Luke Cage, the iconic Marvel superhero already well known to Netflix audiences thanks to his appearances in “Jessica Jones,” lands all 13 episodes of his own series on Netflix at midnight.
Mike Colter reprises the title role and is eventually joined by Rosario Dawson, who plays New York night nurse Claire Temple on “Daredevil” and “Jones” as well.
If you don’t love the final scene of the first episode, in which the superman Luke defends the elderly Asian couple who just spent the previous hour harassing him for the rent, there may not be any love in you.
When Matt Murdock, whose big power is super-hearing, bested a dozen sword-wielding ninjas without so much as a .38 in his hand, I could not help but roll my eyes. But Cage, with his Hulkish strength and bulletproof skin, would be credible winning that challenge and more.
Also, “Cage” does not employ Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson.
Showrunner on the new series is Cheo Coker (“NCIS: Los Angeles,” “Ray Donovan”).
Also in "Cage" are Mahershala Ali (as Luke’s new boss and the series’ primary villain), Alfre Woodard (as a corrupt politician), Simone Missick (as hot detective Misty Knight), Frank Whaley, Sonia Braga, and Theo Rossi.
... When Cage's crime lord opponent Cottonmouth (Mahershala Ali) is delivering a threatening monologue inspired by the framed Biggie Smalls poster in his office, or when Cage is fighting a few dozen of Cottonmouth's soldiers while Wu-Tang's "Bring Da Ruckus" blasts in his earbuds, Luke Cage feels like something mesmerizingly new, and incredibly topical even with all the super powers and colorful nicknames involved. …
... There’s plenty to like about “Luke Cage,” including the gorgeous Harlem locations; good work in supporting roles by Alfre Woodard and Ron Cephas Jones; and lively performances by musicians like Raphael Saadiq, Charles Bradley and Jidenna. But if you make the inevitable comparison to “Jessica Jones,” the show from which it was semispun off, it looks decidedly average. …
... Even those who are normally allergic to capes and spandex are likely to be intrigued, particularly by Colter’s simmering performance. ... The supporting cast is equally enjoyable, particularly Alfre Woodard as Mariah Stokes, Cottonmouth’s cousin and a corrupt city councilwoman, and Simone Missick as Misty Knight, a streetwise detective and Luke’s would-be love interest. …
The San Francisco Chronicle says:
... Just as his character’s skin is unbreakable, Colter’s performance is more than strong enough to keep the focus on Luke Cage. The performance is so powerful we don’t even care that the basic plot has been recycled from hundreds of comic books. The rest of the cast delivers as well. Ali makes Cottonmouth far more than just a one-dimensional gangster. He is ruthless and cold-blooded, but he also has a sense of obligation to Pops from when they ran in the same gang. Ali and Missick inhabit their characters so fully, they may be ready for their own spinoffs down the road.…
... Cage is Marvel’s best TV series yet, but more importantly he's the superhero that the world seems to need most right now, mainly because he’s the most real. …
... It's so satisfying as badass street poetry and muscular urban renewal parable that after watching the seven episodes made available for critics, I barely cared that as a superhero show, Luke Cage is often repetitive and a little underwhelming. It's the logical extension of Marvel's niche-y approach to its Netflix offerings, a specificity that has yielded shows that are far more provocative, but far less universally accessible than the company's blockbuster movies. …
... fortunately for those who have been anxiously anticipating this drama since it was announced by Marvel a few years ago, it’s worth the wait. A wildly charismatic performance by star Mike Colter and solid work from the rest of the show’s cast are usually enough to power this addition to the Marvel TV universe through its rough spots, which include a somewhat clunky pilot and a notable tendency to sprawl (a common trait among streaming and pay-cable dramas, and not just in the superhero realm). …
12:01 a.m. Friday. Netflix.
