Marvel's Luke Cage Season 2: Ranking Every Major Character From Worst To Best
1. Mariah Dillard
Despite the presence of Cottonmouth and Diamondback, Mariah Dillard (*Bushmaster voice* Mariah STOKES!) rose up to become the most interesting villain in Luke Cage's debut run. She does it again here, making Bushmaster and Shades look like angels in comparison.
In another instance of someone's arc mirroring another character from season 1, Mariah's journey across season 2 recalls her cousin Cottonmouth's increasingly unhinged nature from last season. As Luke Cage and Bushmaster dismantle her empire, Mariah slowly unravels into someone truly monstrous. On a visceral level, this reaches a peak when she commits the Rum Punch massacre. In a more subtle way, her worst act is when she tells her daughter that she never loved her.
Alfre Woodard is simply astounding in scenes like these and easily stands alongside Vincent D'onofrio and David Tennant as part of the trilogy of great Marvel-Netflix villains. Mariah is without a doubt Luke's number one nemesis, which is why its almost disappointing (though appropriate for the character's arc) when she dies in the finale. It'll be tough to fill the Mariah-shaped hole next season.
Who were your favorite characters in season 2 of Luke Cage? Leave your thoughts in the comments.