We were able to get a glimpse of Daughters of Dragons and Heroes for Hire and both peaked a lot of interest (while even making Danny Rand seem more interesting)??? Yea this new Marvel Netflix season is pretty legit.
After watching Luke Cage Season 2 for the second time through, I can comfortably say that it is a top 3 Netflix Marvel TV season. Infinitely better than the second half of Season 1, it can hold its own with The Punisher. It is not Bernthal’s magnificent show, but it knows what it is and embraces everything fans loved (and loved to hate) about the first 6-7 episodes showcasing Harlem’s Hero. This season sees Luke (Mike Colter) accepting his Celebrity Hero role after the events of The Defenders. A new threat comes into town to try to become the “rightful” King of Harlem, and Luke must find a way to keep Harlem safe amongst enemies old and new.
Luke Cage is one of the more entertaining Netflix series because it shows a realistic representation of how a black neighborhood would act if they had a 6’3” bulletproof black man walking around town. It displays Harlem’s rawest and most eccentric parts. From the unforgiving violence mixed with ever imposing gentrification, to the one-liners and dirty dozens you’d hear at your local spades or dominoes table. This is Mike Colter’s fourth, and best, portrayal as Luke, and he does so well because he is this characterization of Harlem personified. He has the physical prowess to demonstrate power and exhibits vulnerability when necessary. But it is his corniness that harmonizingly balances the gangsters, the hustlers, the boujee (how do you spell that???), the comedians, the players, the cool uncles, and all the varying characters you see within such a rich setting. Have you watched that man move? For someone playing a bulletproof black man, he is the stiffest, most non-rhythmic, no game but women still love having ass negro. It helped blend the show’s contrasting tones together into one cohesive mood.
That humor is also necessary this season successfully broaches topics that are really prevalent in the black community: loyalty, honor, family (blood or otherwise), broken and repaired parent child relationships (esp. father/son & mother/daughter), snitch culture, the ostracizing of therapy, the insulation of anger, sadness, and depression. Those last few specifically highlight the deafening detriment of silence that is all too familiar within our community and leads to all too familiar endings. The show’s amazing music and visuals brilliantly further these themes. Over two seasons, the Biggie Crown poster has been used as a great foreshadowing, characterization, and conflict device, and variations of the photo and crowns further these amazing shots. Yet there is nothing that can compare to the music that is every bit as important as any character, plot device, or action scene. The amazing 5+ minute long live performances push the plot and tone forward perfectly without a break in the storytelling.
There was more story than action this season, but somehow didn’t drag. Netflix should still decrease the number of episodes to 10, and there are some scenes that slightly linger, but there is not one episode that is wasted. Not one performance that under delivers. In the early parts of the season, = Bobby (Ron Cephus Jones) and Claire (Rosario Dawson) are highpoints, and are matched by Misty (Simone Missick), D.W. (Jeremiah Craft), and Mariah (Alfre Woodard). But the two standouts are returning character Shades (Theo Rossi) and newcomer Bushmaster (Mustafa Shakir). Rossi exceeded his performance from Season 1, evolving from a forgettable henchman to an unforgiving wolf. He is cunning, compelling, contemplative, and emotionally layered. If Shades is a wolf, Bushmaster is a BEAST! He is ruthless, powerful, unmoving, and someone you can root for without hesitation. Amongst all the evil, he oozes charm, respect, honor, dignity, and reason. Every time he corrects someone on Mariah Dillard’s name (STOKES!), you are reminded that he is all about business. Both of these characters moved with an intelligence and strength that inspired more than just “yes men” close to them. Shades and Bushmaster being staunchly checked by their “right hands” Comanche (Thomas Jones), Anansi (Sahr Ngaujah), and Sheldon (Kevin Mambo) elevated Rossi and Shakir’s performances.
Luke Cage Season 2 shines in combining multiple characters, themes, settings, and storylines into one seamless story threaded together in a satisfying package. The performances are engrossing, the story engaging, the action (when there) entertaining, and Bushmaster is a top 3 villain (but is he a villain though?) in ALL of the Marvel universe. ALL OF IT. I am giving the second season of Marvel’s Luke Cage 9/10 Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes laughs.