Netflix: Luke Cage Season 2 (Discussion Thread) - Spoilers Approved (Update Cancelled!!)

[4 Dimensional]

YOU guys have broken that down MASTERFULLY.

My issue is with the writing and direction of that PARTICULAR sequence.

I didnt like having the audience SEE and HEAR him say NO

and then go right into him taking over...

the rhythm was OFF

NOW they rushing to finish?

they dragged 13 episodes outta 9/10 episodes worth of material.

they good have worked that out better.

Well, that’s kind of been Luke’s thing. Having internal conflicts. This was apparent in season 1 as well.

He told pops and Bobby Fish “no” about being a superhero until pops got killed, then he changed his stance.

You have to look at Luke as a man that is mentally indecisive on morality. He react morally to what he think his right, but have many people have suffered because of his constant internal conflicts?

Everyone that deals with Luke Cage will suffer or die.

Name one person on that show that has had a great experience in life after dealing directly with Luke Cage.

I’ll wait



Luke is a curse man. No sense of what’s right or wrong. He thinks he knows, but clearly he doesn’t.

 

[4 Dimensional]

I just realized that we can be in the mix for a battle of New York between Kingpin and Luke Cage with Daredevil going have to go after both of them. If Netflix Marvel go that route in a Defenders crossover - it will be worth going through a lot of bad moves - or instead of Daredevil going after him, even better the Punisher.

Now that I think of it, the fact the Judas Bullet no longer can kill him may be a foreshadowing to Punisher and him figuring a way to take Cage out.


Yeah Netflix, I see you

I loved to see conflict within the Defenders. Luke still has a solid relationship with Danny Rand. That could set up some interesting plots as well.

 

[ViCiouS]

YOU guys have broken that down MASTERFULLY.

My issue is with the writing and direction of that PARTICULAR sequence.

I didnt like having the audience SEE and HEAR him say NO

and then go right into him taking over...

the rhythm was OFF

NOW they rushing to finish?

they dragged 13 episodes outta 9/10 episodes worth of material.

they could have worked that out better.

maybe -
they were building up to that decision all season long.... in the end they decided not to spell it out
Matter of fact they threw it in the audience's face by dismissing Claire - that convo would have given you the exposition you want.
They decided to kill it - bravo- I like that choice -
its almost like when you play dominoes, you have 4 tiles left, you count whats played already and you see the only plays left in the game are all yours - so you tell everyone "figure it out" and put your tiles in the center.

_____
look at how many characters told Shades repeatedly that he needed to take over instead of following Mariah...
instead he kept her on a pedestal until she was all the way off the rails and he was trapped

_____
look at how many times Cage got hit with 3 messages over the season
1. half measures don't work- the person fully committed to the goal usually wins
2. when you acquire power but don't use it - it eventually gets taken and used against you

And after Mariah's and Bushmaster's gangs were destroyed:
3. justice and order are very different things - lack of order is much more destructive than injustice

Some of the best comic book stories in Batman Daredevil Spiderman etc... and scifi are centered around the altruistic hero being confronted with the need to preserve order even if it means allowing those with evil intent to flourish

They did a good job of showing everyone hurt by Cage's naive version of justice...
And by keeping Harlem's Paradise - the writers are showing he is now committed to preserving order

 

[trstar]

maybe -
they were building up to that decision all season long.... in the end they decided not to spell it out
Matter of fact they threw it in the audience's face by dismissing Claire - that convo would have given you the exposition you want.
They decided to kill it - bravo- I like that choice -
its almost like when you play dominoes, you have 4 tiles left, you count whats played already and you see the only plays left in the game are all yours - so you tell everyone "figure it out" and put your tiles in the center.

_____
look at how many characters told Shades repeatedly that he needed to take over instead of following Mariah...
instead he kept her on a pedestal until she was all the way off the rails and he was trapped

_____
look at how many times Cage got hit with 3 messages over the season
1. half measures don't work- the person fully committed to the goal usually wins
2. when you acquire power but don't use it - it eventually gets taken and used against you

And after Mariah's and Bushmaster's gangs were destroyed:
3. justice and order are very different things - lack of order is much more destructive than injustice

Some of the best comic book stories in Batman Daredevil Spiderman etc... and scifi are centered around the altruistic hero being confronted with the need to preserve order even if it means allowing those with evil intent to flourish

They did a good job of showing everyone hurt by Cage's naive version of justice...
And by keeping Harlem's Paradise - the writers are showing he is now committed to preserving order

Life quotes right here

 

[4 Dimensional]

maybe -
they were building up to that decision all season long.... in the end they decided not to spell it out
Matter of fact they threw it in the audience's face by dismissing Claire - that convo would have given you the exposition you want.
They decided to kill it - bravo- I like that choice -
its almost like when you play dominoes, you have 4 tiles left, you count whats played already and you see the only plays left in the game are all yours - so you tell everyone "figure it out" and put your tiles in the center.

_____
look at how many characters told Shades repeatedly that he needed to take over instead of following Mariah...
instead he kept her on a pedestal until she was all the way off the rails and he was trapped

_____
look at how many times Cage got hit with 3 messages over the season
1. half measures don't work- the person fully committed to the goal usually wins
2. when you acquire power but don't use it - it eventually gets taken and used against you

And after Mariah's and Bushmaster's gangs were destroyed:
3. justice and order are very different things - lack of order is much more destructive than injustice

Some of the best comic book stories in Batman Daredevil Spiderman etc... and scifi are centered around the altruistic hero being confronted with the need to preserve order even if it means allowing those with evil intent to flourish

They did a good job of showing everyone hurt by Cage's naive version of justice...
And by keeping Harlem's Paradise - the writers are showing he is now committed to preserving order

Yep.

And nothing can be absolute. The negative has to exist in order know what is positive. And vice verse.

And to what cost will his preservation of order come back full circle?

Diamondback ain’t dead and season 1 ended with Diamondback being attended to by the doctor that gave Luke his abilities.

Because Luke does not kill, he will always have to deal with opposing forces.

 

[playahaitian]

maybe -
they were building up to that decision all season long.... in the end they decided not to spell it out
Matter of fact they threw it in the audience's face by dismissing Claire - that convo would have given you the exposition you want.
They decided to kill it - bravo- I like that choice -
its almost like when you play dominoes, you have 4 tiles left, you count whats played already and you see the only plays left in the game are all yours - so you tell everyone "figure it out" and put your tiles in the center.

_____
look at how many characters told Shades repeatedly that he needed to take over instead of following Mariah...
instead he kept her on a pedestal until she was all the way off the rails and he was trapped

_____
look at how many times Cage got hit with 3 messages over the season
1. half measures don't work- the person fully committed to the goal usually wins
2. when you acquire power but don't use it - it eventually gets taken and used against you

And after Mariah's and Bushmaster's gangs were destroyed:
3. justice and order are very different things - lack of order is much more destructive than injustice

Some of the best comic book stories in Batman Daredevil Spiderman etc... and scifi are centered around the altruistic hero being confronted with the need to preserve order even if it means allowing those with evil intent to flourish

They did a good job of showing everyone hurt by Cage's naive version of justice...
And by keeping Harlem's Paradise - the writers are showing he is now committed to preserving order

Ya'll think I don't get ALL that

First off that was wonderfully written

And ya'll know me enough to know I UNDERSTAND what they doing here.

Been done with daredevil a few times he lead the hand and is currently mayor.

All I'm saying is I didn't like that they chose to show him say NO.

and then he was suddenly in charge.

I did not like it.

Just don't show him saying yes, it just didn't sit well CINEMATICALLY.

If you do show us hI'm saying yes, show us something! It was lost opportunity to do something special.

 

[ViCiouS]

Ya'll think I don't get ALL that

First off that was wonderfully written

And ya'll know me enough to know I UNDERSTAND what they doing here.

Been done with daredevil a few times he lead the hand and is currently mayor.

All I'm saying is I didn't like that they chose to show him say NO.

and then he was suddenly in charge.

I did not like it.

Just don't show him saying yes, it just didn't sit well CINEMATICALLY.

If you do show us hI'm saying yes, show us something! It was lost opportunity to do something special.

he never said yes... he doesn't want the spot - but its now his means to an end
and more importantly - before talking to the lawyer - Luke was already in charge with or without Harlem's Paradise



Mariah: the Preacher's son will want to use the roost to change things but in the end it will change him...

Lawyer: Do you want it?

Luke: nah, you should burn it to the ground
- cut - brand new Luke taking over the spot making it his, and debating the choice with Misty

imo - more than that would be the writers holding the audience's hands

the writers didn't want it to be special - iirc I think Cheo Hodari said they wanted a bit of unease and bewilderment about the way forward

"Nearly all men can stand the test of adversity, but if you really want to test a man's character, give him power."

 

[playahaitian]

Sorry

he never said yes... he doesn't want the spot - but its now his means to an end
and more importantly - before talking to the lawyer - Luke was already in charge with or without Harlem's Paradise



Mariah: the Preacher's son will want to use the roost to change things but in the end it will change him...

Lawyer: Do you want it?

Luke: nah, you should burn it to the ground
- cut - brand new Luke taking over the spot making it his, and debating the choice with Misty

imo - more than that would be the writers holding the audience's hands

the writers didn't want it to be special - iirc I think Cheo Hodari said they wanted a bit of unease and bewilderment about the way forward

"Nearly all men can stand the test of adversity, but if you really want to test a man's character, give him power."

...so many responses...

I MEANT to say...

he REFUSED.

and THEN they show him running the place.

I disagree it isn't hand holding

UNLESS next season they SHOW what the f*ck happened to make him go RUNNING back and changing his mind

Luke has a martyr savior complex and he hard headed as f*ck

he say burn?

he means it.

 

[melonpecan]

I really didn't want to come in here until I finished and I am.

Ahem.

The changing of the pictures is what got me the most. The Basqiat, bringing back Biggie, Luke putting his touch on it...powerful.

Music was on point. As usual. I'd be disappointed if it wasn't.

I'm mad they killed Mariah, but dammit if we didn't get some gems this season! I'm not big on the 'nigga' but if anyone could say it to make me laugh this was it. Too funny. Tilda in however they take her character can't hold a candle to Mariah. But girl gonna give you a run for the money, (bring back Rosewood).

Second seasons are always meh, and I knew we was going to get an introspective on Luke. Comes with the territory. But dude is fucked up, (take one to know one). And he can't see it. See, when we suffer from certain shit, we can at least call ourselves on it. "I know I'm fucked up it was because of this" or "I act this way because I have that". Luke can't tell the nightshade from a leaf of aloe vera. I think the layers they added here helped what would be cliched and predictable. Luke gave up Claire so she can be a Daughter of Dragon, we got a cameo from Danny and allusions to the Heroes for Hire, and the set up for Matt to come back. And possibly Luke having coffee with Jessica again...

For a second season, I loved it. And we got some longevity in the villains.

 

[TheBigOne]

I’m just getting into S2. Loving the Jamaican accents. Nandi and Tilda are good additional eye candy

 

[TENT]

I don't know what you all are talking about. This season was horrible with weird horrible acting.

 

[Moving Target]

JUST FINISHED WATCHING THE WHOLE SECOND SEASON...LUKE CAGE WAS LOW KEY WOKE AF!!!! there were references to trump, black panther, BLM, trayvon martin, and gentrification.

 

[theoriginalgreatone]

Props on the explanations

He may not be able to stop crime completely, but he can try to control it by making everything flow thru him. He's in charge now. That's what I got from it, but I could be wrong.

In Luke’s elementary mind, he believes that the only way to bring peace to Harlem is to be King of Harlem. He paid all the mob bosses a visit and convinced them to stop selling drugs on his side and if they didn’t he would make sure to disrupt their operations.

Mariah pretty much convinced Luke as well that he can keep Harlem safe and Shades had a similar sentiment because they both have history with Cage. The other bosses didn’t know how disruptive Cage was. Shades also pointed out that Luke was becoming colder and more direct, which is the gateway to the path Cottonmouth and Mariah took. Hence why both Mariah and Shades think he is fit for the job.

By Mariah giving the club to Cage in her will, Cage now uses it to ‘oversee’ Harlem. Now he is dealing with gangsters to try and keep the city safe.

But obviously Luke doesn’t see the corruption involved because he think what he is doing is right. And Misty Knight senses this as well at the end.

So basically, Luke is using his powers to do what he think is right by replacing Mariah in the club and being controlling of the other mob bosses.

OK cause I thought I was losing it...

every time I mentioned that no one said anything!

I do NOT like that

that was poorly done.

You gotta indicate to audience either it a subliminal thing, crisis of conscience or a time lapse SOMETHING.
Cause he said NO

and then they commenced to show him officially taking over.

YOU guys have broken that down MASTERFULLY.

My issue is with the writing and direction of that PARTICULAR sequence.

I didnt like having the audience SEE and HEAR him say NO

and then go right into him taking over...

the rhythm was OFF

NOW they rushing to finish?

they dragged 13 episodes outta 9/10 episodes worth of material.

they could have worked that out better.

 

[babydaddy]

This has been probably the best year ever for black comic tv and movies. Black panther, black lightning and now Luke Cage. And we still got Miles Morales coming.

 

[TheBigOne]

This has been probably the best year ever for black comic tv and movies. Black panther, black lightning and now Luke Cage. And we still got Miles Morales coming.

Don't forget Issa and her crew (Insecure)

 

[playahaitian]

​

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

Alright. I finished it.

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

Shades-
What got him to that level was his gut and his ability to separate emotion from his actions. The entire season from jump emotions guided all of his movements when it came to dealing with the people closest to him.
He advised Mariah the right way but instead of making sure it happened he followed her. His emotion got him fucked up forever more and he'll have to live with that in jail

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

Mariah should be an Oscar contender. She went harder than Cottonmouth. maybe due to her being there thru 2 seasons while Cottonmouth was cut short.

Nah Mariah is LEGIT. Mariah is the best of all worlds. Mariah was a survivor. She survived the underworld she survived politics. She survived being beaten and raped, survived having her baby taken from her. She survived unimaginable pain while being groomed by the queen and her uncle of Harlem.

Mariah had her sights on things and took them. It just took her a LONG TIME to stop running from who she was and embrace it. She thought there was some good in her she thought that the training she received elsewhere was a part of her but it wasn't It never was. She's easily up there with any villain in any of these series.

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

Luke cage was solid for the most part but Killing off Mariah and piranha Jones smh. One other thing they did this season than last was they used nigga alot more this season than last smh.

They ran their course. You can't have a villain just keep magically getting away this ain't the actual comics lol.
It was raw and appropriate.

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

Mariah mentioned how strange it was that Tilda called her "mother", and after calling for her lawyer to prepare her will - do y'all think she suspected that Tilda (spoilers ) poisoned her?

I knew it was poison.
She mixed the shit then her lips were as red as her mixture and she kissed her on the lips something she's never done ever.

Mariah once again thinking 9 steps ahead, ensured that a "Stokes" would come for Harlem's Paradise to try and own Harlem

How?

By giving it to Luke Cage
She set a blaze into Tilda which is basically a rite's of passage you can't hand it to her. She gotta EARN IT by taking out Luke.

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

OK cause I thought I was losing it...

every time I mentioned that no one said anything!

I do NOT like that

that was poorly done.

You gotta indicate to audience either it a subliminal thing, crisis of conscience or a time lapse SOMETHING.
Cause he said NO

and then they commenced to show him officially taking over.

he just changed his mind man lol
it wasn't that deep. He said no in the moment then rebuild it clearly he wasn't going to do the other thing
he's already corrupted but he don't see it.
I'm glad he kicked claire out
she left him when he needed her most
FOH

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

Marvel has this bad habit of killing off their villans both good and bad - I am glad Bushmaster didn't die and I am also glad he doesn't consider Luke Cage as a mortal enemy - adversary yes and as he said over and over, they could have been and possible in the future, friends.

Bushmaster ain't care about Luke outside of capturing the heart's of Harlem.
But even then that didn't matter. He wanted Mariah dead because of who she is and what she represented
And then we went back in time to when the family owned the resort and how she directly treated him like he wasn't shit.
They had history and Mariah deserved every bit of what happened to her.
Mariah literally did everything she could do and have it still be effective
they even washed away her old crew so there would be no loose ends with her.

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

Little things
Lonnie mom hadn't passed the bar yet in season 1 episode 1
season 2 she's representing shades and has to recuse herself when he talks about pops shop getting shot up

 

[knightmelodic]

My .02

What I liked:

- The acting. The actors were given their head in a lot of scenes and they really showed their chops. Alfre, Mike, Theo, Simone, Mustafa, Reg Cathey, Dorian, Kevin Mambo all did some masterful acting.
- Danny Rand wasn't a dick. His fighting still sucked tho.
- The warehouse fight.
- D.W.'s girlfriend.

What I didn't:

- D.W.. Annoying and pointless until his last scene. Knowing he was there specifically for that scene they should have fleshed out the character more. Making him a hustler (who didn't even talk or act like one) was just lazy.
- Too up and down. I don't know if it was because of the multiple writers and directors but it was very uneven; even more so than season one.
- The gang fights. Well, I don't actually dislike them but they're becoming a little repetitive. 20 to 40 guys against the hero(s) and they just keep coming like lambs to the slaughter showing no imagination at all.
- Misty's arm. Shit was wack af. Stark was supposed to make her that badass metal arm a la Winter Soldier. On second thought, maybe they didn't want such similar arms. Still. And I wanted to see her fling cars and shit with it.


I'll edit if I think of more.

 

[chrislee]

Just finished season 2. In the words of Harvey Dent "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain".

 

[babydaddy]

They ran their course. You can't have a villain just keep magically getting away this ain't the actual comics lol.
It was raw and appropriate.

i understand that but mariah was just catching her stride and they kill her off smh. they could have did something different, left mariah in prison a season or 2, but i guess they would have been following the daredevil route if they did that.

 

[totto]

Just finished season 2

I'm wondering what direction season 3 would be, I'm think Tilda goes to jail and season 4 she's.......

Well you know

And I'm wondering if the bedwenching is gonna be a thing in season 3 if you know the history of the show.

And that Danny guy is corny.

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

i understand that but mariah was just catching her stride and they kill her off smh. they could have did something different, left mariah in prison a season or 2, but i guess they would have been following the daredevil route if they did that.

Then she'd be running stuff from prison
Or some magical escape which would have her be a fugitive and also not allow her to be Mariah

They don't leave us without more villains

Tilda
And Luke himself now.

So we can look forward to those

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

My .02

What I liked:

- The acting. The actors were given their head in a lot of scenes and they really showed their chops. Alfre, Mike, Theo, Simone, Mustafa, Reg Cathey, Dorian, Kevin Mambo all did some masterful acting.
- Danny Rand wasn't a dick. His fighting still sucked tho.
- The warehouse fight.
- D.W.'s girlfriend.

What I didn't:

- D.W.. Annoying and pointless until his last scene. Knowing he was there specifically for that scene they should have fleshed out the character more. Making him a hustler (who didn't even talk or act like one) was just lazy.
- Too up and down. I don't know if it was because of the multiple writers and directors but it was very uneven; even more so than season one.
- The gang fights. Well, I don't actually dislike them but they're becoming a little repetitive. 20 to 40 guys against the hero(s) and they just keep coming like lambs to the slaughter showing no imagination at all.


I'll edit if I think of more.

DW was always a hustler he's hustling the incident in episode 1

He's always billed himself as a neutral party
When he recorded luke getting knocked out by bush he said as much and kept saying it the entire season so it made perfect sense he'd uphold the neutral place.

 

[sickwidit]

Then she'd be running stuff from prison
Or some magical escape which would have her be a fugitive and also not allow her to be Mariah

They don't leave us without more villains

Tilda
And Luke himself now.

So we can look forward to those

Yup, Tilda already had the getup for Nightshade just like they foreshadowed Misty in her classic gear before she got the bionic arm.

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

Mariah was more devious and better overall with her moods and just the pain and her strength

Cotton still has the throne as the most charismatic



I'd also watch a series on the Stokes

Just a prequel full on with them coming into power

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

Season 1

Cottonmouth: When the smoke clears it's niggas like me who let you hold onto what you got
Mariah: You know I despise that word
Cottonmouth: I know, its easy to underestimate a nigga, they never see you coming.


Season 2
Luke: Bitch please- No offense
Mariah: None taken- Nigga

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

Yup, Tilda already had the getup for Nightshade just like they foreshadowed Misty in her classic gear before she got the bionic arm.

She was too involved in its properties to not go ahead and do it
Her not getting the club is what lit the match
Mariah thinks of everything.

 

[babydaddy]

mariah was talking about passing the torch to luke in like ep 5. she talking about how luke always kept saving her and harlem.