Parents' Guide to

Luke Cage

TV Netflix Drama 2016
Luke Cage Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Kari Croop By Kari Croop , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 17+

Complex role model is bulletproof in a bloody modern world.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 17+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 8 parent reviews

Alonso Tigerheart
Alonso Tigerheart Adult
May 27, 2020
age 15+

Awesome TV series!!!

Though the role model is good, the very first episode of the first season contains a sex scene which mad me skip it due to my 12 year old brother sitting next to me. The whole series is full of fight scenes and blood and u cannot escape it. The use of drugs and swearing is moderate.Overall it is a good experience and not a racist TV show like others.
sedial
sedial Parent of 11, 12, 14 and 17-year-old
November 27, 2018
age 18+

Waste of Marvel's reputation for story telling

Really bummed that there is soft porn in this show as well as Marvel's Jessica Jones. Another reviewer said there isn't sex in this one and that is totally incorrect. I was slapped in the face with a scene I had no warning was coming so I might fast forward it (ie. behavior that indicates a sex scene is probable.) I am not into voyeurism and that's what these shows offer. Such a shame because for me, it puts it into the "no way" category. As a mom of 5 kids ages 12-23 I just can't recommend it at all. We are a family of Marvel fans and have really enjoyed shows like the Flash and Green Arrow. I can agree with other reviewers that the writing for the character is relevant and interesting, I just can't get over the totally unnecessary sex scenes. We teach our kids to protect their eyes and avoid movies and TV shows that have overt sexual content. (Just like there are gateway drugs, there are gateway movies/TV shows that can lead to porn and porn addiction.) It is one thing to suggest sex will happen, it is another to show it happening and with full nudity. Private parts aren't seen, but both individuals are fully naked. All of that said, if those scenes weren't in there it would be a very well-written show. I am not sure I would watch it as it is a little slow moving for me, but well-written, nonetheless.
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What's the Story?

After surviving a botched experiment at the hands of a mad prison scientist, wrongfully accused inmate Carl Lucas (Mike Colter) springs from jail and adopts a new identity -- complete with newfound abilities that make him completely indestructible. As LUKE CAGE, he now has the power to protect his crime-ridden Harlem neighborhood and keep his friends and loved ones safe. But with powerful enemies and political forces at large, he'll have his work cut out for him.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (8 ):
Kids say (19 ):

In many ways, Luke Cage is the hero we all need right now, clad not in a cape but in a plain black hoodie that marks him as a relatable everyman walking calmly through a rising tide of racial tension. He's a strong, powerful African-American man, both literally and figuratively, who exudes a quiet confidence that belies his brute strength. And that makes him easy to admire and nearly impossible to fear -- unless you're one of his enemies.

Colter's performance is both complex and self-assured, a continuation of his excellent work on Jessica Jones, the equally compelling Netflix series that brought Luke Cage to streaming audiences to begin with. He's also surrounded by a core group of talented co-stars, including multiple Emmy winner Alfre Woodard, Mahershala Ali, and Simone Missick, whose nuanced, three-dimensional portrayals help upgrade this latest Marvel offering from mere action-heavy superhero fare to truly thoughtful television.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Luke Cage measures up as a role model. Does Luke represent something new in terms of strong African-American male protagonists on television? How does he compare to other African-American male characters on TV?

  • How is the Luke Cage TV series different from the Marvel comic book series from the 1970s that inspired it? How has the Luke Cage character changed over the decades, and why?

  • How do the themes explored on Luke Cage relate to topical events, including racial tensions, police shootings, and feelings of anger, grief, and frustration in the African-American community that manifest in movements like Black Lives Matter? Can we use the messages and morals of a fictional series to help solve real-life problems?

TV Details

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