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WARNING: This article contains spoilers (up to episode eight) of the Netflix series Luke Cage
IN THE PAST, on-screen superheroes have been a symbol for being different, and for being a good person who makes the right decisions.
Netflix’s Marvel series has shaken that up a bit.
In introducing us to heroes such as Matt Murdock (aka Daredevil) and Jessica Jones, superheroes have been brought back to their comic book origins – and live in the space between what’s good and what’s bad.
Luke Cage is the third part of the Netflix Defenders series, and two of the reasons it stands apart from other supernatural adventures is the complexity of its characters and the seriousness of its storylines.
Not only does it force us to think about what is really the right thing to do, it also puts real-life issues in front of us; unusual for a mode of entertainment that mostly deals in a good dose of escapism.
With this in mind, we’ve taken a look at the key issues that have emerged from the Luke Cage series that are all-too close to real life.
1. Rebuilding a disadvantaged area
The Luke Cage series is set in Harlem; an area of poverty, of crime and of little opportunities, and where ‘everyone has someone in prison’. In the first episode, (last spoiler alert!) three youths interrupt a serious gun deal in order to make some money for themselves, which is the catalyst for the entire plot.
The barber ‘Pop’ is motivated by reform of the area’s youth – he sees boys getting caught up in crime and gang activities, and seeks to help them by offering people – like Chico – a job and a refuge from the bullets, the thefts and drug use. He himself is the product of a man who has changed his life around – and his eagerness to help others is what gets him killed.
Councilwoman Mariah Dillard is trying to revive the disadvantaged area on a grander scale – offering opportunities to the area’s youth and building affordable housing for the area. The problem is, she’s using illegal money to get it.
Her and her cousin, the crime boss Cottonmouth, represent what the youth of the community are forced into turning into if left without supports or help. Cottonmouth in particular, represents a man with talents, with opportunities, who was forced down a path through necessity and a history of crime in his family.
Luke Cage, meanwhile, represents the superhuman solution – a bulletproof, ethical beast with incredible strength and a polite but outspoken nature. He is also looking to rebuild Harlem into something more hopeful, through eliminating the crime bosses and cutting off the funding for political corruption.
The timing of this series is integral to its power – released at the tail-end of a presidential election where prejudice and hate have featured heavily, and where mass protests have been taking place all across America because of a lack of justice felt by the black community against their police force.
Amid all of this, Luke Cage is a powerful, inspiring, and untouchable figure, who reminds the audience that ‘standing up to bad people, even when they’re a friend’ is a real sign of courage.
2. A poorly-paid police force
One of the most surefire ways to undermine the effectiveness of a police force is for their government to underpay them. In the Luke Cage series (and Daredevil), police are bribed into turning a blind eye, to acquit members accused of crimes, and to smuggle out evidence – and it’s not the first series to do so.
Although it doesn’t seem to be a pressing issue in America, it is a constant problem for Nigeria’s police forces, where low pay and delays in being paid on time result in constant bribes from the terrorist organisation Boko Haram, which have gained enormous ground and control of the area.
Earlier this year there were reports of prison guards blowing up prison walls so that members of Boko Haram serving prison sentences could escape.
3. Gun regulation
In the wake of the Orlando shootings, the issue of gun regulation was revisited in America. People were angry that the laws were so lax for those with a history of violence or mental health issues and wanted improved background checks.
The number of accidental deaths involving guns was also an issue – at least 199 shootings by children have occurred in America so far this year because people had failed to lock up their guns properly, or were in the process of teaching their child to use them.
This is portrayed in the story of Detective Scarfe, the corrupt policeman who lost his son in a gun accident, “who’s always laughing, but never smiles – there’s a difference”.
4. The ‘n’ word
Luke Cage is about the black community: the heroes are black, the villains are black, the ordinary people, the powerful leaders, the music and the language is based on black culture, and makes it clear how unique and separate is from anything else.
One of the more controversial aspects of this that is addressed is the use of the ‘n’ word. It’s history is as a derogatory term, used by white people when the black community were treated as an army of slaves (see Django Unchained for most frequent use of the word). Now some members of the black community use it as you would ‘brother’ – to show camaraderie and solidarity and even an understanding of what happened in the past.
Luke Cage doesn’t see it like that.
In one of the most powerful moments of the series, a young boy puts a gun to his head and calls him the ‘n’ word. Cage turns around and gives him a Martin-Luther King-esque speech on freedom, respect and black history – spine-tingling.
Although the meaning of words are always in flux, the suggestion is that this word and the use of it, will forever represent oppression and disrespect of the black community.
5. Sexual Assault
This issue is only mentioned briefly, but it deals with many of the root problems to do with sexual assault. Councilwoman Dillard recalls the moment she was a teenage girl, and when her uncle Pete abused her.
His defence that “it was only a game” and “we laughed about it”, and her cousin’s accusations that “you were always flirting with him” and “you were asking for it”, are all echoes of the kind of accusations that secual assault victims can face.
In an even more grim scene, Dillard’s grandmother realises what’s happening, and sends her to boarding school to ‘keep her away from Pete’ – in a move that mirrors the reaction of the Church to cases of sexual assault.
In the end, what motivates her grandmother to take action is Pete’s betrayal of the business, instead of the sexual assault itself.
The long-term effect of rape when justice isn’t served is apparent in the way that Dillard reacts to the accusations that she was ‘asking for it’ – a murderous, livid reaction which results in her turning on her cousin, and killing the only strong relationship she seemed to have.
Self-sought Justice
The topic of justice and the ethical value of vigilantes, is a theme that runs through and fuels the entire Defenders series.
Jessica Jones doesn’t pursue justice for herself, and it leads to the destruction of another person’s life, which is why she decides to pursue her arch-nemesis.
Matt Murdock and Luke Cage beat the bad guys up, but don’t kill people as they feel it’s unethical – but The Punisher, another vigilante who kills his enemies and anyone else who gets in his way, even questions that, when he says:
“You hit them and they get back up, I hit them and they stay down.”
The Defender series is more powerful than any other superhero group, as the only-slightly superhuman foursome forces us to question: who exactly should we be rooting for?
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Thank you Deirdre! And agree with everything you’ve said
Just want to say , THANK YOU for your return to help us ALL in the long run .
Totally agree, combined with the increase in hand washing it would definitely help. I’d go as far as to suggest that it becomes mandatory in all places of work and public places. I work as a garda and our police force should be setting an example with mandatory wearing of ppe while on duty. Every bit helps. Stay safe
@Alan Campbell: Isn’t it a little unsettling how so many people end a sentence with the words “stay safe” these days. I agree with you, I think we as a society should adapt to wearing masks right now and especially those who deal with the public, emergency services, healthcare workers, shop assistants etc. As the author said, there’s ample evidence from societies who do wear masks that indicates significantly less of their healthcare workers become infected. This is something worth paying attention to.
I can’t help but get the impression that the decision not to have healthcare workers wear masks here was a political rather than medical one. There simply wasn’t enough masks available for the tens of thousands of healthcare staff, bearing in mind they’d have to be changed at least every half hour. I’m sure someone said they didn’t want to scare people by seeing health staff wearing masks, although this is nonsense, it’s a common sight in any hospital to see medical staff in scrubs, gowns and masks.
It’s been reported from other countries in Europe who bought PPE and test kits from China they had to reject them as they were substandard. On tonights RTÉ news we were told the PPE we bought recently from China may be different from what we’re used to, it’ll work, but be “different”. Draw your own conclusions.
I am also a nurse on the frontline. I have accepted that I am inevitably going to get covid19 at some point. We are being told that we are not allowed to wear a mask, let alone PPE for suspected contact cases unless they have symptoms. It IS virtually impossible to maintain social distancing from patients when you have to personally assist and examine them. Many patients ARE contacting Covid 19 within the hospital setting. I firmly believe that healthcare workers are a link in the spread of this virus, to no fault of our own. Our hands are red raw and broken from washing. PPE and masks are being locked away and there is almost an inquisition into why we request it. Why ask our community to sacrifice so much in their lives when we as healthcare workers cannot protect them!
@Gwen Murphy:
No wonder 25% of cases to date are actually healthcare workers, as reported yesterday. You’re not even given protective equipment.
Dr Holohan also said that only 20% of healthcare workers with the virus picked it up in work, the remainder (80%) are as a result of travel or in the community. That brings the overall tally to less than 5% in real terms. It is expected that the proportion of healthcare workers infected will fall overall as the travel ban and social distancing measures kick in.
Fair play for coming back and don’t worry, very few of those returning are being placed on isolation wards, there are still plenty of other sick people that need your care.
@Pharmy: Ah well, as long as you are happy with those statistics that’s what counts.
@Pharmy: Healthcare workers on isolation wards will often use the same facilities as others, same canteen, elevators and other facilities within the hospital, labs etc. They can’t teleport in and out of their work area.
@Pharmy: I am also a nurse on the frontline. I have accepted that I am inevitably going to get covid19 at some point. We are being told that we are not allowed to wear a mask, let alone PPE for suspected contact cases unless they have symptoms. It IS virtually impossible to maintain social distancing from patients when you have to personally assist and examine them. Many patients ARE contacting Covid 19 within the hospital setting. I firmly believe that healthcare workers are a link in the spread of this virus, to no fault of our own. Our hands are red raw and broken from washing. PPE and masks are being locked away and there is almost an inquisition into why we request it. Why ask our community to sacrifice so much in their lives when we as healthcare workers cannot protect them!
@Gwen Murphy: Ah but that speech.
On your side by the way, this is what happens when management who won’t be near the front line get to make the decisions for those who are.
But that speech.
@Gwen Murphy: My partner is a hca in a nursing home and tells the same story in relation to ppe.
I work in an acute hospital, I am familiar with the current situation. All those that need PPE, have it. All those who want it, do not. It’s an important distinction.
Most of our PPE is locked away and distributed on an as needed basis because of wide scale theft of this vital equipment from the hospital.
Given the huge number of workers in our hospitals and their increased risk of contracting the virus through increased exposure, keeping our number at less than 5% of the national total would be OK.
My wife has been taken out of theater and placed in a ward, she went to the ward yesterday and discovered no nurses are wearing masks or are they being given out on the ward. When she rang occupational health and she was informed that it is up to hospital management to decide on these precautions. This is wrong, if nurses are putting there health, and that of there families, at risk they should be afforded all protection. HSE must give all hospitals clear guidance on health staff protection. All patients must be assumed to be contaminated and appropriate precautions taken and enforced for health workers safety. If we fail in this we are doing these people a massive disservice.
When all of this is over and we come out the other side, please don’t forget how hard healthcare workers have worked, don’t forget the risk to our own lives, don’t forget that we continued to show up for work as this situation worsened, many of us with longterm illnesses ourselves, many of us with family members and friends who we could not see for months and months, many of us isolated and isolating so as to protect the general public, our own families and friends from the risk of contracting the virus from us, many of us losing family members, friends and colleagues and unable to attend funerals and unable to grieve properly. Please don’t forget about all of this the next time the government suggest pay cuts and job cuts for those who have protected us all.
@Sirius: Well said.
@paulmurphy
Stop making excuses there are solutions. Masks are vital to protect our frontline staff. It is a huge morale issue if healthcare workers are having to treat their colleagues.
Think outside the box. We can make our own surgical masks. For much less than the price of the Dail printer. There is currently an offer on the table. See link!
https://twitter.com/neilosands/status/1244911275060142085?s=20
@Barney Corleone: The World Heath Organisation are now changing their stance with regard to the wearing of masks, I personally have chosen to wear one since this outbreak and will continue to!
I would suggest that the author would read all the information that has been made available to healthcare workers only as late as Monday that continual wearing of surgical masks would require six changes per day to be effective and therefore is wasteful. The issue is that we are going through PPE faster than we can acquire it because of people panicking and not having all the facts about cases before donning the required PPE. The cohorting of patients in hospitals is making it easier to identify where you do and don’t need PPE. If we all start wearing masks just in case to carry out our daily tasks, there will be no PPE for when the surge happens. Spreading misinformation is worse than spreading the virus.
@Paul Murphy: Ok let’s waste lives, not masks!
@Paul Murphy: It’s not okay to “waste” masks but it’s okay to let medical workers get infected and potentially die? Are you serious???
@Paul Murphy:
Stop making excuses and find solutions. Masks will save lives and should be worn. 8 per day if needs be. Protect our frontline staff.
Neil O. Sands (#AnswerIrelandsCall)
@neilosands
Has made an offer to fund and house a surgical mask manufacturing machine if aerlingus will take care of the logistics. It can produce 600 surgical masks per minute.
https://twitter.com/neilosands/status/1244911275060142085?s=20
@Barney Corleone: I’m working on the frontline…..I know what I need and waste will lead to lost lives as will misinformation. You won’t see educated hospital workers walking around with masks on
@Seriousnojoke: I’m working on the frontline…..I know what I need and waste will lead to lost lives as will misinformation. You won’t see educated hospital workers walking around with masks on. At this point more people are becoming infected in supermarkets than they are in hospitals and thats fact!
@Gwen Murphy: I’m working on the frontline…..I know what I need and waste will lead to lost lives as will misinformation. You won’t see educated hospital workers walking around with masks on.
@Paul Murphy: What a stupid comment. So your argument is that to effectively protect healthcare workers would require a lot of masks and PPE, so let’s not bother. Have you thought this through? And when the rates of those getting infected increases to 50%, who will replace them, where will they come from? You’ve just said the existing staff are disposable.
Who are you keeping the PPE for, what emergency, these people are the frontline emergency staff, there is nobody else.
@Paul Murphy: Can you explain what you mean by “educated hospital workers”?
@Paul Murphy: Then I feel very sorry for you. Truly.
Look at the medical workers infection rate in South Korea and China where wearing masks are mandatory. And look at Europe’s, in particular Italy’s and Spain’s.
Knowledge is continually being gained and updated based on evolving realities. Guidelines that worked 10 or 5 years ago may have become inept today, let alone facing a brand new epidemic.
Use your brain.
@Paul Murphy: Hi Paul. Your colleagues in ST James’s and the HCSA in the UK would disagree with you. And for good reason. Are they uneducated? https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/01/all-uk-hospital-staff-and-patients-should-wear-masks-says-doctors-group
@G Row: I would suggest you enquire to the amount of education and training that has been made available to all grades across the HSE in relation to the PPE required and the daily updates disseminated through various means to all workers. We are quite educated in the risks and requirements , yes there are shortages of certain items such as ‘Duck Bill’ FFP3 masks purely because people used the wrong masks initially and tye were no longer available , but retrospectively these masks are only required around patients that require aerosol producing interventions such as intubation.
@Arch Angel: i didn’t say healthcare workers , like myself, are disposable, what I have said there is a responsibility to reduce waste in the equipment we will eventually require en masse when the surge appears and to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem . If we follow the education provided we will get through this. It is in the HSE’s best interest to protect its workers in the best possible way to ensure we have a functioning front line and not to have people preaching panic measure because they haven’t heeded the advice on offer.
@Barney Corleone: I really wouldn’t be taking any advice from the UK given their initial reaction to the current crises and I can’t comment on any action in any other hospital other than my own location. However I would offer that ALL of the information I have to hand is distributed on a national basis and not a local basis and St. James is indeed in the same hospital group I work in and I haven’t had any instruction that states I should be wearing PPE in all cases, I reckon if you were asked to provide documentary evidence of same you would be hard pushed to do so.
@Paul Murphy: Here you go Paul. https://twitter.com/ProfJohnCrown/status/1243698377931530242?s=09
@Paul Murphy: Management I presume?
@Barney Corleone: Thanks for that,
@G Row: don’t presume
@Paul Murphy, Bet I am right though?
@G Row: Nope
@Paul Murphy: Don’t believe you.
@Paul Murphy: so misinformed and off point. If there is enough masks for all, we should all wear masks. It’s how south Korea achieved their current status. This health care comment of “I need the mask not you” it pathetic now. Educated professionals in Korea wear masks all the time too, and I’d rate their health service around 400 times higher than Ireland. Stop spreading lies
@Paul Murphy: there are none so blind as those who will not see. Don’t waste your time on the wilfully ignorant, you have better things to do.
I fully understand the concern of the health care workers, along with the welfare of patients most of them are concerned about bringing it home to their own families.
Is the issue a global supply shortage? Genuinely is there much more anyone can do? And this not a point the already been made.
have your say