8 Reasons You Need To Watch Marvel's Cloak & Dagger
Don't hide under a cloak and miss Marvel's latest TV show.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe just keeps on expanding, and the franchise's latest TV show is now here in the shape of Freeform's Cloak & Dagger. As the eleventh (!) series we've had set in the MCU, however, even the most ardent fan might be suffering from superhero TV fatigue so may be inclined to give this one a miss.
Let's hope you don't, though, as Cloak & Dagger is actually pretty great TV so far. At the time of writing, the first three episodes of the 10-part debut season have aired and they have proven to instil a lot of promise in the series, once again making clear that there is much life left in the MCU.
On the surface, Cloak & Dagger follows much the same template we've previously seen in everything from Daredevil to Runaways. It's set apart from the Avengers action (in particular, C&D is located in New Orleans) and doesn't seem to be in a hurry to get the lead characters into their comic book costumes, instead focussing on telling their origin story across the season.
However, there is much that's fresh about the series as well which makes it a must-watch, from its treatment of its classic characters to its surprising connections to the wider franchise.
8. It Continues A Story That Started On Agents Of SHIELD And Agent Carter
Despite the interconnectivity of the Marvel comics universe, the necessities of producing separate television shows usually means that the MCU series keep themselves to themselves. In the case of Cloak & Dagger, though, the characters' origins are so tied up in a macguffin that has been referenced in previous shows that it's decided to embrace the connection.
Specifically, Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Johnson get their respective abilities from an explosion of Darkforce energy. This isn't actually stated in the episodes themselves so far, but there are enough clues for fans to join the dots. Those well-versed in the MCU will remember that the mysterious extra-dimensional substance has appeared sporadically on Agents of SHIELD and also formed the backbone of Agent Carter's second - and tragically final - season.
The full extent of what Darkforce can do has never been clarified as yet in the MCU, but Cloak & Dagger's depiction of it largely lines up with what has come before - including its need to bond with a host, dark energy generation and teleportation abilities - and fans should look forward to seeing the substance be explored more over the rest of the season.
This subtle but deft linking between the different TV shows is always a treat for fans as it reminds us that it really is all connected.