Super-powered black lives matter… that’s the vibe from the latest Netflix/Marvel series ‘Luke Cage‘ and from the outset, it’s a statement of intent and something to celebrate…
While the latest entry in the Marvel/Netflix partnership has a superhero, of sorts, as its central character, this is certainly not in their Avengers territory. Though there are passing references and easter-eggs for attentive fans, Luke Cage is as street-level as you can get. Daredevil was about a lawyer trying to bring justice to the Hell’s Kitchen district of New York and Jessica Jones (in which Colter made his debut as cage) was largely a study in PTSD. But this third solo entry is essentially about a man wanting to be left alone and feeling that every time he steps up he gets knocked down – maybe not physically (it’s hard to hurt a man with bulletproof skin and super-strength) but certainly it’s cost him almost everything he holds dear. In the wake of trying to do the right thing, he has a dead wife, a wrecked bar, a lowly income and is still a fugitive from the police.
Sweeping the floors of a local barber-shop by day and tending a night-club bar by night, he just about makes ends meet, but despite the wise-words of the barbershop’s owner ‘Pop’ (Frankie Faison, late of Banshee) about making a difference, Luke is barely holding on to his sense of self-worth. You pick a fight with him at your peril, but he’ll do anything to avoid starting one.
All of that may come to naught though when the machinations of violent gangland boss Cornell ‘Cottonmouth’ Stokes (Mahershala Ali) and his higher-flying (but just as corrupt) politically-savvy cousin, Mariah (Alfre Woodard) look set to bring Luke and both of his jobs into a collision course with merely staying alive. Luke, despite his vow of keeping a low-profile, finds that with the spread of drugs in the area and the power-plays that brings, he has no choice but to get involved – for the sake of his pride, his friends and his city.
Colter is a significant presence and it’s easy to see why he won the role of Cage to begin with. It’s a role that doesn’t just need that physicality to intimidate, but the kind of attitude that allows a person to walk into a room and NOT have to fight. While audiences had some familiarity with the character of Daredevil (even if it was just from the ill-fated Affleck movie), mainstream viewers might not have been as aware of this Marvel character, originally the jive-talking, afro’d hero launched in the 1970s and updated every so often over the years as attitudes and outlooks changed. So, perhaps it was wise to introduce him in the Jessica Jones run and now expand out his story here.
In an exclusive interview Colter talked about Impact about his casting last year…
“You know, I didn’t go after it. I have to tell you… it was really a unique kinda thing how it fell in my lap. I had known about the character for a while, a little of the mythology. But people on the internet would be talking about and some people would send me things and say ‘You’d be good for this…’ but I kinda ignored it. I appreciated it, but in reality, what do they know? I didn’t really pay much attention to it. I felt you just do what you do and what is meant to be will be. I’ve never been a person to campaign for anything, to ask for anything. I figure the ‘Powers That Be’ know what they want and the last thing I want to set myself up for is a big let-down. That being said, when it came my way, I was already attached to a project and not even thinking about another job. The opportunity seemed really interesting . When I realised how big an opportunity it was I started to get excited by it, but it when it came to it was more difficult than I thought in negotiating to get it to all work out with my schedule. When it all came to fruition, it was a cathartic relief. After the ‘You got the job’ the excitement dissipated as it took a while for it to all play out and work out the schedule. But now, all in all, now we’re into it… it could be a gift. He’s a character that has a lot of inner turmoil and I’m looking forward to playing him as it’s not often you get to play a superhero – especially not one that doesn’t have to wear tights…”
Those wanting their action-quotient won’t be disappointed, though it takes a little time for Cage to be fully drawn into the conflict – for much of the first episode he watches, calculates and weighs up the few choices he has. By the end of the pilot episode (entitled ‘Moment of Truth‘) we’ve seen some blood spilled, some threats made, but it’s largely about set-up for what’s to come. While some episodes are stronger than others, Colter delivers on all fronts, a character and actor that should appeal to men and women, comic-book fans and those tuning in to see what all the fuss is about. As the series progresses we get to learn his ‘origin’ and some of the reasons he feels a responsibility beyond himself. But from the outset, the show distinguishes itself as classy – it’s a series designed to appeal to a wide demographic but avoiding too many cliches and constructed to appeal to an ethnic-diverse audience at the same time as celebrating various aspects of black culture. There’s violence, swearing and some limited nudity, but though overtly sensitive eyes and ears might be offended, none of it seems gratuitous – all of it is there to establish character rather than titillate.
Woodard and Ali do a nice line in overt and subtle intimidation respectively and Detective ‘Misty’ Knight (a major part of the Cage continuity in the comics – and played here by Simone Missick) makes a sultry and attention-grabbing debut – to the extent that it looks as if she’ll be appearing in The Defenders project with the other NYC heroes next year.
Directed by Paul McGuigan (Wicker Park, Lucky Number Slevin, Sherlock, Scandal), Luke Cage keeps up the high standard offered by Marvel/Netflix to date and adds more to the mixing pot that’s destined to boil over with that Defenders team-up. It’s well worth catching: for its story, action, cinematography and – perhaps most tellingly – the underscore and music that helps all the other ingredients and melodies ebb and flow so well.
9/10
All thirteen episodes of Luke Cage’s first season are now being streamed on Netflix
