The Second Season of Luke Cage premiered on Netflix on June 22, 2018. It follows the events of the first season of The Defenders.
Synopsis[]
After clearing his name, Luke Cage has become a celebrity on the streets of Harlem with a reputation as bulletproof as his skin. But being so visible has only increased his need to protect the community and find the limits of who he can and can't save. With the rise of a formidable new foe, Luke is forced to confront the fine line that separates a hero from a villain.
Plot[]
Mama Mabel taunts John McIver
Many years ago, the Stokes and McIvers used to be friends until they had a fight over who could keep Harlem's Paradise. Buggy Stokes ended up killing Quincy McIver, but Quincy killed Buggy during his dying breaths. The two families had a dispute where the McIvers tried to sue for the land. In retaliation, Mama Mabel and Pistol Pete burned down the McIver's home. Gwen McIver saved John McIver from the fire, but was burned alive. Later, Pete returned to kill John. He shot John in the street and left. However, John was saved by Nightshade.
Luke Cage's fame
In the present day, Luke Cage has become very famous, but his name is being used to sell heroin. He works to take down these people. Along with this, Pop's Barber Shop is facing bankruptcy, but Cage doesn't want to use his fame for money. Meanwhile, Misty Knight adjusts to her missing arm and goes to physical therapy with Claire Temple. Shades greets his friend, Comanche, who had just got out of prison. They then meet with Mariah Dillard, who talks with Piranha Jones and wants to join him to abandon her life of crime, becoming a businesswoman. Shades later reminds her how hard it is to do. Cage returns home to find his father, James Lucas, who has arrived in New York from Georgia. Lucas wants to make amends with his son, but Cage doesn't forgive him for the past. In an attempt to leave the crime business, Dillard sells a gun to Arturo Rey III.
Luke Cage is shot by Arturo Rey III
Rey then meets with Cage at a scrap yard and shoots him with the powerful gun. The Judas Bullet hits a truck full of explosives and the fire engulfs Cage. Cage steps out unharmed and knocks out Rey. He then walks up to a camera filmed by D.W. Griffith and tells Harlem that it is his city. Meanwhile, John McIver, known as Bushmaster, returns to New York City after many years to make sure that the Yardies aren't doing business with the Stokes Crime Family, whom he has a vendetta against. He kills Nigel Garrison and plans to take over Brooklyn and Harlem. He then removes the bullets that failed to penetrate his hardened skin. Later, Cage gets his skin checked by Temple who concludes that the acid bath must've hardened his skin even more.
Comanche shoots Arturo Rey III's men
The next day, Cage embraces his famous life and puts on a strength clinic for the Harlem Jets. At the precinct, Knight struggles with the fact that her rival, Nandi Tyler, is making it big as a detective while Knight is sidelined by her superior, Tom Ridenhour. Knight walks into the interrogation room against orders to get information from Rey. His lawyer, Benjamin Donovan then comes in and says Rey has been bailed out. Meanwhile, Cage, Temple, and Bobby Fish agree that the most likely candidates to sell Judas Bullet guns are Cockroach Hamilton and Garrison. Later, Rey meets with Dillard and continuously insults her about the gun not working, Shades then puts an end to it by killing Rey.
Luke Cage chokes Cockroach Hamilton
At Mother's Touch, Dillard meets with her daughter, Tilda Johnson, who wants nothing to do with her. Johnson is then given business by Bushmaster, who wants many items. He then pays her generously. Cage arrives at Hamilton's casino and gets shot by Hamilton which sends Cage flying out the window, allowing Hamilton to escape. Later, Cage goes to Hamilton's apartment and sees Hamilton abusing his wife and son. Cage chokes Hamilton, but then looks to see the wife and son. Cage realizes what he has done. He calls Temple to tend to Hamilton's wounds. Temple tells Cage that he's gone too far before Cage leaves to get to Garrison.
Luke Cage meets Bushmaster
At the Yardies, Cage notices a man, who ran when he showed up. Shades arrives as well and makes a deal with Bushmaster. Shades gets his money and a bag. He opens to back to see Garrison's severed head. Cage follows the man into a warehouse where he meets Bushmaster. He tells Cage that Dillard is a mutual enemy, but Cage knows Bushmaster needs to be stopped anyways. Bushmaster's men then attack Cage while Bushmaster studies Cage's fighting style. Meanwhile, Knight goes a training with Colleen Wing, then they go out for a drink. Temple visits Cage's father and talks to him. When Cage returns, Temple tells him that she believes he is losing control of himself. The two argue until Temple mentions talking with Lucas. Cage then punches a wall out of anger, but quickly realizes what he's done. However, it's too late, Temple decides to distance herself from him.
Bushmaster defeats Luke Cage
Later, Cage cools off by walking in the street. Bushmaster then comes up to him and knocks him on his feet saying that Harlem is his. When Bushmaster leaves, Cage runs to Pop's Barber Shop and cleans up. Griffith enters saying that he saw Temple leaving her apartment. Cage quickly arrives to find that Temple is gone and left a note. He meets with Knight later and the two pursue Garrison. When they arrive at his facility, they find Garrison's head on a stick. Knight calls it into the precinct. Later, Cage goes to Johnson's store and asks if she has sold anything to a large Jamaican man recently. Johnson knows that she sold Bushmaster Nightshade, but dodges the questions. She then tells Cage that he has a concussion, noticing his sensitivity to light. She gives him items to heal and sends him on his way.
Meanwhile, Bushmaster visits Dillard about weapons, not revealing his actual motives. As he leaves, he calls Dillard, Ms. Stokes, to which she takes offence to. He then tells her to enjoy her time at the top of the hill. Later, Shades' friend Comanche meets with Ridenhour and tells him about Dillard and Shades behind their backs. Ridenhour doesn't want Dillard in jail, as she was his old friend. At the precinct, Knight finds a package from Danny Rand and Wing with a prosthetic arm in it. At the barber shop, Fish tells Cage that he is moving to San Diego to help his daughter and her new medical condition. The two sit back and talk about Pop before Fish leaves. Afterwards, a lawyer walks in and tells Cage that Hamilton is pressing charges before leaving.
Cockroach Hamilton, Ray Ray, and Mark Higgins' heads
Cage enlists the help of Foggy Nelson to settle the dispute. The two parties agree on a $150,000 settlement. However, Cage doesn't have the money. Meanwhile, Dillard starts getting a more friendly relationship with her daughter. Knight hears about Cage's troubles and approaches Hamilton, who obviously is faking his injuries. Cage meets with his super fan, Piranha Jones. Jones agrees to pay him the full amount if Cage makes an appearance at his club. Knight looks through old files and finds that Rafael Scarfe framed Hamilton in the past to get him arrested. Knight considers doing the same to help Cage. Later that night, she goes to Hamilton's apartment to plant Judas Bullets, but finds Hamilton's decapitated body. Meanwhile, Dillard does a press conference and opens the doors to find the severed heads of Hamilton, Ray Ray, and Mark Higgins. Cage is working at Jones' club when they are attacked by Bushmaster's men, the Stylers. Cage saves Jones and they escape.
Bushmaster and Luke Cage prepare to fight
Bushmaster's uncle, Anansi, hears about the heads and voices his disgust at his nephew's actions. He tells Bushmaster to kill her and move on, there isn't a need to do anything else. Bushmaster doesn't listen though. Ridenhour hears of Knight's actions and suspends her. He then interrogates Dillard and offers protection. Cage learns that Jones is involved with Dillard and hands him over to the police so that they can get more evidence to put Dillard away. First, he hides Jones in his father's church for protection as his father is the only person he knows won't cross him at the moment. Knight's guilt eventually gets the best of her and she resigns. Cage figures enough is enough and contacts Bushmaster to settle the dispute in a one on one. Later at the bridge, the two duel until Bushmaster blows powder in Cage's face which paralyzes him. He then kicks Cage off of the bridge into the water.
Luke Cage saves Mariah Dillard and Tilda Johnson
Cage manages to get out of the river and returns to the church to find Jones gone. He then passes out. Later, he talks with his father before setting out to find Knight. Cage and Knight track down Jones to find his severed head floating in a piranha tank. Ridenhour informs Dillard of this finding. Ridenhour tries to make a deal with Dillard, but she refuses. Afterwards, Dillard finds out that Bushmaster has taken all of her money from her bank account. Cage returns to the church and talks with his father who apologizes for everything in the past. Meanwhile, Comanche meets with Ridenhour, but Shades catches him. Comanche shoots Ridenhour to make it seem like he isn't a snitch, but Shades already knows. Shades shoots his friend who understands the decision. Shades then makes it looks like a two-person crime scene. Dillard grabs Johnson and flee to their brownstone, but Bushmaster is already there. He ties them up and sets the place on fire. However, Cage runs in and saves them. Dillard asks to hire Cage as her body guard. After, Bushmaster walks into Harlem's Paradise and announces that he is the owner.
Mariah Dillard comforts Tilda Johnson
Knight finds out the Ridenhour was murdered and rejoins the precinct, becoming captain. Knight proceeds to interrogate Dillard, whom was brought to the precinct by Cage. Dillard hears of Ridenhour's murder and almost breaks down crying, shocking Knight. Donovan then arrives and gets Dillard out. However, Knight forces Shades to stay as a person of interest. During the interrogation, Donovan suddenly leaves, saying that Dillard doesn't have money to pay him and Shades is on his own. On the way out of the precinct, Dillard and Johnson are attacked. Cage defends them and realizes that Bushmaster put out a million dollar bounty on their heads. Mark Bailey walks into the interrogation room announcing the attack while also reminding Knight that there's no evidence on Shades. Knight allows Shades to leave. Later, Knight and her men arrive at Harlem's Paradise to arrest Bushmaster, but Donovan reveals himself as Bushmaster's lawyer and tells them to back off.
Mariah Dillard tells Tilda Johnson the truth
Bushmaster goes to Anansi, who reminds him of his worries. Anansi thinks that nightshade is poisoning his nephew's mind. Unbeknownst to them, Shades is listening around the corner. Cage then saves Dillard once again at Mother's Touch and concludes that the precinct isn't safe. He then calls Danny Rand to ask for safety. Cage, Knight, Dillard. Johnson, and Lucas go to a Rand Enterprises building to stay there. Knight tries to get a confession from Dillard, but Dillard says it's only if she has immunity. Knight obviously turns it down, but Priscilla Ridley tells her to agree. Later, Lucas shows Dillard young pictures of Cage. However, when Lucas turns away, Dillard uses his phone to call Shades, to no answer. Johnson tells Dillard that she knows she's a disappointment. Dillard tells her that she isn't a disappointment, just a happy moment in a dark past. She tells Johnson the truth of what Peter Stokes did to her. Stokes had raped his niece, Johnson was never supposed to be born. This causes Johnson to leave the room in shock.
Bushmaster gives a speech
Suddenly, the Stylers arrive. Bushmaster gives everyone the chance to leave except Dillard. Lucas tells Cage that it is his duty not to let that happen. Bushmaster then attacks, but Cage knocks him out after a long battle. Inside, Dillard shoots down the other Stylers. The officers arrive and arrest Bushmaster. Cage then talks to his father who asks him to come back to Atlanta with him. Cage simply says that his work isn't down in Harlem. Lucas tells him that he is so proud of him now and he loves him before leaving for Atlanta. Meanwhile, Bushmaster is in the cop car when he gives a speech to the officers before revealing a bomb in his hand. The car blows up. Bushmaster rushes to Mother's Touch and his friend Sheldon forces Johnson to give him Nightshade.
The following day, Rand shows up to help Cage in his fight. At Harlem's Paradise, Donovan returns to Dillard as her money is back, but Dillard doesn't forgive him. Rand and Cage realize that Bushmaster would go to Mother's Touch to heal. They arrive, but find it empty. They decide to search for plants around the city holding Nightshade. Meanwhile, another conspiracy emerges. Knight believes that Nandi Tyler told Bushmaster where they were the night before. Knight then finds footage of Tyler leaving Harlem's Paradise shortly before Bushmaster. They go to the airport to find Tyler trying to make a get away. Knight arrests her after a brief scuffle.
Anansi is burned alive
After some looking, Cage and Rand found the Nightshade facility and burned it down. Afterwards, Rand prepares to leave as his work is done, but he tells Cage that Temple asked him to check in. He then tells Cage to keep his anger in check and he doesn't have to do everything alone. Meanwhile, Shades has kidnapped Anansi, so Dillard and Shades go to Gwen's to find the rest of Bushmaster's family. Dillard, now reverting back to her birth surname of Stokes, kills everyone there except for Anansi's wife who managed to escape. Stokes then burns Anansi alive, but his screams annoy her so she shoots him in the head.
Shades can't shoot Ingrid Mackintosh
Meanwhile, Bushmaster is still in critical condition as the artificial nightshade isn't working. Sheldon tells Johnson what the Stokes family did to him. Bushmaster finally heals, but Sheldon breaks the news of his family. At Gwen's, Knight examines the body and finds that the bullet wound is the same revolver used to shoot Candace Miller. Cage and Shades go out looking for Mackintosh. Shades wants to kill her while Cage wants a witness. Shades finds her, but decides not to kill her because he is tired of the recent murders. He later goes to Stokes and announces that he is leaving the Crime Family because she broke the rule. No killing innocents. Cage then finds her and takes her in. Bushmaster arrives at Gwen's and lets Johnson go, knowing she is different than her mother.
At the precinct, Shades surrenders himself for questioning to take down Stokes. Before going to the precinct, Cage lets Mackintosh go to the morgue to see her husband. Bushmaster shows up and thanks Cage. They have a talk about morality. They end the conversation with Bushmaster saying he respects Cage, they just want different things.
Bushmaster and Luke Cage work together
Soon, a Heroin called Bushmaster starts popping up. Cage figures Bushmaster has nothing to do with it and trails Hai-Qing Yang, who is making it. Bushmaster also trails Yang out of revenge. Cage and Bushmaster join forces to take them down, but Bushmaster wants to go further and blow the facility up, but Cage stops him. The two escape separately. After, Johnson provides Bushmaster with a super shot of Nightshade that would give him double his powers, but can end his life. Sheldon says it isn't worth it, but Bushmaster wants revenge.
Luke Cage and Bushmaster fight in Harlem's Paradise
Shades is given full immunity for his testimony. He talks about Pop's death, Stokes killing Cottonmouth, shooting Candice Miller, the massacre at Gwen's, as well as Comanche and Ridenhour's deaths. Knight tells him that he has to get the revolver used to kill Anansi if he wants his deal to work out. Shades arrives at Harlem's Paradise to trick Stokes, but she knows and tries to kill him. Suddenly, Bushmaster arrives to kill Stokes. Cage and Knight soon come and fight Bushmaster. All parties participate in an all out brawl until Cage finally subdues Bushmaster. He goes to kill him, but second guesses himself. Bushmaster uses this opportunity to escape. Shades then grabs the revolver and gives it to Knight, who arrests Stokes.
Mariah Stokes dies
Stokes faces trial and is sentenced to prison. As Stokes is in jail, the crime sky rockets without the Stokes Crime Family to tone it down. Meanwhile, Johnson prepares a final remedy to save Bushmaster. At Pop's Barber Shop, Shades lets Cage know that the Carbone Crime Family is plotting to take over Harlem. Shades then tells Cage that if he is the one running the crime as a crime boss, then it would all be kept under control. At Ryker's Island, Stokes is attacked by inmates who are paid by Rosalie Carbone. However, Stokes kills them and tells everyone they work for her. Stokes then calls Donovan and has him send men to kill anyone who could cross her, this includes Alex Wesley, who is shot. Cage takes care of the situation with Carbone by offering her a deal. Johnson then meets with Stokes and scolds her for all the lives that she has taken. Johnson then kisses Stokes before leaving. Later, Cage meets with Stokes and announces that he will take reign of crime in Harlem. Stokes smirks before falling to the ground coughing up blood. She realizes that Johnson's kiss poisoned her. Cage watches as Stokes dies.
D.W. Griffith is the new owner of Pop's Barber Shop
With Stokes's death, Shades' deal becomes invalid and Knight arrests him. Sheldon approaches cage and tells him Harlem is in his hands now that Stokes is dead. Bushmaster leaves for Jamaica. Meanwhile, Griffith is angry at Cage for becoming a crime boss and tells him that he has no relation with the barber shop. Cage understands and leaves even though he believes that his actions would do more good than bad. Donovan meets with Johnson and Cage. Johnson has already started moving into Harlem's Paradise. Donovan reads Stokes's will. Johnson will gets Cornell's piano while she lends Cage Harlem's Paradise, much to Johnson's disapproval.
Luke Cage is the new crime boss
At Harlem's Paradise, Knight meets with Cage who assures her that they could stop crime from both sides now. Knight tells him that is he crosses the line, she will take him down. Sugar then tells Cage that Temple is there to see him. Cage informs him to let her leave before he takes a seat as the new crime boss.
Cast[]
Starring Cast[]
- Mike Colter as Luke Cage
- Simone Missick as Misty Knight
- Theo Rossi as Hernan Alvarez/Shades
- Gabrielle Dennis as Tilda Johnson
- Mustafa Shakir as John McIver/Bushmaster
- Jessica Henwick as Colleen Wing
- Finn Jones as Danny Rand/Iron Fist
- Stephen Rider as Blake Tower
- Alfre Woodard as Mariah Stokes Dillard
Special Guest Cast[]
- Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple
- Reg E. Cathey as Reverend James Lucas
- Annabella Sciorra as Rosalie Carbone
- Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson
Supporting Cast[]
- Ron Cephas Jones as Bobby Fish
- Jeremiah Richard Craft as D.W. Griffith
- Thomas Q. Jones as Darius Jones/Comanche
- Antonique Smith as Detective Nandi Tyler
- Justin Swain as Detective Mark Bailey
- Kevin Mambo as Sheldon
- Danny Johnson as Benjamin Donovan
- Sahr Ngaujah as Paul Mackintosh/Anansi
- Heather Alicia Simms as Ingrid Mackintosh
- Peter Jay Fernandez as Captain Tom Ridenhour
- Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Piranha Jones
- Tarah Rodgers as Stephanie Miller
- Dorian Crossmond Missick as Cockroach Hamilton
Episodes[]
| Image | Title | Number | Airdate | Writers | Directors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Soul Brother #1 | 2.01 | June 22, 2018 | Cheo Hodari Coker | Lucy Liu |
| As Luke adjusts to his growing fame and tries to shut down the flow of heroin branded with his name, someone from his past reaches out. | |||||
|
Straighten It Out | 2.02 | June 22, 2018 | Akela Cooper | Steph Green |
| Luke tests out his abilities on the ballfield, Misty ruffles feathers at the precinct, and Mariah plans a reunion to boost her image. | |||||
|
Wig Out | 2.03 | June 22, 2018 | Matt Owens | Marc Jobst |
| Worried Luke is headed down a dark path, Claire pays a visit to his father. Bushmaster makes a bid for Mariah's guns. | |||||
|
I Get Physical | 2.04 | June 22, 2018 | Matthew Lopes | Salli Richardson-Whitfield |
| As footage of his fight with Bushmaster goes viral, Luke struggles with the aftereffects and follows a trail of clues to Tilda's shop. | |||||
|
All Souled Out | 2.05 | June 22, 2018 | Ian Stokes | Kasi Lemmons |
| Desperate to drum up quick cash for a lawsuit, Luke weighs an offer from a superfan. Mariah invites Tilda to join the new family business. | |||||
|
|
The Basement | 2.06 | June 22, 2018 | Aida Mashaka Croal | Millicent Shelton |
| As a wave of violence rocks Harlem, everyone races to connect the dots between Piranha, Mariah, Bushmaster and the grisly find at the clinic. | |||||
|
On and On | 2.07 | June 22, 2018 | Nicole Mirante-Matthews | Rashaad Ernesto Green |
| Reeling from the showdown on the bridge, Luke teams up with Misty to find Piranha. The hunt for the snitch heats up. Bushmaster reveals his endgame. | |||||
|
If It Ain't Rough, It Ain't Right | 2.08 | June 22, 2018 | Nathan Louis Jackson | Neema Barnette |
| While Shades, Mariah and Misty come to terms with the previous night's events, Bushmaster searches for a way to boost his strength. | |||||
|
For Pete's Sake | 2.09 | June 22, 2018 | Matt Owens & Ian Stokes | Clark Johnson |
| Hunkered down in a makeshift safe house, Luke and Misty butt heads over how to handle Mariah. Meanwhile, long-buried family secrets come to light. | |||||
|
The Main Ingredient | 2.10 | June 22, 2018 | Akela Cooper | Andy Goddard |
| Danny Rand insists on helping Luke hunt for Bushmaster -- the Iron Fist way. Mariah sets out to reclaim her empire. Misty pursues a traitor. | |||||
|
The Creator | 2.11 | June 22, 2018 | Nicole Mirante-Matthews and Matthew Lopes | Stephen Surjik |
| Shaken by Mariah's latest act, Luke combs the city for a witness. Flashbacks reveal a fateful encounter between the Stokes and McIver families. | |||||
|
Can't Front on Me | 2.12 | June 22, 2018 | Aida Mashaka Croal | Everardo Gout |
| Luke teams up with an unlikely ally to combat a new strain of heroin. As Shades plows ahead with his plan, a massive party draws everyone to the club. | |||||
|
They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) | 2.13 | June 22, 2018 | Cheo Hodari Coker | Alex Garcia Lopez |
| Mariah adapts to her new circumstances and goes to extremes to cover her tracks. Luke takes a new approach to protecting Harlem. | |||||
Trivia[]
- Every episode of season two is named after a song of the rap duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth.
Music[]
| Song title | Artist | Location(s) |
|---|---|---|
| I Ain't No Joke | Eric B. & Rakim |
|
| Ante Up | M.O.P. |
|
| Ready or Not | Fugees |
|
Video[]
Trailer[]
Other[]
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