Luke Cage Recap: Episode 4 - Step In The Arena

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Finally fans get to see just how Luke Cage became the superhero with superhuman strength and superhuman swag.

Last we saw of our hero he tried to block a missile to the back like the cornerback on your favorite team. Now he finds himself trying to dig himself and an injured Mrs. Wu out of the rubble that Cottonmouth left him to die in.

While Detective Misty Knight continues to look for evidence to connect Cottonmouth to the explosion in Harlem, Cage is using his superhuman strength to move tons of debris while reminiscing on the days when he was an ordinary man with enough hair on his head to make Colin Kaepernick jealous.

Here’s a quick recap of Marvel’s Luke Cage Episode 4: Step In The Arena.

Luke Was Caged

It turns out that not only was our newest favorite hero once locked up in the state of Georgia, but he was also a police officer before ending up in the clink. During the flashback stint we learn that the man formerly known as Carl Lucas was set up (how we don’t know) and had no intentions on making any friends behind bars because of the possibility of getting stabbed in the back. Eventually he warmed up to prison OG, Poet, ahem, we mean Squabbles, and ended up falling for the prison therapist…

Dr. Reva Connors

Yes, she’s yet another beautiful woman who’s caught Carl’s eye and the feeling is indeed mutual (we ’bout to start hating on this man). As a matter of fact, we all love her right about now. Working under the watchful eye of the prison doctor, Bernstein, Ms. Connors and Cage grow fond of each other, but Lucas’s love affair is short lived as a crooked CO named Rackham has big plans for the big man.

Fight Club

After having a quick brouhaha with Rackham’s henchmen, Shades (remember him) and another doja, Rackham tries to recruit Carl to his underground prison fight club with promises of perks and even that thing that Donald Trump likes to grab when women least expect it. Naturally Lucas scoffs at the idea but after putting the squeeze on him by threatening the life of his homeboy Squabbles, Lucas obliges on the condition that Squabbles be there with him every step of the way. Friends, how many of us have them?

Seagate Experimentations

Rumors about human experimentation on inmates in order to get reduced sentences were the talk of the mess hall. Though Dr. Reva Connors gave her word that there were no human experimentations going on at Seagate, inmates remain skeptical and believe the rumor held some water to it.

Warning

Carl’s domination of the underground fighting circuit has him turning into a monster and Rackham knows he needs to check him. To do so he threatens harm to Dr. Reva Connors should he get out of pocket. Naturally Lucas warns her of the looming danger and spills the beans about the whole underground operation in hopes of getting some outside help from his lawyer. Damn, the audacity of hope.

Betrayal

With grand ideas of bringing down Rackham and his operation, Lucas lets Squabbles in on his master plan. Unfortunately prison guards beat the truth out of Squabbles, along with his life (this is why Carl didn’t want to make any friends to being with). Shades and his man proceed to beat Lucas within an inch of his life with the help of some makeshift brass knuckles and a metal bar.

Reborn

At the request of Dr. Reva Connors (yeah she knew about everything), Dr. Bernstein gives a bloodied up and battered Carl Lucas a new lease on life when he throws him into a chemical bath used to heal wounded warriors. This didn’t sit well with Rackham who tried to shut down the process only to cause a massive explosion. While Rackham and Bernstein died in the blast, Carl not only survived but was enhanced by the incident and used his newfound superhuman abilities to literally break out of prison. His old school Luke Cage outfit was also a nice little easter egg.

My Name Is

Dr. Connors seems intent on helping Carl move forward with his life. First they need to come up with a new name for the fugitive. Drawing inspiration from his father the preacher man and the gospel of Luke 4:18, Carl decides that the moniker of Luke Cage would suit his new purpose in life just right. Back in the present Luke’s able to power himself out of the rubble that Cottonmouth’s missile attack caused but before he can walk away from the ruins television camera crews ask him who he is. He simply replies, “Luke Cage.” Cottonmouth isn’t gonna like this sh*t.