Short answer? Yes! A show that some are calling "Unapologetically Black" and its a real powerhouse on the soundtrack end - Luke Cage delivered. In regards to Luke Cage's themes pertaining to being black and the black experience: this is something I can't really speak about. However there is a really excellent round table on the Black Girl Nerds podcast here if you'd like to get more information and discussion on that!
I'm a big fan of the character Luke Cage, not the biggest, but due to my love for his partner in (fighting) crime Iron Fist I've had a lot of exposure to his character. Marvel really did a good job of inserting him into the cinematic universe via Jessica Jones to build anticipation for his own series. I was a big fan of the bar fight where he stopped a guy from glassing him and punched the bottle into pieces. Very over-the-top, right in my wheelhouse. A flagrant and unnecessary display of power. Coulda just stopped the bottle and punched the dude. I love it.
So going into Luke Cage I wasn't sure what to expect in all honesty I've only read comics involving him post-marriage where a lot of his motives are more family-centric. In this series he just wants to be left alone - don't we all? Out of all of the Netflix series so far Luke Cage is quite small in scope - which is a perfect starting point in my opinion. It did open out towards the end with the televised fight with Diamondback and the Method Man freestyle on Sway's show that had everyone wearing hoodies like Luke's. However for the first three quarters it felt very enclosed and the confrontations and issues faced were for the community in which Luke and the supporting cast lived, which of course is Harlem.
The best thing I can compare the feel of Luke Cage to in terms of narrative is the first volume of the recent Hawkeye run. Where Clint was very much trying to keep things together for himself and the people living in his apartment building. The story was grounded, street-level and gets you invested in the environment as well as the characters. The difference with Luke Cage is that it is presented in a style that puts culture at the forefront. From Pop's Barbershop and the jovial conversations within that mimic barbershops true to life and the live music presented in the Harlem's Paradise club - Luke Cage helps paint a picture of a talented, vibrant area despite the shenanigans of the antagonists.
The use of music throughout is exceptional. Highlights being Luke making sure Bring Da Ruckus is playing on his headphones when he one-mans an entire building and the tongue-in-cheek use of Dusty Springfield's Son of a Preacher Man for Diamondback. The most important being the sound check performance of Long Live the Chief by Jidenna to Cottonmouth directly. It helped set the tone for his character within four minutes without it being an actual shortcut. It was the perfect song choice.
The use of real-world elements help give the world around Luke depth and a feeling of fondness. Having people who deal in music and clothing interacting with this superhero helped make the story feel a little more real. The scene with Method Man recognising Luke in the shop being one a lot of people responded to very well. Although Luke Cage didn't reference or link to other Marvel media as heavily as his other Netflix counterparts - I didn't ever feel it was needed. Luke Cage had a good, rounded set of characters and can stand on its own. I'm glad, however that although the series did spend a lot of time building appreciation for Harlem, any of the characters can be applied elsewhere to good effect. We should see that in the future with The Defenders as Misty Knight is to be part of it.
Sometimes it did feel like characters such as Misty and Shades were stealing the spotlight from Luke but I didn't feel the series suffered for it. Building a world full of great characters that can shift your attention so starkly is what Marvel has been good at doing for years. Try reading an entire X-men arc then picking just one X-member as your favourite. You will have at least 3 that you wont be able to choose between.
I loved the villains, it seemed like Luke Cage hit on three different types of villains all at once. Mariah's political manipulation, the calculated savagery of Cottonmouth and the flamboyant chaotic trope-magnet that was Diamondback. Where tropes usually are frowned upon - I think in superhero media there is always room for tropes and clichés. Comics are camp and tropey, so let things be camp and tropey, man!
I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm still not sure about the whole 13 episodes thing. All of the Marvel Netflix series thus far have had certain parts drawn out to meet the quota for episodes. They could have all been tied up nicely in eight or nine episodes. However I'm a huge fanboy so I'll sit through the slow stuff and look for easter eggs I guess.
Although Jessica Jones is still my favourite, Luke Cage was stellar. I give it 8 Sweet Christmases out of 10.
Also shout out to Diamondback;s GOOFY costume at the end - it was so silly I absolutely loved it. Less making costumes edgy and realistic. More retro impractical helmets that don't fit that well.
-Gary
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