When it comes to Marvel, I prefer the shows to the movie. It’s less to do with their more mature tone and more with a personal belief. I’ve long held the belief that superhero shows are more suited to television than film. That’s not to say superhero movies are bad, Marvel consistently puts out some quality work in that department, I just think the serial nature of comics is better suited to an episodic format. It’s a formula that’s really highlighted in the Marvel shows, namely Daredevil, Jessica Jones and now Luke Cage.
Let me say this upfront about Luke Cage. No other Marvel series has so perfectly integrated music into their show. This is the score of the year as far as TV goes.
Cage feels more straightforward than either of its predecessors. Daredevil centered on Matt Murdock’s moral dilemma visa vie murder while Jessica Jones focused on her internal conflict in overcoming her trauma. Cage is about a man who sees injustice and decides to put his fist through it. That’s not to say that Cage isn’t a complex character, he is, it’s just that the story itself is presented with far less moral ambiguity.
What really sells me on Cage (in addition to the soundtrack) is their dedication to a good Blaxploitation homage. It gives the show a unique feel, much how like Jessica Jones was enhanced by its more noir feel. Admittedly, the dedication to the motif doesn’t always work out and the series is not without its cornier moments earlier on. The episode where Cage’s origins are explained is a prime example. They go the classic route of “black man betrayed by the system” which is not an inherently bad trope but some of the dialogue has some max level cheese. It’s not bad enough to derail the entire production, but it does snap you out of the story for a minute.
The cast is fantastic. Mike Colter reprises his role as Cage from Jessica Jones, and he is equal parts smooth and tough. If Shaft were bulletproof, he’d be Luke Cage. Colter carries the character with a quit resolve, never backing down and never allowing himself to be intimidated. It’s just so cool.
In addition to Cage’s cool we have Simone Missick playing the incomparable Misty Knight, the no nonsense, take all comers detective. Normally I’m wary of the distrustful cop character; I find it creates needless tension because we as the audience know that the hero can be trusted and thus we’re just waiting around for the cop to catch up but here Misty isn’t presented as overly antagonistic, and she does bring up valid points against Cage’s heroics. She’s an absolute delight.
The villains in Cage are also well done. The Netflix shows have yet to top Kingpin for me, but Cottonmouth and Black Mariah are two welcome additions to the pantheon. Mahershala Ali’s Cottonmouth is admittedly a one note crime lord but he serves as a great foil to his cousin, Black Mariah (Alfre Woodard) the political arm they work like magic. Mariah is especially compelling in her motivation, wanting to preserve the historic legacy of Harlem. Remember folks, gentrification kills.
I’m six episodes in to Cage and I’m having a grand time. Everything from the music to the characters to the setting nails it for me, and I cannot wait to see its conclusion. Hopefully it maintains its pace and finishes strong, and doesn’t have the bottom fall out of it like the second half of Daredevil’s second season.
The World of Movies and Media Seen Through the Lens of a Token Black Guy. 