Showing posts with label Roundtables. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roundtables. Show all posts

Vambrace Yourselves: The Great Wonder Woman Roundtable


Despite being one of the three most important characters in the DC universe, it's taken Wonder Woman an inordinate amount of time to get a movie adaptation worthy of her. Until now, the only adaptations of the Amazon Princess's adventures were the Lynda Carter-starring 1970s TV show and the 2009 animated movie.  Otherwise, the character was generally either part of an ensemble or worse, given a side role. It felt like Wonder Woman will never get the chance to shine her fellow Trinity members Batman and Superman got. Even the announcement that WB is making one that'll be a part of their cinematic universe didn't inspire confidence, especially due to the controversial nature of the DCEU, influenced by the general depressing tone and quality of already released films.

But all our fears turned out to be unfounded, as Patty Jenkins's Wonder Woman turned out as well as it did, gaining outstanding critical acclaim and love from fans both old and new —  breaking box office records all over the world. After this undeniable success, the future of female-led superhero movies is looking brighter than ever.

Naturally, we here at Critical Writ have our own thoughts about Wonder Woman. We've already released our review of the movie, written by our own Elessar and now it's time for our other members to discuss how the film affected them.

Warning:  We do discuss spoilers below!  


Let's begin by sharing our personal history with the character. Are you a new-fangled fan, or were you already very familiar with Wonder Woman?

Tova: I’m very new to Wonder Woman. I borrowed the Sensation Comics anthology with Wonder Women stories from the library just before the movie premiered and had read some of that, and I read the first volume of DC Bombshells, but that’s the only experience I have with the character outside of hearing and reading about her. I’ve also frequently used the GIF of Lynda Carter smashing the patriarchy, of course.

Adrian: I’m very familiar with the comics and animated stories! I’m a fan of Greg Rucka’s various runs, Gail Simone is my hero, but the Justice League cartoon stands out as having the most on-point Wonder Woman. Susan Eisenberg’s voice work epitomizes Diana much like Kevin Conroy is the definitive voice of Batman. I love Diana so much that once aspiring to write a Wonder Woman screenplay served as a catalyst for growing my creative writing skills.

Rosario: I am very familiar with the character, insofar as “half-remembered fragments of Lynda Carter’s show” and being a long-time fan of the DCAU. Even now, getting comics in my country is a tall order, so I never got into them. But Diana was always one of my favorite heroes. My love of all things mythological just cemented my love for her.

Megan:  I’ve been reading Wonder Woman now for almost ten years; it was Gail Simone’s The Circle that really made me a fan.  I wanted to get into her earlier, but I always thought her costume (the one with the star spangled panties) was utterly ridiculous.  Terry Dodson drew her to make her look so powerful, so it was when I saw the cover for The Circle that I felt I could really get over that.  Ever since, I felt like DC had the greatest superhero ever on their hands that they just weren’t promoting well.  If you’re a longtime Wonder Woman fan, it’s the same as being a long suffering Wonder Woman fan.

Ivonne: I’m pretty new to Wondie. I mean I know Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman, and that’s about it. I never read the comic books before last year, and I’ve only read a smidgen of stuff since. Mostly, everything I know about Wondie I know from the DC animated movies/series, and word of mouth.



What are your overall feelings on the movie?

Adrian: Relief. It’s been a rough five years or so for DC fans. The comics went through a contentious period with the New 52 and the DCCU has been struggling to find its footing. It had grown hard to imagine that DC fans would ever “get to have nice things.” Patty Jenkins delivered a fun, tonally-accurate, and explosive adventure. I feel, for once, hope for the DCCU.

Tova: I’ll answer this question in a very literal way: Many and intense! There’s a lot of joy simply in seeing a badass heroine at the centre of a story, but when empathy is one of the central characteristics of that heroine, that joy turns much stronger and bigger. Perhaps the sadness in the movie was also heightened as a result, because I felt that more intensely than usual with epic adventure movies as well. And a strange kind of protective love for mankind that most of the type of humans and human actions we see in this story really shouldn’t inspire but which Wonder Woman is full of. It was definitely an inspiring movie. I’m aware I’ve likely ignored many issues with the plot because of all these emotions and the awe it made me feel, but that seems like minor details when a movie gives you this kind of experience.

Rosario: I agree with Tova, I am probably being more forgiving of the film due to the sheer excitement of seeing Diana in the big screen. Do understand, that for me has been a really, really long time. The other DC animated film about her I keep hearing about? I don’t even think it’s dubbed, there are no DVDs of it being sold here, it hasn’t been aired so far as I know… It has been a really, really long time. The hype has been so real here, with people going multiple times to the cinema for Wonder Woman. This is not something we do here. When I sat in the cinema and saw Themyscira for the first time it felt—wow.

Megan:  Like Adrian, relief.  You’ve come a long way, Diana.  I’m so happy that not only did she get her first big budget film, and not only is it a critical darling and box office success—it is a movie that is in love with Wonder Woman and everything she represents.  Despite the changes from the comic, the movie gets to the heart of what makes her so damn lovable.  I feel vindicated, and I am so happy that millions of people now have a chance to love her too!

Ivonne: Relieved that it didn’t suck! This was the one movie DC needed to get right, and they did, apparently more by accident and lack of care, than by design (they gave Jenkins pretty free reign, and seemed quite surprised by the success of the film). I’m a Marvel fangurl first and foremost, but I needed WW to do well, for the express reason of kicking Marvel in the ass so they start acknowledging their female fans… and so that they don’t screw up Captain Marvel. As for Wonder Woman itself, I loved it. It was inspiring, visually beautiful, and one of the only movies I’ve seen come out of Hollywood that wasn’t male-gazey. It was, in a word, wonderful.


How did you find the plot? What do you think about the the movie's version of Diana's origin?

Adrian: I feel great affection for the clay baby origin, but the New 52 ret-con establishing Diana as Zeus’ daughter opened up a whole new, exciting wing of her family tree that was previously non-existent. So much potential here! And yet, it seems they scuttled all those possibilities in the few minutes of Wonder Woman, establishing that the entire pantheon of gods were eliminated in Zeus and Ares’ great conflict. The plot perfectly serves Diana’s character growth and while I’m thankful for that, I mourn what could have been, and hope for a return of the gods in sequel.

Rosario: I am extremely ignorant of the comics. I know the broad strokes, and with all the controversy the New-52 retcon drudged up it was all but impossible for me to ignore, so… This is the first time for me encountering Diana’s origin, so I am… blasé, maybe? It’s a good story as any. It is suitably mythological for me because of the incestuous undertones: The Amazons were created by Zeus, so kind of like his daughters, then Zeus and Hippolyta had a clay baby. To me it was more important how the film emphasized how it was the Amazonian society that gave Diana her morals, and how it was Antiope’s and Hippolyta's love what shaped her into the woman who became a heroine.

Tova: I really liked the idea that Diana doesn't have a father, even in the biological sense, but only a mother. Her entire history and heritage being female is just so appealing to me, especially considering no one ever suggests there's something missing there — her family and childhood is whole and full. Like Rosario says, the film still emphasizes the women around Diana, and it's clear they're the ones who shaped her. But you don't go "By the way, you were told a lie about your origin and Zeus is actually your father" and then not examine what that means for the character. I'm not looking forward to that examination (sorry!).

Megan:  The plot, overall, is fairly in line with what we’ve seen before in the comics.  Unfortunately, the goddesses involved in her creation are gone, boo.  But it’s not the New 52 origin, which I was dreading.  The clay baby origin is always my favourite, and while there was a quick line that suggested that wasn’t true, that person wasn’t under the sway of the lasso yet, I don’t think, and so I’m choosing to ignore it.  I just wish there was a cinematic of the clay baby coming to life and the Amazons crowding around the one child they ever had, or that they included that they were reincarnated from abused women.

Ivonne: I’m not a fan of all the goddesses having been killed, but I don’t mind Diana having a father. Although, not going to lie, when it was revealed that he had sired Diana on Hippolyta, my immediate thought was to wonder what animal he turned her into to rape her, since Zeus is kind of known for that. I know, pretty awful, but there you have it. Zeus was very… clean in this version of Greek mythology. But I guess he’s dead, so whatever. I’m fine with not having him present in her life.


How did you feel Gal Gadot fared in the role?

Tova: Great! She has such an expressive face, and I love how you get to see the outside world reflected through her eyes when you watch her watch it. Like when Diana first encounters soldiers wounded in the war, or the people in the French village they reach after going through No Man’s Land. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I’ve grown somewhat immune to similar scenes showing war after so many movies have used them, and they don’t pack the same emotional punch anymore. But thanks to Gadot’s acting (and probably the writing and directing as well) these scenes do work, and it makes the whole story more engaging, as it gives us great insight into Diana’s motivations in her quest to end the war. Then she puts on her warrior face, and the determination behind Gadot’s eyes is just as convincing as the compassion.

Adrian: I’ve been a fan of Gal since her work in the Fast & Furious franchise. Gisele and Han OTP! I think she did a good job in accurately expressing Diana’s warmth, determination, conviction, and purity of heart. I don’t feel like Gal’s talent as an actress has grown much past her days in Fast, but I think I’m in the minority on that assessment: after all, she did make millions of people cry!

Rosario: She pulls off the naïvety so well. I don’t remember much of her prior work, thus, I cannot comment on that, but when she runs up, excited at seeing a baby, when she was eating the ice cream and thanked profusely the vendor… Gadot was amazing. The way Diana marveled at her own power was also very good acting. She was occasionally weak when she had to be more serious, but maybe that could be interpreted as Diana being somewhat confused at the stupid morality of Man’s World, so I don’t give much weight to it.

Megan:  Fantastic.  There were a few lines I thought were clunky, particularly the narration at the beginning and at the end, but it could have just been how it was written.  Those were my only gripes, and I quickly forgot it once the film got going.  When she was cast I was disappointed that they didn’t go with an actress who was more muscular; yes, I was one of those people!  And I will admit I was wrong.  Gadot looked powerful and strong.  I totally believed she could lift a tank like it was nothing.

Ivonne: Back when Gadot was introduced, I wasn’t sure I liked her. And on a political level, I don’t, because her politics regarding Palestine is typically Israeli. That said, and setting dubious politics aside, I thought Gadot was fabulous in this role. She really owned it, she seemed to revel in it, she looked gorgeous and powerful. She was so expressive in her wonder when Diana is first running around London, and yet she never comes off as naive or stupid. Gadot ended up being perfect for the role despite my initial misgivings.


What are your thoughts on the film's supporting cast - the characters adapted from comics (Steve, Etta) and the original ones (Sameer, Charlie and Chief)?

Adrian: Etta was exceptional; we need more of her. In the past, Steve has pointedly been Diana’s damsel in distress, but in the film they succeeded in making him more than a mere love interest, but a friend and an inspiration. Diana deserves no less. I really enjoyed the original characters, but much like Etta, I’m saddened that we can’t expect to see more of them.

Rosario: Steve was so charming, I truly hurt for Diana when That Scene happened. Because of how much the trailers featured Etta, I was disappointed that we didn’t get more of her in the film, so I hope there is a director’s cut or extra scenes or something when we can appreciate more of her, as well as have more of the trio. Overall, I thought the supporting cast was great, especially their interactions with Diana. My favorite was Chief, mainly due to the potential of his character. In a universe where the gods existed, could it be really that he is a demigod? I sure hope so! I hope he appears in more films! Also, I liked how the Soldier Trio represented something about war. Sameer is the person with no other hope than to join the war, Charlie is the soldier who struggles to try to make something of himself in a war he doesn't know what it stands for anymore and that has damaged him, and Chief is the one so hurt by conflict that he is just numb to further conflict. That’s what they are until Diana comes along.

Megan:  I love Etta!  More of her please!  If her sequel is modern day, can she have been reincarnated?  Same actress in the role of Smetta Smandy? Steve was great.  The animated movie kind of poisoned his character for me (he’s a chauvinist pig in that one), and Chris Pine is kind of a similar character in the first Star Trek film so I was anticipating something similar.  But Pine did a fantastic job and I really loved him in the end.  Sameer, Charlier and Chief were great; I really love that the film didn’t shy away from the fact that this was a war of colonial powers that brought men of colour from around the world to fight in a war they had no real stake in.  I also hope the theory that Chief is a demigod himself is true, I’d love to see him in the sequel.

Ivonne: Chris Pine was another surprise for me (along with Gadot). I thought he did a fabulous Steve Trevor. He was never over-bearing, despite probably thinking Diana was a little bit crazy, and ultimately he proved himself to be respectful of her and her power. I was pleased at how well Chris Pine, a leading man normally, seemed to naturally take to the role of supporting actor to Gadot. As for the Howling Commandos Lite, they were pretty good. If I have any complaints, is that we maybe didn’t get enough of them. They grounded Diana, humanized the faces of this terrible war, and they did it well.

Tova: I don’t think there’s much to add here! I always like a good ragtag team of misfits, and then one here did not disappoint. Like the others have said, I would have liked to see more of them, and more of Etta Candy, so I’m a little sad the sequel will take place in the present.
I’ll also miss Steve, who really was a pleasant surprise.


What are your thoughts on how the movie handled its human and supernatural villains?

Adrian: Dr. Poison was very intriguing, another character who I desperately want to know and see more of. Ludendorff and Ares were a bit two-dimensional, but I felt like Dr. Poison could carry a whole film. Could we get extras and vignettes like they did for the MCU? Ares serving as a violent muse to mankind has some interesting tendrils to explore, but ultimately it seemed to diminish the depth of the human villains.

Rosario: We definitely need to see more of Dr. Poison. Elena Anaya’s interview with The Verge uncovers so much I am thirsty. And I didn’t even know it! That said, while I agree that Ludendorff and Ares need to be explored more, I think I may be one of the only people who disagree with the assessment that the film did not serve itself by having Ludendorff and Ares be stereotypical villains. I actually liked that Ludendorff was like a human version of Ares. It really set up that Man is the best (as reflected by Steve and Etta) and the worst.

Tova: I think it was necessary to have human villains, for the reason Rosario describes, to show personifications of the worst as well as the best of humankind. I do not agree about Dr. Poison. To my, admittedly limited, understanding of the DC world of heroes and villains, one of its biggest issues is that villainy there very often comes from mental illness. It’s so full of mentally unstable villains that an asylum for the “criminally insane” is one of the main locations of DC stories, and a large share of Batman’s enemies have been patients there. Along with that there’s also the more widespread trope where disfigurement or disability (the two often being intermixed in pop culture) either serves as a sign of evil or itself leads to evil.

One of the clearest examples might be Two-Face, who is driven insane and adopts his villainous persona after being severely scarred on one side of the face, and is often portrayed as suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and/or dissociative identity disorder.

With this in mind, to have a villain who is obsessive, sadistic and “a maniac”, and whose “hideous” facial scars are described as proof of her sadistic side (all descriptions from the Anaya interview) seems to me to reinforce all those harmful tropes. I think Dr. Poison is a step up from characters like Two-Face, but then, why use that category of storytelling device at all? There are so many better options out there.

Megan:  The villains just weren’t developed well, but I think that was okay for the story they were trying to tell.  It wasn’t really about who the big bad was, because the real danger is the potential for evil that is in every human.  That said, what I like about Wonder Woman comics is that she really gets to the heart of her villains and often wins them over to her side.  Part of me wishes we saw that with Dr Poison, the last big fight could have been cut down and we could have had some resolution between them.  On the other hand, an unrepentant female villain is so rare, outside the femme fatale trope.  She’s scarred, she’s mean, she’s not sorry, and she’s not not going to fall for a pretty face, Steve.

Ivonne: I really wanted more of Dr. Poison. I felt like there was a great deal of development left at the table with her. But she was convincingly evil, and I was glad she didn’t fall for Steve’s shenanigans at the party. The actress needed more room to shine, because honestly, she was fabulous.

I thought the use of Ludendorff was a strange choice, seeing as he is an actual historical figure from WW1 that survives that war to get somewhat involved with Hitler prior to WW2. Making the choice to kill him was odd, to say the least. They could have called that character anything, made up a name of a fictional general, so why use a real historical figure? Add to that, I guarantee that most American audiences don’t know the name. It’s not that he’s obscure--he’s not--but American history courses are woefully short when it comes to anything before WW2. European audiences probably knew Ludendorff quite well, though, and especially his history.

Ares was… okay. The final battle was all kinds of cool CGI, but it was weird to see Professor Lupin as the god of war. For all that Ares was the boogeyman that Diana chased the entire movie, he wasn’t particularly frightening. That said, I will give kudos to the fact that I never saw it coming that this particular character was Ares. Normally superhero films are fairly predictable, so it was nice to be surprised that way.


What did you think about the movie’s use of the World War I setting, as opposed to WW2, more traditionally connected to Wonder Woman’s origin?

Rosario: I thought it was brilliant, actually. It’s one of the best settings to learn about the murky world we live in, at least for an Amazon warrior. The War is one of the murkiest conflicts ever. The War was arguably started by the Black Hand, an extremist Serbian separatist group, when Gavrilo Princip killed Archduke Ferdinand. It is a prime example of a “your terrorist are our freedom fighters” scenario. The whole thing was magnified by allies dragging each other into war, treaties falling apart all over the place—just look at how the Kingdom of Italy went from the Allied side to the Triple Entente side. It’s really tragic as well how it strips away Diana’s conviction that we are so inherently good. Yet, she chose chose to fight that final battle, anyway. Had I not known from hearsay her comics’ origin is in World War II, I would never have guessed, since The Great War feels so thematically appropriate for Wonder Woman.

Tova: This is where I have to admit I thought the movie took place during WWII all through watching it. Quite embarrassing, but also regrettable for the dimension clearly lost on me because I wasn’t aware of the context! I love Rosario’s analysis here, and in hindsight it truly does enhance the themes of human nature of good and evil and, especially, the grey area in between.

Adrian: There's a lot of thematic symmetry between Diana's first experiences with Man's World and mankind itself coming to grips with the new horrors of modern warfare, so I think the setting world worked beautifully. One of the trailers that ran before Wonder Woman was Dunkirk, the story of a massive rescue operation to save Allied soldiers from the Germans in WWII. A rescued soldier, fearing for his own life, balks at prospect of returning to Dunkirk to save more lives, when the ship’s captain tells him "There's no hiding from this, son. We have a job to do." It's that same call to duty that soldiers faced in WWI, and in a way that had never been experienced before. You won't have trouble finding exceptionally bloody episodes throughout history, but the first World War set a gruesome new standard in suffering, appallingly prodigious in death count; something the world had not previously seen or imagined. Life in the trenches of Verdun was so deadly, so bleak, it's what directly inspired J.R.R. Tolkien's vision of Mordor in Lord of the Rings. Indeed, the never-ending battle of attrition that is “No Man’s Land” set an ideal landscape in which Diana could arise, crossing the chasm that no man could, establishing not just to the audience but to herself, that she can make a difference, even when the task before her is an impossible one.

Megan:  For the story they’re trying to tell, it was a perfect change.  With WWII, you have the Nazis vs the Allies and I think we can all agree that while Allies committed war crimes too, it’s largely accepted that it was a war against evil.  WWI wasn’t about that.  It wasn’t good versus evil, us against Nazis and genocide.  It was empires with stolen lands forcing men to fight over, essentially, nothing.  It wasn’t a war any side can really feel good about.  It was a terrible, pointless  war that should never have happened at all.  I really liked that in the British war council, the general was all for sacrificing soldiers, and on the German council before Ludendorff attacked would not stand for any more lives being lost.  The Germans weren’t any more to blame here than the British.  That and you know, the reveal about Ares, really hit that home.

Ivonne: It was a nice change of pace to have WW1 be the setting, but for all of that, this movie still felt a great deal like Captain America: The First Avenger in the entire latter half. Also, I heard that there were American audiences who were puzzled on which war it was, but honestly, that says more about the public education in this country than anything else. The movie “placed” the setting quite well, between the language Steve used to try to explain it to the Amazons, and the trench warfare. Costumes, props, and things like the planes were gorgeously done to make this period piece work.


What did you like the most about the film? And what you thought was its biggest failing?

Adrian: I have some minor quibblings around Diana’s naiveté (a bit overdone) and the mythology (for instance, they didn’t cover why she wears the bracers or the nature or purpose of their power), but the biggest failing of the film was a lack of representation. Many have rightly said Wonder Woman is inescapably a feminist film, which is why the film is remiss regarding intersectionality. Anyone not hopelessly insulated recognizes the Amazons of Themyscira as queer, yet this is never represented on screen. While the racial diversity could have been worse (I love that Artemis, of an African Amazon splinter-cell Bana-Mighdall, was played by Ann Wolfe!), many Amazons' scenes were cut. With the core cast of Amazons being blonde and white, we’re left with the same old story: white women elevated to the forefront of modern feminist ideals, with women of color unobtrusively shuffled off to the side. While Gal Gadot provides much-needed representation for Jewish women in superhero films, we cannot ignore that “Hollywood perceives her in terms of unspecified whiteness.” Otherwise, I will forever love Wonder Woman for simply getting Diana’s character right. The depiction of Themyscira and the Amazons was otherwise near perfection and the proper tone of the film could serve dividends for the whole future of the DCCU. Wonder Woman is a great movie.

Rosario: I don’t have much to add to this, since I mostly agree with Adrian in failings and strengths. More explanations, more diversity in the Amazons is needed. That said, the combat scenes were well done, the slow-mo was in all the right places.

Tova: If it’s not already clear from the amount of words I used to criticize the character, Dr. Poison is one of my least favourite parts of the film. Anaya plays her splendidly, but I can’t disregard the problematic elements, which are really at the foundation of the character.
One other thing that has kept tugging at my mind since I first thought of it is: Why the hell is there no mention of Wonder Woman returning, or not returning, to Themyscira at the end of the movie? It’s almost like the Amazons are forgotten. That doesn’t fit the tone in the first part of the movie, and certainly not the parting of Diana and her mother. Themyscira is such an important part of Wonder Woman’s story, and I would have liked to see that acknowledged as this first story wraps up.

As for what I liked the most: The feelings! The feminism! The wonder! I suspect everything that has made people love Wonder Woman for decades

Megan:  Not to correct you Tova, but Hippolyta says to Diana as she leaves that she can never come back.  This is a thing in the comics; once she leaves, she may never return.  Of course, in the comics she eventually does, and since Amazons are going to be in Justice League we should get an answer.  I do agree with Adrian about representation, could have been better.  I also really wish Diana was less confused by sexism and more outraged by it.  I suppose that would have clued her into the evils of man sooner, unless she would just conclude the patriarchy is a tool of Ares as well. As for what I liked most….Themyscira!  It was everything I wanted and more.

Ivonne: I loved the way this movie made me feel. I loved seeing a powerful woman who was still feminine and beautiful. I loved that she wasn’t filmed under the male gaze. I loved Themyscira and wanted more of it. More Amazons, more Amazons of color, especially. And as Adrian has already pointed out, the film’s biggest failing was how powerful the white feminism was, but how short it was on representation of anyone else. Yes, we saw black Amazons, and some brown ones too, but they didn’t speak, and one of them was even the Mammy stereotype when Diana was a child. Oooo boy… as a feminist piece, this one has major failings on intersectionality.

I’m not sure if this is a failing or a strength, but I did feel like someone at WB looked around, asked why MoS, BvS, and SS were so critically panned while Marvel has had a dozen hits, and decided “screw it, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” Wonder Woman felt, emotionally, like Captain America: The First Avenger to me, and it pretty much even ended the same way. When the movie ended, my husband leaned over and whispered, “Steve will be back in Wonder Woman: The December Soldier!” But seeing as how The First Avenger still remains one of Marvel’s best films, I suppose this isn’t a failure for Wonder Woman. And well, it’s no accident that so many folks, including critics, loved this one, as opposed to the first three DC films.


Finally, let's make a wishlist for the future sequel, which is obviously coming thanks to the movie's reception. What would you like to see in it, aside from the return of Patty Jenkins in the directorial chair? What are your biggest hopes and greatest wishes?

Adrian: More women of color, more Amazons, more gods, more magic! Villains! Cheetah, Circe, and Medusa (see: Wonder Woman: Eyes of the Gorgon by Greg Rucka) would all make great villains for the sequels! Sidekicks! Can we get Wonder Girl Donna Troy and/or Cassie Sandsmark? An Artemis and Antiope buddy warrior movie?! I want all the things! Also, it’s implied the canon that there is a lineage of Amazonian Wonder Women throughout history. Can we get a Hippolyta as an ancient world Wonder Woman prequel? Can we see Nubia, Diana’s twin sister as Wonder Woman? There definitely were Wonder Women before Diana; what else would the suit have been made for?

Tova: More Amazons, which should naturally lead to more WOC and queerness. And it’s not enough to show that other Amazons are queer, I want an unambiguously pan- or bisexual Wonder Woman as well, and I want it treated with the same subversion of the male gaze that much of this movie showed. If I can dream big then bigoted straight men will watch the sequel and feel annoyed and let down, and cool men, women and non-binary folks will leave the theatre feeling empowered. I want a movie that truly deserves the label “cultural Marxist SJW propaganda”. Because we’re worth it.

Megan:  I think as long as China bans any movie with outright LGBT representation, we’re not getting it in a Wonder Woman film.  That would be my greatest wish though. But more Amazons, Nubia, Smetta Smandy, Chief, The Holliday Girls, and Ferdinand please.  Also, WB, email me about my amazing Wonder Woman RPG idea.  The lasso mechanics alone will be worth it.

Ivonne: More Amazons, more women, more women of all colors, goddesses returning, some of Wondie’s classic female villains… and that’s to start! Also, needs more lassoing, and definitely an invisible jet (I’m kidding, that’s stupid). But seriously, I just want more Wonder Woman, and more Patty Jenkins, and LOTS MORE FEMALE DIRECTORS AND STARS. And I want it right now!

Adrian Martinez is a graphic designer, comic book letterer, hobbyist writer, and all-around geek living in New York City.

Dominik Zine is a nerdy demisexual lad from northeastern Poland and is generally found in a comfy chair with a book in hand.

Ivonne Martin is a writer, gamer, and avid consumer of all things geek—and is probably entirely too verbose for her own good.

Megan “Spooky” Crittenden is a secluded writer who occasionally ventures from her home to give aid to traveling adventurers.

Rosario is an early-twenties, outspoken woman, who likes to burrow between piles of books, and store miscellaneous trivia in her head.

Tova Crossler Ernström is a bisexual Swede, feminist, socialist, INFJ, Hufflepuff, HSP and Taurus. She is fond of personality tests, labels and lists.

Luke Cage Roundtable Review – S01E07 – 'Manifest'


The seventh and arguably most powerful episode of Luke Cage begins with the soft, potent voice of Nina Simone, singing "Plain Gold Ring." It’s a mournful song about immutable circumstance, lamenting how the pain of the past can remain ever-present with a simple reminder: a gold ring, a gun, a bullet… and sometimes a reminder isn’t necessary. Sometimes, there are events one can never forget. It’s an amazingly apropos choice of music for this episode, but the reason why is not completely clear until near the end as the revelations of the past converge with the action of the present for calamitous effect.

Luke Cage – S01E07 – Manifest
Mariah's political career comes under fire, and Cottonmouth picks up information that could put Luke on the run. (Netflix)

Adrian: Cornell is being released. Aside from the journal of the now-deceased Scarfe, there is insufficient evidence to hold Cornell. Misty watches Cornell tapping his fingers, playing the keyboard in his mind, probably reading this affectation as bemused detachment; she storms in, is stopped by Captain Audrey (Sonja Sohn). After some crude remarks from Cornell, Misty promises Cornell will get his just due. It seems that despite being an intuitive and talented detective, she was hoodwinked by Scarfe and can’t ever seem to get any dirt on Cornell or anyone else she’s interested in busting. It’s as if her failures as a detective are a necessary plot device to keep the stories moving along. Does anyone else find this frustrating? What do you think of Misty’s predicament?

Aranwe: I disagree over here. It’s all too often that fictional detectives are completely perfect at their jobs, and always solve their cases 100% neatly. There’s no doubting that Misty is a great detective, but her weaknesses, especially those relating to proper procedure, are often her downfall, and that makes her a much more relatable character. The frustrating part is knowing what Cornell has done, and yet watching him walk anyway, but that’s a frustration you’re supposed to feel.

Dominik: I’m with Aranwe on this one. it felt pretty natural that the case wasn’t solved immediately. If anything, it makes her more human, unlike most other fictional detectives.

Ivonne: I find it frustrating that Cornell is getting away with stuff, but I actually am perfectly okay with Misty’s flaws. She must be a flawed character, and she must start to believe the system fails justice, because she must start to believe in vigilantes, not only Luke but eventually herself (for all the comic book fans out there, you know what she becomes).

On a fundamental level, like Aranwe said: TV detectives are often perfect. One of the reasons I was loyal to Criminal Minds for like nine years was because the FBI agents were very human, they had their flaws, and they didn’t always get their perps.

One more thing: it is OK for female characters to fail. They are human just like anyone else, and I find it compelling to find a woman detective that isn’t perfect.


Adrian: With Cornell free and clear, he calls Luke for a parley (as Diamondback denies Cornell’s request for a Judas bullet to kill Luke). As Cornell plays the keyboard (there’s that keyboard again) he reveals to Luke that he knows Luke’s secret identity: Carl Lucas. Cornell suggests he will blackmail Luke, forcing Luke to work for him under threat of revealing his secret to the authorities. Luke decides he should flee when Claire smartly adjusts Luke’s priorities. He asks “If I go to prison, who’s gonna wanna follow me?” and she points out “Half the people uptown have fathers, cousins, uncles, brothers in prison. You’re no different than anybody else. You get your wish. You’re not special.” and that, in fact, Luke making a stand and taking down Cornell will give Luke the path to freedom he seeks. His personal needs align with his duty. Do you think Luke finally gets it? Also, were any of you shipping Claire and Luke as hard as I was at this point? Clearly, she is precisely the balancing force Luke needs!

Aranwe: Claire is awesome. Her role on Luke Cage may be her best yet in all the Netflix shows… but you can’t pry me away from Luke/Jessica. Sorry.

Dominik: It’s good to see Claire finally able to talk some sense into at least one Netflix Marvel protagonist. No shipping, though. Power People shipper for life.

Ivonne: Claire is awesome and she is just what the nurse ordered. The chemistry works between these two, and I ship it. But in my heart of hearts, I ultimately hope to see Luke and Jessica reunited. Come on, man, the original Marvel power couple!

Adrian: Back in his office, Cornell looks at a pearl-handled pistol he keeps in a gold box. What’s its significance? We’ve rightly spent a lot of time learning about Luke’s past, but now it’s time for an intense flashback into life of the Stokes cousins, Mariah and Cornell. Playing the near-mythic figure Mama Mabel is LaTanya Richardson Jackson, wife of Samuel L. Jackson. We all love Samuel as Nick Fury and his many other memorable roles, but my god, LaTanya is not being given the attention she deserves. We need her in more films, but I digress. On to the flashback:


Cornell is practicing on his keyboard while Mariah is studying. Their Uncle Pete dotes on Cornell, suggesting he attend Julliard, who loves the support while conversely, Mariah does not seem to appreciate the attention she receives from Pete. Pop enters the room to show deference and offer tribute to Mama Mabel (although, the first thing he says is “Hi Mariah” which for a fleeting moment, seemed like a cute interaction. Maybe he had a crush on her, what could have been, etc.).

With Pop is the ill-fated Donnie, who has been caught dealing drugs in Harlem against Mama’s wishes and she asks him to explain himself. Donnie briefly looks to Pete for help, but Pete averts his eyes. Donnie does do well on his own and doesn’t realize the gravity of the situation, while everyone else in the room does. Mama’s calm demeanor does not indicate safety, but threat. It is now that she is the most dangerous, and Donnie does not realize this, speaking with attitude and waving his hand around. His words and his hand offend her, and she twists his arm down and uses her pruning shears to cut his finger!

Mama Mabel sends Uncle Pete and Cornell to dispose of Donnie. Uncle Pete suggests that Cornell isn’t ready for that kind of work yet, but Mabel has decided, he needs to learn “how to piss standing up.” As we hear Uncle Pete and Cornell presumably stab Donnie to death off-camera, Mama Mabel calmly looks the severed finger and shears… and picks up the loot Pop gave her earlier, counting it. Mama Mabel might be extremely violent, but she is not bloodthirsty. The violence is simply her sense of ‘gangster pragmatism’ manifesting itself. Amazing. Terrifying.


As Cornell sits back down at his keyboard, bloody-handed, Mama Mabel comes behind him, and carefully, lovingly grasps his bloodied hands, comforting him. As this last moment plays out, we hear adult Cornell playing the keyboard in the present. If it wasn’t already clear, it’s made bare now: when Cornell plays the keyboard in his office or when Misty observed it in the precinct, we’re seeing him retreat into his safe space. I was enthralled by this flashback. The story, the performances from all involved, this was amazing to watch. Any thoughts?

Aranwe: Holy heck, was this scene amazing.

Dominik: This was an amazing scene, very humanizing for Cornell. It did wonders for him that the similar scene in Daredevil Season 1 didn’t for Fisk, making us wonder what could’ve been if he grew up in environment that really cherished his talents. Instead, he’s a broken man forced into a life he never wanted.

Ivonne: Brilliant flashback, and it really put a ton of stuff into perspective about Cornell and Mariah. I cannot gush enough about the narrative genius in this scene.

Adrian: Meanwhile, as Luke hits Colon’s base of operations and reclaims the stolen Hammer arsenal, Shades has let himself into Mariah’s home. He tells her about how much of an influence Mama Mabel and the Stokes family name meant to him as a kid growing up in Harlem, and how Cornell and Mariah have done nothing worthy with it. He says “I think that when you get the nerve, you’re gonna be surprised at just what you’re capable of.” After seeing Mariah not flinch when Donnie was dismembered, I have to think Shades is right. Although, it seems odd that he would be so forward by invading her home and getting in her face. This seemed very personal. What do you make of Shades’ motivations?

Dominik: Too early to tell, but Shades seems to have a plan of his own for Harlem. Something that seems separate from what Diamondback might want.

Ivonne: Shades is shady, no doubt, but I actually get the feeling he has a legit interest in Mariah coming to power. Shades doesn't seem the type to grab the reins directly, himself. He's a good background manipulator and super smart, but I think he prefers to have a boss, and for whatever reason, he seems to trust that Mariah is a better choice over Diamondback.

Adrian: In the second flashback, one of Mama Mabel’s girls, Sister Boy, has been roughed up by a customer, which she blames partially on Cornell for being absent. Ultimately, Cornell confesses that his absence was due to Uncle Pete meeting with the Colons in Spanish Harlem. I thought it was a nice touch to show that at least one of Mama Mabel’s girls was transgender. Mama was prepared to fight for her, even slap Cornell around in her defense (when he misgendered her!). It was a brief, but worthwhile moment of humanization for Mama Mabel, while also acknowledging the presence of transgender people in history. I’m yearning now for a Stokes family prequel. What did you think of this detail?

Dominik: Really nice. I wish there was more of an LGBTGIAP* presence in the MCU, preferably in the main cast department, but a nice detail like that is good acknowledgement. At least until that Runaways series.

Ivonne: Marvel doesn't engage in anywhere close to enough representation of LGBTQ+ people, so this was a really nice touch. As Dominik said, what we desperately lack is solid representation in the form of main characters, but this is a decent tip of the hat.

Adrian: In the final flashback, we see Mama Mabel confront Uncle Pete. At first he’s defensive, saying he’s always put the family first (despite harboring envy toward Mabel’s deceased husband, who won Mabel over Pete, back in the day). Then he shifts toward resentment: he thinks the family business should have been his. It all culminates as Mama Mabel tasks Cornell to execute Uncle Pete for his betrayal. Mariah sheds no tears, hinting that Uncle Pete sexually abused her. Pete attempts to bargain for his life, suggesting that only he cares for Cornell, that he believes Cornell could be someone other than a criminal. It’s not enough, and with the pearl-handled pistol he still keeps, Cornell shoots Pete. As adult Cornell later confesses, he believes Pete’s suggestion to be true, and regrets killing the one person he felt had his back.

This all comes to the surface in the present when Mariah comes to Cornell, desperate as she is being asked to resign her council seat. Everything she’s worked for is falling apart. The barbs come out and Cornell resents Mariah for being coddled in boarding school while he was forced to work the streets. She corrects him: she was not being coddled, but protected from Uncle Pete… and this is when Cornell makes the biggest and last mistake of his sad life.


He accuses Mariah of purposely tempting Uncle Pete and suggests crudely that the sexual abuse she suffered at his hands was consensual. His accusation decimates Mariah, stripping away all that remained of her calm and collected demeanor and she transforms into fury incarnate. A bottle to a head, a shove through a window, and a brutal beating with a mic stand later, and Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes is dead. Wow. I think Alfre Woodard deserves awards for this performance and I’m so glad Marvel was willing to double-dip, and retain her for this role after she played grieving mother Miriam all too-briefly in Captain America: Civil War. I was left all but speechless. What do you have to say about all this?

Dominik: Cornell had it coming for that awful jab, but damn. This was an amazing scene, really letting Alfre Woodard unleash her acting chops. And talk about a twist! I don’t think anyone expected the way this episode would end, completely destroying everyone’s preconceptions about the show’s second half. I loved the acting, and the cinematography (that red lighting!), and the boldness in scripting.

Ivonne: I honestly can say nothing beyond this: Alfre Woodard is queen.

Adrian: Finally, we end the amazing episode on Luke. Luke turns over the Hammer guns to Misty, but she makes it clear, this does not undo “all the trouble you’ve caused.” He says he’s going to come for Cornell and she should be ready for that. He leaves and strolls with Claire in the park, talking about his future as superhero Luke Cage. He’s decided that she’s right and he can’t keep running, when suddenly, Luke is sniped with a Judas bullet from a mysterious van by a mysterious figure who knows Luke’s real name! What??

Dominik: Well. Guess Diamondback’s finally come to town.

Luke Cage Roundtable Review - S01E03-06


This time, we follow last week's Luke Cage roundtable with our thoughts on the following four episodes. We'll discuss the escalating conflict between Luke and Cottonmouth, the surprising character reveal and the secret origin of Luke Cage.

Luke Cage - S01E03 - Who’s Gonna Take the Weight?
Following the attack on Pop’s barbershop, Luke starts hitting Cornell Stokes and Mariah Dillard where it hits them - their money. (Netflix)

Luke Cage - S01E04 - Step in the Arena
The secret origin of Luke Cage. (Netflix)

Luke Cage - S01E05 - Just to Get a Rep
The conflict between Cage and Stokes intensifies, with the former attempting to ruin the latter’s name. Meanwhile, following the events of Daredevil season 2, Claire Temple returns home to Harlem. (Netflix)

Luke Cage - S01E06 - Suckas Need Bodyguards
After Stokes shoots a police officer working for him, Harlem becomes a war zone as Luke tries to protect the cop for the information he has on Cottonmouth’s empire - and Cornell tries to silence him permanently. (Netflix)


Dominik: After two episodes, the conflict between Luke and Cornell Stokes is fully set up. Luke, feeling ready to step up after Pop’s death, starts taking down Cottonmouth’s every operation one by one with his final aim being the Fort Knox itself - the impenetrable vault in the Crispus Attucks Complex. Though bringing down the Harlem criminal empire is only one of his reasons; the other is getting the funds necessary to keep Pop’s barbershop operating. It all culminates in a spectacular, Terminator-inspired assault on the complex, to the sound of Wu-Tang Clan’s “Bring Da Ruckus.”

Meanwhile Misty and Scarfe are trying to get Chico to tell them everything he got about Cottonmouth’s operations from the deceased Dante and trying to make sense of Luke moving in on Stokes. Chico ends up deciding to tell everything to Scarfe (with Luke providing some moral incentive), only for the man to kill him in cold blood after getting Luke’s name. Scarfe has been on Cottonmouth’s payroll the whole time, and he gladly reveals to his employer the name of the man who made him bankrupt. Stokes takes revenge in his own hands… firing from a rocket launcher at Genghis Connie, where Luke is having dinner.

What did you think of the progression of Luke’s assault on Cottonmouth, Misty and Scarfe’s parallel investigation – and the reveal of Scarfe’s true loyalties?

Aranwe: 3 episodes in, and we finally get Luke Cage’s obligatory ‘Hallway fight’ scene that have become a signature of Netflix’s Marvel shows. The differences between this one and Daredevil’s are staggering; over there Matt was struggling to keep enemies down and himself in one piece, while over here Luke was basically an unstoppable tank, and it was glorious. Overall, the whole thing is a huge victory for the good guys so early in the season, so naturally it comes at a cost. I liked Scarfe, and assumed he would be the one white man who’s an ally in all this, and his friendly rapport with Misty seemed to confirm that. As such, I ignored all the warning signs, and his sudden murder of Chico caught me completely off guard. And while we’ve done the whole dirty cop thing already with Fisk, having one so close to a main character adds a new layer of interest.

On a side note, the end of the episode with Cornell firing a rocket launcher at Genghis Connie’s was so many levels of ridiculous, but I kind of loved it.

Adrian: I appreciated Charles Bradley performing 'Ain't It a Sin' as the musical montage backdrop, while Luke hits Cornell's stash houses. Pieces of song could be be attributed to either Luke or Cornell's train of thought, but there's a third consideration in this: Mariah. The discussion Cornell has with Mariah in the midst of Luke's initial hits was a fascinating one. While Cornell is interested in the money, Mariah insists she's interested in making positive changes in Harlem, "Nothing I do is a hustle." Luke's two-headed opponent is more layered than perhaps Luke believes. It doesn't matter much to Luke when he assaults the Crispus Attucks complex, but just as he decimates Cornell's treasury, he damages Mariah's carefully-laid plans. It’s a well-considered set up for what’s to come.

Ivonne: Not gonna lie, I was surprised AND disappointed that Scarfe was dirty. I liked him and his dry humor so much early on, I was sure he was going to die for the cause because he was so likeable. I mean, it hit me that he was dirty the minute he wanted Chico alone, but still… until that moment, I had no idea.

Luke hitting the stash houses was awesome in every way. The music, the action, him just walking through people trying to hurt him and him having this look of being entirely put upon, like “man, why are you wasting my time?” I loved it.

Ending the episode with Cornell firing a rocket launcher at Genghis Connie’s was all kinds of awesome. We were sitting in a room full of people watching, and there were audible gasps followed by “Holy shit!” and nervous laughter. Ridiculous, sure, but unexpectedly amazing.


Dominik: The next episode deals with the aftermath of the explosive climax of the previous one, but its primary interest is in showing us how Luke Cage became who he is. It turns out Luke’s real name is Carl Lucas, and he was a falsely accused Georgia police officer, incarcerated in the private detention facility, Seagate Prison, run by Albert Rackham (played by Chance Kelly), a sadistic correctional officer. In prison, he ended up befriending fellow inmate Reggie “Squabbles” (played by Craig Mums Grant) and developing an attraction towards prison psychologist Reva Connors. Rackham forced Luke to participate in the underground fight club by threatening Squabbles’ life, and after Luke tried to expose his operation, he had him beaten to death by two inmates, one of them the man currently known as Shades. Reva tried to save him by bringing him to Dr Noah Burstein (played by Michael Kostroff), a scientist running secret experiments on inmates. Rackham found out, and tried to kill Luke mid-operation by cranking the equipment to maximum, only for it to overload and explode, granting Luke his invulnerability and super-strength. Reunited with Reva, Luke left Georgia with a new identity and Reva.

Back in the present, Luke frees himself and Connie from the restaurant’s rubble, revealing his powers to the media surrounding it – and to Misty.

What did you think of the full-episode flashback? How did you think it worked with the rest of the episode?

Aranwe: A lot to unpack in this episode. The parts in the present felt rather unnecessary, you could’ve just given us the entire episode as a flashback, with a short beginning and end in the present, and I would’ve had no problem with that.

Aside from that, it was certainly interesting. We all know what Reva’s eventual fate will be thanks to Jessica Jones, but seeing how Luke and her first met was nice. It’s also pretty clear she knew more than she was letting on. She said she had no idea about the illegal fighting ring, but also somehow knew enough about the experiments to convince Dr. Burstein to save Luke.

After the procedure, the scene with Luke decked out in his full classic getup, with bracelets, tiara, afro and yellow shirt is cheesy as hell (as was the way he picked the name ‘Luke Cage’), but it does work, in a fun way.

Adrian: I didn't have a problem the flashback integration. Luke being trapped and trying to protect another trapped person seems like a simple but clear parallel to prison. The other parallels and parables in this episode are salient: Luke being subjected to unethical experiments and tests reminds of the Tuskegee experiment. Luke's forced gladiatorial combat reminds of the mass incarceration of black men being an extension of slavery ("Slavery was always a good offer... to a master."), an idea most recently confronted in Ava DuVernay's new Netflix hit film, 13th. In addition to this meaty foundation, they showed us Luke's vulnerability. In The Shawshank Redemption, inmates take bets to see who's going to crack on the first night. Here, it’s Luke who breaks down, weeping, and reminding himself "Just remember who you are... and you'll get through this." It's an important moment, showing us that even the toughest, strongest men contain vulnerability, because of course he does: Luke might be super-powered, but he is human.

Ivonne: The flashback worked well (it doesn’t always… witness the less-than-useful and super contrived flashbacks of Arrow season four, for example). Flashbacks are a useful narrative tool, and I thought the way it was handled in Luke Cage was well done. Once again, I was not suspicious of Reva most of the time throughout this narrative, but that has as much to do with the impression I had from Jessica Jones that she was an innocent. An impression, of course, that primarily came from Luke himself. Learning that she lied about stuff to him was as heart-breaking to me as it was to him.

Bonus points for dressing up Luke, however briefly, in his classic comic book look of yellow shirt and tiara. A+++ would watch again!


Dominik: Unable to kill Luke, Cornell Stokes goes against his name by having his men start extorting Harlem residents as a “Luke Cage stupidity tax” (to turn them against his enemy). This keeps Luke busy being a hero for hire, while he searches for more permanent solutions. Shades provides one, courtesy of Diamondback: a Judas bullet, made from Chitauri armor by, of all companies, Hammer Industries (looks like they finally managed to get something to work), but Stokes is turned off by the astronomical price. In the meantime, he has to deal with Domingo Colon by getting him the weapons he tried to supply him with back in episode 1. He orders Scarfe to get them from NYPD evidence, but the corrupt cop decides to withhold them to get more money from Cottonmouth. But his troubles are only starting: Misty is told by her superiors, Lieutenant Perez (played by Manny Pérez) and Captain Audrey (played by a The Wire alum, Sonja Sohn) that they suspect Scarfe of being on Cottonmouth’s payroll. Meanwhile, following The Hand attack on her hospital in Daredevil season 2, Claire Temple arrives home in Harlem to figure things out, and finds out the man she treated in the Jessica Jones finale, Luke Cage, is here as well.

The Cage-Stokes conflict reaches its boiling point during Pop’s funeral, when both men make their speeches about the deceased.

What did you think of how the episode presented the continued war between Luke and Cottonmouth?

Aranwe: This was one of my favorite episodes, with clear action-reaction happenings across the board, nicely setting up the events of the next few episodes while still being relatively self-contained. We get a glimpse into the hassle of being a successful crime lord, as Stokes has to deal with a dozen different things at once. Seeing Luke Cage as a straight up hero helping people who ask for it is the kind of thing you want from a superhero show, and it is pretty damn good.

The funeral scene once again tied the two sides of Harlem together again, and the difference between Luke’s and Stokes’ speeches reflected the different perspectives of both sides nicely.

Adrian: I agree, Aranwe. I liked seeing Luke fulfill the role of superhero. The episode culminating with Luke and Cornell essentially giving election speeches to the constituents of Harlem was satisfying; the episode opened with a performance by Jidenna 'Long Live the Chief,' a cool track which set a great tone for this. Side notes: the scene where Cornell kills Koko after he struggles to put together a coherent strategy for dealing with Luke Cage was funny, sad, and slightly intriguing (the book Koko got his idea from is Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop by Jeff Chang, which he apparently was enjoying so much, he brought it to Cornell's meeting and couldn't shut up about it). I wonder how much that book's stories and accounts play into this season.

Ivonne: Luke helping out the “little people” gave me all kinds of the warm fuzzies. You know, a lot of the Marvel properties are preoccupied with large global problems, although every now and again they manage to sneak in something of the concerns of the “common folk” (like in Civil War when Miriam reminds Tony Stark of the cost of his superheroics, when she tells him about her son that died in Sokovia). But honestly, it’s really nice that the Netflix shows, and this one in particular, focus on the more immediate problems of the less-well-to-do. I think Luke Cage did that better than anyone. Especially after his reluctance early on, it seemed like he was really starting to feel just how good it felt to use his abilities to help people. It was a great look on him.

I adored the “Battle of the Speeches” that Cornell and Luke engaged in at Pop’s funeral.

And I was ridiculously happy to finally see Claire enter the arena. Claire Temple is everything.


Dominik: Scarfe finally contacts Stokes about his weapon shipment to extort more money out of him. The short-tempered gangster just empties the cop’s own gun at him and leaves him to die. Badly wounded Scarfe manages to arrive at the barbershop and convinces Luke (now joined by the newly met Claire) to help against Cottonmouth in exchange for information on the gangster’s empire that the dirty cop has hidden in his flat. Perez, revealed to be another police officer on Stokes’s payroll, tries to find Scarfe and end his life permanently. He takes Misty with him, to his own undoing, because by the end of the episode she arrests him after tricking him into confessing to working for Stokes. Luke and Claire try to get Scarfe to 1 Police Plaza, hounded by Cottonmouth’s mercenaries, but he ends up dying from blood loss in Misty’s arms. Based on his ledger, Stokes is arrested, but Captain Audrey is worried about the fallout from another case of police corruption after the Wilson Fisk case.

In the midst of all this chaos, Mariah Dillard is making a live TV interview. What she thinks will be a fluff piece for her election campaign turns out to be the public reveal of her connection to Cottonmouth, casting shade on her public persona.

What did you think of the conclusion to this portion of the episodes? What are your reflections on the now deceased Detective Scarfe?

Aranwe: Overall, a strong ending of sorts to the first half of the season. Claire fits as effortlessly into the world of Luke Cage as she did in Daredevil or Jessica Jones, and it almost feels like she was always there all along. We get some great action and suspense as Luke and Claire try to get Scarfe to 1 Police Plaza while avoiding both Stokes’ thugs and police officers alike.

Scarfe was an interesting character. It’s hard to feel sorry for a corrupt police officer, but I kind of do. He was likeable, and it was clear him and Misty had a strong friendship. With Stokes in custody, and Mariah’s political career seemingly falling apart, it seems everything is wrapped up– but with another seven episodes to go, things aren’t quite as neat as they seem.

Adrian: I was glad to see that Scarfe was given a decent backstory, that his corruption was rooted in disillusionment following his son's death, rather than being motivated by simple greed or a lack of principles. It was hardly a shame to see him go; he was relevant and effective throughout. Other satisfying moments: seeing Misty clue in and handle Perez solo was pleasing. The positive glee with which Mariah's interviewer confronted Mariah with was hilarious! I like to think she’d been trying to expose Mariah for years and finally felt like she had something juicy and couldn’t resist. Lastly, seeing Claire chase down her mugger was excellent. She's a very courageous and admirable character, an easy favorite. Rosario Dawson might have best role in Marvel TV: she gets to be on all the shows! Her and Luke have perfect, lovable chemistry. I ship them.

Ivonne: I’m still mad that Scarfe, likeable jerk that he was, turned out to be dirty. But like Adrian, I did enjoy the backstory and understanding why he turned out to be dirty. I think I personally took as much pleasure in Mariah’s fall as the reporter did. I was really starting to dislike her. Of course, I was perfectly aware that this episode was wrapping up the first half of the show quite nicely. Too nicely, perhaps. I think one of the things I love about Luke Cage is that it wasn’t terribly predictable. The narrative managed to surprise me all the time, and not in a negative way.

Anyway, I knew things would go south after this episode, but I don’t think I was prepared for the level of intensity this show turned on in the second half.

Luke Cage Roundtable Review – S01E02 – 'Code of the Streets'


Luke starts the second episode standing outside the Crispus Attucks Complex, a housing development which only exists in Marvel’s fictionalized Harlem. Crispus Attucks is a real figure in history however, and a Crispus Attucks playground exists in Brooklyn. Marvel makes an effort to keep their world close to our own, in consistently subtle and meaningful ways. The story of Crispus Attucks is one very relevant to Luke’s story, but we’ll come back to this.

The first episode was jam-packed with interesting references and well-researched character notes, and this continues in E02 “Code of the Streets,” starting with an extensive reading list, moving on to musical performance by Faith Evans (singer, songwriter, producer, author, and widow to Biggie Smalls, Cornell’s idol), and ultimately ending with Crispus Attucks. But first—

Luke Cage – S01E02 – Code of the Streets
Luke is pulled deeper into the fight for his neighborhood when, as a favor to an old friend, he tries to help a kid who's in trouble with Cottonmouth. (Netflix)


Adrian: Let’s start with Luke and Pop’s book club. We’ve got Donald Goines, who wrote the Kenyatta series; a series Pop identifies as the sort of path Luke could be taking, a man of action. Next is Walter Mosley (Little Green), George Pelecanos (The Wire reference pays off for Dominik!), Richard Price (Clockers), Dennis Lehane (Mystic River), and Chester Himes (If He Hollers Let Him Go and a series of Harlem detective novels). Collectively, it’s a massive body of relevant work. Who’s read what and what thoughts do you have as to how these influences could be playing out into the series as a whole?

Etienne: I must confess, to my unending shame, that I have not read any of those books. My literary proclivities run along different lines: I favour fantasy, religious texts, and seminal works of the social sciences.

Some critics feel that peppering popular narratives with literary references is pretentious. Personally, it’s the opposite approach that I find the more offensive. At its most rewarding, characterization gives audiences the sense of bearing witness to complex lives. It’s not enough for characters to behave like shapeless objects tumbling down a pipeline named “plot”: they should feel like people, and interesting people read books.

I have no idea what sort of books any of the Berlantiverse characters read; indeed, I am very much afraid that they don’t read at all.

Ivonne: Shamefully, I haven’t read any of them either, because I tended to go with either the classics (Paradise Lost, Shakespeare, etc) and feminist literature in college, to science fiction and fantasy. These days I read to burn off stress from work, so it’s usually either high fantasy or bodice-ripper romance (don’t judge me). But I’m with Etienne here: I really enjoyed seeing what Luke was reading. I think what a character reads tells you a great deal about that character, and it’s a quick and clever way for the creators to show what just sort of man he is.

Dominik: While like everyone above I haven’t read any of those books, I have heard of Walter Mosley and his Easy Rawlins books, and they’re actually a pretty good parallel to Luke. The series tells the story of an African American man, who’s scraping by until he ends up forced to becoming a detective - and by the end of the first book, embraces this path. Switch “detective” for “superhero”, and you have this very series.


Adrian: Luke is distracted by the flyer for Mariah’s “New Harlem Renaissance” but Pop turns the conversation to Chico: “You know how the wind feels fluffy, like you could stuff it into a pillowcase, right before a big thunderstorm? Harlem’s the same. Trouble smells a certain way, you can… touch it.” Speak of the devil, Cornell shows up with Shades and Tone, looking for Chico. It’s worth mentioning that the Blaxploitation style of theme music hits hard here. After a few tense minutes, it’s evident that Cornell killed Shameek and Chico is next. Luke still declines to get involved, forcing Pop’s to call in his favor for granting Luke shelter: Luke must find and retrieve Chico so Pop can parley for Chico’s life. What did you think of the interplay between Luke, Pop, and Cornell? How do you like the usage of Blaxploitation music themes thus far?

Aranwe: The mirroring is pretty evident here: Pop and Cornell are and two opposite sides of Harlem, with completely different hopes for it. Luke is caught in between, reluctant to aid or abet either of them, until Pop asks him on a more personal level. As for the music, I kind of adore it. It gives each scene such a unique feel, and it works brilliantly.

Etienne: I’m not a Blaxploitation cognoscenti, but I am digging the soundtrack.

Ivonne: The soundtrack throughout this show was nothing short of brilliant. The showrunners’ use of certain music in certain spots were all perfection, and this part was no different. I felt like the music was intricately woven into the narrative. Like it was almost a character by itself. The mood invoked here by the Blaxploitation music was brilliant, because Cornell certainly brings to mind that era of film.

Dominik: The music definitely helps build the tension in the entire scene. It really does sound like the calm before the storm.

Adrian: Luke finds Chico who refuses to come in (but eventually does on his own). Until then, Luke tells Pop what transpired and now… it’s flashback time! Pop got his nickname from the sound his fists made when he knocked people out. It seems Pop was dirty back in the day, running with Cornell and Wilfredo (Chico’s absent father) as his sidekicks. It was brief, but I loved this flashback! Cornell’s nickname originated when Wilfredo laughed at him for having cotton in his mouth when he lost some teeth. How did he lose the teeth? Also, the spoken/unspoken rule that Pop’s Barber Shop is “Switzerland” neutral territory makes more sense now, given his past with Cornell. Did you love this flashback as much as me?

Aranwe: I think everyone assumed that the nickname ‘Pop’ came around because he was like a father figure to everyone in the community, but this reveal was unexpected and kind of fun. It also adds more depth to the relationship between Pop and Cornell, and while one grew out of his gangster ways and the other didn’t, they’re still brothers at heart.

Etienne: Flashbacks are dangerous in film: you had best make sure the payoff is worth compromising flow. I am decidedly ambivalent about this one.

Ivonne: As Etienne said, the payoff better be worth compromising the flow. Arrow is a great example of a show that initially used flashbacks effectively in the first two seasons, but started wearing very thin and rather on the pointless side as time worn on. However I actually felt like Luke Cage effectively used flashbacks throughout, including this one. It was important to understand why Pop’s shop was Switzerland, why Cornell gets upset later, and why what’s to come completely changes Harlem.

Adrian: While Luke was canvassing Harlem, he saw Cornell entering the Crispus Attucks complex. Inside, Cornell visits Mariah’s offices and delivers half of the stolen cash for laundering, but Mariah needs the full amount before she can begin that process. We learn that Mariah gave Cornell funds to refurbish Harlem’s Paradise from her own donations; she’s not merely privy to his dealings, but is a full-on partner-in-crime. Perhaps this isn’t a major revelation, but certainly it complicates their story even more. Does anyone else wonder why Mariah remains involved in criminal enterprise when her career in politics is doing well on its own?

Aranwe: Mariah and Cornell, as leaders of the overworld and underworld of Harlem respectively, have a dangerous symbiotic relationship (strengthened by familial ties). It allows both of them to keep their power while at the same time pushing Harlem in the direction they want. It’s also a very delicate balance of power, one that can easily be upset by someone like Luke Cage.

Etienne: I think the writers did a good job of progressively unravelling Mariah Dillard’s morality. I’m not sure I was ever convinced that her career was going as well as she let on.

Ivonne: Why does any politician get involved in such things? Initially, I dismissed Mariah as being another dirty politician with selfish reasons, looking for money or to bolster her power. I admit to being surprised a little later at her real motivation, and what is revealed about her character. At this point though, I also just assumed that blood is thicker than water and that she was close to Cornell as a child, so she felt some familial duty to him.

Adrian: Meanwhile, Misty Knight is on the case. While reviewing the heist evidence, Misty’s thought process is shown through the same visualization effect used in the BBC series, Sherlock. “They are talking and moving… you just have to be still enough to hear what they’re saying,” she says to her partner, Raphael Scarfe (Frank Whaley), who finds it unnerving. Concluding that this heist’s aftermath is not yet over, she hits the St. Nick playground and pressures a kid, Chauncey, to shoot a game of Horse with her. She wins, because she’s a baller and this was her stomping ground (history!), and Chauncey’s intel leads her back to Pop’s. On the way in, Misty tells Turk Barrett (Rob Morgan, from Jessica Jones), who plays chess there with Bobby Fish (Ron Cephas Jones) to get lost. More connections! Finally, while questioning Pop, Misty and Luke pretend to be strangers; Misty’s identity as detective is busted! Luke does not appreciate the secret, despite keeping his own. How do you like Misty’s characterization thus far? What do you make Scarfe’s cold and aloof attitude in Pop’s?

Aranwe: Man, I love the way Misty’s skills are visualized, it’s a neat effect that’s used across the series, to my delight (I mean, Daredevil only showed how the titular hero’s senses worked once over the course of two seasons). The basketball scene was brilliant and, if her Tweet here is to be believed, that was Simone Missick herself making the shots, not a stunt double.

Etienne: Like Aranwe, I love the visual representation of Misty’s process: it’s a clever, compelling way to bring the audience up to speed.

Ivonne: It was cool when Sherlock did it, but man… there is something crazy impressive about the way they did it here with Misty. I adore the way they visualized her thought processes. As for Misty herself, we saw her as a sexual woman in the first episode, to a badass and analytical cop in this episode. I loved her one night stand with Luke, because too often in media women are presented as either madonna or whore; Misty is neither. She is simply a woman, like most of us are, and one who expressed herself sexually. And then she moved on with her life. I really love how down to earth she is. As we find out later, she is deeply flawed, but still good.

Dominik: While Misty is a little different from her comics version, she’s definitely a fun character, a good cop with her own distinct skillset. She’s definitely a three-dimensional character, and I’m yearning for a spin-off, especially once Colleen Wing gets introduced in Iron Fist and we can have a Heroes for Hire or Daughters of the Dragon series.

And that’s probably the most creative use of the “Sherlock Scan” I’ve ever seen.

Adrian: With Chico hiding out at Pop’s now, Luke goes to Cornell to request parley. On the way in, Luke’s kitchen supervisor Nate, is rude to him. Again. Shameek, Luke, Tone… why do people keep stepping up to Luke? Even though they don’t know he has superpowers, why do people think they can front on him? Idiots. Moving on, Cornell agrees to the parley, remembering and respecting his past with Pop. Things get complicated, but before I move on to that, Cornell and Mariah debate their philosophies again. “You know what people remember besides black martyrdom? Black money.” says Cornell. Mariah asks him “Don’t you get sick of people calling you a criminal?” and instead values respect. “Money outlasts respect.” he argues, Mariah questions the cost and Cornell says “When you find out, you’ll tell me.” Mariah seems to want legitimization for both of them, but Cornell isn’t interested. Is Mariah delusional about their chances, is Cornell stubborn, or does the answer lay in-between?

Aranwe: Mariah remains one of the most fascinating characters on the show. While Cornell is fun to watch, he’s a straight up gang boss with not as much subtlety. Mariah is a bit more complex; she wants Harlem to evolve and move beyond what it is, but is also more than willing to compromise that vision by constantly dipping into the shadier side of it.

Ivonne: I think it’s obvious why those people are rude to him. They think he’s just a poor black man in a shitty job. The gangsters don’t have any respect for him because all he seems to do is wash dishes and sweep. He’s not a black man that has taken control of his destiny like clearly they have by joining up with someone powerful. He’s just a black man still trying to work within the shitty system white people have set up for them.

At this point in the series, the cynic in me says Mariah is delusional, that Cornell is right and money is power.

Dominik: The writers are definitely planting some seeds here that will bloom later in the series, and their debates are a sign of that. They both have different points of view on what to do with the power they have. Cornell just wants more power and money, while Mariah wants to shape Harlem into what she thinks it should be.


Adrian: Back to Chico, Turk saw Chico at Pop’s and informs Tone. When Tone brings this to Cornell, he finds Cornell’s instruction to be non-committal, and makes an “executive decision” to move in. As he’s getting strapped, Shades asks Tone if he’s going to at least wait for Chico to come outside… he doesn’t. He shoots up Pop’s Barber Shop, hitting Chico and fatally wounding Pop. I can’t reason why Tone would act so recklessly. Even if he doesn’t know Pop’s history with Cornell, he has to be aware of the delicate politics of Pop’s Barber Shop, right? So what’s with the irrational and hasty action? What’s motivating Tone? Whatever the case may have been, Cornell does not take the news lightly, and when Turk hilariously interrupts their meeting to demand payment for the tip, Cornell tosses Tone off the roof and instructs Turk to retrieve his reward from Tone “downstairs.”

Aranwe: Now, a rule of storytelling is that there needs to be a source of conflict to propel the hero into action. Now, because of the characterization of Cornell and his relationship with Pop, the conflict wasn’t going to come directly from him. While Tone deciding to strike out on his own to curry some favor with the boss seems convenient, it kind of makes sense. As Cornell put it, “Believe it or not, there’s supposed to be rules.” He’s the ‘honor among thieves’ type of gangster, but it’s easy to say that when you’re at the top. It’s easy to have a Professor X and Magneto type of frenemy relationship with your rival, as long as it’s only the pawns getting caught in the crossfire. For people like Tone, it’s different. You see an opportunity to claw your way up, you take it. Heck, had he done things a little differently, he would’ve been climbing up instead of getting tossed down.

Regardless, Cornell’s reactions in this scene were amazing (his priority was making sure Pop’s recovered was a nice touch), and the presence of Turk added some much needed levity to the scene.

Ivonne: I think Aranwe is right… Tone’s decision, while idiotic, would be the only way he could go from being a low-level thug to the gang leader’s right-hand man. Tone saw an opportunity to do what he thought Cornell wanted. Basically, in corporate-speak, he showed “initiative.” And I’m sure that had he shown this initiative with just about any other situation, he might have been applauded and earned a place at the leader’s side. Too bad for him that he misread Cornell, and didn’t know about Cornell and Pop’s history.

Dominik: Man, old black men are being killed in every Netflix Marvel series, even on Luke Cage.

Tone seems to be someone Stokes brought in from the outside, unaware about how everything in Harlem works. He’s been openly disrespectful to Pop since the first episode, and after the scene between Luke, Pop and Cornell, he paid for Cornell shave by dropping money on the floor with a shit-eating grin - after Stokes left, so he doesn’t have a chance to educate Tone about the respect he needs to show Pop. Everyone in Harlem knows Pop’s barbershop is Switzerland. Tone thinks it’s just a place people get a shave. And Stokes would tolerate the outburst of eagerness, if he didn’t rush in guns blazing like the Punisher, not caring who he hits.. And he pays the price - especially once he stupidly uses the nickname Cornell despises.

Adrian: In the shoot-up, Luke shielded Lonnie (Patricia’s trying so hard to pin down Luke, she’s brings her poor son to Pop’s two times in two days), saving his life. After Tone and Shades leave with the money, Pop dies in Luke’s arms with his final words, “Always forward.” While Cornell looks at the old photo of him with Pop, Luke mourns for Pop while holding the swear jar: a physical representation of Pop’s philosophy: when you break the rules, payment must be extracted to maintain order. Luke goes for a walk and finds himself outside the Crispus Attucks Complex, just as Mariah is depositing Chico’s stolen funds. Mariah wasn’t cool with the murder, but “The money’s still green.” Luke is threatened by a lookout and objects to being called “n---a,” and questions how the lookout can use that word as the two of them stand outside a building named for Crispus Attucks, “The first man to die for what became America … He paid with his life. But he started something. That’s what Pop did. Not me. I laid in the cut until he stepped up. And it cost him his life, too. I ain’t laying back no more!” Luke finally understands what he must do and regrets it coming to this. And shouldn’t he? Shouldn’t we? Do superheroes always need a tragic end to start a righteous beginning? Does Crispus Attucks always need to die?

Aranwe: Pop surviving to the end of the show would’ve been a miracle. That having been said, I didn’t expect him to be killed off that quick, nor did I expect to miss him so much. Pop was more than your average Uncle Ben, in just two episodes he had already infused the show with so much heart.

As for whether heroes always need a tragic start to their story, it’s worth noting Luke already had one with the loss of his wife, and that did put him in action until the man responsible was taken down, after which he went back to laying low and staying out of trouble. Now, the question is whether Pops’ death will have the same effect on him. He’s out to take down Cottonmouth now, but the bigger question is what happens after he does.

Ivonne: Motivating the reluctant hero by killing someone they care about is a tale as old as time. As Aranwe noted, he already had that with Reva’s death, but yes, after her killer was dealt with, Luke had no more motivation to continue along that path. That’s fairly unique in superhero narratives, because the events in Jessica Jones would normally have been enough to motivate a superhero to continue along the vigilante path. Instead, Luke chose to go into hiding again.

It’s an interesting twist. And maybe the problem was that Luke didn’t have someone to humanize him, someone to fight for, to get him into superhero mode. Superheroes almost always have someone to fight for, don’t they? Usually the girl who keeps getting kidnapped by the villain. Or at least they have someone whispering in their ear to use their powers for good. And while Pop was trying to do that, interestingly it wasn’t enough. Aranwe is right; the real question is what will Luke do once Cottonmouth and Mariah and whoever else are dealt with?