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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  1. aguarner11
    Oct 2, 2016
    9
    I've watched it in one weekend. What I love the most about this show is the harlem gangsta style and its characters. Luke Cage is not the most iconic hero ever but all the characters that are in the show are just awesome. I love Mr Stokes, Shades, Pop, Misty, Scarfe....
  2. univega2003
    Oct 2, 2016
    4
    A lot of very good elements that made for some good episodes early in the show, but poor writing, dialogue and direction could not save the lack of cohesive vision and a weak plot. While it offers SOME nuanced and interesting perspectives on relevant issues, it is ultimately full of hollow, half-formed ideas and statements, instead of exploring and posing meaningful questions.

    It was    A lot of very good elements that made for some good episodes early in the show, but poor writing, dialogue and direction could not save the lack of cohesive vision and a weak plot. While it offers SOME nuanced and interesting perspectives on relevant issues, it is ultimately full of hollow, half-formed ideas and statements, instead of exploring and posing meaningful questions.

    It was nice to finally see a couple of fleshed-out villains with back-stories that provide believable motivation (Cottonmouth and Mariah). It is a glaring flaw rampant in the superhero genre.

    Would love to see a second season with some serious course correction.    … Expand
  3. jackeebleu
    Oct 2, 2016
    10
    “What happens to a dream deferred?
    Does it dry up, like a raisin in the sun?
    Or fester like a sore, And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over, like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags, like a heavy load. Or does it explode?” Langston Hughes wrote those words in a poem titled “Harlem”. This is where Cheo Hodari Coker drops us. A dream deferred Harlem. A    “What happens to a dream deferred?
    Does it dry up, like a raisin in the sun?
    Or fester like a sore, And then run?
    Does it stink like rotten meat?
    Or crust and sugar over, like a syrupy sweet?
    Maybe it just sags, like a heavy load.
    Or does it explode?”

    Langston Hughes wrote those words in a poem titled “Harlem”. This is where Cheo Hodari Coker drops us. A dream deferred Harlem. A modern day construct erected from the hopes and dreams of a Harlem once revered for its creative and financial excellence; Black Excellence. This isn’t a series about heroes and villains, its a retelling of a love lost. A love letter about relationships built on promises, bricks, blood, and bass. Full of colorful references to the people, places, things, sins, and successes, that either elevate or devastate the human condition.

    This is not a series about super powers. This is a technical masterstroke of camera work, acting, and character development that speaks to power; Political, Financial, Street, and Police. But more importantly, the power of will. A keen eye and ear are required, as littered through this narrative are nods to cultural icons, from Biggie to Barnes to Basquiat, Ellison to Hughes to Sutton, all hands are on deck. Simone Missick and Mike Colter push and pull their way through a complex tale that takes you where you wouldn’t expect, but inevitably, the way thats required. This is a series about accountability. Its about people not relying on badges and guns to get things done. An acceptance that the burden of change lies on us all. Its about the hope and dreams that push us forward, to ensure that future generations have it better, not deferred. Never backwards, always forward. Always. Triumphant.    … Expand
  4. the12black
    Oct 1, 2016
    7
    Solid performances (for the most part) all around, with the exception of the series nemisis Diamondback, and a few bit players. There was a lot of need to suspend disbelief through the first few episodes and writers leaned a lot on conveniences to further the plot which kept this series from being as good as DD. But it was a fun watch and worth all 13 hours.

    I would recommend this    Solid performances (for the most part) all around, with the exception of the series nemisis Diamondback, and a few bit players. There was a lot of need to suspend disbelief through the first few episodes and writers leaned a lot on conveniences to further the plot which kept this series from being as good as DD. But it was a fun watch and worth all 13 hours.

    I would recommend this series to others.    … Expand
  5. 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?
  6. HOFFERN
    Oct 1, 2016
    10
    Great acting, great story and cool characters! There is not much more to be said than that, I simply loved it. Looking forward to a second season, and seeing how they connect it to Jessica Jones and Daredevil later on.
  7. TheWaa
    Oct 1, 2016
    7
    As a big fan of Dare Devil and Jessica Jones, I was looking forward to the release of Luke Cage. The manner in which Netflix has chosen to portray these superheroes, as flawed, normal people with their own problems without the Hollywood glitz that we have come to expect from the Marvel movies is a breath of fresh air and in my opinion, the way these characters were meant to be portrayed.As a big fan of Dare Devil and Jessica Jones, I was looking forward to the release of Luke Cage. The manner in which Netflix has chosen to portray these superheroes, as flawed, normal people with their own problems without the Hollywood glitz that we have come to expect from the Marvel movies is a breath of fresh air and in my opinion, the way these characters were meant to be portrayed. Netflix did a better job with both of the other soon to be Defenders in this regard.
    Luke Cage has it's highlights, the soundtrack is almost flawless and the cinematography is very well done. Where I feel it falls short is the script. The cast is experienced and well rounded but the actors are not given the quality of writing that is in either of the other series. There are too many moments after a delivery of a cheesy line that make you wonder if the actor finished the scene and said to themselves, did I really just say that?
    Overall it is a good series that does many things right. Cheo Coker set out to make a series that would do for Harlem what "The Wire" did for Baltimore, and the only way to achieve that is to rework the writing.    … Expand
  8. minaTTi
    Oct 1, 2016
    10
    It's truly the best Marvel series ever produced by Netflix. The ambiance is great: a nostalgic Harlem, with great characters, very nice music. The violence is only subtil, giving space for story and acting. No "never-stop-coreography-fighting-scences" as we saw in Daredevil. With Luke the trouble is quickly solved, no room for boring fights.
    Many of the supporting roles are also great,    It's truly the best Marvel series ever produced by Netflix. The ambiance is great: a nostalgic Harlem, with great characters, very nice music. The violence is only subtil, giving space for story and acting. No "never-stop-coreography-fighting-scences" as we saw in Daredevil. With Luke the trouble is quickly solved, no room for boring fights.
    Many of the supporting roles are also great, creating a high standard TV novel. And the villain is someone we love to hate. Thumbs up!    … Expand
  9. cdodd404
    Sep 30, 2016
    8
    Luke Cage is what you'd expect from Marvel on the small screen at this point. They make sure that you know Luke Cage shares a universe with others. They use references to other events within the MCU as plot devices throughout the series. The acting is decent, Colter brought Cage to life and the supporting cast delivers as well. The feel of the series is it's own. I honestly expected themLuke Cage is what you'd expect from Marvel on the small screen at this point. They make sure that you know Luke Cage shares a universe with others. They use references to other events within the MCU as plot devices throughout the series. The acting is decent, Colter brought Cage to life and the supporting cast delivers as well. The feel of the series is it's own. I honestly expected them to cookie cutter from Daredevil or Jessica Jones. It's not however, the R&B and funk music give Harlem a soul of it's own. Rather than the noir approach that Jessica Jones, or the dark organized crime theme of Daredevil, Luke Cage gives us almost a Pulp Fiction feel. I say Pulp Fiction because the black gangster kind of reminds me of Marcellus Wallas.… Expand
  10. dainaron
    Sep 30, 2016
    6
    There's something about Luke cage that feels clunky. The show itself tends to drag at times, and the acting is mediocre across the board excluding some great performances. The writing could also use a little bit of work, it is hard to get through some parts, and the camerawork is dodgy at times.
  11. 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
  12. horrorsparadise
    Sep 30, 2016
    8
    Seen almost half of the season now and it's quite great in many ways. I feel like the dialog is quite bad at times, and acting with that dialog is quite bad. But the show shines most of the time. I love the intro and the setting, it's well done. Compared to Jessica Jones I feel this is a milestone better. But in my opinion worse than Daredevil.

    Luke Cage does very well and quite excited    Seen almost half of the season now and it's quite great in many ways. I feel like the dialog is quite bad at times, and acting with that dialog is quite bad. But the show shines most of the time. I love the intro and the setting, it's well done. Compared to Jessica Jones I feel this is a milestone better. But in my opinion worse than Daredevil.

    Luke Cage does very well and quite excited about the last 6 episodes. I would recommend seeing this Marvel series.    … Expand
  13. Dodeska-den
    Sep 30, 2016
    5
    I was really hoping to fall head-over-heels for Luke Cage. Big fan of Daredevil, loved Jessica Jones – and I'm annoyed as hell that the second season is still a long way away – and I thought Luke Cage was perfect in the JJ series. I've only watched E1 so hopefully things will improve for me, but the acting is stilted and the writing uneven at best. It's the Marvel Universe so I'm notI was really hoping to fall head-over-heels for Luke Cage. Big fan of Daredevil, loved Jessica Jones – and I'm annoyed as hell that the second season is still a long way away – and I thought Luke Cage was perfect in the JJ series. I've only watched E1 so hopefully things will improve for me, but the acting is stilted and the writing uneven at best. It's the Marvel Universe so I'm not looking for The Wire, but there's little magic in the dialog and the exposition is heavy handed. I expect pilots to plod a bit but this really leaden. Hoping things pick up....… Expand
  14. Kmacc
    Sep 30, 2016
    10
    After watching the first few episodes I am honestly blown away.. Yet another tremendously crafted Marvel series that somehow manages to set the bar even higher than it's predecessors with one of the best pilot episodes I've ever scene. Amazing cinematography, flawlessly connected story, and unparalleled sense of realism to modern day existence are the things that separate Luke Cage.After watching the first few episodes I am honestly blown away.. Yet another tremendously crafted Marvel series that somehow manages to set the bar even higher than it's predecessors with one of the best pilot episodes I've ever scene. Amazing cinematography, flawlessly connected story, and unparalleled sense of realism to modern day existence are the things that separate Luke Cage.

    This is a much welcome addition to the MCU, although I have to say the Netflix Marvel series are blowing the Avengers movies out of the water and making them look feel like second rate entertainment.. It's starting to become unbalanced because the Netflix series' building up to the Defenders is heavily outproducing the entertainment value anything else in the MCU has to offer right now. I continue to be thoroughly impressed with the Netflix Marvel partnership and encourage anyone who's been living under a rock for the last few years to come out and wake up to a world where Donald Trump might become president and Luke Cage/Jessica Jones/Daredevil are our most badass superheroes... Enjoy!    … Expand
  15. damman
    Sep 30, 2016
    10
    So excited about the show. I know they are a lot of trolls on this site but hey you know it's a good show and different well scripted and the acting is really good. It got me into this comic character. Nice
  16. hoala
    Sep 30, 2016
    10
    Best Marvel's performace yet. Haters back off. 10/10 I hate DC's fans come here and rate it 1 or 0 for nothing. It was amazing.. I wish I cound put an 11.
  17. mehdiveb
    Sep 30, 2016
    10
    Briefly I love what marvel do specially the strategy that it takes in TV series and these series has no exception for that, like the previous series its describe everything very well with different aspect of the town,characters,actions,etc.
    that makes me persuasion to see this series and further series for this company
  18. 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.
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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

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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.
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  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.
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  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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