Review: Marvel's Luke Cage on Netflix
I have finally began to watch Marvel's Luke Cage series on Netflix, and I must say I am impressed. A show about a black superhero with majority black cast, with an unapologetic black attitude. To the average person that sounds like a recipe for disaster and a short shelf life, but to the discerning viewer there is beauty in the art of blackness. This is a really good show, that follows the story of the original comic book closely. That is important, especially when its core audience is going to be comic book enthusiast.
There is a genuine process happening in Luke Cage. A story build up that if one is paying attention to, makes you want to continue watching to see what happens next. You are fed the story of Luke Cage in a way that is not rushed or forced, and each piece of information ties into the next. The beauty of a Netflix series is the fact that all the episodes are right at your fingertips so you can watch them at your leisure and if you have plans for your day you'll end up wanting to plan your viewing around them.
The actors are of great quality, Mike Colter, Alfre Woodard, Mahershala Ali, Simone Missick, Frank Whaley, Theo Rossi, Rosario Dawson & more all bring their characters to life in a way that is appropriate for the show. The dialogue is authentic and sensible, not corny or too cheesy. There are many inuendos and catch phrases that have already been picked up by social media. My favorite "want to get a cup of coffee?".
Some other things about this show that makes me love it more are the following. The music, raw hip-hop from the likes of Wu Tang, and others like them. The influence of hip hop is heavy. The titles of the first thirteen episodes are the same titles of songs by the iconic hip hop group Gangstarr. The fact that Luke Cage is an unarmed bullet proof black man that does most of his hero vigilante work in a hoodie! The significance of that cannot be underestimated. The culture of the black barber shop is displayed prominently through the first few episodes. The authentic New York City setting brings a real edgy look to the city that never sleeps. There are many things about Luke Cage to love, and I can go on and on about it, but instead I'm going to stop here and simply suggest you take a look for yourself. Enjoy!
