Marvel's Luke Cage: 10 Ups And 2 Downs From Season 1

1. Diamondback Isn't As Strong A Villain As Cottonmouth

Maybe this one is just personal preference, but I really wasn't as invested in Willis 'Diamondback' Stryker as I was Cornell 'Cottonmouth' Stokes.

Stokes is an incredibly magnetic presence throughout the first half of the season, capable of brutal violence but just as likely to disarm you with the megawatt smile, he was charmingly dangerous, charismatic, and a superb counterpoint to Luke Cage. While killing him wasn't necessarily a bad move, it was a shame - I'd liked to have seen more of their conflict coming to a head - but it did work in some ways: it helped avoid the midseason slump, started to propel things forward again, and most excitingly looked like it might position Mariah Dillard as the main villain.

A politician who is also hellbent on destroying a supposed superhero would've been interesting, as she fought for both family and her career, and Woodard's character certainly had the intimidating presence to carry it, with Shades by her side for support. Instead, they take a back seat to Diamondback. An enigmatic presence in the first half, his name mentioned in reverential tones, he suffers from being so many things: he's a major crime boss, a level above Cottonmouth, and yet he's running around being his own henchman, like a hitman who gives himself a contract. On top of that, he's Cage's half-brother, but that sibling rivalry and his motivations don't get too deeply explored. Erik LaRay Harvey does what's asked of him, but his performance (and the writing for the character) doesn't match that of Mahershala Ali, and Luke Cage is a little bit weaker as a result.

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