Luke Cage season 2
- Thread starter Turtletrekker
- Start date
Yeah, Bushmaster. He was originally introduced in an Iron Fist story that continued in Power Man leading up to Power Man and Iron Fist 50 where the two stories merged. He was someone who Doctor Burstein also gave powers to while also a major Haitian drug runner and crime lord (originally, Misty Knight went undercover to infiltrate his organization).
Bushmaster sounds like a stage name.
It's the name of a snake, just like Cottonmouth and Diamondback.
I'm three episodes in and I'm already loving it as much as the first season. A fair mix of action and set-up with lots of moving parts with all of the characters.
I especially loved the storyline direction in the third episode.
I especially loved the storyline direction in the third episode.
I greatly appreciate how the show didn't skirt around the fact Luke went charging into Cockroach's apartment and beat him into a bloody pulp in front of his girlfriend and son. Yes, he's a piece of shit scumbag who deserves punishment for abusing both the girlfriend and her son, but he didn't deserve the retribution Luke gave him.
The fallout of that situation was appropriately brought to head with Luke's anger and how it affected his relationship with Claire, someone who was raised in a home of domestic violence. The argument between Luke and Claire was chilling and heartbreaking after he furiously punched her wall multiple times. I have to say I was impressed by how Claire coolly handled the situation as well as how carefully and quietly she pushed Luke away from her in order to create a safe space for herself. It helped that Luke immediately knew he seriously fucked up, but that space needed to be created nonetheless. I hope they're able to work things out between them but it's something that needs to happen over the course of the rest of the season and not a quick fix over an episode or two.
The fallout of that situation was appropriately brought to head with Luke's anger and how it affected his relationship with Claire, someone who was raised in a home of domestic violence. The argument between Luke and Claire was chilling and heartbreaking after he furiously punched her wall multiple times. I have to say I was impressed by how Claire coolly handled the situation as well as how carefully and quietly she pushed Luke away from her in order to create a safe space for herself. It helped that Luke immediately knew he seriously fucked up, but that space needed to be created nonetheless. I hope they're able to work things out between them but it's something that needs to happen over the course of the rest of the season and not a quick fix over an episode or two.
As of episode five....
Foggy has now been in every Netflix Marvel series except for Iron Fist and The Punisher. I didn't expect him to appear but it was a pleasant surprise nonetheless!
"Where's my money, honey?"
Three episodes in and I hate to say it, but so far I'm really not feeling it. Can't put my finger on exactly what or why yet, but something just feels...off. The proverbial confident swagger that felt natural in the first season now seems more forced, like an affectation. Almost self-conscious. And a few of the performances just took me right out of the scene (mostly the kid working at Pop's.)
It may just be me not being in quite the right frame of mind at the time, but I really hope this gets better since it's already starting to feel a little boring. I mean for me, it's always a red flag when I'm tempted to fast forward through a certain scene. The last time I did that was with 'Inhumans' (through I just about managed to get though 'Iron Fist' without doing so.)
It may just be me not being in quite the right frame of mind at the time, but I really hope this gets better since it's already starting to feel a little boring. I mean for me, it's always a red flag when I'm tempted to fast forward through a certain scene. The last time I did that was with 'Inhumans' (through I just about managed to get though 'Iron Fist' without doing so.)
Last edited:
Oh dear, it's not getting better and the exposition dialogue is shockingly clunky. I swear I could almost hear the actor's teeth grinding in one scene from irritation at having to read such poor dialogue.
Is there a new team or writers this time around or something? I know it was always a little cheesy, but I don't remember last season being quite so...on the nose.
Is there a new team or writers this time around or something? I know it was always a little cheesy, but I don't remember last season being quite so...on the nose.
Huh, I didn't have any problem with the dialogue or the exposition. On the contrary, having finished the season, I think it's even better than the first season and it doesn't have any clumsy villain shifts like the first season did, which certainly helps. However, I am surprised by the lack of discussion in this thread about the season considering it's been out for a couple of days. Liked it or not, I would have thought more people would be posting.
Regarding my episode three spoiler a few posts up,
The great and dearly departed Reg E. Cathey was an unsurprising MVP of the season, even if his role was somewhat limited. It is such bittersweet joy to watch him act his heart out in perhaps his final role.
Regarding my episode three spoiler a few posts up,
I'm shocked Claire never returned for the rest of the season. That absence (along with Bobby's departure) did help Luke to focus on other issues and working different people including Misty, Danny, his father, and a brief uneasy alliance with Mariah. Still, I would've thought Claire would return within the last few episodes, but nothing except unseen mention from Luke, asking Sugar to tell her to leave the club. I guess their relationship will become a major focus in the next season, which is a good thing, because like I said before, I don't want them to quickly fix the damage.
The great and dearly departed Reg E. Cathey was an unsurprising MVP of the season, even if his role was somewhat limited. It is such bittersweet joy to watch him act his heart out in perhaps his final role.
I loved the relationship dynamics that were explored between Luke and his father and how they both had to deal with their own personal pain and pride. I also loved the deep and personal conservation they had that allowed them finally bury the hatchet.
James Lucas had one distinct and complete character arc in this season, but I suspect if Cathey hadn't died unexpectedly, he would've continued playing an important role in the show. I imagine they'll quietly kill of the character between seasons and give a proper dedication for both the character and actor in the first episode.
James Lucas had one distinct and complete character arc in this season, but I suspect if Cathey hadn't died unexpectedly, he would've continued playing an important role in the show. I imagine they'll quietly kill of the character between seasons and give a proper dedication for both the character and actor in the first episode.
While I understand why their roles were limited in the season, I sure wish we had seen more of them, especially with their respective pairing to Misty and Luke. I also found it awfully weird that when Misty got her cybernetic arm, neither of them were around. Further, it was also weird that Danny didn't reference it when he finally met up with Luke.
Still, having both of them in this season demonstrated the great potential dynamics of having Daughters of the Dragon and Heroes for Hire shows instead Luke Cage and Iron Fist. Just as long as Scott Buck is not involved on any level. Much like The Defenders, Danny worked considering better as a character in this one episode than most of his own show. Colleen continues to be awesome no matter what.
Still, having both of them in this season demonstrated the great potential dynamics of having Daughters of the Dragon and Heroes for Hire shows instead Luke Cage and Iron Fist. Just as long as Scott Buck is not involved on any level. Much like The Defenders, Danny worked considering better as a character in this one episode than most of his own show. Colleen continues to be awesome no matter what.
I really enjoyed Gabrielle Dennis' performance as Tilda Johnson and I was surprised she didn't become full blown Nightshade until the final episode. I knew the moment she kissed her mother, Mariah was a goner. I loved that Mariah did not see that coming.
However, I was profoundly weirded out by the character history decision to make Tilda a product of incestuous rape. I'm not sure what that brings to the character, and while we already knew about the relationship Mariah had with Pete, it felt like an odd note to expand to Tilda, instead of allowing her to be the daughter of a devoted doctor who died early.
However, I was profoundly weirded out by the character history decision to make Tilda a product of incestuous rape. I'm not sure what that brings to the character, and while we already knew about the relationship Mariah had with Pete, it felt like an odd note to expand to Tilda, instead of allowing her to be the daughter of a devoted doctor who died early.
I'm not sure how I feel about where Luke ends up. I loved the twist of fate of Mariah bequeathing Harlem Paradise to him (especially as a "fuck you, daughter" to Tilda), but I don't entirely buy into Luke first saying no to it and then immediately turning around (without even seeing the reasoning behind it) and accepting the club. I think putting Luke in that position of corruption, as predicted by Mariah, is an intriguing storyline to take on, but I feel like the audience missed an important step in seeing how Luke got to that point in his decision to take it.
I'm also uncertain by this development because what it means for a potential Heroes for Hire. The Danny episode was a clear set-up for that potentiality, but Luke is now far away from getting to that point. Aside from the club development, season two is a clean break for the series with Mariah dead and Shades firmly in jail, and Nightshade has only just been born. Sure, Bushmaster is still out there, but we don't need to follow up his story right away.
I'm also uncertain by this development because what it means for a potential Heroes for Hire. The Danny episode was a clear set-up for that potentiality, but Luke is now far away from getting to that point. Aside from the club development, season two is a clean break for the series with Mariah dead and Shades firmly in jail, and Nightshade has only just been born. Sure, Bushmaster is still out there, but we don't need to follow up his story right away.
Some people have issues with the music?
I love the music because it's a character unto itself and adds extra flavor and dimension to each episode.
Some people have issues with the music?
I love the music because it's a character unto itself and adds extra flavor and dimension to each episode.
Exactly, I've read a few comments ala "It slows down the plot yaddayadda...", Jazzvoice: Son, you just don't get it.
Oh, and I've read one comment on some other site that said it's there to push the black culture agenda...
........
Ummmmmmmmmm....what?!Oh, and I've read one comment on some other site that said it's there to push the black culture agenda...
Someone needs to hand that person a history book about Harlem. Or, you know, tell them to open their eyes.
I think I like season 2 just about as much as season 1. Season 1 was so uneven due to the gratuitous villain switch midway through (which was not an improvement) that it made it difficult to give the season higher marks. While not as engaging a villain as Cottonmouth, Bushmaster provided a consistently villainous presence throughout the entire season.
Of course, the real villain was (Black) Mariah, and it was fascinating to see her go down the same paths of reckless arrogance that consumed her cousin. And Shades turned into such a compelling character that I really hope we haven't seen the last of him.
Nightshade was such a minor villain in the grand scheme of things in the comics (and not a Luke Cage villain either, if I recall correctly. Certainly not Mariah's daughter.), that I didn't even realize that that was where they were going to go with Tilda until she showed up at the end in her very cool comics accurate look.
Danny Rand's guest appearance was probably the best use of the character since he's been introduced to the Netflix shows, and it just makes me want Marvel and Netflix to just merge the two shows into Powerman and Iron Fist ("That has a nice ring to it! That's going on a t-shirt!") show.
The show ended with Luke in an an interesting place. Mariah's final gift may turn into the curse she hoped it to be. Luke has already seemingly lost D-Dub as a confident, and Misty is going to be watching him like a hawk.
Finally, once again, I just want to comment on a brilliant piece of dialogue. Just as "Where's my money, honey?" is the most brilliantly awesome utterance ever to grace the pages of a Luke Cage comic, it is now also the greatest line ever uttered in the entirety of the MCU. As it should be.
Of course, the real villain was (Black) Mariah, and it was fascinating to see her go down the same paths of reckless arrogance that consumed her cousin. And Shades turned into such a compelling character that I really hope we haven't seen the last of him.
Nightshade was such a minor villain in the grand scheme of things in the comics (and not a Luke Cage villain either, if I recall correctly. Certainly not Mariah's daughter.), that I didn't even realize that that was where they were going to go with Tilda until she showed up at the end in her very cool comics accurate look.
Danny Rand's guest appearance was probably the best use of the character since he's been introduced to the Netflix shows, and it just makes me want Marvel and Netflix to just merge the two shows into Powerman and Iron Fist ("That has a nice ring to it! That's going on a t-shirt!") show.
The show ended with Luke in an an interesting place. Mariah's final gift may turn into the curse she hoped it to be. Luke has already seemingly lost D-Dub as a confident, and Misty is going to be watching him like a hawk.
Finally, once again, I just want to comment on a brilliant piece of dialogue. Just as "Where's my money, honey?" is the most brilliantly awesome utterance ever to grace the pages of a Luke Cage comic, it is now also the greatest line ever uttered in the entirety of the MCU. As it should be.
Last edited: