Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Complex role model is bulletproof in a bloody modern world.
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Luke Cage
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 20 kid reviews
Kids say the show delivers a compelling mix of action and drama, with strong character development, particularly for the main protagonist. However, it contains intense violence and frequent use of profanity, which leads some reviewers to question its suitability for younger audiences, while others find it more acceptable than similar programs.
- action packed
- strong characters
- intense violence
- mature themes
- compelling drama
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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?
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
- Premiere date : September 30, 2016
- Cast : Mike Colter , Rosario Dawson , Alfre Woodard
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Superheroes , Book Characters
- TV rating :
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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