'Luke Cage' Recap: 'Suckas Need Bodyguards'

Written by Scott Edwards

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

Trying to save face is the only thing that Cornell Stokes can do in Harlem and since he is not willing to leave it all behind, he will have to find a way to break free of his latest issue. When Rafael Scarfe tries to blackmail him for a hundred grand, Cornell does the next best thing and shoots the cop. Fleeing the scene and telling his cousin Mariah what he has just done, she wants him to pack up and leave as soon as possible, because if word gets out about what they have been able to do, it will end them both. Putting the hundred grand on finding and killing Rafael may be the best money Cornell has ever offered, but will his goons be able to find the crocked cop before the cops do?

Wanting to get the word out about the new and safer Harlem, Mariah has been able to get a live interview at her home with reporter Thembi Wallace. With her message always being the same, Mariah tries to stay with the script that has always managed to serve her well, a stronger Harlem, but Thembi wants to get the truth out of the Councilwoman. Bringing up her relationship with Cornell Stokes and talking about the Luke Cage raid that rid the gangster of millions of dollars, most of it hidden inside of Mariah’s headquarters, there is not much more to the story that the Councilwoman is willing to add. Trying to throw the reporter and her cameras out, little does Mariah know what is coming down the line.

Knowing that his life is in danger, Detective Rafael Scarfe has found the only place in the city where he can be safe from the cops and Cottonmouth’s crew; Pop’s Barber Shop. When arriving to see the detective bleeding on the floor, Luke has some questions that need to be answered while Claire does what she does best, and saves the man’s life. As Rafael comes clean to Luke about working for Cottonmouth, he is hesitant to give everything up to the strong man, but has little choice when he knows that Luke is his only hope for survival. Willing to give up his notebook that has enough information to put Cottonmouth away, Luke is forced to leave the shop and make a trip to Rafael’s apartment to pick it up, but that is not the only thing he finds as Misty and her new partner Lieutenant Perez are staking it out. 

Knowing where Rafael is hiding out, both the cops and Cottonmouth decide to move on the barber shop, only to find it vacant when they arrive. With word of Rafael being in a green van driving in the streets of Harlem, Cottonmouth’s men are the first on the scene and are able to give chase, but not landing the kill shot proves to be fatal for them. Hearing on the radio that shots have been fired around the police plaza, Misty tries to get a jump start at finding her partner, but when Perez tries to stop her, she gets mighty suspicious. Taping Perez admitting to being a dirty cop, Misty starts to understand how deep Cottonmouth’s grip is on the city and hopefully she will be able to get to her partner before anyone else does that is willing to put a bullet in him to secure their own freedom.

This is the best episode of the season thus far since you have to rely on the goodness of people to do the right thing and when Luke finds out that Rafael killed Chico and is still willing to go the extra mile to save his corrupt ass, well, he is the good guy. I am also loving Luke’s new friend Bobby Fish who is still planting the seed of Heroes for Hire in his mind when Cottonmouth is put away. Doing right by Pop and putting the gangster behind bars is all Luke wants to accomplish and when it is done, he is willing to call it quits and leave the city. I must admit that the news cast was awesome in my eyes, I would love to see a reporter call out the corruption of a politician on a live show and see the reactions that are given. Now with Cottonmouth behind bars, I am not sure how the war will come to the streets, but you never know how deep the gangster is connected and if he will be able to run the city like Fisk was able to in Hell’s Kitchen. Not sure where the storyline will head to next, but I am sure that Claire will be able to excite and inspire something in Luke when it comes to his drive to serve up justice that will bring more trouble his way, especially since she will not have coffee with him. 

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