Last weekend Netlfix released their latest entry to the Marvel Universe: Luke Cage. Cage tells the story of the titular hero, a man gifted (or cursed) with unbreakable skin and superhuman strength. Cage hopes to lie low in Harlem, New York City, but when gun violence and drug running run amok on the streets, he may not be able to stay in the shadows for long.
The show continues the world set up by Netflix's prior 'street level' Marvel entries: the excellent Daredevil and Jessica Jones (where Cage made his debut), which you don't have to watch first, but you should make time for. They'll be joined by Iron Fist in March 2017, and then the heroes will assemble together for a Netflix mini-series The Defenders.
Luke Cage is rich and complex, both dark and colourful, realistic yet hopeful. It's an excellent piece on its own terms, perfectly cast, grippingly paced, with a beautiful soundtrack too. Fascinatingly, its also full of theological imagery and Christian motifs. No, this isn't Narnia. But God is never far from this story, not so much a main character as a question mark that confronts the world and players of Luke Cage. Not only that, but this is woven into a story which is deeply political, with a prescient message for today's culture. This is a show about a bulletproof black man, which is political enough on its own, but it goes – daringly, but thoughtfully too – even further than that.
The show is full of twists and turns and spoilers which needless to say, you won't find detailed here. Without further ado, here are three reasons you should watch the show.
A World of Violence
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In Harlem we are immediately confronted with a world of harsh, prolific violence. It is a violent, bloody show; there's nothing gratuitous but remember that this isn't for the faint hearted, and definitely not for your kids.
The show asks a question of violence: how does it happen? And how do we respond? Fear, greed and anger are all at play, and we also see the cost of these: corruption grows, innocent lives are claimed, and of course when violence breeds violence, escalation is inevitable.
Cage is bulletproof, which has obvious uses, – and makes for some fantastic fight scenes – but he never takes up arms himself. He deflects, he protects, but he isn't a killer. The show doesn't glorify death and it doesn't revel in senseless shootings. Guns and explosions aren't just an edgy backdrop or your typical Superhero fare, rather they're a relentless problem, an injustice which needs to be answered. You might think an indestructible hero rather kills the tension and risk necessary for a compelling drama, but in fact Cage's special abilities (and his character) are what make the show so interesting. But you'll need to watch the show to find out how.
The Quest for Power
In Cage's Harlem, violence and power are inseparable. There is an arms race on the streets, and for obvious reasons – he who has the most guns wins. Power dynamics, and the question of who's the boss of who, constantly dominate the shady underworld of Harlem's crime rings. In the words of the ambitious 'Cottonmouth': "Everybody wants to be the King." We're reminded of the lure that power can have – but we see its fragility too. You'd hope that all this is a far cry from the dynamics of church leadership or our own lives, but while we might not all be aspiring drug lords, there's no one whose never been tempted by power. Of course, Jesus showed a different way to live. One thinks of Jesus words to his disciples: the Gentiles may lord their power over one another, but "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Speaking of which…
Messiah Complex?
Is Luke Cage a stand in Messiah? The motif is cliched now, particularly in comic book films, but Luke Cage takes it on in an interesting way. He's the saviour whose first priority is protecting the people of Harlem, he's a symbol of self-sacrifice who doesn't respond to violence in kind. He takes the bullets that other people can't. He's a hero to some, but others see him as an outcast and a freak – and Luke has to decide if its worth fighting for people even if they've given up on you. He's not exactly un-Christlike.
But powers aside, Luke is ultimately just a normal guy, he doesn't yearn for the limelight. As cheesy as it may sound, he shows how heroism can be ordinary – it's about the choices that all of us have to make, how to be brave, how to be hopeful, and how to stand up to injustice.
So much more can be said. Religious imagery abounds, and one character quotes the Bible in almost every sentence. It's of course provocatively jarred with Harlem's world of unceasing chaos and irreligion. As one character sums it up: "Jesus saves, I don't." Some of it feels like an Old Testament epic: family conflicts play a key role, with betrayals and surprises abounding. On the political side of things, we see unlawful incarceration, prison violence, racism, cop killings, and racism in the Police Force. Especially given the slew of recent shootings in the US, this show couldn't be more prophetic for the times in which we live.
What's particularly impressive about Luke Cage is how it portrays a world full of injustice and yet still remains hopeful, with humour and heart amisdt the darkness. Netflix's House of Cards was brilliant in its portrayal of grim, corrupt politics – but it subsequently felt hopeless. In contrast, Cage doesn't hold back on tragedy and depravity, and yet – mainly through the stoic, charming and electric performance by Mike Colter – still keeps us looking up.
So there go your weekend plans.
Luke Cage is available to stream on Netflix now
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