Ada Lovelace Bio Optioned for Movie Adaptation

Geek girls celebrate! The grandmother of computing could be making her big screen debut!

11th October is Ada Lovelace Day – a day to celebrate and remember one of the pioneering women of computing. If you’re a fan of awesome AMC series Halt and Catch Fire, you’ll remember that coding genius Cameron  Howe (Mackenzie Davis) named her first program after her. While today, Ada Lovelace Day is a great time to promote the value of women and girls working in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), back in the eighteenth century, Lovelace was being overlooked because of her gender. Ada was the eighteenth century Willow from Buffy… without, you know, the lesbianism and dark magic.

James Essinger’s biography of Ada Lovelace “Ada’s Algorithm” has recently been acquired by Monumental Films. They’re aiming to make a biopic in the same vein as awards darling The Imitation Game, which starred Benedict Cumberbatch. The film aims to tell the story of the woman who joined forces with Charles Babbage – the man generally credited with inventing the computer. Although little is known about her life, the biography (and film) covers her early fame as the daughter of Lord Byron, her education (which was unusual for women at the time), her flair for mathematics and her eventual legacy of the first computer programmer.

If this gets through development hell, it’ll be great to see how Lovelace’s profile will look after getting the treatment Turing got a couple of years ago. And the lucky actress who gets the leading role could find that she needs to invest in some awards ceremony gowns. It’s the perfect story for Oscar season! 

Ada’s Algorithm: How Ada Lovelace, Lord Byron’s Daughter, Launched the Digital Age Through the Poetry of Numbers by James Essinger has just been released in paperback and is available from Amazon

Follow me on Twitter @pixiewose

Luke Cage SN1 EP11-‘Now You’re Mine’

The show is back on top form as Diamondback turns the world against Luke.

After two unremarkable episodes, Luke Cage hit it out of the park during a tense and thrilling episode. Picking up immediately where the previous episode left off ensured there was no drama lost in the transitions, as every moment was fully explored. The decision to leave Mariah Dillard out of this episode was a smart one, keeping the focus mostly on Diamondback’s vendetta against Luke, as opposed to the power to be gained from the situation.

What a vendetta it was! Diamondback treated us to a full blown hostage situation, giving us the second best action sequence of the series. Whereas the one back in Episode 3 demonstrated the raw power Luke possesses, this one here showed how a more calculated Luke approaches things, weighing the risk of innocent lives being taken against Diamondback’s clear taunts to aggravate him. We got a glimpse of a different Diamondback here, one truly haunted by the neglect of his childhood. It was a powerful moment that showed how easily a life can be ruined, but was also a refreshing break from the usual loud, psychotic way Diamondback carries himself. We’ve seen plenty of villains like that before, and we’ll see plenty again, so it’s the quieter moments that make or break them.

This episode also saw the truth start to unravel, as the façade Mariah and Diamondback created saw scrutiny from the police. The new police captain has been an interesting character. Her clear past with Misty, and early actions, suggested she would be more of an antagonistic force. However, what outwardly appears a more hostile relationship, is actually very trusting, as the captain begins to believe Misty. Unfortunately, with one dead cop, two injured and a whole lotta hostages, the rest of the force doesn’t feel the same. It’s frustrating knowing Luke’s innocent but he’ll still take the heat, yet that will make his ultimate release all the more satisfying. In any case, the captain is starting to hone in on the actual suspect Mariah Dillard, but with Diamondback’s plan already in play it may be too little too late.

The episode stood out most in the way it finally tackled the relationship between Luke and Misty. For much of the season Misty has been more of an annoyance than anything else due to her insistence on pinning everything on Luke, so to see them finally on the same page is such a relief, and make’s her character all the better for it. What’s more is that in her blood drained state we saw a softer side to Misty. One who was afraid of dying. So often in movies and TV shows, characters aren’t actually afraid of dying, which disconnects them from the audience some. So whilst we did find her cracking jokes, the way she was afraid of death stood out as a uniquely human moment in a show about someone more than that.

In such an awesome episode there are bound to be a lot of great moments, so other notable highlights are:

• Claire continued to amaze this episode. She is hands down the best character in the Marvel/Netflix shows, maybe the best in the wider MCU. The way she acted her way out of the hostage situation and then took down a goon, she’s just full of surprises. As Misty said, she’s got skills.

• It was great to see the both of them build bridges as well this episode. There’s a strong friendship to develop there, and it was clear they’re both of the same mindset. Them taking down Shades together was a treat to watch because of how raw it was. It didn’t feel choreographed; it was just the three of them fighting however which way they could.

• Speaking of Shades, is that really it for him? I enjoyed him this episode, as he kept a cool head. He’s been the calm, intelligent one since his introduction back in episode one, and you can always rely on him to think things through, so it was a shame to see him so easily taken out of the game. I expect we’ll see more from him, if not now then later in the show’s lifespan, but he didn’t really have much impact this season.

• I also hope we get to see more from Candace going forward. She seemed truly sorry for what she did to Luke, and the way she calmed down and fought through her pain in order to help Claire out was worthy of a true hero.

• A character from Daredevil Season Two made a worthy appearance this episode. After seeing the devastation caused by Frank Castle with normal bullets, it’s understandable as to why he wouldn’t want Judas bullets getting onto the streets. Something tells me he won’t have succeeded.

So Episode 11 saw a triumphant return to form for Luke Cage, as everything started to come together. Whilst the city might now be against him, Luke finally has Misty and the police captain on his side, who will no doubt be instrumental in his ultimate defeat of Diamondback. Mariah Dillard may have been absent from the episode, but she was still causing chaos. It’s the sign of a truly great villain if they can disrupt the protagonist without even appearing onscreen. We’re heading into the final two episodes now, it’s still not exactly clear where things are headed. Both Diamondback and Mariah need taking out, but there’s no idea of how that will happen yet.

 

Fraggle Rock Returning To HBO

For those living under a rock or for youngster let me begin to tell you what Fraggle Rock is. Fraggle Rock is live action puppet show about Muppet like creatures, which ran from 1983 till 1987. The show is also known as Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock or Fraggle Rock with Jim Henson’s Muppets.

As you might have guessed it by the aliases of the show names this series was created by Jim Henson. Who is also the man behind the Muppets. But that is a whole other story.

The show is set in a natural cave system where we follow the adventures of the Fraggles and other creatures living near and in the caves, while dealing with serious issues like prejudice and social conflict mixed with music and silliness. So it is a series for all ages.

I have spent many Sunday mornings watching this show and its catchy theme song. Although I haven’t heard it in its original version, until now, because like 94 other countries mine was dubbed (For those of you who are curious here is the version I grew up with: https://youtu.be/KSHHms6A9Oo). But that does not change that it is catchy. Once you hear it, it is stuck in your mind. (You’re welcome.)

 

And now for the good news. We can watch the original show again. No remake or what so ever. HBO has remastered the show and it will be available at the end of the year via HBO and for streaming via HBO GO, HBO Now and HBO On Demand. So we don’t have to wait very long to enjoy the 96 adventures from our favourite Fraggles.

Luke Cage SN1 EP10 -‘Take It Personal’

Harlem descends into chaos as Luke Cage heads into the final stretch.

This episode should have been a big one for Luke Cage, and in many ways it was, however there were several things that dragged it down. The episode certainly picked up in the second half. Nothing gets an episode going like a rousing speech (no matter how misguided it is) and a big action sequence, but most of what came before Mariah rallied Harlem in front of the police station was utterly forgettable.

For instance, the removal of the shrapnel from Luke’s body. It wasn’t a tense moment as we knew he’d survive, so the only enjoyment that came from the scene was through the (limited) humorous interactions of Claire and Dr Burnstein. Even the drama that followed wasn’t satisfying as it was so predictable. Luke doesn’t want what happened to him to happen to anyone else, so in a fit of rage he destroys Burnstein’s lab. It’s something we’ve seen plenty of times before, so it wasn’t exactly exciting to watch here. The only good moment to come from all this was the revelation that Reva had lied to Luke. Her motivations for doing so remain unclear however. Reva was such a lovely character, that it’s shocking that she has all this mystery surrounding her, so I look forward to finding out just why she did what she did.

Elsewhere, Mariah and Diamondback’s plans came into focus. I don’t think I’ve ever been more upset at a character with barely a minute of screentime dying, but the writers managed it here. Maybe it was the fact that he was older, maybe that he had a wife, or even that he was obviously so well liked by the community, but something about his death got to me. In any case, this set a whole load of events in motion, leading to another standout political moment for the show. There have been several of these scattered throughout the season, one just last episode, but it was this one that felt most connected to today’s real life events. A young black boy gets beaten by police for no other reason than that the officer involved was angry. It’s the kind of story we hear all too often, and usually without even the anger part, and Luke Cage gave it due justice.

It also tied into Mariah’s story, which was the highlight of the episode. We’re finally seeing some action from her, both on the political and criminal front, and it’s fascinating to watch her spin her web. There was an indication that her murder of Cottonmouth would ignite something within her, but there’s not yet any kindling for that fire, so clearly we’ll have to wait on that. However, her insistence on clinging to legitimate power is respectful and only enamours me to the character even more. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Mariah is such a refreshing break from the traditional psychotic villains (like Diamondback) that we usually get, and it really elevates the show.

A short review I know, which means there are bound to be moments I’ve missed, so other notable highlights include:

• Luke and Claire’s false moment of intimacy was fun. I could see them becoming a couple, but at the same time I don’t really want it to happen. They’re good as they are, and as has been clear so far, the show doesn’t really need a romance subplot to thrive.

• Hot off the heels of a superb episode for her last time, Misty has taken a significant turn for the better. Her focus, unlike everyone else’s, is on the clear criminal Diamondback, and it’s great seeing her so driven. I was also pleasantly surprised that her captain supported her decision to go after Diamondback. Both are characters I’m now starting to warm to.

• Dr Burnstein copied Reva’s files! I don’t see anything emerging from this until the inevitable second season, but it could be a hint as to who Luke’s next foe might be. Someone with powers to rival his own would up the tension so much more, so I look forward to seeing where this goes.

• Even after being dipped in a tub of boiling acid Luke’s sense of humour prevails. It’s an indication of how much the introduction of Claire has changed him. Moody, broody Luke is mostly gone, say hello to ‘Sweet Christmas’ Luke.

• The montage of cops hunting down innocent people was strangely chilling. Most likely because it’s not far from the truth of what’s happening in the world.

As you can likely tell from the length of this review compared to my others, I didn’t have much to say about this episode. The most I can say is that it was good. The latter half really picked things up, with the social commentary and exciting action sequence saving the episode from mediocrity. Unfortunately, much of the episode was sub-par, consisting of various forgetful moments. That’s two episodes in a row now where the show hasn’t fully delivered. Considering we’re now heading into the final few episodes, where things are supposed to be at their most exciting and climactic, that’s a worry indeed.

The Weekend’s Top 10 Box Office Chart 7th-9th October 2016

Hey movie fans! It’s chart time again. Let’s see what performed well this weekend. While I was in bed with a cold, the long awaited adaptation of The Girl on the Train was released. Did the fan’s go crazy for Emily Blunt‘s performance as the Girl, or did they all just go and see Sully again to keep it in the chart?!? Let’s take a look!

Chart Legend

Rank / Movie Title / Studio

W/E Gross = Weekend Gross /T/Gross= Total Gross /LW= Last Week

Green = UP / Red = DOWN / Blue = No Movement / Teal = New

---

---

BOX OFFICE MOVIE CHART

1. The Girl on the Train/Uni

W/E Gross           T/Gross          LW

$24,660,000       $24,660,000    NEW

---

2. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children/ Fox

W/E Gross           T/Gross         LW

$15,000,000        $51,053,483    #1

 

---

3. Deepwater Horizon / LG/S

W/E Gross         T/Gross          LW

$11,750,000     $38,518,388      #2

 

---

4. The Magnificent Seven (2016) / Sony

W/E Gross        T/Gross          LW

$9,150,000      $75,915,393       #3

 

---

5. Storks/ WB

W/E Gross       T/Gross          LW

$8,450,000     $50,118,494       #4

 

---

6. The Birth of a Nation/ FoxS

W/E Gross      T/Gross          LW

$7,1000,000    $7,100,000     NEW

---

7. Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life/ LGF

W/E Gross      T/Gross          LW

$6,900,000     $6,900,000      NEW

---

8. Sully / WB

W/E Gross       T/Gross        LW

$5,270,000    $113,485,432     #5

 

---

9. Masterminds/ Rela.

W/E Gross      T/Gross         LW

$4,100,000     $12,788,325     #6

 

---

10. Queen of Katwe / BV

W/E Gross       T/Gross         LW

$,618,000        $12,788,325    #7

 

---

So there we have it. The Girl on the Train has steamed in to number one, Miss Peregrine lost the top spot after only one week, and Sully is clinging on in the chart for a fifth week. See you next week!

Follow me on Twitter @pixiewose

Luke Cage SN1 EP09-‘DWYCK’

Luke’s past turns out to be the key to his survival as we learnt more about what makes Misty tick.

With only four episodes left to go Luke Cage is in a kind of transitional period. Things aren’t quite reaching a climax yet, but we’re getting significant developments for each character that are setting them up for the final stretch. Individually, these plot threads are interesting, as it makes us see characters in a new light. However, combined they make up a less than exciting episode. Not a bad one, but not a great one either. I found this to be the first episode of the show where my attention waned, so things need to pick up moving into the final stretch.

As I said, individually all the elements at play here worked really well. Misty’s interrogation was a particular highlight as it warmed me to the character a bit. Misty has rarely been easy to like throughout the season. We’re conditioned to like her as she’s clearly one of the good guys, but every action the character made in regards to Luke went against that. It’s fine pushing the whole dedicated cop character, but we need context as to why we should view her actions as a good thing. We were finally given this during the episode. In a shining moment that unfortunately reflects the real world, both in past and present, Misty recounts the story that drove her to ‘stalking justice’. Leaving her friend for a moment just to get a drink of Lemonade, saw her friend taken and beaten to death. It was an extremely important moment for the show. It’s in a unique position featuring a primarily black cast, and it should be commended for not shying away from the horrors faced by that community. Yes, this is a Marvel show designed to entertain, but it also has the power to make a statement and to educate in a way that most other shows just aren’t.

It was through this powerful moment that Misty’s character improved. For so long we’ve seen her adamant to take Luke down regardless of whether he’s guilty or not, but the reason why was unclear. Now we know it was to maintain control to make up for days when she had none, the character becomes wholly more sympathetic, as well as a lot stronger. Her vendetta against Luke may not be over, and I daresay I won’t be a fan of what course she takes to pursue that, but for now I see a strong woman determined to do right by the law in honour of those it had let down. I didn’t think it possible, but the writers, in one outstanding moment, made me care for Misty Knight. Not just care. Actively root for.

Mariah also went through a significant transformation this episode. She may have fallen from grace in the political world, but she has risen through the ranks of the criminal world to emerge in one of the top spots. What’s so fascinating about her is that she’s so far from being your typical villain. Her murder of Cottonmouth feels like a one and done kind of deal, whilst she makes it very clear throughout the episode that she doesn’t want to take Cottonmouth’s place. I thought her inner beast had been unleashed as she bludgeoned Cottonmouth to death, but she’s still holding back. Even her advice to Diamondback was done out of fear of being killed, though the excitement and readiness of what she said makes it seem like she sees herself as a part of that world. However, it’s her hesitation that makes her so fascinating. There’s always been a level of ingenuity to Marvel’s Netflix villains, but Mariah is so much more complex. The way she toes the line makes her unpredictable, and that is very exciting indeed.

It’s crazy to think how much of Luke’s past we don’t actually know about yet, but in this episode we came one step closer to learning the truth with the reappearance of Doctor Burnstein. I commented before that I didn’t think the show was done with him, he seemed like an all too important character to appear so briefly. Plus, he is played by an established actor, so it was unlikely he’d agree to a bit part. Whenever Luke ended up getting hurt, it was unlikely that it’d be easy to fix him, so I’m glad to see them mixing his recovery with giving us more details on his past. There seems to be a lot more to Luke’s accident than has been let on. Reva apparently didn’t tell him everything, so hopefully that means we’ll see another appearance by her very soon.

Of course in an episode that saw a man dipped in boiling acid there are bound to be moments I missed, so other notable highlights include:

• Shades rose up, then promptly fell back down again. Only saved by Zip of all people. Looks like he has higher ambitions than Diamondback will allow him to. I sense confrontation. I also sense that Shades will lose. Hard.

• Speaking of Diamondback, he has skills. I imagine throwing a knife directly into a man’s eye is not an easy job. Shades said he was no Houdini but I disagree. He’s the truly formidable villain this show has needed.

• Why do I feel like Luke telling Claire to kill Doctor Burnstein if she has to will turn out to come true? You can’t corrupt Claire!

• Shades mentions the video of Luke throwing a cop went viral. Criminals in 2016: Using viral marketing to get ahead in business.

• So Misty strangled a witness and still got her badge back. I know I like her now and all, but damn if that’s not corrupt!

Overall this turned out to be one of the weaker episodes of Luke Cage. Everything worked really well separately, so you’d think bringing it all together would make for an excellent episode, but unfortunately not. There wasn’t much here to get excited about. We’ve already seen Luke in pain for one episode, so it felt like a lot of that could have been cut out of this one. Likewise, whilst there were some truly shining moments, Misty’s interrogation dragged on too long. There are four episodes left now, but at the moment, there isn’t much reason to be excited about what’s coming up. We know a confrontation between Luke and just about everyone is headed our way, but in the meantime, what’s gonna happen?

Ocean’s Eight will be Released in Summer 2018

The rumours are true! The all-female reboot of the Ocean’s franchise has been green lit and is on schedule to hit cinemas in Summer 2018.

Ocean’s Eight, which will be a reboot of the heist series (which itself was a reboot – picked up by George Clooney in 2002) will feature eight actresses leading the way. Top of the bill is Sandra Bullock, heading up a cast which also includes Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham-Carter, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Anne Hathaway, Rihanna and Awkwafina.

The movie is see to be directed by Gary Ross (The Hunger Games) and will be produced by Ocean’s Eleven director Steven Soderbergh.

No details of the plot or characters have been released, however with big hitters like Bullock, Blanchett, Bonham-Carter and Hathaway (as well as the insanely talented Kaling) on board, hopefully it will have some substance as well as style. I really want this to be a worthwhile reboot!

Follow me on Twitter @pixiewose

The Walking Dead Season 7: Traumatising Sneak Peek Released

We are now just two weeks away from ‘The Walking Dead’ Season 7 premiere, and the cast and crew yesterday took to New York Comic Con to talk about what we could expect from the new season. Of course, given the inability to talk about who’s dead or not, there were a lot of non-answers. We do know one person is alive though, and that’s Rick. I don’t think anyone ever believed he would be killed, but a scene from the premiere released by AMC shows some of the aftermath to Negan’s brutal kill.

As you can see, Rick is understandably not too happy. However there are some clues we can gleam from this rather ominous scene. There’s a spattering of blood on the right side of Rick’s face that wasn’t present in the Season 6 finale. This suggests that Negan’s victim was to the right of him, placing Maggie, Abraham, Rosita, Michonne, Daryl and Glenn in the crosshairs. This is all but confirmed as the camera tilts down, revealing a gruesome pool of blood and guts on the floor. In addition, Rick looks to be in further peril as he’s dragged off to the RV by Negan. Whatever goes down in the season premiere, it promises to be a traumatising affair, so we all best prepare for what’s to come.

‘The Walking Dead’ Season 7 premieres Sunday, October 23rd 9pm on AMC in the US, then Monday, October 24th 9pm on FOX in the UK.

Lynda Carter to Attend Wonder Woman Day

The United Nations will be declaring 21st October Wonder Woman Day – a whole day dedicated to Wonder Woman! To celebrate the United States Postal Service is releasing a series of stamps dedicated to the heroine and Lynda Carter will be the guest of honour at the ceremony. In a statement, the original Wonder Woman said, “to honor Wonder Woman and women all over the world is just amazing.”

"I want it to move to the next generation of women, and inspire the next generation of women." https://t.co/I0V8JrmB64

— Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) October 8, 2016

The stamps, which have been released to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the super heroine, features the art of Cliff Chiang, José Luis García-López, Irving Novick and   Jon L Blummer. The images depict Wonder Woman in the Modern Age, the Bronze Age, the Silver Age and the Golden Age.

Lynda Carter, who has recently been spending her time voicing characters on video games, has a new DC role in the works, appearing as President Olivia Marsdin in Supergirl.

Wonder Woman’s popularity is growing too with Gal Gadot‘s solo outing due next year and her own UN day in a couple of weeks. Not bad for an old lady!

Follow me on Twitter @pixiewose

 

Luke Cage SN1 EP08-‘Blowin’ Up The Spot’

Diamondback finally made his brutal debut as the villains stepped things up a notch.

For the first half of this season Cottonmouth has been the titular villain, with others such as Shades and Mariah forced into the background. As great as Cottonmouth was, this episode here was superb because of all the interesting characters it started to build upon. Not only did the aforementioned Shades and Mariah emerge from the shadows, but the ominous Diamondback made a serious first impression.

Diamondback has been alluded to for quite some time now, but the man we met in this episode was far from what I imagined. From everything we’d heard about him, he seemed like the kind of man who would let others do his dirty work for him, so it was nice to see him so hands on here. Of course it’s obvious that Luke was a bit more than dirty work to him, as the two surprisingly share a murky past together. Diamondback is clearly unhinged. His disturbing treatment of Misty was enough to show that. However, there was a clear sense that we weren’t getting the whole picture with him. He’s the man who essentially runs Harlem. The man whose name makes everyone fall in line. Building that kind of name takes effort, and more importantly, intelligence. The Diamondback we saw here was a man with a clear vendetta against Luke, and that makes him an all-round fascinating character. For a man of that power to be so obsessed with Luke suggests a rich history, which will be very exciting to explore.

So whilst Diamondback was busy hunting Luke, Mariah and Shades were making sure he’d have no one left to turn to. Their manipulation of the situation was impressive to watch, and revealed a bit more about the both of them. Shades has clearly been biding his time to Cottonmouth’s downfall, and now that it’s come he’s as happy as can be. I’ve mentioned before how his endgame has been unclear. He worked for Diamondback yes, but there always seemed to be a secondary ambition to his time spent around Cottonmouth. Clearly then he wants a piece of the kingdom to himself, and with Cottonmouth gone, is happy to crown himself King. It presents yet another problem for Luke and Co, and a defining problem in general. Take one criminal down, and more will take their place. In fact, given that both Mariah and Shades sprung from Cottonmouth’s death, we might as well apply the old Hydra motto.

Whereas Shades’ ambition is now clear, Mariah became a much more complex character thanks to this ordeal. Since Episode 1 she’s played second fiddle to Cottonmouth, always pushed into the shadows, to the point where it was a wonder why the character was even there. Now she’s taken Cottonmouth’s spot, and events are so much more complicated for it. She’s edging into the ‘gangster’ lifestyle she’s so often dismissed, and whilst it seems a natural fit for the character, what with the way she lies so expertly, something about it felt off. Why would someone who has so often denounced the ways of that lifestyle suddenly become so interested in partaking in them herself? The answer, Shades. As the clever moments with Mama Mabel remind us, Mariah can be quite easily manipulated. Mama Mabel moulded Mariah into the person she wanted her to be, and now Shades is doing the same. He essentially controls her whilst making her believe she holds all the power. It’s a significant shift in the power balance, and it should be interesting to see how long that holds before Mariah takes charge.

Of course there are often lots of moments in an episode worthy of comment, so other notable highlights include:

• Misty, Misty, Misty. I keep going back and forth with that character. Just when I think she’s turning a corner and becoming somewhat good, she goes and pulls a stunt like strangling Claire. Clearly she has a lot of issues, but she’s becoming a serious problem. The character is strong, there’s no doubt about that. The scene with Diamondback was a superb demonstration of that, but it’s too hard to get invested in a character that it’s so easy to hate. There’s gonna be characters like that on every show, and for good reason, but that character really shouldn’t be one of the leads.

• The theatre brawl between Luke and Diamondback felt a little clunky in places. The editing made parts look like it was clearly a choreographed piece.

• Claire’s Ambulance driver friend was the best. He picks up a guy that has been shot in the stomach, has his Ambulance attacked and flipped on its side, and is still pretty cool about it. His first thought was making sure Luke and Claire got out alright. I’d say let’s have him on again, but they’d probably kill him off next time.

• How badass was Claire this episode? Not only did she have a stab at fighting Diamondback (see what I did there) she also had a massive confrontation with Misty. It was so satisfying to watch Claire put Misty in her place, and I would love to see her get payback for the strangling.

• Continuing my praise for Claire, the rapport between her and Luke continues to be the best.

So concludes another episode of Luke Cage, and whilst things are definitely picking up, a certain character is dragging everything back down. The proper emergence of Shades, Mariah and Diamondback as true villains was excellent to watch, as they each have their own distinct styles. Likewise, Claire evolved into an even greater character this episode, whilst some shock reveals about Luke’s past should make things very interesting going forward. Misty unfortunately continues to be a problem, and one I’m not sure the show should put up with much longer.