Written by: Kevin Berge
This time, the answer to how to make the bullet-proof man interesting isn't shoot him with special bullets. (Image Courtesy of: news.marvel.com)
Quick Take: Luke Cage Season 2 keeps the style and focus of the series while presenting a tighter, more thematically driven story. While still a bit jumbled in its final act, the series relies on strong villain and character development to produce a great season of television.
Marvel-Netflix Seasons: Daredevil S1 | Jessica Jones S1 | Luke Cage S1| Iron Fist S1 | The Defenders S1 | The Punisher S1 | Jessica Jones S2
***This review will contain spoilers for the entire second season of Luke Cage, expecting the reader has seen the show up to the end of this season. Read ahead at your own risk if you have not yet seen the season.***
In the pantheon of the Marvel-Netflix shows, Luke Cage is not the most polished or the most exciting. However, it is the series most confident in its identity. It is driven by pure style thanks to the unique use of a steady score and soundtrack.
Harlem's Paradise frames the narrative by working as the base for the soundtrack. Real interesting artists play on the fictional stage to help frame the mood of each episode in a unique light. The score from Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad mixes together with the work of Gary Clark Jr., Stephen Marley, KRS-One, and more.
The first season heavily relied on that framing device while putting a heavy focus on racial tensions. The culture of Harlem and the realistic view of modern media reacting to a confident African American superhero carried a show that struggled with a few basic storytelling elements.
The second season builds on those foundations, still keenly aware of its setting and style, but it pulls off the rare feat of fixing the first season's problem without losing its distinctiveness. In particular, this season embraces its villains in a way the first failed.
Luke Cage started off with a bang by relying on Mahershala Ali as the villain Cottonmouth but fell flat after killing the character halfway through the season. Erik LaRay Harvey could never match up with an over-the-top take on Diamondback.
The new villain of this season brings a new focus to the show introducing the Jamaican culture of Harlem. Bushmaster (Mustafa Shakir) is a scary and brutal man with power fueled by mysterious herbs with a singular focus: control of Harlem, a city he sees as his birthright.
***This review will contain spoilers for the entire second season of Luke Cage, expecting the reader has seen the show up to the end of this season. Read ahead at your own risk if you have not yet seen the season.***
In the pantheon of the Marvel-Netflix shows, Luke Cage is not the most polished or the most exciting. However, it is the series most confident in its identity. It is driven by pure style thanks to the unique use of a steady score and soundtrack.
Harlem's Paradise frames the narrative by working as the base for the soundtrack. Real interesting artists play on the fictional stage to help frame the mood of each episode in a unique light. The score from Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad mixes together with the work of Gary Clark Jr., Stephen Marley, KRS-One, and more.
The first season heavily relied on that framing device while putting a heavy focus on racial tensions. The culture of Harlem and the realistic view of modern media reacting to a confident African American superhero carried a show that struggled with a few basic storytelling elements.
The second season builds on those foundations, still keenly aware of its setting and style, but it pulls off the rare feat of fixing the first season's problem without losing its distinctiveness. In particular, this season embraces its villains in a way the first failed.
Luke Cage started off with a bang by relying on Mahershala Ali as the villain Cottonmouth but fell flat after killing the character halfway through the season. Erik LaRay Harvey could never match up with an over-the-top take on Diamondback.
The new villain of this season brings a new focus to the show introducing the Jamaican culture of Harlem. Bushmaster (Mustafa Shakir) is a scary and brutal man with power fueled by mysterious herbs with a singular focus: control of Harlem, a city he sees as his birthright.
Jamaican English has never sounded so cool. (Image Courtesy of: digitalspy.com)
Bushmaster has just enough power to challenge the bulletproof Luke Cage while knowing how to control and influence those around him. He's also threatening because he goes after the other villains in this story: the returning Mariah and Shades.
All three of these villains are given stronger depth as characters over the season, and the actors are required to do a lot of work to make it work. Alfre Woodard proves her continued importance to the show even with some inconsistency to her performance, and Theo Rossi brings humanity to a simplistic role.
Mustafa Shakir (The Cavern) though is the true standout, playing number two in priority behind only Mike Colter. Luke Cage can feel like a bland character at times, but Colter brings a likable edge to the role while the show reveals more of the flawed humanity behind Luke's unvulnerability.
This season shows Luke ignore a clear concussion, lash out at threats to his manhood, and struggle to accept his celebrity status. Simone Missick also gets more to do as Misty wrestles with her insecurities about losing her arm and tries to remain the loyal cop in the face of a growing vigilante conflict.
She is one of multiple characters that prove they deserve more than to just be supporting characters in someone else's story. Even Danny Rand finally stands out positively in a great episode "The Main Ingredient" that showcases the writers may finally be understanding his character.
While season two still focuses on Harlem and racial tensions, it is focused on family, much like Jessica Jones' second season. In this case, it is a story of family legacy. Bushmaster's motivations are driven by the need to avenge his parents, and he kills himself slowly with Nightshade just to complete that task.
Mariah's story comes full circle as she spirals down in her struggle to escape her mother's shadow. She pulls Shades and her daughter (Gabrielle Dennis) into her twisted conflicted view of family before pushing them away. Luke faces his father (Reg E. Cathey) with divisive results due to their strained relationship following Luke's arrest.
All three of these villains are given stronger depth as characters over the season, and the actors are required to do a lot of work to make it work. Alfre Woodard proves her continued importance to the show even with some inconsistency to her performance, and Theo Rossi brings humanity to a simplistic role.
Mustafa Shakir (The Cavern) though is the true standout, playing number two in priority behind only Mike Colter. Luke Cage can feel like a bland character at times, but Colter brings a likable edge to the role while the show reveals more of the flawed humanity behind Luke's unvulnerability.
This season shows Luke ignore a clear concussion, lash out at threats to his manhood, and struggle to accept his celebrity status. Simone Missick also gets more to do as Misty wrestles with her insecurities about losing her arm and tries to remain the loyal cop in the face of a growing vigilante conflict.
She is one of multiple characters that prove they deserve more than to just be supporting characters in someone else's story. Even Danny Rand finally stands out positively in a great episode "The Main Ingredient" that showcases the writers may finally be understanding his character.
While season two still focuses on Harlem and racial tensions, it is focused on family, much like Jessica Jones' second season. In this case, it is a story of family legacy. Bushmaster's motivations are driven by the need to avenge his parents, and he kills himself slowly with Nightshade just to complete that task.
Mariah's story comes full circle as she spirals down in her struggle to escape her mother's shadow. She pulls Shades and her daughter (Gabrielle Dennis) into her twisted conflicted view of family before pushing them away. Luke faces his father (Reg E. Cathey) with divisive results due to their strained relationship following Luke's arrest.
In a DC story, this would actually be Evil Luke, his genetically produced doppelganger. (Image Courtesy of: superfans.website)
Family ties humanize the heroes and villains, and they tear them apart. The show is impressively consistent in this thematic focus. However, the season does still drag down the stretch. This leads to the series relying on a less consistent focus on drug trafficking and criminal powers vying for control.
With most of the main threats already weakened, the final act is a long slow grind to Luke taking his place at the head of Harlem. It is a letdown for an otherwise strong season that makes the consistent storytelling feel more messy than it was in the lead up.
The final episode could have easily been saved for the beginning of the third season, working more as a set up for future events than a tie-in to the rest of the season. That doesn't mean multiple elements don't work though in particular the death of Mariah and her final act.
Mariah is taken down by her own daughter Tilda whose descent into murder is earned. She finally breaks and does what no one else can. Meanwhile, Mariah bestows Harlem's Paradise on Luke. It's an act of quiet malice, challenging Luke to not be corrupted by the gift.
It takes impressive and daring storytellers to go this direction with Luke for the future. In just two short seasons, he has taken the place of his very first rival: Cottonmouth. Now those visible flaws that appeared throughout the season are even more apparent.
In this season, Claire Temple plays a small but crucial role as Luke's conscience. She tries to help him escape his fears, anger, and brutality, but he scares her away. When she finally returns in the closing moments, he casts her aside, a final message that this is not Luke's triumph.
With no visible villains in this story for Luke left to conquer, it seems he may become the antagonist in his own show. It is a moment that likely could have been better built over time, but that takes nothing away from how enticing this makes a third season of Luke Cage.
With most of the main threats already weakened, the final act is a long slow grind to Luke taking his place at the head of Harlem. It is a letdown for an otherwise strong season that makes the consistent storytelling feel more messy than it was in the lead up.
The final episode could have easily been saved for the beginning of the third season, working more as a set up for future events than a tie-in to the rest of the season. That doesn't mean multiple elements don't work though in particular the death of Mariah and her final act.
Mariah is taken down by her own daughter Tilda whose descent into murder is earned. She finally breaks and does what no one else can. Meanwhile, Mariah bestows Harlem's Paradise on Luke. It's an act of quiet malice, challenging Luke to not be corrupted by the gift.
It takes impressive and daring storytellers to go this direction with Luke for the future. In just two short seasons, he has taken the place of his very first rival: Cottonmouth. Now those visible flaws that appeared throughout the season are even more apparent.
In this season, Claire Temple plays a small but crucial role as Luke's conscience. She tries to help him escape his fears, anger, and brutality, but he scares her away. When she finally returns in the closing moments, he casts her aside, a final message that this is not Luke's triumph.
With no visible villains in this story for Luke left to conquer, it seems he may become the antagonist in his own show. It is a moment that likely could have been better built over time, but that takes nothing away from how enticing this makes a third season of Luke Cage.