【1995 Archives】

This post contains spoilers for all of Luke Cage Season 2. Proceed with caution!

When Mariah Dillard’s apartment went up in flames995 ArchivesLuke Cage rescued her, she croaked four words that made Marvel fans all over the world perk up: “I’m going to hire you.”

The Luke Cage of Luke Cagemay have bristled at the idea that his impenetrable skin and superhuman strength were something that could be bought. But fans understood the reference to Luke’s comic book roots as one half of the Heroes for Hire, the two-man beatdown crew staffed by Iron Fist and Luke Cage himself.

After seeing where Luke Cage the character ended up at the end of Season 2, it’s easier to envision a Heroes for Hire Netflix show instead of whatever solo gangster plot Luke will get involved with as the owner and proprietor of the symbolic (if slightly overused) Harlem’s Paradise club.

It’s telling that one of the more electric and fun episodes of Luke CageSeason 2 is the one that features the previously maligned (and mishandled) character Danny Rand a.k.a. Iron Fist. The chemistry between Power Man and Iron Fist, as named in-universe by Luke’s hype man D.W., is undeniable, and watching them use their respective powers to play off each other is a highlight in a season that was solid to begin with.

Luke as a character is stronger when he's playing opposite someone less stoic and cool than he is, and the revamped Danny Rand is perfect for the job — idealistic where Luke is resigned, bubbly where he is calm, and happy to help where Luke feels trapped in his role. They make each other better, and together they’re more interesting than the idea of Luke becoming a crime lord and ruling from the roost of Harlem’s Paradise.

Similarly, the dynamic between Colleen Wing and Misty Knight is intriguing, but it’s not because they fill gaps in each other’s personalities. Colleen and Misty are both strong, capable characters who have slightly different approaches to dealing out justice. Their shared scenes in Luke CageSeason 2 show the bond that they developed after their fight against The Hand in The Defenders, and it’s gratifying to see both of them hang out (and kick butt) as the equals and partners they’ve become.

Misty waffled with quitting and rejoining the police force this season, and every time she put the badge down it was difficult to see why she should ever pick it back up again. In a New York rife with corrupt cops, snitches, and a pesky little thing called due process getting in the way of justice, Misty’s strong morals pair much better with Colleen’s measured approach to making sure the bad guys stay down.

The Daughters of the Dragon could get a lot more done if everyone else just cleared out of the damn room, and it’s past time that superpowered (or super-enhanced) women of color got their own show that dovetails with the rest of the Netflix MCU.

Listen, it’s an interesting development that Luke is the King of Harlem now and it’s entirely possible that a hero becoming a “good” crime lord will make for a fascinating third season of Luke Cage. It’s just hard to feel satisfied with another thirteen episodes of Luke palling around Harlem’s Paradise like it’s the only place worth going in the entire neighborhood when the Iron Fist and Misty/Colleen episodes opened up his world to more fun possibilities.

Cut the cops, cut the constant framed shots of that damn Basquiat and let Luke Cage and Misty Knight do that they do best -- which is squad up with Iron Fist and Colleen Wing and fight some crime the old-fashioned way. Heroes for Hire and Daughters of the Dragon should be on the roster, and after seeing how well their mini-versions did in Season 2, it’s harder to argue against them.