Luke Cage, episode thirteen

Mariah is at her arraignment. The lawyers bicker. Misty is thrilled but Luke isn’t sure its as open and shut as it seems. A woman enters the courtroom but it seems that no one notices. Two members of the audience lash out when the Jamaican restaurant shooting comes up. The judge denies bail and revokes Mariah’s passport. Before she can be taken away though she asks to speak and the judge allows it.

She compares the situation in Harlem to Hurricane Katrina. She’s needed on the outside to prevent the dam wall from collapsing. Resources are overrun. The streets are dangers. She’s has to handle the situation. Mariah is sent to jail and crime rates soar. Luke is handling things his way. Misty is doing it hers. She goes to see Tilda and talks to her about Bushmaster and Mariah. When she starts to snoop, Tilda calls her out and sends her on her way but Misty is suspicious.

As soon as Misty is outside, Bushmaster and his goons come out of the back room. He’s still in a bad way and she is trying to heal him. She tells him what to do and it includes rest. He isn’t looking to do that until Mariah is dead though. Tilda seems pretty close to him. Meanwhile Luke is trying to figure out who is responsible for the violence. He doesn’t know but someone does. Shades. He comes in and explains the whole thing. The Italians are moving in and now the old rules are out.

They need a leader who loves Harlem and he wants Luke to do it. He gets in Luke’s head and it sparks something. He has a point. Luke is headed to Little Italy. On the inside Mariah is being taken out of her cell. Her guard runs into a problem that quickly turns into an issue for her. Its the Italians. They pour lighter fluid on Mariah and then get ready to torch her. Some other people jump in though. It’s a girl from the block who is going to protect Mariah for a price.

She seems to accept it but when the girl gets close, Mariah takes her out. She’s running the show now. Luke goes to see the head Italian lady. He takes out her people along the way and tells her his terms. A lockbox around Harlem or he’ll mess her life up. She seems to agree. Tilda sees Bushmaster and his people off. They are going back to Jamaica and she is done paying her family debt to them. Mariah meets with her lawyer. They are going to spin the whole thing onto Shades and buy off anyone they can.

Those who can’t be bought will be taken out. Very few are safe but Sugar is. Misty is working a case. Its two people that used to be in with Mariah, she tells Ridley. Looks like Mariah is cleaning house. A desperate Alex goes to see Tilda for help but she just tells him to run. Luke has to go see Mariah. She’s messing up everything he just fixed. More people are taken out. Someone goes for Shades but he handles it and then calls in to see Mariah, under a different name.

Alex is killed. His mother freaks out. Tilda sees from afar. Shades gets a face to face with Mariah and goes off on her. He heads out and it looks like he got his closure. Tilda wants to visit and the lawyer is arranging. Luke wants to get in too but Misty is not having it. She won’t let him mess up her case. Mariah still thinks she did what was right and necessary. Tilda doesn’t think she will ever get out.

Mariah goes on about family and loyalty until Tilda taps out and leaves, kissing her mother on the lips on her way out. The lawyer comes back in. Someone else called but Mariah is still caught up in Tilda. It takes her a minute to ask who. Luke pounds the pavement in Harlem. Tilda heads to the club and takes a look around. Luke is still walking. Shades is sitting in a park. Tilda sings in the club. Luke goes to see Mariah.

He tells her to back off the peace he managed and she tries to deny it. Then she tells him that she’s glad he’s the king of Harlem. They argue for a few moments but then she starts coughing up blood. It was Tilda. Mariah dies and since his deal was contingent upon a conviction, Shades is busted for the murders. Tilda takes up her mantle as the head of the family. DW gives Luke trouble for the way he’s handling things but Luke and Sugar roll out.

The lawyer reads Mariah’s will to Tilda and Luke. Most of the money goes into making the Initiative a foundation. Tilda gets the keyboard and Luke gets the club because he loves Harlem as much as she does. Tilda is not happy about it. When she wrote it, Mariah told the lawyer that Luke will think he can change things but it will change him. Luke tells the lawyer to burn the club.

DW puts up a help wanted sign at the barber shop. Luke keeps the club. He gets rid of the Biggie painting and puts Muhammad Ali instead. Misty doesn’t think he should have taken it but he has grand plans for keeping Harlem the way he wants it. She still isn’t convinced, especially when Sugar comes in to deal with business. The club is open and Tilda comes in. Sugar tells Luke that “she” is here and asks what to do. Luke has him tell Claire to go home. He goes back into the office and sits down.

I knew Tilda would be important but I sort of figured she would end up sleeping with or killed by Shades. I was surprised that didn’t happen. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him. I don’t want Tilda to be the bad guy though. Can’t it be one of the other leaders stepping in on Harlem? Let these people band together! Is there a next season? There should be.

Luke Cage, episode twelve

Some young folks are at a party drinking and dancing. It’s a good time. Two duck off and snort some powder. When they come back they go crazy. The girl bites someone’s neck and the guy is shoving people. The crowd manages to hold them down. The drug package says “Bushmaster.” DW’s girl comes in and tells Luke about it. He’s looking into it. Luke doesn’t think it is him though. His new goon confirms that it is Mariah running this drug.

Mariah meets with the other shady folks at a fancy auction. They agree to team up to take out Bushmaster. Misty and Ridley talk about what to do with Shades. He’s asleep in interrogation. Bushmaster moves in on a Chinese warehouse and they are ready for him. So is Luke who steps in to help him. He’ll walk if Bushmaster starts killing people though.

They fight and knock everyone out but Bushmaster wants to take all of them and the warehouse out too. Luke doesn’t let him and while he stops that, Bushmaster gets away. Tilda goes to visit Cornell’s grave and thanks him for many things. Luke is less grateful when he stops by to see Mariah. They share a drink but still are at odds. As he leaves Mariah calls someone to set up a charity event. She wants the club packed.

Misty has a deal for Shades and starts the questioning. Tilda throws Mariah under the bus to Bushmaster. She knows a back way into the club is willing to show them. Shades is talking. He’s in his element and his lawyer can’t stand it. She quits. Luke realizes that Mariah wants the club packed so that he will have to show up to protect those people and her by extension. Shades keeps talking. Misty asks real questions and he answers.

Shades rolls up in the club and talks to Mariah. He wants to go into the office to break down the details but she hired a legend and wants to watch the show first. About halfway through she pulls him into the office. Misty catches up with Luke and updates him. Shades is wearing a wire. Luke is skeptical. Tilda is leading Bushmaster into the club through the tunnels to go after only Mariah. Speaking of, she brings Shades into her bunker and pulls her gun on him.

Bushmaster gets into the club and trouble ensues. Mariah finds the wire. Luke is knocked out and Bushmaster heads after Mariah. Shades tries to take control of the situation but Mariah is banking on Luke showing up. Luke comes to and with Misty’s help gets to the bunker. He fights Bushmaster and Mariah yells for him to go for the kill. Luke doesn’t do it though and Bushmaster gets away.

As everyone is disappointed, Shades approaches Misty. He hands over Mariah’s gun. Misty arrests her but Mariah doesn’t figure it’ll mean much. She thinks her word is worth more than Shades’. Ridley doesn’t have time for her prattling on though so she cuts her off and has her led out. Misty wants to take the win but Luke points out that it means nothing.

I really thought that Shades would end up shot. Not killed but shot. Also where is Tilda now? She’s in a league with Bushmaster so where does she stand in the legal part of this. It’s so confusing. Also now is Shades done? Who runs the club? When is Claire coming back?

Luke Cage, episode eleven

Misty and Luke are at the Jamaican restaurant crime scene. Luke feels guilty about it because he saved Mariah and didn’t really confront her at the club. They both know it was her though another cop seems reluctant to assume anything yet. As they examine the burned body, Luke notices a blood trail leading away. There may be a witness still alive but that won’t be the case if Mariah finds out. Bushmaster is not getting any better despite Tilda’s work.

In Kingston 30 years early, a young bushmaster heard the business dealings for the rum business and the club. Present day Mariah is building a safehouse into the club to wait for Bushmaster to come knocking. Shades wasn’t down with what happened and mocks Mariah’s new attempts at security as a result. Luke is pounding pavement to confirm it was Mariah and to track down the witness, Bushmaster’s aunt. Misty is about to head out and help when Ridley stops her.

They need to have a press conference and this is the first step toward commissioner for Misty so she has to be the face of it. There is a leak that let out about the witness but Misty doesn’t confirm that. Luke gets a lead on where Ingrid might be. Shades and Mariah argue about what to do but she talks him into falling in line for now. Tilda hears about what Mabel did to Bushmaster’s family and gets threatened for it.

Mariah makes a deal to protect her ass even if it means selling out. Luke is still track down Ingrid. He runs into some of Mariah’s goons and knows he is in the right place. He finds her but leaves the room and she ends up at the mercy of Shades. Luke intervenes and saves her. He talks to her about ending the feud and keeping her safe. Flashback to a Bushmaster surviving being shot because of the nightshade. Misty uses the same technique and it revives him.

Luke has Ingrid. He wants to take her to Misty but Ingrid just wants to go to her husband. Misty is on her own mission. She has a ballistics match for one of the bodies to another murder. She can tie it to Mariah. Speaking of, Mariah is going nuts and fighting with imaginary Mabel and Pete. Bushmaster gets an update on what happened. Misty talks to Luke and finds out that Ingrid isn’t coming in. She’s pissed.

Bushmaster goes to the restaurant and sees what’s left. He knows this was meant for him. He’s mad. Mariah is at the club with Alex. He’s growing in her esteem. Shades walks in and Alex leaves. Mariah and Shades argue and Shades makes to leave but Mariah keeps running her mouth. She brings up Comanche and Shades flips. He chokes her but doesn’t kill her. He walks out and moments later Tilda confronts her mother about the restaurant. Mariah owns that.

Misty is leaving the station when she gets a visitor. Shades. He is going to help her take Mariah down. He lets her take him into custody. Bushmaster is at the morgue with his uncle when his aunt walks in. Luke brought her. While she grieves, Luke tries to talk Bushmaster out of the feud. It’s no use. They part ways knowing their next fight will be it. On his way home, Luke runs into one of Mariah’s goons. He’s out of that business now and wants Luke to run Harlem instead of police it.

I’m glad that Shades is thinking for himself and moreover, is willing to help Misty. He’s got so much to offer her that he can probably barter to save his own ass. I don’t know how I feel about Luke as king. Also, if Karen broke the story about a witness why wasn’t she at the press conference.

Luke Cage, episode ten

Luke is walking the streets of Harlem and folks let him know that he isn’t living up to his name as Harlem’s Hero. He goes into the barber shop and talks to DW about branding. They get a visitor. Danny Rand who is here to help Luke out. Luke isn’t interested at first but Danny persists. Misty is at work. Nandi is not. Mariah and Shades are at the club. Everything has been restored and now she wants Bushmaster and wants Big Ben to make it happen.

Danny and Luke brainstorm about the fight and how to take down Bushmaster. They come up with a plan. Misty and Ridley talk to Bailey about Nandi. They think she is in a league with Bushmaster and want to track her down. Luke and Danny go to Tilda’s shop and find it wrecked. Meanwhile, at the club, Mariah and Shades talk about trust. He gives her her gun back. Ridley gives Bailey the all clear to search Nandi’s card usage. She booked an Uber.

Mariah has a Jamaican in her office at the club and they are talking when Luke shows up. He wants her to back off of Bushmaster but she is not about to do that. Misty, Ridley and Bailey catch up with Nandi at the airport. There is a bit of a scuffle before Nandi is taken into custody. Danny wants to rebalance Luke’s chi so they work on his anger. Misty questions Nandi but mostly just ends up in her face.

The Jamaican isn’t telling Mariah anything. He just taunts her and she goes right back but they get nowhere. Luke goes to see Turk for information about Bushmaster. He finds out about a grow house that he’s probably tied to so Luke and Danny head there. They clear out the warehouse, Danny buys the land and they torch it. They destroy the plant Bushmaster needs in the process. Nandi is taken out of the precinct and Ridley calls Misty into her office.

With this wrapping up they will send her back downtown and she wants Misty to run the precinct. Mariah and her posse go to the Jamaican restaurant. They kill everyone inside and then let the guy that wouldn’t talk see the damage before killing him too. Mariah is smoking Bushmaster out and Shades doesn’t seem happy. Danny and Luke get food and talk about his anger and Harlem and Claire and how to move forward, together.

So is that nightshade stuff the same as what the king drinks in Wakanda? It seemed like it.I’m glad Danny turned up so that Luke has a partner while Misty handles other things. I just don’t love that it’s Danny. They could’ve brought someone else in yeah? Shades is going to turn on Mariah. That seems obvious to me but I’m bad at this.

Luke Cage, episode nine

Luke gets the group into Danny Rand’s medical research facility to hide out. Misty doesn’t like all the entry points but their options are limited. Tilda wanders away to find a bathroom and Luke’s father leads them in prayer. Back at Tilda’s shop, Bushmaster finds the wreckage and sees that she got rid of all the herbs he needs. He’s pissed. He’s after her and her mother now. Tilda patches up Luke’s dad and they talk about stress.

In the other room Misty and Mariah fight about the latter going on record about Bushmaster torching her house. Luke chimes in and Mariah listens. She’ll talk for full immunity. Misty doesn’t want to do it but Luke talks her into it. She goes back to the station and finds Ridley there as chief. They go to have a private chat. Luke and Mariah talk about Harlem. In the chief’s office, Misty explains the deal she wants to make. Ridley is on board but wants to keep it quiet until they get the DA to agree.

Mariah is prowling around the building while Luke and his father talk. She finds a phone but its offline. James tells Luke about God and what Tilda did to heal up his hands. Ridley tells Misty that they got the DA to sign off. Misty is still reluctant about it but she’s ready to bring Mariah in. Luke and Misty talk about her shop and what she sold Bushmaster. He wants her to help take him down. She’s scared but she’ll try, if Luke tells her everything he knows about her mother.

Bushmaster talks to his uncle about the herbs and their work. He’s disrespected the process and now his uncle is mad. Someone approaches and they all pull guns. It’s Tyler. She wants to bring in Mariah for the bounty. Mariah and James talk about parenting and then she swipes his phone. She tries Shades but he doesn’t answer. He’s drinking beer at the Jamaican bar. Tilda catches her on the phone and demands to know what’s going on.

They argue about the family name and Tilda’s father and it turns into Mariah laying out the family history. She killed Cornell because Cornell sided with their Uncle Pete, who raped Mariah, instead of Mariah. Pete is actually Tilda’s father and all the stories that she knows have been a lie. Mariah tells her that she tried to love her but she can’t because every time she looks at her she sees Pete. Tilda cries and calls Mariah a monster as she walks away.

Misty is back at the facility with the deal. Mariah signs it and Misty calls in to Ridley. The department moves in on the club but finds no sign of Bushmaster. Turns out he’s going to get Mariah. He makes an announcement. He’s willing to let Luke, James and Misty walk. Luke doesn’t find that agreeable. They all fight until police backup arrives. Ridley gets Bushmaster into custody but Mariah is in the wind.

Luke talks to his father about seeing things through. On the drive in, Bushmaster gives the cops a history lesson about oppression and resistance in Jamaica. Then he blows up the police van. Tilda gets back to her shop and sees that it has been cleaned up. Sheldon is waiting for her. He needs her to fix Bushmaster. She doesn’t want to but they threaten her so she agrees. Mariah is walking down the street when a car pulls up. It’s Shades. He’s got her back. Always. He also has a Jamaican tied up in his trunk.

I don’t understand why Mariah would leave. She’s got the deal. I also don’t understand Shades’ loyalty. It doesn’t seem to be mutual. I feel bad for James and Misty. I also felt bad for Tilda here. I honestly thought they would be able to handle Mariah with the deal by having Tilda report that Mariah admitted to the murder. I’m a little surprised it didn’t but maybe it will. I’m not surprised Tyler is a dirty cop.

Luke Cage, episode eight

Shades is still on the roof. He’s burning his clothes and thinking about the night before. Mariah and Tilda are at the police station. The latter wants to leave, the former says they have nowhere to go. Mariah steps out and starts arguing with Luke. She still won’t own up to anything but she wants to hire him to protect Tilda. Misty comes in and is on a tear. She is basically mad at Luke for saving Mariah. She figures Mariah cleaned house the night before.

Meanwhile, Shades is talking to Comanche’s mother. He gets a call about something else and heads out. Luke and Tilda argue about what she knows about Bushmaster. She just wants normal but he tells her that isn’t possible. Nandi tells Misty that downtown called and she is in charge. They talk about who else was at the scene and that’s when Luke butts in. He tells her what he knows about Comanche. She needs him on Bushmaster while she handles the other stuff.

Bushmaster is redecorating the club office and talking about his inner darkness when he gets interrupted. He finds out that Mariah and Tilda are still alive. He freaks out. Tilda talks to Luke. Mariah doesn’t talk to Misty. She does freak out a bit when she finds out the captain was killed. They were sweet on each other back in high school. Misty brings up Shades but Mariah still has nothing to say. Shades and the lawyer pop in. Mariah can go but now Shades is being held.

Tilda is still talking to Luke when Maria comes in. The conversation ends and there is a tense moment between Mariah and Luke before they all settle down. Misty is working through the double murder with Shades and his lawyer. The lawyer gets a call and steps out. When he comes back in it’s to say he’s not repping Shades anymore. The tables have turned. Bushmaster and his uncle talk about what to do. He needs to know what Mariah said.

The lawyer is out. So Mariah and Tilda have to regroup. Luke is still going to protect them though. Until Bushmaster is out. They head outside and the Jamaicans attack. There is a bounty out for Mariah and Tilda and Luke and his whole family. He sends Nandi inside to tell Misty and then heads out to protect his people. Shades seems on the verge of talking when Nandi interrupts to tell Misty what happened. She goes back in and tells Shades he can go.

Luke goes to see his father. He wants the man to go into hiding because he needs protection. If Luke wants him safe, he’ll have to stay at the church. Mariah goes back to her house. Or what’s left of it anyway. She’s digging through the rubble when Shades comes in. They start to fight about who is at fault. He puts it on her and pushes her. She’s a gangster now and she needs to adapt. They are in this together. She seems to buy it. They kiss.

Misty heads to the club with a warrant and has words with Bushmaster and the lawyer. They get nowhere. With no other options, Mariah goes to Tilda’s shop and they talk family history. It is not happy. Bushmaster is off the rails. His uncle tries to yell at him and tell him to stop trying to be the only power. Bushmaster doesn’t listen. The uncle leaves and Shades follows. Luke is at church while his father holds a service. Bushmaster does a ritual.

The goons swarm the church but Luke handles it. Mariah and Tilda are at the shop when Nandi and Misty run in. The goons move in there too and shots are exchanged. Luke comes in and it tips the scales in their favor. With no other options, Luke tells Misty to call in a favor to Danny.

I get that Bushmaster wanted what was his but now that he has it what is he doing with it. Also what is Shades’ game? And Tilda’s? None of this makes sense to me. Are they going to bring Claire back?

Luke Cage, episode seven

Luke is sinking in the water. His life is flashing before his eyes. He hears his father yell and it wakes him up. He manages to get back to the church before passing out. When he comes to he finds out Piranha took off. He was headed for a private jet to get the hell out of dodge. Luke is pissed. Misty is working on her jumpshot when the captain turns up. He wants help. He wants to end this and he needs her help. He needs her to handle Luke. She is at peace and won’t do it.

Mariah has the guards in for a staff meeting. She knows there is a snitch. and stabs one of them to inspire loyalty. Shades tries to calm her down before heading out to track Piranha. Misty heads into the club. She doesn’t go see her mother right away though. Bushmaster has Piranha. They talk about Luke. Speaking of, he’s working with Misty to bust this whole thing wide open. They head to the Jamaican run garage in Brooklyn. They encounter some resistance before finding Piranha’s head in a fishtank.

 

Tilda tells her mother she needed time. They talk. The captain and the rest of the team come in. Captain is happy because now he has leverage to deal with Mariah. That just pisses Misty off and she runs her mouth. He’s corrupt and she doesn’t like it. He snaps back. Then Bailey tells her and Luke to leave the scene. Captain goes to see Mariah. She isn’t interested so he goes low and brings up Tilda’s parentage. Mariah asks for time and he gives her till morning. She checks her bank account. It’s been wiped. Bushmaster is after them and they aren’t safe.

Comanche and Shades are talking about Mariah. Shades thinks the bigger issue is the snitch but Comanche throws someone under the bus for that. They get word Piranha is dead. Shades goes to handle that while he leaves Comanche to deal with the snitch. Bushmaster is getting a new suit. His uncle wants him to stop with the craziness but he wants to burn Mariah. Luke goes back to the church and talks to his father.

The captain and Comanche meet. He is done. He wants out. It’s too late though. He was followed. Shades walks up and Comanche panics. To save himself he kills the captain. Shades sees it for what it is though. He kills Comanche and makes it look like the two got into a firefight. Mariah is getting set to run when Bushmaster and his goons come in. She tries to shoot him but it’s no use. He’s not going to spare either of them.

Misty is in a bar hitting it off with some guy when Bailey calls. She leaves. Bushmaster is waxing poetic like villains do. He gives Mariah and Tilda a history lesson. Luke is still talking to his father about his mother and their relationship. The video kid runs in and tells him Mariah’s place is on fire. Bushmaster tied her up and lit some gasoline on fire. He left Tilda free to try and figure out what to do.

Shades is on a rough blocks away. He sees the flames. Bushmaster and his posse walk into the club. Tilda tries to break the ropes on Mariah’s arms. Luke gets there and sees the flames from outside. Misty gets to the crime scene with Comanche and the captain. Bushmaster is in Mariah’s spot in the club toasting and drinking. Luke goes in and pulls Mariah out.

This is more than halfway through the season and I still feel like mostly nothing has been accomplished. I know that Bushmaster just took over but other than that Misty and Luke and even Shades and Mariah have just kind of floundered and let it happen. They didn’t do much of anything to stop it.

Luke Cage, episode six

The Jamaicans, led by Bushmaster’s buddy Sheldon, are chasing Luke and Piranha. They get to the rooftop but Sheldon is still on a mission. Luke grabs him but he won’t talk. He catches up with Piranha and they get away. The clinic opening and the attack both make the news and the Jamaican elders are unimpressed. Bushmaster is embarrassed. He talks to Sheldon and tells him to smoke Piranha out.

Luke wants answers but Piranha isn’t giving them. Luke won’t take no for an answer though and convinces him to speak after they see that the Jamaicans are on the prowl. Shades gets back to the club and battens down the hatches. That’s what he’s up to when Comanche turns up. He hasn’t heard. The missing guard and Cockroach were amongst the heads the Jamaicans left at the clinic. They declared war. Comanche pushes for Shades to turn on Mariah.

He takes Comanche to the armory and tells him that Piranha has access to all their money. They will end this. Misty talks to her boss about things. They are getting 50 cops and 48 hours to stop a gang war or the National Guard and ICE will be called in. Misty is pissed but her boss wants to know about Cockroach. She found his body after all. She admits she picked the lock. It contaminated everything and might have ruined the case. He sends her home.

Piranha is willing to talk now. The Captain questions Mariah but doesn’t get much. He brings up the gun deal. He knows she’s up to something. Piranha tells Luke everything he knows. All about the gun deal and how he has power of attorney over Mariah’s stuff. That’s why the Jamaicans want him. They will camp out and see the cops in the morning. The video kid calls Luke and lets him know some guy’s were in the shop looking for him. It’s Shades trying to track him down.

Misty was going to plant evidence on Cockroach but he was already dead. She is going to lose her job and she doesn’t know what to do. Her friend tells her to be herself, not who others want her to be. Bushmaster fights with one of the Jamaican elders about the spectacle he’s causing. It’s bad for their people. Go for Mariah sure but not all this other stuff. Bushmaster doesn’t listen.

Shades and Comanche are waiting in the shop. Comanche pushes for information on Mariah and why Shades isn’t running the show. They talk about Cottonmouth and time on the inside. Comanche pushes a bit too hard before suggesting they leave and Shades seems to notice. Mariah is back at the club. She’s been drinking. She can’t get ahold of Tilda or Shades. She’s pissed. She figures the only person protecting her life is her enemy, Luke Cage.

The Jamaicans are onto their hiding spot. Luke tells him that the only chance they have is with the cops. While he calls Misty tells her everything, the Jamaicans get the jump and kidnap Piranha. Luke gives chase though and starts taking them out. He takes out the crew and manages to get Piranha back. Mariah is mad at Shades when he gets back but he stands his ground and they sort out loyalty. Shades lies about who knows she killed someone. Misty tries to turn herself in or resign but her captain tells her he wants her to live with it.

Comanche knows because Shades told him at the barber shop. Luke brings Piranha someplace no one would look. His father’s church. He leaves him there for sanctuary and goes to a high noon showdown with Bushmaster. Winner gets Harlem and Piranha. Before the scuffle they talk about Mariah and history and revenge. Luke is winning and says as much so Bushmaster pulls some powder from his pocket and blows it on Luke. It paralyzes him and Bushmaster kicks him off a bridge. He sinks.

I think that was cheating. I think now special dust should have been part of the agreement. Maybe I missed something there though. So is Shades going to turn on Mariah. I still think he will go after Tilda. That will be his play somehow. I feel bad for Misty. She can’t win.

Luke Cage, episode five

Luke is face to face with Cockroach only this time they are wearing suits and lawyers are involved. Luke displaces his temper and his counsel, Foggy, thinks he has no choice but to settle. He wants to fight but thinks Foggy is right. Mariah gives Tilda a walk through at the clinic. She wants to bring miracles to Harlem and help single mothers. And she wants Tilda to help. Tilda doesn’t want to deal in blood money but Mariah tells her it’s clean.

Misty is getting her new robot arm programmed. It’ll take some time to adjust but it should be good. Luke gets a call from Foggy. He can do an appearance to get the money. Luke is reluctant though. Misty shows up and they talk about her arm and Cockroach. It’s his mess but it’s hers too. Mariah is hours away from her big event and she wants to introduce Tilda as the medical director. Tilda still isn’t interested. Nandi and Bailey show up looking for Mariah’s business partner but she plays dumb. Tilda notices.

Luke is trying his options for a sponsorship but it’s not working out. He calls Foggy. At the club, Shades gives the guards trouble because they can’t find Bushmaster. Mariah comes in and talks to him. He wants her to run but she is not interested. She tells him about Higgins being missing but he assures her they have nothing to do with it. He has plans to keep an eye on Piranha that night.

He’s throwing a party for the merger that is helping them clean the money. Misty pays a visit to Cockroach to tell him to drop the charges against Luke. She ends up leaving angrier than when she got there. Luke goes to a meeting about his appearance. It’s with a big fan. Named Piranha. Luke sees a picture of Mariah and knows this will help him with everything. Shades gives Comanche an assignment while he handles the Piranha party. Misty goes back over the evidence from when Cockroach was first busted.

Her boss is not happy about it. Luke and Foggy head to the party. He basically gets paraded around like a circus animal. He is not happy. Misty finds Cockroach’s woman at the hospital and tries to get her to turn on him. It’s no use though. She’s too scared. Tilda confronts Mariah about Higgins and their business. She knows that her mother lied to the cops. Mariah airs all her dirty laundry and tries to get Tilda on board for the clinic. She just walks out though.

Luke is guarding the way to Piranha’s more private party when he sees someone. He leaves his post to chase it. Misty is still thinking about old cases and her time with Scarfe. Comanche meets with the cop. He’s got nothing and he tells the guy to just lean on the other guard that’s missing. The cop knows nothing about it though. Mariah holds an event to open her clinic. When she opens the door, there are heads on stakes waiting just inside. Luke is dragged on stage for a party trick moments after seeing Shades.

They are both looking for Bushmaster. Luke knows whatever Piranha is up to isn’t going to end well and that’s when shots start ringing out. He and Shades work together but the Jamaicans grab Piranha. Luke catches up with them and manages to stop them. He and Shades share a look as they hear sirens coming. Luke tells Piranha is price just doubled.

This is such a slow setup. I also don’t care about these flashbacks for Misty. I want her back to just doing solid police work. I also like the idea of Shades and Luke working together in a begrudging manner.

Luke Cage, episode four

Luke is walking. The kid that films him sees and figures he should give chase. He gets there just in time to see the Jamaican kick Luke’s ass. He gets the guy’s name. Bushmaster. When Luke comes to, the kid fills him in. Luke goes to the shop to clean himself up. Bobby finds him and wants to call Claire. Luke stops him and they talk about Bushmaster. The video of the beating is online and Nandi and Bailey are enjoying it.

Misty tells them off for it. When the boss comes in, he backs the others. Misty is pissed and storms out. At the club, Mariah and Piranha are celebrating but Shades is not happy until he sees some money. It’s tied up offshore for now though and guess what, the club is collateral. Comanche interrupts to show them the Bushmaster video. Luke finds the kid hawking DVDs of his loss. He hears something worse though. Claire took off, with luggage. He goes running.

Shades thinks Bushmaster is up to something. Specifically that he is making a play on Harlem and he’s after Mariah. Luke gets to the apartment and finds Claire gone. All she left was a note. He walks outside to find Misty. They talk Jamaicans and then head to Brooklyn. They find Nigel, or what’s left of him, in a warehouse. They have to call it in. Comanche tells Mariah she’s being played but that he can help. She’s not interested and he tells her he isn’t scared.

Tomas, a detective Misty knows from way back, turns up at the warehouse. He fills them in on gang history and ends up getting a lead. It’s police business though so Misty and him will handle it. She sends Luke home. Mariah is looking at old photo albums, Luke is on the subway and Tilda is burning some things in her shop. She sees a Jamaican flag and gets an idea. She runs to look something up. Luke saw a bag from a shop near the body so he goes there.

It’s Tilda’s shop. He asks her about her clientele but she doesn’t give much up. She instead asks about how he ended up so tough. She gives him an herbal shot to help the pain and tells him to get an MRI for a concussion. She talks about her mother but doesn’t use her name so Luke doesn’t know who she is. Misty goes to an ICE facility to talk to a guy that knows Bushmaster. She gets another history lesson.

Mariah has a visitor at the club, Bushmaster. They talk about how history remembers people. They both know their families have had run ins and they talk in circles about it. He leaves with a parting threat. Shades follows him out and leaves another guy on Mariah. Comanche is nowhere to be found. Bushmaster heads back to the Jamaican restaurant and talks about seeing his future in Harlem. Shades followed him back. He calls Comanche but gets no answer.

Comanche is meeting with Misty’s boss. He’s an informant. Misty gets back to the office and finds specs from Danny and Colleen for a new arm. Luke is at the shop when Bobby comes in. His daughter needs a kidney and he is a match to donate so he’s headed to San Diego. He feels like a hero. He says this must be what Luke feels like all the time. Luke doesn’t say anything. They talk about being careful and then Bobby leaves. A guy walks in. He’s with the court. He serves Luke papers.

Everyone is leaving. Bobby. Claire. They are doing what they have to and I don’t blame them but now Luke is definitely going to go off the rails. I want Misty to be the hero here, especially cause the other cops are awful. Hopefully that works out.