Marvel Netflix: Ranking all seasons of Marvel’s Netflix dramas
By Josh Baggins
Photo Credit: Marvel’s Luke Cage/ Marvel Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Media Center
6. Luke Cage Season 1
The first half of Luke Cage Season 1 comprised of the best string of episodes for the entire series so far. That is where it planted its seeds in neo-Blaxpoitation with its use of setting, dialogue, and music. After Luke made a strong impression in Jessica Jones, his own show differentiated by focusing on political corruption and its detrimental impact on the predominantly African American society.
Luke Cage builds a name for himself as a local hero. As protector of Harlem, he considers himself one of the people; his association with Harlem has become more significant a connection than any other superhero has had with a location on film or television. His base of operation is a neighborhood barbershop, owned by a respected older ally who established his place of business as a neutral zone, free of criminal activity.
Power Man contended with club owning gangster Cottonmouth, played in spectacular fashion by Mahershala Ali. Ali expertly played off of other actors and as Cottonmouth’s reputation was being jeopardized by Luke Cage, has him react to his potential loss of prominence with a wide range of aptitudes. There were times when he was convincingly irritated and others when he was emotionally irrational. Perhaps Cottonmouth could have been the greatest Marvel Netflix villain if he wasn’t killed off halfway through the season.
Cottonmouth’s death was breathtaking in the short-term, yet proved to be damaging to the remainder of the season. He was unexpectedly killed in the seventh episode and it wasn’t our protagonist that did the deed, yet he was blindsided by crooked councilwoman, and cousin, Mariah.
The second half of Season 1 saw a new antagonist with Luke’s half-brother Diamondback. In comparison to Cottonmouth, Diamondback was a cartoonish villain with a one track mind. Luke and Diamondback’s ultimate showdown in the streets of Harlem could have been more imaginatively constructed but our hero being hauled off to prison felt melancholically complete as his superhero origin story came full circle.
Both Luke Cage rounds are great additions to the Marvel Netflix Universe, so it may be Season 1’s apropos ending outmatching Season 2’s abrupt character shift that places the first marginally ahead of the second.