Spoilers Luke Cage - Netflix (Season 1)

[M.A.C.O.]

Just finished the show. Pretty solid. Although, I do feel it was 4 episodes too long. A lot like Jessica Jones. I do concur that killing off Cottonmouth, and switching to the more unhinged and hammy Diamondback, didn't play out too well. The show could've used more of Cottonmouth's poise and simmering menace. Black Mariah took too long to get her momentum up.

Bring on Iron Fist. Hopefully they cast a role for Shang-Chi as well.

 

[Kahless the Unforgettable]

I still don't understand Diamondback's part of the story. It just doesn't make any sense.

He hates his half-brother despite being his best friend, and for some inexplicable reason, spontaneously puts all of his hatred towards his father into him after they get arrested. That, alone, is pretty 'eh?' but then it just gets dumber and dumber. Next, he waits until his brother gets out of the Marines and becomes a cop, then somehow frames him for something bad enough to get him sent to a hardcore prison with zero protection due to being a cop (and in fact, having guards and psychiatrists proudly proclaiming it for everyone to hear; sure, that could be reasoned to be part of their goal to find suitable test subjects, but it never raises a brow in anyone at all, including Cage).

Then, apparently, while Cage is in prison, Diamondback decides to move to Harlem and start taking over the criminal underworld there. (Remember; he was already hardcore enough that Cottonmouth himself was scared of him before Cage even got his powers.) Because, uh, somehow he knows his brother is going to wind up there with superpowers, as it's all part of his master plan to take him out? Even though Cage has never been to Harlem, didn't even go to Harlem to begin with, and was presumed dead at the prison, but still Diamondback knew this was all part of his master plan.

And then... it just... I don't even.... Seriously, wtf? This character makes no god damned sense from top to bottom.

 

[Grendelsbayne]

I still don't understand Diamondback's part of the story. It just doesn't make any sense.

He hates his half-brother despite being his best friend, and for some inexplicable reason, spontaneously puts all of his hatred towards his father into him after they get arrested. That, alone, is pretty 'eh?' but then it just gets dumber and dumber. Next, he waits until his brother gets out of the Marines and becomes a cop, then somehow frames him for something bad enough to get him sent to a hardcore prison with zero protection due to being a cop (and in fact, having guards and psychiatrists proudly proclaiming it for everyone to hear; sure, that could be reasoned to be part of their goal to find suitable test subjects, but it never raises a brow in anyone at all, including Cage).

Then, apparently, while Cage is in prison, Diamondback decides to move to Harlem and start taking over the criminal underworld there. (Remember; he was already hardcore enough that Cottonmouth himself was scared of him before Cage even got his powers.) Because, uh, somehow he knows his brother is going to wind up there with superpowers, as it's all part of his master plan to take him out? Even though Cage has never been to Harlem, didn't even go to Harlem to begin with, and was presumed dead at the prison, but still Diamondback knew this was all part of his master plan.

And then... it just... I don't even.... Seriously, wtf? This character makes no god damned sense from top to bottom.

Well, part of your problem is you're trying to read way too much into his plan. Moving to the New York area had nothing to do with Luke, that was just fortuitous. Him taking over the criminal underworld was just his regular life, until Luke Cage showed up in the middle of it, then it became his obsession - because he was supposed to have already had his revenge (by sending him to Seagate, where Carl Lucas was supposed to have died). Also, all the stuff that happened to Luke inside Seagate had absolutely nothing to do with Diamondback's plan. That was entirely on the prison company, which was very deliberately not concerned with fairness or safety.

The only real issues here are the question of how he could be Carl's best friend growing up despite all the resentment he had and how Carl wouldn't have any protection from the frame due to being a cop. The second one is possible, even without any additional information, although if it is unlikely - but it's also helped along by the fact that their father apparently believed the frame and was a huge pillar of the community, so could have done something to prevent special treatment. And since we don't know what crime Luke was framed for, it's possible it could've been something so bad the system wouldn't try to protect him (say, terrorism or killing a cop).

As for their relationship? It's weird, but not exactly unrealistically so. People get pushed together by labels like 'family' all the time. And the flashbacks seemed to show he really did care about Carl despite the resentment - it's just that eventually he hit a point of no return where he couldn't take it all anymore. And, like many flawed, even kind of crazy, human beings do, he directed all that anger at the wrong person and spent so many years holding onto it that it became ever more entrenched and intensified.

 

[Seven of Five]

Just finished it. Another excellent series from Marvel, and I can't wait to see the Iron Fist, Punisher and Defenders series. They really have their A-game at the moment.

I agree with the seeming consensus that Cottonmouth's death was a wonderfully shocking moment, even if the aftermath in terms of villainy was never as interesting. I appreciated the personal angle that Diamondback brought to Luke's plight, a but the crazy madman just didn't have the same presence as the multi-layered Cottonmouth.

Mariah was an absolute hoot though - Alfre Woodard was perfect here. What a slimy, conniving cow.

 

[Reverend]

Not really a criticism, but did anyone else think that given the show was so firmly rooted in Harlem, it a little odd that with all the mentions of "The Incident" there was no reference to the Hulk vs Abomination fight?
I mean I know "aliens from a hole in the sky wrecking Midtown" is a much bigger deal, but you'd think two big green monsters brawling in the street right outside the Apollo would leave a very distinct mark on the minds of the locals.

 

[Commander Richard]

I guess I'm in the minority. I loved Diamondback's inclusion and while I liked Cottonmouth, I don't think he was so much better. Luke Cage had everything and that's a part of why I liked it and why it exceeded my expectations.

A part of me did ask if Stryker's motivations were flimsy but I came to the conclusion that they weren't. Big obsessions are usually based on things that seem small to others.

I'm pretty sure the shot of Claire removing shrapnel was from the shoulder wound, and since Claire's original diagnosis about the shrapnel happened before he got that, we know that the gut wound definitely had shrapnel, too. Either way, the show's explanation was that once the shrapnel was removed his body healed itself, so the fact that neither wound healed on its own should be pretty much proof that neither bullet passed straight through.

I thought she was working on the wound in his abdomen. I'm too lazy to go back and look. And even then, we only saw her work on one wound. What about the other one?

Not really a criticism, but did anyone else think that given the show was so firmly rooted in Harlem, it a little odd that with all the mentions of "The Incident" there was no reference to the Hulk vs Abomination fight?
I mean I know "aliens from a hole in the sky wrecking Midtown" is a much bigger deal, but you'd think two big green monsters brawling in the street right outside the Apollo would leave a very distinct mark on the minds of the locals.

Maybe they forgot. I did.

lukes brother made the second half of the season a bit meh. and his disco combat suit was awful.

It was a nice homage.

these shows don't do costumes very well.

Electra's proper costume as nice and what they did with the Punisher was creative with the "spilled paint" that just happens to look like a skull.

And if they ever want to put Luke in a costume, they could go with the yellow shirt.

It's not uncommon for real-life activists and community heroes to wear something like that.

If it's too showy, they can keep it toned down.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I forget, did he even see her again after he came to?

I watched Jessica Jones again this weekend and something stood out: Not only does Luke not see Jessica again after he wakes up, the last time the two had a conversation while he wasn't under the influence of Kilgrave was when Jessica told him the truth about Reva's death. We already know his "forgiving" of Jessica was scripted by Kilgrave, which delegitimizes all of the conversations he had with her during that period of time. Which raises the questions: How does he feel about Jessica right now and will the writers remember this unresolved point in The Defenders?

Not really a criticism, but did anyone else think that given the show was so firmly rooted in Harlem, it a little odd that with all the mentions of "The Incident" there was no reference to the Hulk vs Abomination fight?
I mean I know "aliens from a hole in the sky wrecking Midtown" is a much bigger deal, but you'd think two big green monsters brawling in the street right outside the Apollo would leave a very distinct mark on the minds of the locals.

I noticed that as well and it is weird that it wasn't remarked on at all, especially considering how much damage they did. Or as Tony Stark put it, "broke Harlem."

 

[Reverend]

I guess I'm in the minority. I loved Diamondback's inclusion and while I liked Cottonmouth, I don't think he was so much better. Luke Cage had everything and that's a part of why I liked it and why it exceeded my expectations.

I didn't mind Diamondback. Cottonmouth was a more complicated and nuanced character, but killing him off midway though was a welcome twist. The only thing that bothered me was that it took a little too long for Alfre Woodard's character (I forget her name) to really come into her own. Most of the time it felt like she was reacting instead of acting which meant Shades & Diamondback were really the only villains for most of the second half which made things feel a little...disjointed for lack of a better term.

As for Diamondback's super-suit; yes it looked a bit naff and silly, but then it *was* Hammer-Tech, no?

I watched Jessica Jones again this weekend and something stood out: Not only does Luke not see Jessica again after he wakes up, the last time the two had a conversation while he wasn't under the influence of Kilgrave was when Jessica told him the truth about Reva's death. We already know his "forgiving" of Jessica was scripted by Kilgrave, which delegitimizes all of the conversations he had with her during that period of time. Which raises the questions: How does he feel about Jessica right now and will the writers remember this unresolved point in The Defenders?

It's certainly going to be a complicated feeling. On the one hand he now has personal experience of being used by Killgrave as a weapon, on the other she basically stalked him, lied about why she was stalking him and slept with him knowing his connection to Reva. Add to that his "do what you gotta do" line that preceded the shotgun blast and what he's since found out about Reva...yeah, complicated may be something of an understatement.

I noticed that as well and it is weird that it wasn't remarked on at all, especially considering how much damage they did. Or as Tony Stark put it, "broke Harlem."

I actually think those were Bruce's words.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Oh, so they were.

 

[Mr Light]

Just finished the show. It's my least favorite Marvel Netflix show but I definitely liked it.

The Good: Luke. Misty. Claire. Luke as an inspirational figure. Police brutality and corruption. The actor who played Diamondback.
The bad: All the other villains. Cottonmouth just was not interesting to me; I was really worried all 13 episodes would be about him and greatly relieved they got rid of him halfway through.
This series fails in a fundamental way but not giving Luke a single villain who can actually stand up to him until the final episode. There is zero danger until the Judas bullets appear, and that's still a cheat because nobody shooting these guns can actually fight him. It's like having a Superman movie where he doesn't throw a punch because there's no super-powered villains. Diamondback really should have gotten that suit prior to the final 45 minutes.
Like all the Netflix shows, it was longer than it should have been. These should all be like eight episodes.
The constant use of the n word was really uncomfortable for me.
I feel like it's a bit convenient that Luke's childhood half-brother grows up to be this big crime lord with access to all this tech. And as happy as I was that he finally got something like powers in the end... that suit was pretty goofy looking.

 

[Mr Light]

So, I felt like this show clearly took place closely after "The Avengers" and before "Age of Ultron". All anybody talks about is "The Incident" and there isn't a single damn mention of the Sokovia Accords in relation to Luke being a public figure super hero. Therefore it must be before Civil War.

Oh another huge disappointment: No Jessica Jones?!?! Not even a CAMEO?!?!

I feel like this show ends in a great way to set up The Defenders. It can open with Daredevil defending Luke Cage in court thanks to Claire.

 

[M.A.C.O.]

The Defenders!

While the Avengers are wrecking cities and having cities Civil Wars, NYC or rather the island of Manhattan is under their charge. Uh... can we call the Fantastic Four or something? Or, save us Iron Fist!

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Hey, now, we all have our days in the dumps.

 

[Commander Richard]

Now I want to see an MCU Fantastic Four.

 

[M.A.C.O.]

The Could've Been Kings

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Hey, now, we all have our days in the dumps.

And in Iron Fist's case those days we don't want to get out of bed.

 

[kirk55555]

Just finished episode 4

Spoiler: Episode 4

That was a great origin. I liked how the show had Luke dressed like the 70s version without doing something stupid like making it a Halloween costume. I thought Shades would have a bit bigger role in Luke's prison life based on how he reacted to seeing him, but I guess Shades would still be familiar enough with Luke for it to be a problem. I'm surprised that Luke turned to the camera's instead of just walking away, but I guess that there isn't much chance of him getting randomly identified at this point, at least not by someone just seeing him.

 

[Jax]

So on episode 6 and it seems everyone is talking about Luke and open about his abilities so why the hell haven't Shield dropped by because the whole accords/Inhuman thing.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

So on episode 6 and it seems everyone is talking about Luke and open about his abilities so why the hell haven't Shield dropped by because the whole accords/Inhuman thing.

Seems to me neither the movie side nor TV side give each other much recognition.

 

[Jax]

Well Agents of Shield is TV and talked about the accords. Just seems odd because Disney confirmed Netflix shows are in the MCU but they are being a little sloppy with some of it. If you watch Agents of Shield, the entire organisation is scanning for any super powered event and Luke Cage would light up on the radar.