity that will send Cage back to prison.
Fearing a war that will tear apart Harlem and ruin her political career, Mariah confronts her cousin and urges Stokes to stop with his obsession with Cage. An argument ensues and Mariah ends up killing Stokes. Alvarez enters the picture and convinces Mariah that they can frame Cage for the murder. Before they can do so, Diamondback finds Cage and shots him with the Judas bullet that penetrates Cage’s body wounding him. Unknown of Cage’s wounds, Mariah and Alvarez pin the murder on Cage but Knight isn’t fully convinced. Knight catches up to Cage and attempts to arrest him when Diamondback attacks them. He knocks out Knight and he and Cage meet up in an alley where he reveals himself to be Cage’s half brother. He ends up shooting Cage several more times with the Judas bullet before tossing him into a garbage truck.
Cage manages to escape his predicament only to be confronted by the police. He fights them off and it’s caught on camera, which Mariah uses to sway public opinion in hopes of turning against Cage. Claire finds Cage and takes him to Burstein to save Cage’s life, which he does. As he recovers, Claire convinces Cage to return to Harlem to clear his name and fight for his city.
At a rally against super humans at Harlem’s Paradise, Cage meets up with Knight but once again Diamondback arrives and shots Knight and takes several hostages including Claire. Cage gets Knight out of harms way by barricading themselves in a basement. Cage surrenders in order to save lives despite public pleas of his innocence.
Everything finally comes to a head when, Diamondback dressed in a Hammer Tech suit that would absorb anything Cage could dish out. This leads to a knock down and dragged out fight between the brothers that end up with Cage defeating Diamondback and paralyzing him. As for Mariah, after having the only eyewitness to her crime murdered, she walks free and lives to run Harlem with Alvarez by her side. Now free, Mariah tips the feds of Cage’s true identity and her is arrested and taken into custody to finish out his sentence at Seagate. Claire suggests that she knows a lawyer that could help which is an obvious wink to Matt Murdoch.
All is not lost for Diamondback however as the closing scenes of season one would indicate with Dr. Burstein shows up at the hospital to tend to Diamondback. Can we say superpowers? As you can see, while season one ended solidly, there is plenty of story left to be told. Much like Jessica Jones and the soon to be released Iron Fist, I was aware of these characters but knew very little of their origin story. Kudos to Marvel for taking lesser known, “smaller” characters and bringing them into this ever growing universe called the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Knowing that these characters co-exist in world that has Chris Evans as Captain America or Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man is an awesome thing and something to hopefully see materialize in front of us. The production was first rate and the look into African American culture and the wonderful choice of music made Luke Cage very engaging to watch. The music was like a supporting character that propelled the story-arc forward.
Overall this is another homerun for Marvel and Netflix. The only negative if you will is that I thought killing Pop so early on in hindsight may have been a mistake even though it may have accelerated the overall story. I believe every hero needs that moral compass to keep them centered and while Claire sort of filled that role, Pop still had his finger on the pulse of the neighborhoods past, its present and what he hopes for the future. As for the villains, Mariah turns out to be a fairly decent one not exactly Fisk like but good and Alfre Woodward is a gifted actress. I wish we got to see more of Cottonmouth. Ali’s performance was well done and very menacing. And then there is Diamondback. He’s a good villain with a weak motive. Daddy issues aside are not enough in my opinion to warrant his diabolical thirst for vengeance.
It is so wonderful to see a character like Luke Cage be a hero for all people of all walks of life. With a complicated past as a preacher’s son, Luke may be the most compassionate hero in the Cinematic Universe and that says a lot and it’s a tribute to the character and the man who portrays him. I look forward to seeing him in action again.
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
