'Luke Cage' Recap: 'Moment of Truth'

​Written by Scott Edwards

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

The time has finally come for Luke Cage to take center stage and I must admit that I am excited for this series after Jessica Jones and how powerful Cage was in it. With a slight change of venue, taking us to Harlem instead of central New York, it is time to see how Luke is getting on in his life and what he is doing to keep himself out of trouble. It is easy to see how the superhero aspect of the story will play out, especially since The Avengers battle for New York is still being talked about in the city, but there are more problems than just aliens coming into the city as crime and corruption are running unchecked by the police. Well, it is time to get into the series and get to know a little bit more about Luke Cage and the hero he will soon become.

Working in Pop’s Barbershop, Luke is happy with the position he has of keeping the back end of the shop running, but like every barbershop, everyone has their own opinions. Voicing his and getting into it with a customer, Pop sees that there is a fire burning in his employee’s heart. Talking to Luke about what he should be doing, cleaning the streets with the power that he has been given, Luke just wants to stay in the shadows and out of everybody’s way. Working off the books since he is a fugitive, Luke is making a decent living for himself and with two jobs and still dealing with the loss of Reva, there is little time for him to worry about what is happening around him.

Leaving the barbershop to go to his second job, Luke sees his co-worker Chico heading off someplace with a gun in his hand. Not knowing what is going to happen to the young man, Luke gets to Mr. Stokes' club and gets to work washing dishes when he gets asked to tend bar for one of the absent employees. Mixing drinks for the lovely Misty, Luke notices that there is more on her mind than just the joyful conversation with him as her eyes continue to venture up to Cottonmouth’s private table. While watching his club prosper from high above, Cornell ‘Cottonmouth’ Stokes is meeting with Councilwoman Mariah Dillard who has been very kind to him over the years. With the promise of a massive payday, Cottonmouth extends his meeting to Colon who is in the market for some top grade firepower that can take over the wars on the street.

When Chico and Shameek interrupt the deal going down, Shameek opens fire and forces his team to kill everyone in their way. With a million dollars there for the taking, Shameek then turns his attention to Dante who is the inside man behind the theft and takes him out as well. But Dante gets the word out to Cottonmouth's men before he dies, meaning Shameek and Chico are now on the radar of the notorious gangster and will not be able to live comfortably with the money they have just acquired. After the short battle, Misty gets a call in Luke’s bed and is forced to go and investigate the shootout. Knowing nothing about what happened, Luke sits and talks with Pop again about what is happening in the streets and how the kids just want to find a way out and knowing that Chico is in trouble as well, it might be time for him to turn over a new leaf and hit the streets as only Power Man can.

Not a bad opening episode of the series as you get to find out a little bit more about Luke Cage that was left out of the Jessica Jones storyline. Being in prison for some time, Luke did not make any friends, but one of his enemies is back and joining Cottonmouth on the quest for his missing money. I really like Cottonmouth thus far as he is a calm and contained psychopath that has his fingers in many things and also the councilwoman’s pocket since she is in need of money as well. Misty is not who she says she is to Luke, instead she is a cop that is probably going to have to ask him for help in the near future. Councilwoman Dillard is going to be an interesting twist in the story since she is as corrupt as the next politician and needs Cottonmouth’s money to cover up her spending. I love the music thus far in the series with some Jazz and R&B playing in the background and a guest appearance by Raphael Saadiq from Tony! Toni! Toné! is not a bad thing at all. Well on to the next episode, since now Luke Cage is starting to accept who he should be.

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