With all of Harlem bearing witness, Luke takes on the fight of his life in hopes of emerging as the defender his city needs.

Marvel’s Luke Cage wraps up its first season with an episode that begins like something we’ve seen so many times before, two guys duking it out in the street while the neighborhood watches. We’ve seen it before… a lot. Hell Rocky V ended with it.

But that’s only about 15 minutes of the episode, there’s a lot to wrap up with the warrants out for him and a lot of clearing the air with what people think Cage did…

…and it doesn’t wrap up nicely! There’s a lot that’s left out there.

In many ways, this is the Empire Strikes Back of the Marvel Netflix series. It’s a continuation of a story and it’s one that ends on a low note. It acknowledges that life is a series of low notes and the show acknowledges that even innocent African American men are often shat on by the system. It’s a fresh statement from anything, let along a live action series from Marvel.

The series leaves a lot out there and actual breaks from the usual paint by numbers ending of most of the Marvel live action releases and does that by giving us a coda.

That coda is important in that it reminds us the basic themes of the series and much of what it has said throughout its thirteen episodes, a greatest hits of its points. It reminds us why Luke Cage is special. And while this episode, and the series as a whole, has some bumps, it also reminds us why this series is special. It shows that superheroes can be relevant and act as a mirror to our society.

Marvel’s Luke Cage is a triumph in many ways and hopefully is just the start of even more to come.

Overall Rating: 8.65

Misty digs deeper for the truth as the neighborhood’s power players throw the city info confusion.

Marvel’s Luke Cage definitely begins with a stumble as there’s so much that the cops have at this point that proves his innocence, though if he knows that is another question. But, we’ll chalk up the lack of knowledge as to the actions taken.

But the above is addressed and addressed quite well taking things back to the basics… even though he’s bullet proof he’s still black and the cops still want him.

The above is spoken by a guest star which is absolutely amazing and something I don’t want to ruin at all.

The bit gets us back to the hip hop roots of the series with a refocus on hoodie that is such a symbol of the show. The show at times has strayed from its statement and how powerfully it can address today’s issues, but this episode brings thing back in a way that makes up for that.

There’s just one episode to go and this one sets things up nicely. It feels like there’s still a lot of ground to cover but we’ll see how it all (and what gets) wraps up in the next episode.

Overall Rating: 8.05

In one bold move, a friend from his past puts Luke on the defensive, Musty in dire straits, and Harlem’s safety in jeopardy.

Marvel’s Luke Cage is getting to its end game with the events of last episode playing out through this entire one. Diamondback has taken hostages and is pretending to be Luke so that the cops completely turn and also are willing to purchase his new bullets that can kill Luke.

Other than Diamond back’s revenge against Luke, it seems to lack a bigger story here as far his plans. And with that, it makes me begin to rethink this entire season and wonder about it as a whole. Diamondback has been a gun dealer for the entire season but now there’s this weird switch and focus on his taking on Cage. If that’s the plan, this all seems to be a rather elaborate plan to do so and if it’s not, it all seems to be a rather odd “in addition to other stuff” plan that’s spinning out of control. And what Diamondback is up to definitely feels like it’s spinning out of control, and one sentence seems to confirm that’s the case, there was no plan.

Which makes the end of this season a bit out of control and an odd series of events and it feels like some of the characters are acknowledging that at least. It also continues Marvel’s Netflix series having issues sticking the landing.

The good with the episode is that it gives a lot of information about Diamondback, why he hates Luke so much, and what exactly happened between the two. I also really enjoy Diamondback’s use of the Bible, but I wish there was more of this and an overall greater biblical theme to it all. To explore religion within the African American community along with police relations would have been even more interesting.

There’s also something here that comic fans will raise an eyebrow to that involves Misty Knight.

The end is also a bit iffy and feels a bit tame to how reality would probably actually play out. With all we’ve seen in other episodes, it feels a bit unrealistic.

Again this is an episode that has its moments but doesn’t quite stand on its own, but as a whole is a fine chapter.

Overall Rating: 7.85

Luke gets closer to the truth about Reva and her part in his fate, while Mariah wrestles with the morality of her new role. Misty hunts for Luke.

Marvel’s Luke Cage gets back to its political roots in this episode which has Diamondback attempting to start a war between the cops and Cage.

Cops chasing down and arresting young black kids in their search for Cage is a striking image and the use of force is a gut punch of our actual reality. This sets the show into an interesting direction pitting the community against Cage and the police.

It’s the latter part of which I have an issue with. The solutions that Mariah throws out there doesn’t quite make sense and it’s odd that folks go along with it the way they do. It’s all a little odd and I’m not quite sure this sits well. There should be more action and more out in the open beyond Mariah. It’s a definite stumble in the show and it’s political themes.

The episode also has some really interesting revelations about Reva which I’m still debating how I feel, but we get an even better idea as to what’s going on when it comes to Cage’s origin. That is also explored more as Cage visits his home with some revelations.

The episode is an interesting one in that it gets the series back to its political roots and also trips up in a way by doing so.

Overall Rating: 7.95

With Luke wounded and on the run, Misty faces a soul-searching interrogation. Mariah’s rise to power takes a dark turn.

Marvel’s Luke Cage has gotten interesting in that some details become clearer if you’ve watched Jessica Jones and if you haven’t, I’m not quite sure what one will think. It’s some minor things when it really comes down to it, but they help paint a bigger picture.

Really the episode is about Mariah, who makes some decisions as to what she wants to do now that her brother is out of the picture.

That takes a turn and it’s a turn that’s predictable in so many ways and also something we’ve seen many times in other films. It does give us a better idea about Mariah and what she’s like.

What’s mentioned in the episode is what’s really interesting I think. There’s mention of the superhero problem, bringing things into a bigger picture and making me wonder how this might lead into the bigger story of the Defenders thats to come.

It’s a decent episode that’s stronger as part of the whole than on its own.

Overall Rating: 8.05

Mariah campaigns to turn the city and the police against Luke, and not even Misty or Claire may be able to save him.

This feels a bit of the typical episode where the good guy is made to look like a bad guy, but with that going on there’s a big confrontation too.

This episode mainly has Luke going up against Diamondback with a reveal that’s a big one. I’m not ruining it so you can enjoy it as much as possible.

The episode is pretty slow other than setting up an interesting triangle between Luke, Claire, and Misty. Its primary function really feels like the Diamondback reveal and to also dive a bit more into Luke’s abilities and the good and bad that it all brings.

Watching Claire try to figure things out with Luke is interesting and she gives a bit of science to explain what he can do, which feels like something the various Marvel Netflix series throw in to ground it all a bit. It’s also a bit of a replay of her initial meeting with Cage in Jessica Jones. And all of that might be the most important thing about this episode as it really gives us a hint as to what Claire’s role might be going forward in the cinematic universe.

The bigger thing will be the fallout over Misty’s actions. Maybe we’ll get her closer to her comic version? We’ll see as there’s a few episode to go!

A slow episode overall but it feels like it has a point and “job to do” and does that pretty damn well.

Overall Rating: 7.75

Mariah’s political career comes under fire, and Cottonmouth picks up information that could put Luke on the run.

Setting up the second half of Marvel’s Luke Cage, this episode feels almost like a second season in some ways picking up from last episode and shaking things up quite a bit too.

Up to this point, we haven’t gotten much as far as the history of Cottonmouth aka Cornell Stokes and Mariah Stokes and this episode changes all of that. It does a solid job of really diving into the world these two grew up in ad how they came to be where they are. It’s an interesting episode that’s tragic in many ways and also is Shakesperean in others.

This is in a way a fresh start as the second half of the series begins and it’s hard to really discuss things without spoiling them. It’s the Stokes’ episode in every way and makes the two more than just a copy of a 70s blaxploitation villain and the crooked politician. There’s more there and we now get a sense what.

Alfre Woodard as Mariah Stokes especially gets the spotlight as she steps center stage. Things have been telegraphed for a while, but what exactly happens hasn’t been, leaving viewers with some surprises.

It’s an interesting episode that’s very slow but full of dramatic turns and sets the stage for the big bad to come.

Overall Rating: 8.35