Marvel's Luke Cage

:

Season 1
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 30, 2016
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1053 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 832 out of 1053
  2. Mixed: 122 out of 1053
  3. Negative: 99 out of 1053
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User Reviews

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  1. crabapple
    Jul 7, 2018
    0
    Superhero soap opera weak on the super hero and strong on the soap opera. Season 2 also suffers from PC syndrome where the lead characters are all strong females in charge and the male characters with the exception of Luke Cage are all emasculated, stupid, or evil, or die. They even portray Luke Cage as a stupid brute with one trick powers. If it was well written this wouldn't be aSuperhero soap opera weak on the super hero and strong on the soap opera. Season 2 also suffers from PC syndrome where the lead characters are all strong females in charge and the male characters with the exception of Luke Cage are all emasculated, stupid, or evil, or die. They even portray Luke Cage as a stupid brute with one trick powers. If it was well written this wouldn't be a problem, but it stands out as being completely unrealistic. Seriously, a superhero show where the superhero male is outnumbered by all of the action-oriented females who get far more screen time and development? IT's like Jessica Jones and Iron Fist all over again -- WAY too much screen time devoted to the villains and their family drama and not enough developing THE HERO. It's a bad cop show with Luke Cage inserted every now and then for the name, but it may as well be generic invulnerable black man versus street thugs because other than the names of characters it doesn't resemble Luke Cage at all.… Expand
  2. HatersWannaHate
    Oct 3, 2016
    3
    Overrated! Watched all 13 episodes, and if you enjoy listening to 10 hours plus of blaxploitation music, with predictable action, and terrible characters, then you'll LOVE Luke Cage.

    I like the blaxploitation music in moderation, but it is Luke Cage's entire score! We get it! In fact, we got it in episode 1. Most of the characters are weak--especially Misty Knight, played by Simone    Overrated! Watched all 13 episodes, and if you enjoy listening to 10 hours plus of blaxploitation music, with predictable action, and terrible characters, then you'll LOVE Luke Cage.

    I like the blaxploitation music in moderation, but it is Luke Cage's entire score! We get it! In fact, we got it in episode 1.

    Most of the characters are weak--especially Misty Knight, played by Simone Missick. I found it hard to believe this character could be such an idiot, yet appears to have psychic ability

    The show rips off the TV show Hannibal in the way Misty views crime scenes, and the one meaningful message I took from the entire show is black guys wearing hoodies can be the good guys. But we already knew that, which brings me to the point--Luke Cage does nothing original. I watched it all and came here to review in the hopes that I can I can save someone 13 episodes of meh.    … Expand
  3. ozymandiaz
    Oct 18, 2016
    2
    I loved Daredevil and Jessica Jones, but this show just did not work for me. There wasn't enough focus on Luke Cage himself. All the sideplots and other characters were really boring, and the acting was pretty terrible. I ended up skipping through most of the last episodes to fast forward Luke's plot line. I hope they just reintegrate him back into the Marvel Universe as I don't thinkI loved Daredevil and Jessica Jones, but this show just did not work for me. There wasn't enough focus on Luke Cage himself. All the sideplots and other characters were really boring, and the acting was pretty terrible. I ended up skipping through most of the last episodes to fast forward Luke's plot line. I hope they just reintegrate him back into the Marvel Universe as I don't think it works as a standalone show.… Expand
  4. Licherus
    Nov 3, 2016
    1
    Too boring and too stupid. All characters are not interesting and lacks of charisma. Action shot very poorly. Luke is so boring character according to Mike Colter's performance.
  5. Costs1129
    Oct 22, 2016
    2
    Are we watching the same show? The acting is cringe worthy. The hero is hard to relate to (with so much his past being mysterious). I do not understand his interactions with the villains. Everyone else he beats to an inch of their lives, but the most dangerous bad guy he "warns" a thousand times? It makes no sense. This honor in the ghetto makes no sense!
  6. Alexsrt10
    Oct 1, 2016
    0
    I don't understand why everyone likes this show so much, it was really bad I just wanted each episode to end. Their was no suspense at all yet rotten tomatoes gave it a 95% really, it was trash just garbage the acting the fight all lame. So can some one explain to me why everyone likes it so much?
  7. kristijan1001
    Oct 12, 2016
    0
    Terrible.....Show doesn't pick up at all,acting is kinda bad,alot of **** makes no sense or it is plain stupid.13 Episodes or should i say around 14hours of straight rambling and nothing else that's what luke cage is.
  8. sidiota
    Oct 24, 2016
    3
    Marvel's Luke Cage starts with a good story and it all goes well until the 4th episode. After that, the scripts lacks storytelling and timing in flashbacks, all characters seems to start losing motivation and all goes lost. This should be a 6 episodes season, Netflix format of 13 episodes is getting all Marvel's series in medium-low action shows, like selling crap from Warner Bros. TheMarvel's Luke Cage starts with a good story and it all goes well until the 4th episode. After that, the scripts lacks storytelling and timing in flashbacks, all characters seems to start losing motivation and all goes lost. This should be a 6 episodes season, Netflix format of 13 episodes is getting all Marvel's series in medium-low action shows, like selling crap from Warner Bros. The first season of Daredevil was absolutely flawless, and it had 13 episodes, but there was a good and simple story to tell. Jessica Jones, the second season of Daredevil and Luke Cage is just full of random information without any story structure, a lot of character motivation loss and MASSIVE continuity errors. Antagonists keeps getting lost in story, it appears the script was abandoned by original writers and someone hired Fox's Daredevil crew to finish it.… Expand
  9. 998817268
    Oct 8, 2016
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'm hesitant to write a review for this show since it seems like I'm just going to grate some people's cheese, yet some people need to realize that cheese isn't the only thing that makes something good, and sometimes the illusion that grated cheese creates in terms of volume is better than just slapping a block of cheese on something and hoping that people don't care about the rest. The creators of this show have slapped their audience with a solid pound of crackerbarrel and it's your fault that you got hit cause your mouth wasn't open. Seriously though, this show is cheesy as hell, with fist fulls of corn thrown in because those are essential ingredients around which to build a solid show - is apparently what the people behind the show, or the actors, or whoever is to blame for how condescending this show can be thought. I'm describing this show as condescending because it tries so hard to come across as realistic or believable; and then a guy recovers data from a destroyed computer's hard drive even though he supposedly wasn't allowed to be alone with the data to transfer it from the flash drive that it was stored on (harddrives don't store temporary data). That's just nit-picking though, right? I can't say this show is condescending because there is one possible plot-hole. Luke's mass isn't effected by his mutation, but he stops a van without flinching; Luke's skin doesn't even react to the force of bullets, but Diamondback, a regular dude, kicks his ass in a theatre; etc. The problem here is that there are plot holes everywhere; some that are logical, but that just don't make sense anyway - like why the hell the main insane villain would go through so much trouble to destroy Luke's life (I mean, he spent pretty much his whole life on his revenge plan), to just throw away all of his planning to go after Luke in the streets in broad daylight, or in a club full of witnesses; and some that are illogical - refer to the list of plot-holes above. Also, I don't like Luke as a character - I think I'm allowed to have a personal opinion on this after watching the whole series. He's like Captain America, except less funny somehow - and I'm definitely not saying that the good Captain is funny at all. The show surrounding Luke - which is where this show comes to life - is like a fantasy/noir version of The Wire that had the misfortune of a character as boring as Luke emerging to ruin it - and this is especially true if you consider that Diamondback wouldn't have been a part of the show if Luke wasn't.… Expand
  10. high90
    Oct 15, 2016
    0
    First three episodes not bad, and then it progressively gets worse and worse by the end you're left with a horrible mess. Repetitive in its story line I was hoping one of the exploding bullets caught him between the eyes. It really made next to no sense and the set up for season two left me in no doubt that I wont be watching. If only they left it at six episode like uk dramas this couldFirst three episodes not bad, and then it progressively gets worse and worse by the end you're left with a horrible mess. Repetitive in its story line I was hoping one of the exploding bullets caught him between the eyes. It really made next to no sense and the set up for season two left me in no doubt that I wont be watching. If only they left it at six episode like uk dramas this could have been a winner but no lets drag it out until it become both tedious and absurd. Good job.… Expand
  11. ryeca
    Oct 2, 2016
    1
    Quite possibly the worst new show out there, and definitely the most overrated. This show could be a parody of itself, it is so poorly written and acted. A mishmash of ideas, styles, and genres that comes together in a godawful mush.
  12. Kilrymont
    Oct 24, 2016
    2
    Started off fairly well, bu with virtually no back story to explain the strength and "bulletproofness" the title character is blessed/cursed with. By episode 9 it had become absolutely mired in a mishmash of terrible scripts, directionless directing and plot lines that had no idea where they were going.

    The constant flashback/forward/back again is never the best way to provide back    Started off fairly well, bu with virtually no back story to explain the strength and "bulletproofness" the title character is blessed/cursed with. By episode 9 it had become absolutely mired in a mishmash of terrible scripts, directionless directing and plot lines that had no idea where they were going.

    The constant flashback/forward/back again is never the best way to provide back story, and it's used far too much here. Sack the director, you'll have a better show would be my cure for most of what's wrong with Luke Cage.

    As a spin off from Jessica Jones it's inferior to JJ in most every single way - and isn't likely to do much for the career of the main participant, Mike Colter. Whose gangster character in that lawyer show that went on forever - that was better written in every way.

    But this very average made-for-TV thing is - actually way below average for Marvel productions. Even the poor serving they produced for Daredevil was better than this half-baked offering. The drafting-in of Rosario Dawson to play the Claire nurse character from Daredevil - plot aspects based on crackpot coincidence never serve to satisfy any but the least discerning of viewers.

    Teens and fanboys will no doubt be outraged at this critical review; but then if they like to read reviews they like, they should stick to reading reviews of quality shows. And this isn't a good quality show by any means.

    By episode 10 it's showing all the battle-weariness of some moribund junk that's having every last piece of appeal wrung out of it before the plug gets pulled. It's getting to be packed full of scenes that contribute NOTHING to the story line, they're only there to serve as padding since the main plot is so desperately thin. The last two or three viewed seemed to me to have all the quality of writing to be expected if produced over coffee ten minutes before screening - and scribbled on the back of a cigarette packet.

    And when the plug is pulled on this one, well - only the most avid of fans could work up a temerature about it.    … Expand
  13. Arfington
    Oct 5, 2016
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Lost all hope of the plot picking up as of episode 9. Everything stopped making sense and I am done.

    I liked the main characters and acting up till cottonmouth got killed. After that it's like someone just drove the already dull plot over a cliff. The plot is so boring, devoid of tension. I just don't care about any characters or what happens next.

    The Diamondback reveal was awful. It was referenced earlier in the show by shades and it appeared as though he was calling all the shots and would be revealed as some sort of crime lord. Yet after all this talk he's taking it upon himself to walk around the streets in broad daylight with a rifle? And on top of refraining from taking an easy shot he decides to engage in a lengthy pointless monologue that nobody cares about.

    Detective Knight losing her temper with Temple about Cage's whereabouts, totally out of character — compare how coolly she acted when she was pressed earlier by internal affairs about her partner.    … Expand
  14. AJ-Mathew
    Oct 3, 2016
    1
    Oh my Gosh. The Television is **** up. I just saw the 27 minutes and shut down. Really, really bad acting, so fake characters. Wow... This series is only for Teenager or people really don't appreciate a good script and acting.
  15. OMNIMOVIE
    Sep 30, 2016
    1
    if less that 0 scores were able to be granted this for sure earns ones. Acting = horrid, plot = horrid
    camera work = good
    fight/action sequences = on par with Kevin Surbo and XENA Black dude that gets angry and smashes things that got super powers whilst in jail. WTF really man.. thats some racist **** "i dont like to be called **** 3 lines later..... "Shoot me **** Please for    if less that 0 scores were able to be granted this for sure earns ones. Acting = horrid, plot = horrid
    camera work = good
    fight/action sequences = on par with Kevin Surbo and XENA

    Black dude that gets angry and smashes things that got super powers whilst in jail. WTF really man.. thats some racist ****

    "i dont like to be called ****
    3 lines later..... "Shoot me ****

    Please for the love of god stop making such trash!    … Expand
  16. bellbottombrews
    Sep 30, 2016
    3
    The writing is almost as bad as the acting. This is marvel, please move on and don't kill any other comic characters. The standard is high and did not come close to my expectations. Please add a story and some cool characters. Huge miss.
  17. Argento
    Oct 16, 2016
    2
    Los primeros episodios son entretenidos.... después se torna una serie predecible, repetitiva y aburrida.
    No tiene nada que ver con fanatismos sobre Marvel o DC como leí en otros reviews, ni siquiera leo comics, y hasta que no vi en la presentacion que decia Marvel, ni sabia que la serie estaba basada en comic.
  18. HughJarsole
    Oct 4, 2016
    0
    Luke cage is a solid OK series that brings nothing new to the table, honestly it is leagues below any other season of any CW show or any Marvel Netflix show. The action sequences are poorly structured especially the final battle and it is the directing that saves that aspect of the show, it had a VERY slow build up and passed its logic as methodical but truthfully the show had a habit ofLuke cage is a solid OK series that brings nothing new to the table, honestly it is leagues below any other season of any CW show or any Marvel Netflix show. The action sequences are poorly structured especially the final battle and it is the directing that saves that aspect of the show, it had a VERY slow build up and passed its logic as methodical but truthfully the show had a habit of not showing what actually happens in a scene; a plot device great for a flashback or two that gets annoying when used constantly. Compared to the first seasons of Daredevil and Jessica Jones it lacked edge and style, moreover it lacked the thing that sets it apart from other shows and didn't make a case for the justification of an entire season/series. It forced the hood life aspect way too hard and they never truly got it right, they borrowed the crowd aspect from every superhero movie ever, they pushed the villains running scared trope to a ridiculous height then made unbreakable Luke Cage bow down to cops with easily manufactured kryptonite, taking Luke Cage out of the elusive club of things that won't break. It never found its feet and never truly gave us Luke Cage. Kryptonite is a rare alien metal that takes money to find and brains to make into a feasible weapon, compare that to Judas and you have something any enemy that presents the defenders can take out the muscle at sniper range. Luke Cage was ok, good at best but was simply overhyped mediocrity that was good until it was let down in a shoddy third act.… Expand
  19. jibaro
    Dec 5, 2016
    3
    I waited for this series to come up, though it would be great. To my surprise it was a let down. What is wrong with Netflix and it's heroes?

    Luke Cage is a slow soap opera and my wife could not stand it. Right now I'm forcing myself to watch it with the hope it will improve but old Luke is slow, no style, depressed ,cowardly super hero. To top it all out, he shows his face openly so the    I waited for this series to come up, though it would be great. To my surprise it was a let down. What is wrong with Netflix and it's heroes?

    Luke Cage is a slow soap opera and my wife could not stand it. Right now I'm forcing myself to watch it with the hope it will improve but old Luke is slow, no style, depressed ,cowardly super hero. To top it all out, he shows his face openly so the bad guys can go after those dear to him. A real flake.

    What happened to Marvel's heroes flippant nature. He could at least pretend he is some kind of Super Fly or something. I really don't get it.

    Racists?, Well this takes place in Harlem. I haven't been there for a long time but as I remember it the people in Harlem are mostly black with some Hispanics thrown in. It's the lack of action that gets me and the flaky attitude of a man that is supposed to be bullet proof and super strong.    … Expand
  20. Idiota150
    Oct 2, 2016
    0
    I don't get it, it even feels more stupid then I am ... plus tons of bad acting. Okey, I should also confess that I'm European and have never heard of this Luke character or pretty much anything beside Spiderman & Batman - Judge Dredd was more my kind of comic when I was a kid. Anyway, signing off after just one episode ... yeah it was that bad.
  21. Jaleo
    Jan 12, 2017
    3
    I don't know where to start. Well, let's see... Daredevil set the bar very high... then came Jessica Jones, wasn't expecting it to be as good as DD, and after all was another kind of heroe. So with Luke Cage was expecting to contain more action, and then turned out to be the typical show about Harlem gangs but with a bald black guy with super strenght (which is very poorly performed). TheI don't know where to start. Well, let's see... Daredevil set the bar very high... then came Jessica Jones, wasn't expecting it to be as good as DD, and after all was another kind of heroe. So with Luke Cage was expecting to contain more action, and then turned out to be the typical show about Harlem gangs but with a bald black guy with super strenght (which is very poorly performed). The plot is super slow, and when were thinking something big was going to happen, then the show dissapoints you again. There have been times I literaly fell asleep. Also are continuously expecting more cameos or references, or even a crossover, but nothing. The plot and the characters are so unineteristing and have no charisma, the story so poorly written, the "action" (if you can call it action) is so mediocre, low, rigid, cheap... and if Agents of Shield has special FX from the 90's, this serie has none. And could go on. I guess they spent the budget on the soundtrack, because I cannot explain how this product is so poorly done after the masterpiece of Daredevil.… Expand
  22. dorout
    Nov 4, 2016
    1
    Luke Cage was my absolute favorite character in Jessica Jones, hands down. Every aspect of his character, his acting, it was all so entertaining to me. However, to see what they portrayed him to be in the new show Luke Cage is, at the bare minimum, extremely disappointing.

    Overall, the show is dreadfully slow and quite bland. Although there were some parts that were entertaining, but    Luke Cage was my absolute favorite character in Jessica Jones, hands down. Every aspect of his character, his acting, it was all so entertaining to me. However, to see what they portrayed him to be in the new show Luke Cage is, at the bare minimum, extremely disappointing.

    Overall, the show is dreadfully slow and quite bland. Although there were some parts that were entertaining, but not enough to save my opinion on what I regrettably watched.

    Please. Bring back the Jessica Jones Luke Cage. The subtle bad ass that had some depth and unique interest to his character. Generally, I absolutely abhor altering characters from their original portrayal, but the Jessica Jones version of Luke Cage significantly better and in this rare occasion I wholeheartedly support the change.    … Expand
  23. Daigoust
    May 26, 2018
    3
    -Trilha sonora perfeita.
    -Ator principal sem carisma.
    -Cenas de ação não chegam aos pé do Demolidor. -Drama/Roteiro nao chega aos pés de Jessica Jones? -Vilão "esquecível" e sem desafio. (exceção para Boca de Algodão que eu adorei) -Cultura, História e Situação do Negro, Racismo e Preconceito mal explorado (um ótimo exemplo de que se pode fazer bem feito é Beast of No Nation)    -Trilha sonora perfeita.
    -Ator principal sem carisma.
    -Cenas de ação não chegam aos pé do Demolidor.
    -Drama/Roteiro nao chega aos pés de Jessica Jones?
    -Vilão "esquecível" e sem desafio. (exceção para Boca de Algodão que eu adorei)
    -Cultura, História e Situação do Negro, Racismo e Preconceito mal explorado (um ótimo exemplo de que se pode fazer bem feito é Beast of No Nation)

    Conclusão: Não é totalmente ruim, seriado poder ser salvo numa segunda temporada com um vilão de verdade, um desafio de verdade, senas melhores de luta, um script/roteiro genial e, pelo amor de deus, matar o cascavel nos primeiros 5 minutos do primeiro ep. da segunda temporada.    … Expand
  24. Allanbaxter
    Oct 20, 2018
    3
    I was really looking forward to Luck Cage on Netflix. But alas I was disappointed quite a bit. As Elvis sang. A little less conversation, a little more action, please. I just could not get excited about any of the characters and it started feeling like a soap opera around the 3rd episode. I can't even bring myself to even try watching season 2.
  25. Adelthorne
    Oct 16, 2018
    3
    Compared to Daredevil or Jessica Jones its weak. Better then Iron fist though;)

Awards & Rankings

42
#42 Best TV Season of 2016
5
#5 Most Discussed TV Season of 2016
43
#43 Most Shared TV Season of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Under The Radar
    Reviewed by: Ryan E.C. Hamm
    Oct 18, 2016
    70
    Overall, the show could have used a little tightening (it might be time to rethink the 13-episode model, which Daredevil's second season ought to have already proven), and episodes can lag a little bit in the middle, but it's an enjoyable ride.
    Read full review
  2. The Atlantic
    Reviewed by: David Sims
    Oct 6, 2016
    70
    Despite its languid narrative style, Luke Cage is doing many fascinating things. Its mood and visual aesthetic are as well-honed as the perfectly bleak Jessica Jones; its action scenes, when they arrive, are brutal and swift; and its lead performers are uniformly terrific, most of all Mike Colter as Cage, who wrings endless charisma from his character’s resolute stoicism.
    Read full review
  3. The Lincoln Journal Star
    Reviewed by: Jeff Korbelik
    Oct 3, 2016
    100
    These shows are character studies. They are methodical and well-orchestrated. Both are a joy to watch and savor.
    Read full review
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