Luke Cage showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker has revealed the episode titles for season 2, and just as expected, they're all tied to the show's distinctive music.
The soundtrack for Luke Cage season 1 was universally praised, creating a strong sense of place and developing the world of Marvel's bulletproof man. That means the pressure's on to ensure the soundtrack for season 2 is just as soulful and distinctive. Fortunately, Marvel has hired composer Adrian Younge, who's definitely up for the task. But it looks as though music will do more than simply create the show's unique tone and style; it will also give the series its episode titles.
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And now, Luke Cage showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker has taken to Twitter to reveal the episode titles for season 2. Every one of them is lifted straight from a classic song.
Not much is known about the plot of season 2, which will presumably see Luke continue his vendetta with Black Mariah, but will also introduce major new villains such as Bushmaster. No doubt there'll be a plot twist around episode 7 or episode 8; that seems to be be the norm for a Marvel Netflix show.
These episode titles - which are mostly lifted from songs by Pete Rock and C. L. Smooth - may be our first real hint as to the show's general plot. The first episode title, "Soul Brother #1," is clearly intended as a celebration of Luke's return; the song's lyrics seem so very appropriate for Mike Colter's Luke Cage. "I hit harder than a kick, quick to scoop a chick," the song declares. Naturally, "I Get Physical" probably refers to an action sequence, with Luke stepping up to take on the threats. The lyrics for that song suggest a threat from out-of-town that causes problems "off the wicked streets of New York."
The most concerning episode title, though, is the final one; "They Reminisce Over You." That song was partly an opportunity for the musicians to look back at friends from their childhood who had passed away. It suggests that somebody Luke is close to will die by the end of the series, most likely Rosario Dawson's popular Claire Temple. Although Dawson was a regular recurring character in the first phase of Marvel Netflix shows, the actress has recently suggested she's unsure of her future with Marvel. "I don’t know if I’ll be back after this, to be honest," she explained in a recent interview. "My daughter is in high school, so I kinda wanna not be 3,000 miles away for work." Her rationale is completely understandable, given the commute from Los Angeles to New York is a long one, so it may be that Luke Cage season 2 is the end of Claire Temple's story.
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Luke Cage season 2 debuts June 22 on Netflix.
Source: Cheo Hodari Coker