A-
A
satisfying, stylish finale erases some of Luke
Cage’s flaws
Luke Cage has drawn on Blaxploitation films for its visual style and its themes. The character in the comic books was…
Marvel's Luke Cage
B+
Luke Cage finds its footing leading into the finale
I fully understand that there are some among you in the comments that disagree with my hot takes on Luke Cage this…
B-
Flashbacks
invigorate Luke Cage but don’t do
much for character development
I know it must get a little repetitive to read these reviews where I keep saying that I want something more from Luke…
C
A
playful Luke Cage feels unbalanced, out of place
this late in the season
After the emotional thrill ride of the last episode and the threat of Bushmaster on the loose, “The Main Ingredient”…
C
Luke Cage invokes deep pain but doesn’t fully explore it
Luke Cage wants to position itself as a series about oppressed people and resistance. The first season utilized the…
C+
Luke Cage needs to rely on its more interesting characters instead of the well-trod plot
Even a mediocre episode of Luke Cage feels like a really good episode of any police procedural. It makes sense that the…
B-
Luke Cage doesn't know what to do with its strongest characters
The issue with Luke Cage being the least interesting character on the series could be mitigated if the series used the…
B-
Flawed characterization of the lead hurts Luke Cage
We’re almost at the midpoint of the season and by the midpoint of any work of fiction, we should be turning some…
A
Luke Cage debases its characters and leaves us with blood on our hands
Luke Cage is a lot of things: a crime drama, a comic book show, a modern take on blaxploitation. But this episode…
B
Luke
Cage suffers a defeat and the series slows down to watch his fall
Because Netflix series are intended for binge-watching, it’s difficult for a single episode to stand out. Episode three…
A
A
tremendous emotional scene sets high expectations for the rest of Luke Cage’s second season
There’s a lot written on “Netflix’s Strategy” to get viewers hooked. Pacing the season out to have the most impact on…
B+
Quick
pace and a mysterious villain make for a thrilling Luke Cage
When it comes to comic book villains, there are two tactics to take when it comes to their backstory. One: to carefully…
A-
Luke Cage reinvents itself along with its hero
After the mystical and enigmatic happenings in The Defenders, it’s a real treat to return to the down-to-earth setting…
B+
Luke Cage is the first Marvel show to top its first season
Like its lead character, Marvel’s Luke Cage is aware of the upward climb it’s facing in season two. Luke (Mike Colter)…
B-
Luke Cage finale is more a recap than a conclusion
Luke Cage was building toward something, right? The wise words of Pop, Cottonmouth’s musical ability, Diamondback’s…
B-
Luke Cage tries to right itself, return to theme
The first thing any of us knew about Luke Cage was that he was a bulletproof black man. His impenetrable skin was…
B-
Luke Cage can’t push past standard action fare
For a show that elevated itself from standard action television with stunning visuals and stylistic choices, it’s…
C
Tragedy and twists trip up Luke Cage
Episode 10, “Take it Personal,” wrestles with the theme “tragedy can be exploited for personal gain” and the most…
B-
The fight for control motivates Misty and Mariah in Luke Cage
In this episode of Luke Cage, “DWYCK,” the case is made for any one of the number of criminals and villains running…
A-
Diamondback turns Luke Cage into a horror movie
The actors on Luke Cage whose performances lean into the genre and style of the series for their introductions are all…