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?

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.

Luke Cage SN1 EP07-‘Manifest’

A shocking episode saw a significant shift in the status-quo.

Oh my. As we entered the halfway point of the season there was a sense that it was the calm before the storm, as everyone figured out their moves before the real war started. Though Cottonmouth promptly entered and exited jail, his operation was on the rocks. As a result, Mariah’s career hit a wall, and Luke was allowed a moment of relative piece…that lasted all of two minutes. From the very beginning this episode felt like a transitional period. Everything before was fluff compared to what’s coming next, and boy did that ring true.

Rather than skip to that shock ending, let’s discuss some of the other key moments from this episode. Misty was given a strong showing throughout this episode, but her character still continues to conflict. The material with her new captain, though limited, was great as it became clear we were viewing two women of very strong character. Their obvious shared past will no doubt be explored down the line, but for now it was fun viewing two people with such clear animosity towards one another. It’s just a shame then that her new captain pushed her to pursue Luke. As great as Misty can be as a character, all her material to do with Luke is frustrating. In a show about a vigilante, seeing fellow protagonists go against him is more of an annoyance of anything else. It’s possible that Misty’s insistence on trusting the system is rooted in events from her past, but until such time a proper explanation for her attitudes are given, the character will continue to be a problem.

Whilst Misty continued to push for justice, Luke was quite ready to run away. With jailtime off the table, Cottonmouth put everything he had into finishing Luke once and for all, revealing facts about Luke’s past in order to blackmail him into working. It was an interesting move on Cottonmouth’s part as it didn’t guarantee Luke would fall in line, however it did help conclude a running thread from episode one. Ever since we met him Luke’s wanted to hide away from being a hero, to stay in the shadows. Here then, Claire finally pushed him in the right direction. Her role in the series is larger than I thought it would be, but it’s paying off dividends. The problem with Luke is that he’s quite happy to run away from a bad situation if it will affect the little bubble of secrecy he’s created around himself. Claire then acts as the guiding hand he so desperately needs. This first came in the form of Pop, then Bobby Fish, and now Claire. It stresses that Luke is still human. He’s just as reliant on others as the rest of us, maybe even a little more so, and it adds yet another layer of depth to an already layered character.

Luke’s ultimate decision to stay despite the consequences means we’ve likely seen the last of his brooding, non-committal days, and the hero for hire is about to come out in full force. Or at least he might’ve had he not been shot with the only bullet in the world that can harm him. I expected this to come into play at some point in the future, but certainly not yet. There’s a whole other villain yet to appear in the series, and given the rather ominous way he lurks in the shadows, his introduction had to be big. This moment here then acts as the prelude to the inevitable horror Diamondback will rain down upon our heroes. The first time actually seeing Luke get hurt was always going to be a pivotal moment for the series, and given the seriousness of the way in which it was done, there’s the chance for things to get crazy before he’s fighting fit again.

Speaking of crazy, let’s move over to the meat behind this episode, and the reason I’ve seen so many people proclaim it as the best one. We were finally given a rather surprising backstory to Cottonmouth this episode, and in a trope that has become all too common in TV, he died soon after.

Yup. I’m still processing that too.

I always assumed Cottonmouth would stick around, at least until the final episode, with Diamondback taking his place during a stint in prison. After all, Cottonmouth was billed as the main villain. However, it turns out that the true villain was lurking in the background all this time, and her name is Mariah Dillard. The moment she snaps and starts beating Cottonmouth was one of those truly shocking moments of television. There was no real build-up to it. The audience had been conditioned to believe Cottonmouth would be staying put. It was just plain shocking.

Through the terrific flashbacks we got to witness first-hand the somewhat disturbing and notorious legacy the infamous Mama Mabel built for herself, as well as how this shaped both Cottonmouth and Mariah. There’s been hints throughout the season that Cottonmouth isn’t all that comfortable with what he does. It was interesting to learn then that he was once a musical prodigy, but he let the wrong people influence him and he turned to a life of crime. It was surprising to her him say all that out loud before he met his ultimate demise, but it was clearly something he had always kept bottled up. At the end of the day, Cottonmouth knew he could’ve been something better, and that realisation is tragic in its own right.

It’s the same realisation that Mariah came to this episode, just with a little help from Shades. Her brutal murder of Cottonmouth was the beginning of what promises to be a very raw, but very powerful transformation. She was clearly shaken by what she did, but her actions have made the character more exciting than ever. Now that we’ve seen her commit such a violent act, it will make her political spin all the more interesting to watch, and promises more of the same going forward.

In such a shocking and eventful episode there are bound to be moments that are looked over, so other notable highlights include:

• I love the casual way Luke just walks up to criminals now. It’s a true reflection of his power, and it also helps that it’s hilarious.

• This episode was actually big on the funny. Some exceptional quotes: “I’m really tired of buying new clothes” and “*Pointing at hoodie* Do you have this in double XL?”

• Shades continues to be such an intriguing character. His role was stepped up this episode, but he’s just that one character that always simply seems to be there. No big purpose, he’s just there. I wonder what his end game is?

• I feel like it’s been a while since I commended the music, which is wrong of me because the music continues to be epic. The way they tie it into the visuals is just so unique.

• The brutality of Cottonmouth’s murder has to be commented on again. Whilst Mariah might have always been shielded from what Mama Mabel had going on, you got the sense during the flashbacks that she was silently noting everything that went on. And wow did it mess her up!

So Luke Cage’s most shocking episode yet marked a significant shift in power going forward. With Cottonmouth well and truly out of the picture, it’s time for Mariah to step out of the shadows, whilst the ever ominous Diamondback inches closer towards and appearance. Luke seemed to finally accept his role as hero with some pushing from Claire, but contending with a serious wound, Harlem is up for the taking.

 

Luke Cage SN1 EP06-‘Suckas Need Bodyguards’

Cottonmouth hits rock bottom as allies become enemies in a thrilling episode.

Detective Scarfe has been one of the standout characters of Luke Cage. His blend of sarcasm and genuine care for Misty despite his wrongdoings highlighted him as a character you immediately warmed to. Unfortunately, being the partner of one of the leads, and then a corrupt one at that, his days were clearly numbered. As a side note, I find that with each subsequent Marvel/Netflix show it’s getting easier to spot who will die. The shows have fallen into a realm of predictability that can become slightly distracting, so I hope they shake things up with Iron Fist. Regarding Scarfe however, his path to redemption turned out to be rather unpredictable.

From his solo meeting with Cottonmouth at the start of the episode it was clear things were never going to go well for Scarfe, but something about his motivation seemed off, especially as we learnt more about his backstory. In a moment that’s all too common on TV shows nowadays, we learnt a heck of a lot about Scarfe right before he died, primarily that he had a son who had also died. It was in learning that, that Scarfe’s motivation of made less sense. Before it was easy to assume Scarfe was just greedy. It was in trying to squeeze Cottonmouth for an extra $100,000 that resulted in his untimely demise, but as soon as it was revealed he had a son, the pieces fell into place.

From the beginning, Scarfe’s behaviour towards Cottonmouth has always been pretty reckless, something which made even less sense in learning he wasn’t the only Detective on Cottonmouth’s payroll. In a brilliant feat of subverting expectations then, it became clear that Scarfe almost wanted to die. As Misty noted “He’s always cracking jokes, but never smiles.” The death of his son, partially caused by him, left Scarfe living an empty existence. It explains his recklessness with Cottonmouth. The want for money in an attempt to fill the void in his life. And why his relationship with Misty was so strong. In a way, she was a surrogate son. Whereas everyone else in the precinct treated her like a girl, Scarfe initially treated her like the son he never got to help grow. What seemed like just another run of the mill dirty cop story, turned out to be a moving reflection of the effect of loss upon a person. It all came together as in an easy to miss moment he uttered he would see his son again. Scarfe didn’t necessarily want to die once it came down to it, but he always had the hope that his death would bring with it another chance to be with his son, and that was a truly touching moment.

Whilst Scarfe may now be gone, his partner Misty is finally developing into a stronger character. Before now, her obsession with Luke has sapped the character of everything that made her great in episode one, so it was great to see her focus finally shift back to Cottonmouth. She got to be a detective again rather than stalking the streets after Luke, and the way she figured out and ultimately overpowered Detective Perez placed her as a force to be reckoned with. Her bond with Scarfe really shone through this episode, and showed a more intimate side to her that we hadn’t seen before. Sure we saw she was sad at Pop’s death, but there was an indication that Scarfe was an even more powerful figure in her life. He was the only one that believed in her to begin with, so I’d hate to be anyone who gets on the wrong side of her now. On the other hand, with Cottonmouth now in jail it’s possible she’ll set all her sights on Luke, something that really should be left alone.

Much of this episode embraced the form of a thriller. There was always the chance that Detective Scarfe could survive, so the chase sequences were exciting to behold. The locations used emphasised the excitement, with the busy road chase creating a sense of chaos as the stakes were raised, whilst the darkened, narrow, twisting hallways of the building they escaped into created a claustrophobic, hopeless atmosphere. It helps that there was a character present in these scenes whose safety truly hung in the balance. With Luke everything-proof, and Detective Scarfe on his way out, there had to be a defenceless character around to make the scenes worthwhile and exciting. Which is where Claire came into the story. She continues to be an awesome character that connects the otherwise isolated worlds of the Netflix shows. Her time in this episode pushed her closer to becoming the Night Nurse, as she displayed some terrific skills, whilst also pushing Luke to embrace his inner hero. She’s the kind of person who can get through to people, show them a better way, and if she sticks around on Luke Cage for any length of time, could be the catalyst Luke needs to push him that one step further.

There were some pretty significant goings on in this episode that I didn’t even touch on, so other notable highlights include:

• The breakfast scene between Luke and Fish was a fun little moment, as Fish brings out a different side to Luke that is all together more fun. As such it has me severely worried for Fish’s safety. I don’t think I could handle it if they killed him off too.

• After lurking in the background for a couple of episodes, Alfre Woodard’s Councilwoman Mariah Dillard made a significant comeback this episode. I say comeback only in the most general of terms, as her political career actually hit quite a speedbump. It’s terrific to see the two sides to her, as both politician and Cottonmouth’s cousin, but there were hints of a deeper character going on here. It seems the character is not quite stable, and you can see that behind her eyes is something just waiting to snap. She’s not your conventional villain, in that whilst most villains like her just think they are doing the right thing, the ambitions she has would actually be the right thing. With the impending struggles in her political career though, we might just be about to see the beast snap.

• These Marvel/Netflix shows really don’t shy away from highlighting corruption do they? I swear if real life was actually that corrupt, which it no doubt is, it’s a wonder everything isn’t just a wreck!

• Loved how Claire turned down Luke’s suggestion to ‘get coffee’. She knows what you mean Luke, don’t go try playing that.

• We saw a rather dark side to Luke this episode as he got close to killing Scarfe himself. I didn’t get the notion that Chico meant that much to him, but I suppose it was the fact that Pop died trying to protect him that sent Luke over the edge. Still this was unsettling to watch, and says that there’s maybe more to Luke than we know.

A thrilling episode of Luke Cage saw the unfortunate loss of standout character Scarfe, but a loss that will hopefully propel Misty forward to becoming an altogether better character. An exciting chase scene provided the thrills of the episode, whilst the continued appearance of Claire Temple pushed her closer toward the Night Nurse mantle, as she herself pushed Luke to do more with his powers. With Cottonmouth now in jail, the series has truly reached the point where the heroes are victorious, so I wonder just how long that will last?

James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Named ‘Deadliest Movie’

Not content with being peddlers of insurance and an irritating opera singer, price comparison website Go Compare has conducted a study of the deadliest movies (there are 653 on there in total!!). Blood and gore classics like A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween and Scream don’t make the top 10 at all – in fact, a lot of family favourites grace the hot spots, which is topped by tongue in cheek superhero jaunt Guardians of the Galaxy.

Director James Gunn took to Facebook to share the accolade, explaining that the reason the film topped the chart with a whopping 83,871 on-screen expirations was due to one of the final scenes where a swarm of Nova Corp pilots are destroyed trying to defeat Ronan. The impressive scene shows over 80,000 ships being blown up, resulting in the deaths of their crew. As Gunn says “it’s individual, ONSCREEN EXPIRATIONS, not implied deaths through seeing planets or cities exploding.” GotG is in no danger of being overtaken soon – it had 78,184 more on-screen fatalities than its nearest rival, Dracula: Untold.

If on-screen deaths on a grand scale are your bag, check out the top 10:

1. Guardians of the Galaxy  (2014) 83,871 bodies
2. Dracula: Untold (2014) 5,687 bodies
3. The Sum of All Fears (2002) 2,922 bodies
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) 2,798 bodies
5. 300: Rise of an Empire (2014) 2,234 bodies
6. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) 1,741 bodies
7. The Matrix Revolutions (2003) 1,647 bodies
8. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) 1,417 bodies
9. Braveheart (1995) 1,297 bodies
10. Avengers Assemble (2012) 1,019 bodies

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Luke Cage SN1 EP05-‘Just To Get A Rep’

A fan favourite joins the series, as Luke becomes the hero Harlem deserves in a rousing episode.

Five episodes in, we’ve reached the point where things are turning around for Luke and his allies. With the initial rage caused in Luke by the death of Pop finally subsiding, an air of hope has returned to the series. This may seem a strange thing to say given much of the episode was about Cottonmouth shaking Harlem down for everything they’ve got, but his actions finally resulted in Luke taking up the mantle of a proper hero.

A puzzling part of the episode though was that not everyone seems to know Luke has ‘abilities’. Given his impressive appearance on TV, one would think most people would recognise the truth, but we still got moments where characters seemed surprised at what he could do. As Luke continues to protect Harlem, these kinds of encounters will no doubt subside, but something about those moments felt off. Nevertheless, it was certainly fun seeing Luke traverse Harlem, collecting back what had been stolen. All we’ve seen from Luke so far is his personal vendetta against Cottonmouth. This is a fine story in its own right, but there’s something uplifting about him just wandering round helping people in need.

Equally fun was the actual montage of robberies. The scene itself ranged in tone from serious to at times funny, but worked to show how desperate Cottonmouth had become. Despite how unhinged he may be; you get the sense from previous episodes that he truly cares about Harlem. Resorting to petty daylight robbery in a misguided attempt to recoup his losses therefore shows someone on the brink. The effect Luke has had on him in such a short amount of time is actually pretty intriguing. In the first episode of the Season, we were witness to a Cottonmouth boasting of his empire, with some pretty nifty imagery to back that up. This episode gave us a realisation of just how fragile his operation is, and his fall from grace is spectacular to watch. With each passing episode Cottonmouth becomes that little bit more unhinged. Killing his own men for petty reasons. Robbing the place he claims to want to make great again. They’re all the actions of a desperate man, and it’s fascinating to see just how easily Luke got under his skin.

In regards to Luke, his past began to unravel throughout the episode. With Shades no aware of his true identity, and Misty in possession of Reva’s picture, I daresay it’ll be long before his past comes back to haunt him. Misty herself continues to be a hard character to pin down. Her staunch need to abide by the system in order to catch Cottonmouth is admirable, but annoying behaviour on a show about a superhero vigilante where just about every other character is doing the exact opposite. Her character should feel refreshing amidst all the others, but her obsession with Luke detracts from her positive qualities. Were she just pursuing Cottonmouth, her character would be all the more likeable, but the way she has targeted Luke makes her character annoying. It’s a shame to because there is such promise within her. Her first appearances portrayed a no-nonsense, wisecracking, badass woman, determined to protect her home. With each subsequent episode though we’ve seen less and less of this behaviour, and it’s starting to make her character feel like a drag.

On the plus side, this episode saw the return of a character whose appearances in both Daredevil and Jessica Jones have turned her into a fan favourite. Yes, that’s right, Rosario Dawson returned as the always awesome Claire Temple. The character gets better with each appearance, and this time was no different, as we saw she herself has some pretty badass fighting moves. We’ve only ever really seen Claire within the context of the characters around her. Her appearances have always been tied to that of the main heroes, and as such this is a side to her we’ve never had to see before. It was nice then that she was given her own subplot this episode.

The time spent with Claire this episode was used to properly develop the character. Before this we didn’t really know anything about her, other than that she is a skilled nurse with a habit for meeting powered people. Now we know that she originated from Harlem, and the introduction of her mother makes the character feel more human in a way, as before she existed in a bubble of superhero strife. It was a particularly exciting moment when Claire revealed she wanted to aid powered people. She’s been known as the Night Nurse to fans ever since she was first introduced, but it’s satisfying to see this start to develop into something real. The way she has evolved across several shows is not something I’m sure has ever been done before, but it continues to make her one of the most interesting characters around. It helps that outside the main protagonists, she feels like the least likely to be killed off. You have to be really special to survive two seasons of Daredevil, an appearance in Jessica Jones and time in Luke Cage.

There was many an interesting moment scattered throughout the episode, so other notable highlights include:

• Cottonmouth now potentially has a way to kill Luke, courtesy of Hammer Industries. My reaction to the delayed bullet was similar to that of Cottonmouth’s. That thing is awesome! Though of course horribly tragic should it be used on Luke…

• Detective Scarfe is under suspicion which was a development that happened surprisingly quickly, but even more surprising were his actions toward the end of the episode. He chose not to deliver weapons to Cottonmouth, signalling a potential change of heart. If so, unfortunately for him redemption never lasts long on these shows, so I imagine his days are numbered. This is a shame as he’s actually a really fun character.

• Luke needs to invest in some vigilante clothes. A perfectly good shirt ruined, and it was tailor made!

• Luke’s interactions with Fish are turning into a great part of the show. Fish will never quite replace Pop, but he brings his own unique character. The writers have brilliantly transformed what I assumed would be a background character into one of the show’s highlights.

• Pop’s memorial was surprisingly rousing. I didn’t think the writers would have Luke actually one-up Cottonmouth, but I suppose they have to build him up before he eventually comes crashing back down again.

Another stellar episode of Luke Cage saw Luke drop his selfish vendetta in order to become the hero that Harlem deserves. The return of Claire Temple saw the character come in to her own, away from the shadow of the heroes. With Cottonmouth’s empire crumbling, and Luke at the best place he’s been all season, we’ve now entered the period of calm before the storm. As Luke’s ego grows with each passing victory, it can only be a matter of time before he comes tumbling down to reality.

Luke Cage SN1 EP04 -‘Step In The Arena’

Some much needed backstory fuelled an introspective outing for Luke Cage.

Following the explosive cliffhanger of the previous episode, it would be easy to assume that this episode would contain a similar amount of action in exploring the aftermath. Instead, Luke Cage took a much calmer approach, that was no less stunning in what it brought to the show. Moments in the present were fleeting throughout the episode, to the point where some really weren’t needed at all. Instead we were treated to an origin story, as the evolution from Carl Lucas to Luke Cage was charted.

I’ll address the present scenes first as there isn’t too much to say about them, but there’s enough. I appreciated the moments with Luke and Connie as segways into different parts of his backstory, and there were some satisfying moments that came from Connie’s awe at Luke’s super strength. In contrast, the scenes with Misty and Scarfe felt unnecessary. Sure they discovered why the building came down, but it’s nothing the audience couldn’t have assumed they’d done. Really the purpose of Misty’s appearance within the episode was to all but confirm her suspicions about Luke. Given what she already knew though, I’m not sure this was necessary.

Zipping back to the past however, Luke’s origins were a surprising reveal. I’ve not read the comics, so I don’t know how it all played out there, but the way with which Luke got his powers was surprisingly simple. Talk of experiments throughout the episode were brilliantly misleading, as it turned out the prison doctor was just trialling a significantly advanced method of healing. That Luke’s powers were once again the result of an accident is reflective of the grounded, realistic nature of the show. Advanced science is present in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it would feel out of place on the street level Netflix shows. The doctor’s invention just bordered on the line, but it’s not an aspect I would want to see again on any of the shows. Agents of Shield and the movies deal with the science, Netflix deals with the simple (but effective) things.

Away from his actual origins, we got the build up to what actually put Luke in such a position. Imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, we saw through these flashbacks both a different Luke to the one in the present, but also one that is much the same. His penchant for not being very talkative is a direct result of him guarding himself in prison, whilst we also unfortunately paid witness to his tendency to endanger those he surrounds himself with. In this instance it was prison mate Squabbles and a fantastic returning Reeva.

Both were moving relationships to see unfold onscreen. Despite being adamant he wasn’t in need of a friend, the entertaining and lovable Squabbles eventually wore Luke down, to the point where he was willing to risk everything for him. It was another of those friendships whose end you can tell is nigh from a mile off. Squabbles was too darn loveable to be a long term survivor on the show, with the friendly banter between he and Luke regarding women and Bruce Lee providing some fun moments amidst the grim surroundings. Likewise, Luke’s burgeoning romance with Reeva showcased an intimacy unseen from Luke even in his relationship with Jessica. Both Squabbles and Reeva provided a much needed respite from the veritable gloom of the rest of the episode.

Reeva in particular is a character who it was hard to identify with, or feel any real sympathy for in her appearance in Jessica Jones. We always knew she important to Luke, but they could never truly show why because of his solo show. Well the wait for an answer was worth it, as she turned out to be one of the best characters around. She’s the kind of person who truly cares about everyone, and is using her own guilt to fuel her potential to help people. It’s a testament to the writing of the show that she is such a good character. She could have simply been a one note love interest for Luke, who we only sympathise with due to her connection with him. Instead they made Reeva her own character, undefined by her relationship with Luke. The way she interacted with the prisoners displayed a unique kind of courage, especially given her own background, whilst the air of mystery that still surrounds her ensures the audience wants to know more. It’s just a shame that she’s now dead, as she’s the kind of character I want around always.

Despite his friendships with both Squabbles and Reeva, Luke’s time in prison was not an easy one. A brutal underground Fight Club spoke to the political aspects of the show once again, reflecting its willingness to challenge preconceptions of what things are actually like. For profit prisons have been studied in detail on one of Netflix’s other popular shows ‘Orange is the New Black’, and here was another example of how corrupt they can be. It’s not necessarily saying that all prisons are running illegal Fight Clubs, but it reflects the greed that fuels these kinds of places. This was personified in the officer that targets Luke as his ‘Gladiator’. In using the people closest to him, the man effectively controls Luke, and proceeds to reap the benefit of the pain he causes. As an audience we’ve been conditioned to like characters such as Luke and Squabbles despite what they may have done to land them in prison, so it’s all the more effective when they’re hurt by the people we full on loathe.

There were lots of little details and some particularly fun Easter Eggs scattered throughout the episode, so other notable highlights include:

• We saw Luke’s connection to Shades here and ultimately I have to say it was a bit disappointing. His appearances in the present have painted him as an intelligent calculating character, so to see him in prison as a common thug was a little underwhelming. It’s understandable though why Luke was so averse to facing him, given he knows his real identity and took part in Squabbles’ death.

• Luke’s attire once he’d escaped prison was a nod to the character’s original appearance when he first debuted. As Luke rightly said, he looked like a damn fool.

• Bruce Lee vs Jet Li? Fiiight!

• It seemed like the show wasn’t quite done with the mysterious Doctor Burnstein. Or at least I doubt Luke was done with him.

• I found Luke’s declaration of his name to the TV cameras to be a little out of left field. He’s so far been so reserved and cagey, even to those around him, so that he would now be ready to announce himself to the world was surprising. Could this mean he’ll consider the hero for hire title?

This was another fantastic episode of Luke Cage that was much needed to fill in some of the mystery regarding Luke’s origins. His relationships with both Reeva and Squabbles showcased different sides to the character that were refreshing to see, whilst other character reveals such as that of Shades fell a little flat. With Luke now surely outed as a man with abilities, this could be a turning point for the character as his effectiveness can no longer be ignored.

Luke Cage SN1 EP03- ‘Who’s Gonna Take The Weight?’

The first big action sequence of the season saw Luke Cage explode into life.

For the first two episodes of its premiere season, Luke Cage has been fairly subdued. Though we’d been introduced to the Power Man himself back in Jessica Jones, the show still had a significant amount of world building to do to make sure we were properly invested in the character. We of course had the momentous scene at Pop’s Barbershop to tide viewers over in the action department, but we hadn’t really seen much of Luke using his powers. This was given reason from the off, with his still murky past and the damage his powers caused to those around him the principle reasons of his reluctance. With Pop’s death however came a re-evaluation of Luke’s stance, with the vigilante within coming out in full force.

This in turn fuelled an action packed episode, as Luke’s plan to avenge Pop sent him to some dark and dangerous places. In his need to honour Pop, Luke’s actions somewhat transformed him into the very people he hoped to stop. No he didn’t kill anybody, showing particular restraint for someone with that level of power, and yes he left most of the money for the police, but he still took some of it. At the end of the day it’s dirty money, and though Luke is using it in honourable ways, the means of its initial acquirement are still illegal. It presents an interesting moral quandary that ties into the political aspects of the show. So long as the money is being used for good, does it matter how it’s been acquired?

As I mentioned, after two episodes watching one of the strongest people on the planet not do much, the action scenes were incredibly exciting. However, they did feel a little clunky at times. It’s hard to showcase Luke’s immense strength in a grounded way that is in keeping with the gritty realism of the Netflix shows. As such, scenes like when Luke started swinging a sofa around felt a little off, as it still feels out of place in this universe. No doubt the fight scenes will increase in flair as the season goes on, as it’s understandable that not everything would work perfectly in the early stages. Nevertheless, Luke’s assault on Cottonmouth’s ‘Fort Knox’ was a thrilling affair from beginning to end. It was a standard fight, but Luke’s powers elevated simple punches and kicks to be much more visually exciting as his victims were sent flying. The only other downside to any scenes such as this is that they’re lacking tension. Luke’s durability makes him impervious to most anything, so the audience never feels worried for his safety.

This is alleviated by those Luke surrounds himself with. Since we can’t feel worried for Luke, we look to his bullet ready friends to get tense over. With Pop out of the picture, the honours fell to Barbershop Chess Master Bobby Fish, and Chinese restaurant owner Connie Lin. The final moments of the episodes placed the latter in the most immediate danger, as an emotive gesture from Cage was cut viciously short, whilst Fish now being in possession of some of Cottonmouth’s money potentially places him in the crosshairs. These are two characters we still know relatively little about, so that the writers have given us a reason to care for them in such a short amount of time is an impressive achievement.

Similarly, Chico was granted a redemption arc that also started to enamour the audience to him. The baby faced tough man wannabe has been the subject of some terrible mistakes, that once again called forth the political aspects of the show. So much stock within these first few episodes had been put upon the importance of having a safe place and a guiding hand in life, and Chico represents the extreme of what can happen when that is either taken for granted, or just not there at all. His stab at redemption signifies a man who has faced a great deal and is willing to escape the ugliness of the world. Too bad then that said ugliness has infected all facets of society, including those whom we turn to for safety, the Police.

Detective Scarfe represents the ultimate in corruption. The authority figure willing to abuse his power to satisfy his greed. This is made all the more powerful by the fact that the writers went to such lengths throughout this episode to paint him as a good man. So much so in fact that for a time he was up there with Fish and Lin as characters whose fates I was concerned about. His rapport with Misty and humorous nature placed him as a man to be trusted, leading to a shocking but satisfying reveal as he murdered Chico.

Of course as action packed as this episode was I didn’t have time to cover everything in detail, so other notable highlights include:

• I loved Misty and Scarfe’s whole conversation about vigilantism. I was firmly on the side of Scarfe, that if Luke can do all he did by himself without getting hurt that he should be allowed to go about his business. Had the police tried to take the building, it would have no doubt caused a number of needless casualties on both sides. Luke and Scarfe would definitely be team Captain America then.

• Misty is edging closer to uncovering Luke’s secret, but it’s still unclear what she’d do if she found out. She’s clearly against the way he does business, but no doubt once the truth about Scarfe emerges she’ll reconsider her views.

• I just can’t figure out Mariah. I truly believe her when she talks about building a vibrant community, but at the same time she has a certain dark quality that seems to be bubbling just beneath the surface. With all she’s campaigned for potentially on the line, will we see her true self emerge.

• The music continues to be a highlight of the show, specifically the ‘live’ performances. It helps that for most people, myself included, this is the most exposure they’ve had to this kind of music.

• I wonder how much Cottonmouth pays the Mortician to make bodies disappear. If I had to do that I’d want a sizeable amount. Especially given the condition some of them are no doubt in.

• So Cottonmouth just casually launched a rocket at the Chinese restaurant. Surely he could have been a tad subtler.

Episode 3 marked a pivotal moment for Luke Cage as mysteries began to unravel and Luke finally assumed the role of vigilante. The action sequences were thrilling, if a little clunky in places, whilst the writers made commendable efforts to develop supporting characters in order to give us reason to worry for them. Misty’s storyline took a significant step forward too, as she moved closer to discovering Luke’s secret and her partner turned out to be more than he seemed. With an explosive cliff-hanger ending it seems Luke Cage is starting to pick up the pace, as the fight against Cottonmouth gets even more personal.

ICYMI – Last Week in Skatronixxx

This past few weeks here at Skatronixxx have been busy.  We have our regular features, such as @presh81‘s Fresh Fridays, and all those lovely lists that she puts together for your enjoyment, @a_pok’s Weekly Bookette, and all SORTS of wrestling and extreme sports news by @mitch_rated, @deadpool_1984, @therealdills, and @oliverwoodster.

Video games, anime and cosplay writers @concreteshawzee, @dammitrooster, @starkwyvrngamer, @auburn_geek and @skatronixxx are always finding new and interesting stuff for you to read, admire and play.  But the last couple of weeks have also given us previews, teasers and trailers for returning shows, new shows and some freaky ass movies as well.

Luke Cage SN1 EP02- ‘Code of the Streets’

The stakes were raised in a dramatic episode that conveyed the power of respect.

Going into its second episode, Luke Cage had the chance to delve deeper into some of these characters now that the introductions are done. As a result, characters such as Luke, Misty and Cottonmouth were given more depth, whilst the supporting cast cull that so often occurs on Marvel’s Netflix shows got well underway.

Let’s start with Luke Cage himself. We saw in Episode One that he was reluctant to use his abilities to be a hero, and this is where that choice truly has consequences. As Spiderman said in Civil War “If you have these powers and don’t use them, then bad things happen, that’s on you.” It’s a fact Luke comes to face all too soon with the tragic loss of Pop. I commented in my previous review that he was not long for the world (no father figure ever is), but even just knowing him for that short amount of time was heart-breaking enough. He exuded wisdom and guidance till his dying breath, and was the kind of character you root for before the hero truly becomes the hero.

With Pop’s death Luke decides to finally step up. The only wrinkle is that he’s not becoming a hero. This is developing into a story of cold, hard revenge, which places Luke in an interesting position. His current emotional state makes him irrational and unpredictable. He’s not set out to end Cottonmouth’s operation for the good of his community. He’s doing it for himself, in memory of Pop, which presents all kinds of possibilities. It’s already been mentioned he’s a fugitive, so why not cross another line?

It doesn’t help that his guiding hand is no longer around. As troubled as Luke appears to be, Pop seemed to be the only one that could set him on the right path. With him gone, his actions have become unpredictable, and as we saw from that ending, he’s a force to be reckoned with.

Elsewhere in the episode we started to learn more about the mysterious Misty Knight. She clearly has strong ties with the community, and a sense of connection and diplomacy her partner lacks, but she still remains an enigma. Pieces are starting to come together, her athletic aptitude, the Sherlock like way she studies a crime scene, but a clear picture has not yet formed, which makes her all the more interesting. As with the show itself, her endgame isn’t clear. She’s obviously tracking Cottonmouth, but is there a more personal reason for doing so.

As I said, the show’s endgame isn’t clear. Sure we know Luke’s going to go after Cottonmouth, but that’s not a conflict that can be sustained over 13 episodes, so clearly other elements will come into play. It’s this sense of the unknown that is so intriguing about Luke Cage. Daredevil and Jessica Jones both built their respective villains plans up before everything came to a head, but Cottonmouth doesn’t currently appear to have some big plan, and at the moment that’s alright. I’m happy to get to know these characters before the anticipation of a big city destroying event comes into focus.

It helps that significant depth was given to Cottonmouth’s character this episode. Before he felt a little one note. Simply an ambitious gangster craving power, but this episode showed he as a moral code, however skewed it may be. Many forms of media containing gangs and such convey the power of respect and a man’s word these people hold. Luke Cage is no different as Pop’s barbershop was described as ‘Switzerland’, the neutral zone where one could escape the chaos of the streets. Cottonmouth is a man who respects that’s how it needs to be, and as his background with Pop is revealed, respects him as a person as well. As it emerges Pop is dead as an indirect result of what he’s done, his subsequent actions reflect a man who has truly lost something meaningful. It elevates him from evil gangster to flawed human, introducing just enough sympathy into the audience’s mind as to make them question whether he can’t be save from this world he’s entrenched himself in.

Of course there was plenty to show as Luke Cage upped the ante for its second outing, so other notable highlights include:

• The show once again interspersed a fantastic musical performance with some smaller character moments that would have felt much more fragmented and unnecessary had this not tied them all together.

• Turk took a brief vacation from Hell’s Kitchen to visit Harlem. Seems he just can’t catch a break, but he must have a short memory given his comment about Hell’s Kitchen being safer. Given the increasing body count over their due to Daredevil and Jessica Jones, Harlem seems like a relative haven. Though I’m sure that’ll change in the episodes to come.

• The pacing sped way up here. I mentioned in this very section during my last review that I expected neither Pop nor the Barbershop would last long, I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon and at the exact same time.

• Cruel justice that Pop died and Chico survived, anyone wanna take bets on how long that’ll last though?

• Hoping to see more from both Misty and Councilwoman Mariah soon as they’ve been mostly side-lined at the moment. Mariah is another whose motives are unclear, but she’s no doubt more than she seems.

• It may sound wrong, but I admit I smiled gleefully when Cottonmouth threw his right-hand man off the roof. Deserved all he got killing Pop.

So in its second episode Luke Cage considerably upped the action as the fight against Cottonmouth got personal. With Luke’s moral guide gone there’s no knowing what path he’ll take to get justice, which places the show in a new and exciting position indeed. A considerable amount of character development shone new light on friend and foe alike, and with an old fashioned revenge plot underway, I look forward to seeing the true power of Luke Cage unfold.