Marvel's Luke Cage: 10 Things The Netflix Series Needs To Do To Succeed

From what we’ve seen of the title character and the network so far, it’s a pretty safe bet that Luke Cage is going to be a dark show. That’s all fine and good since it has worked well so far, and judging form how Mike Colter has handled Cage, that mood probably suits him.

But just because this style has worked in the past doesn’t mean Marvel needs to keep turning to it. Despite being similarly dark shows, Daredevil and Jessica Jones elevated their material. The former focused on crime with aspects of a legal drama and the latter placed more emphasis on relationships and psychology. Luke Cage needs to likewise find a niche within the confines of a serious, action-driven show, potentially somewhere between urban crime documentary and political thriller.

Another way Luke Cage could differentiate itself would be to give the series a little bit more fun. The Netflix universe needs a bit of levity, and Cage’s satiric roots could help with that. It wouldn't need to be a comedy, but a slightly happier hero could really change up the dynamic. After all, his catchphrase is literally “Sweet Christmas.”