TV Review: Luke Cage (Season 2)

*This review contains minor spoilers*

Click here to watch my YouTube SPOILER talk

“Luke Cage” season two is consistently solid, with strong acting, and villains that are often more complex than the heroes. The first season started off great, but the loss of Cottonmouth and addition of Diamondback changed the tone of the show and it never recaptured the magic. The new season stays more consistent, giving Cage not only a villain that can defeat him physically, but others that can outthink him.

The threat of the returning duo of Shades and Mariah are still the biggest thorn in Cage’s side. Every move they make to prosper or defend themselves leads to trouble for Harlem that Luke must deal with. And with Mariah’s manipulative nature, Shades’ street smarts, and their high-priced crooked lawyer, they remain untouchable from the police. It’s only when Mariah is pushed too far that the cracks in their relationship finally allows the good guys a chance to put them away.

The new villain this season, Bushmaster, makes an early impression as he slays his completion, shakes off bullets and knocks out Luke Cage. He’s such a threat that he sends Mariah scurrying for help from Luke and Misty. His story takes an interesting twist halfway through the season as we get more and more of his backstory and realize that his quest for vengeance is payback for horrific things that were done to him and his family. It’s only his ruthless methods that make him a bad guy. There are even moments where he works together with Luke Cage, or they share a quiet conversation, that make you want to see him take that step back into the light and do things the right way.

Something this season does extremely well is flesh out its side characters. Whether it’s a story of how Shades got his nickname, Piranha’s baggage with his father or Mariah’s genuine love for Harlem, these feel like real people just doing what they need to fulfill their dreams. And there are some complex relationships throughout. The most dynamic is that between Mariah and her estranged daughter, Tilda. What makes this work so well is the acting. Alfre Woodard is phenomenal this season, and some of the scenes with her daughter are especially outstanding. Minor characters add a lot to the show. Comic relief from DW and Piranha lighten things up, while Bushmaster’s Jamaican family breathe a lot of life into the series.  Even though he only appears in one episode, Iron Fist puts makes a big impact. Finn Jones plays the character much more relaxed, and has great chemistry with Luke, in both the one on one talks and the big action sequence.

There’s not a lot of action, and most of it is Luke swatting away guns and popping bad guys on the head. They also revealed that even the Hammer bullets from last season no longer can penetrate his skin, making Bushmaster the only real threat. The first fight establishes that Cage is in trouble against this more agile enemy, and it’s a nice mesh of styles as Luke is more a brawler and Bushmaster has a fluid capoeira style. Unfortunately, Bushmaster never feels as dangerous the next few times they meet, so Cage never really feels threatened.

Also, like the first season, music plays a strong part in intensifying what’s happening on screen. This is true of song choices they play, and especially of the live performances at Mariah’s club.

Overall, the second season of “Luke Cage” is solid throughout. It has a few rough patches that don’t go anywhere, and there are not a lot of standout episodes, but complex characters and strong acting make it consistently engaging.

Season’s best episode: “For Pete’s Sake” (Episode 9): Solid action and an amazingly-acted and well-written sequence between Mariah and Tilda.
Season’s worst episode: “The Creator” (Episode 11): The flashbacks help flesh out Bushmaster, but they’re place in a way that hurt the flow of the episode.

**** out of *****

Movie Review: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

A mediocre sequel to “Jurassic World,” that offers nothing too original to the recently-revived franchise. The plot is pretty weak. It uses fairly cliché means to get out heroes to Jurassic World, and then takes an underwhelming turn once things shift back to the mainland. Escaping an erupting volcano on an island full of dinosaurs sounds like a more exciting climax than the game of cat and mouse that ends the film. With the plot so flimsy and unoriginal, it’s easier to notice all the other flaws. Smart characters make some really dumb decisions, people are constantly unaware of approaching giant reptiles, and things that are unbelievably lethal are brushed off with no more than scratches. The effects look good and there’s some great imagery, but there’s no stand out action sequences and little tension when it comes to the main characters. There’s also a big plot twist with one character that is glossed over, and that lessens a pivotal moment later. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are still likable, but they don’t get a chance to inject much personality for the final third of the movie. The humor is fine, but occasionally overdone. There is a short scene after the credits, but it is not worth sticking around for.

** out of *****