Grumpy Bird Reviews: Luke Cage s01e07 Manifest

Whelp, looks like this series is following that trend of not having enough ideas to fill up 13 episodes.

Luke Cage s01e07 Manifest

Writer: Akela Cooper

Director: Andy Goddard

Quick Review:

Let’s split this episode into two different parts. The first part (compromising all but the last five or so minutes) was basically just confirming everything we have already known. Also shoved in there were attempts to make us sympathetic towards the main villains. The rehashing was dull and the sympathy dig didn’t work. The last five minutes, well, at least there was change. But, again, it really isn’t an exciting change.

Spoilers lurk below

Analysis:

Really, most of this episode was just explicitly saying things that we were all ready told earlier. Sure, all of the performances were fairly solid, but I just couldn’t find myself caring about any of it. I’ve already been told. Why were they yet again reminding me? Just terribly paced.

And those flashbacks. I can’t for the life of me figure out the point. It really is a case of the more they show the less interesting it becomes. It just all feels so cliche, right down to the fights the kids are still having. “Mama liked you more because she kept you close.” “Mama liked you more because she sent you away.”

Which led into the first exciting part of the episode, when Mariah kills Cottonmouth. Its just a shame that it happened the way it did. Again, we got the “sympathize with the guy who is about to die” by showing Cottonmouth’s upbringing, but then it undercuts it by having him dismiss rape/assault/something claims. This same dismissal also makes Mariah’s actions somehow sympathetic. I guess.

I just really don’t know what they are doing with Mariah. I feel they want to make her the smart threat, but I never actually feel she is. She just seems out of her depths and easy to lead around. Maybe that’s the point?

Luke getting shot is just another “let’s get Chekov’s gun off the table”. It isn’t really interesting. It feels more gimmicky, a way to keep the bingers watching the next episode.