'Luke Cage' Has Been Renewed For A Second Season On Netflix
Now, the world has had some time with Luke Cage and its characters, the show has done the impossible: it broke the streaming service. Yes, yes, yes! A series about a bulletproof black man stopping evil forces in Harlem, New York was so impactful, so impressive that it forced Netflix to have service problems on Saturday — a day after Luke Cage premiered on the streaming site. While binge-watchers were rightfully pissed about not being able to indulge in the 13-episode arc — thankfully, we here at Okayplayer were already through most of the inaugural season.
Despite the issue, Luke Cage showed off its power, man, in a way that bumps the show up to the #1 slot when it comes to the Marvel x Netflix connection. The Cheo Hodari Coker developed-and-created series is one the most interconnected, deeply tied, closely followed events in Marvel's storied history. Needless to say, we were hooked, cooked and shook by the happenings in this wonderfully crafted show. Since we're finished (and we're assuming you are too!) with Luke Cage, we went back and combed through all 13-episodes looking for easter eggs, comic references and all-around cool stuff.
If you're looking to go down the rabbit hole a bit and dig deeper into the history of Luke Cage, Cottonmouth and Black Mariah — you're in luck. Here is our comprehensive examination of the connections and easter eggs littered throughout Luke Cage. Sweet Christmas, we hope you enjoy this!
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Episode 1: Moment Of Truth
Upon being introduced to our bulletproof black man, Luke Cage is jokingly called "Power Man" by Pops the barbershop owner. This, of course, is in reference to the codename Luke went by in the 1970s when he was created by John Romita Sr., Archie Goodwin and George Tuska. Power Man was also the title of his comic after it was changed. There is also another joke where Luke takes a jab at his first comic book series title, as well as his team up with Iron Fist, when he says that he "isn't for hire," a well-known play for his tandem team, "Heroes for Hire".
Later on in the episode, you might've notice a bootlegger selling DVDs of "the incident," which featured "Tony Stark, the blonde dude [with the hammer]," the old man with the shield, the big green monster," and he wasn't talking about Fenway. This guy on the street attempts to sell raw footage from the Avengers moment when the alien Chitauri attack New York. Why no mention of Hawkeye and Black Widow, though, street hustler? Is it because they're just everyday, average human beings? That's no bueno.
Elsewhere, Justin Hammer resurfaces in the episode when his weapons makes an appearance after the deal between Domingo and Cottonmouth goes south. For those who are joining this Marvel thing kind of late, Hammer, who was played by Sam Rockwell in Iron Man 2 and someone who should return for another movie, has been in prison but has not stopped selling his wares through the black market.
Episode 2: Code of the Streets
If you look close enough in the barbershop, you'll see a familiar face (i.e. recurring character) in the mix. Yes, yes, we spotted Turk Barrett (Rob Morgan) who first made his appearance on Netflix's Daredevil series and has been a supporting character in the comics since 1970. Later on, he finds himself in a situation with Cottonmouth, some various bad guys and a rooftop. Without giving too much away, the end results in some humor for those who have been following these series since the beginning. "You Harlem n****s are off the hook. I'm going back to Hell's Kitchen where it's safe," which is funny because he serves as the comic foil to Matt Murdock's the Man Without Fear.
The other interesting easter egg is Misty Knight's partner, Rafael Scarfe (Frank Whaley). In the comics, Scarfe is also Misty's right-hand man, and the Chris Claremont and Pat Broderick-created character has been around just as long as Daredevil, Luke Cage and Iron Fist, as he made his first appearance in 1975.
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Episode 3: "Who's Gonna Take the Weight?"
Another reference to the Battle of New York from the first Avengers movie appears when Scarfe and Misty argue about vigilantism. "Unless this side arm I have suddenly turns into a magic hammer, this whole job is irrelevant," Scarfe told Misty, who saw the incident up close and personal. Of course, this is a reference to Chris Hemsworth's Thor, who is wildly appreciated in this Luke Cage series.
Fast forward in another part of the episode, while Cottonmouth and his cousin, Mariah Dillard are arguing in his office. "Shut up, Black Mariah!" he screams in an attempt to belittle his older relative. While originally the term was applied to police carriages from a famous racehorse born in Harlem in 1826, it is also the super villain name of Mariah Dillard in the comics. Once mentioned, it is a foreshadowing of who Alfre Woodard's character might become.
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Episode 4: "Step Into the Arena"
Better known as the "Flashback Episode," audiences will finally learn just how Luke got his powers. While held up in Seagate Prison, Cage battles against oppression, falls in love and makes a friend. It is also in this episode that he comes face-to-face with Comanche (Thomas Q. Jones), a character from the comics who is a constant thorn in Luke's side, and his background is equally interesting. A member of the Rivals gang, which consisted of Cage, Diamondback and Shades, in the comics they would all sans Diamondback end up at Seagate where they were tortured by Billy Bob Rackham.
Elsewhere in the "Flashback Episode," Luke goes through his transition and upon breaking free, he emerges wearing bracelets and headgear that looks like a princess tiara. Add the yellow shirt that he finds upon escaping and you have Luke Cage's original version from the comics. While this is the highest moment of nerddom, easter egg-ery, it is ultimately played off by the show's main character. Upon seeing himself in the mirrored reflection, Luke says out loud, "You look like a damn fool," even though we wouldn't say that entirely.
Episode 5: "Just to Get a Rep"
This was no secret at all, as Rosario Dawson's "Night Nurse," also known as Claire Temple is back on the scene. Serving as the series' Agent Coulson of sorts, Claire Temple has been on two seasons of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, where she helped Luke after he got shot in the face by the super-powered heroine. Now, she is in Harlem and her character represents the growing connectivity between the series as we inch closer and closer to The Defenders.
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Episode 6: "Suckas Need Bodyguards"
Trish Walker (Rachel Taylor) makes an appearance, though not physically, in this episode reprising her role as the popular talk radio host who was first introduced in Jessica Jones. Truly, Luke Cage is the most connected series to the MCU and MTU that has ever been created. In addition to being a well known entity in the series (and Jessica Jones' best friend), in the comics she is also known as the hero, Hellcat. Albeit brief, Trish as the "voice of the people," within this series could help to frame the future events of The Defenders in context and color.
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Episode 7: "Manifest"
An episode full of remorse and sadness, both sides of the moral chart — good and evil — come into the house of the Lord for a moment of conjoined solace. All of the major players in Harlem are there to see the face off between Harlem's Man of Steel, Luke Cage, and their first-born son of success, Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes. After going back and forth, the two have another tête-à-tête outside the church, where the latter says, "You knock down a few doors, speak in a church and now you Harlem's Captain America... N****, please!" The easter egg to take away stems from the comics, as the formula that made Luke's skin impenetrable was the same Super Soldier formula that created Steve Rogers' Captain America.
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Episode 8: "Blowin' Up The Spot"
No spoilers here, of course, but the force that Luke has to reckon with in this episode, Willis Stryker, has only made two appearances in issues of Luke Cage: Hero for Hire in 1972. While his connection to Luke is similar to that in the books — childhood friends, jealous of Luke's relation with Reva — he has one noteworthy difference that deviates from the comics. As a villain in the books, Stryker had some cool weaponry in the form of exploding switchblades. He still has an affinity for sharp cutlery, as you'll see if you continue watching the show, but all in all Willis Stryker is one bad man to see on the streets.
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Episode 9: "DWYCK"
If you look closely when we are taken to Domingo's boxing gym, you'll see an interesting fight poster hanging on the wall. Showcasing a fight between J. Riggins and G. Turiello, investigative minds will learn that Gabe Turiello was actually the wheelman for the cast while on the set of "Tiara," which was the codename of Netflix's Luke Cage.
Episode 10: "Take It Personal"
Alfre Woodard's Black Mariah character continues to rail against Luke Cage in this episode. As we round the corner towards the end of the first season, Mariah includes a riff that harkens back to the last show we adored and loved in this Marvel and Netflix connection, Jessica Jones. "That woman over in Hell's Kitchen snapped a man's neck because he was ... mind-controlling her," Black Mariah said during a rally. She is mentioning what happened in Jessica Jones when Krysten Ritter's character killed the Purple Man (David Tennant) by snapping his neck.
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Episode 11: "Now You're Mine"
The height of the third arc in Season One of Luke Cage finds all parties clashing. Stryker has done some dastardly things, while Claire and Misty attempt to stave off calamity. In one instance, the latter is having her future superhero, bionic self teased when she catches a bullet in her right arm. For those who have read the comics, they know that Tony Stark develops a bionic arm for Misty Knight, which would be a great way to get Robert Downey Jr. to show up for Luke Cage Season Two.
Elsewhere in the episode, Claire uses her guile to escape from some thugs and finds Luke's hiding spot. "Escort the night nurse here downstairs," one of them says, tying Rosario Dawson's character to her Marvel comics counterpart serves as an interesting back story. Originally, Claire Temple's character was going to be Night Nurse, a hero who helps take care of injured superheroes. But when the MCU decided to use the Night Nurse character for the upcoming Doctor Strange movie, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch, it seems that this is a very specific joke to those aware of the Night Nurse situation.
Blake Tower (Stephen Rider), who made his first appearance during Daredevil Season Two, arrives on Luke Cage as district attorney and liaison to the mayor's office. Tower made his first appearance in the comics on issue #124 and was created by Marv Wolfman and Bob Brown. He serves as a connected ally of these street level forces like Luke Cage and Daredevil. "Frank Castle shot the city to hell, imagine what he could do with one of these things," Tower says, in reference to the Jon Bernthal's character who played The Punisher and was first introduced in Daredevil Season Two.
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Episode 12: "Soliloquy Of Chaos"
You might have to pause this scene and zoom in if you have that type of television to catch this one. Stan Lee makes his celebrated appearance (he's since filmed four more for the MCU) in this episode by being the face on a poster outside the bodega where an incident involving Luke Cage takes place at. "See a crime? Report it!" says the Marvel comic creator's smiling face.
Also, Willis Stryker reaches his villainous apex at the end of this episode when he finally wears this ill costume. "What are you, a pimp stormtrooper?" Cage's friend, Bobby Fish, quips during the episode. While it is a funny moment, the outfit is eerily close to Willis Stryker's costume from his first appearance in Heroes for Hire #1 and #2 — without the helmet, though.
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Episode 13: "You Know My Steez"
At the end, there is a lot to account for and plenty of things left on the table. Without spoiling the adventure for you, here are some things we discovered. Justin Hammer's Hammertech fuels Willis Stryker's costume, which makes sense since in Iron Man 2, he was trying to go into the super-suit game. Elsewhere, Claire Temple is found ripping off a tear sheet for a defense training and martial arts class ran by Colleen Wing. For those familiar with the comics, Misty Knight and Colleen Wing are part of the Daughters of the Dragon, a Harlem-based fighting duo. Colleen will also be joining the Netflix family, as actress Jessica Henwick will be playing her for the upcoming Iron Fist series. Last, but certainly not least, Misty's hairstyle featured at the end of the episode is her classic look from the comics.
These are all of the easter eggs and references that we noticed in our time with Luke Cage. Did we miss anything? Please let us know in the comments section!
