What I’m Watching: Luke Cage

Luke Cage: Season 1, Episode 8 “Blowin’ Up the Spot” (B+)

I’m still reeling from the shock of Cottonmouth’s death, and his absence in this hour is definitely felt. Shades and Mariah make a formidable pair, both equally ambitious and eager to take over for the void that has been left now that Harlem’s biggest player is dead. Their relationship is also complicated, and Mariah wasn’t impressed by the way that he talked down to her because she was in shock. They’re going to make an interesting pair, and Shades is wasting no time in letting people know that they work for him now, whether or not they’re going to comply with his authority. Misty knew there was something up with the story provided that framed Luke as Cottonmouth’s killer, but she’s still trying to arrest him even though Claire provided an alibi for him and then didn’t crack even when Misty tried to choke her out. Luke had a hell of a time dealing with his newest adversary who, in truly dramatic fashion, revealed himself to be the mysterious, shady, all-powerful Diamondback. Saying that it wasn’t fair that he sent Luke to hell and then he came back with superpowers made the entire mythology of this show seem infinitely smaller and more contained than it usually feels, and it’s hard for Luke to get a break when someone no one really knows exists or understands is coming after him while he’s being set up for another murder he didn’t even know happened. Diamondback was relentless, and Luke can only take destructive bullets so many times before he’s truly down for the count.