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| Image Courtesy www.tvinsider.com |
Marvel continued its Netflix programming
yesterday with the release of the 13-episode Luke Cage season 1. As you should be aware by this point, Marvel
and Netflix entered into an agreement several years back by which the two
companies would jointly produce 4 13-episode character-based series, which
would all culminate in the 8-episode miniseries The Defenders. Luke Cage represents the third of the
four character series, and the fourth season overall (Daredevil season 2
was released earlier this year). Next
year Iron Fist will be released (probably late winter or early spring,
and The Defenders will finally arrive sometime over the summer.
Marvel has been using the Netflix
brand to explore darker and grittier stories than they would be able to get
away with in the movies, which are much more family-friendly, or on network
television. Luke Cage is no
different, as the series combines the violence of Daredevil with the sexual
content of Jessica Jones—though there is only a single sex scene in the
first half of the season, it is pretty explicit. However, the series does something very
clever with its crude language, so at least there’s that.
The series picks up with Luke
Cage in Harlem after the events of Jessica Jones season 1. He is trying to keep his head down as much as
possible, but eventually he cannot stay out of the spotlight any longer and
must become involved in the greater events around him. We are also introduced to Misty Knight, a
detective working an organized crime case which brings her into contact with
Luke. Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes and “Black”
Mariah Dillard are the villains of the season, and they do an admirable job in
the role. The two of them are very
reminiscent of different aspects of Wilson Fisk from Daredevil season 1,
but they are not carbon copies of him.
Cottonmouth represents the criminal side of him, while Black Mariah
represents the side of Fisk that cared very deeply for his city. These two provide an interesting foil for
each other, and they also push Luke in interesting ways.
There really isn’t a whole lot
negative to say about the first six episodes of Luke Cage season 1. It develops the story very well, the
characters all get their moments in the spotlight, and all of the action and
cinematography is spot-on. There are a
lot of awesome homages to the comics—be sure to keep your eyes peeled for Luke’s
original comic book costume! They also
do a very good job of working in references to the larger Cinematic
Universe. My only real complaint with
the series so far is that the conclusion of episode 6, “Suckas Need Bodyguards,”
is a little too neat and doesn’t leave very much story for the rest of the
season to build off of. Of course I am
going to finish the season, though!
Have you started Luke Cage yet? If so, what do you think? Just remember not to include any spoilers!
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