promising concept, bad execution

Superpowers. Conspiracy. Corruption. Romance. Fighting. Voodoo. Marvel's Cloak & Dagger has it all, but is that a blessing or a curse? In this unique take on the superhero genre, Tandy Bowen (Olivia Holt) and Tyrone Johnson (Aubrey Joseph)'s fates are intertwined when the explosion of an oil rig many years ago changes their futures. The first season of Cloak & Dagger has our protagonists investigating what really caused the explosion and the reason for their powers.

the review

I want to start by praising the co-stars. Olivia Holt and Tyrone Johnson do a phenomenal job in their roles and have great chemistry with each other. Their interactions are memorable, yet the frequency of them was lacking. Like many Marvel shows, most early episodes were made to structure the rest of the show. Our protagonists encounter each other early on, but it is not until later that the pacing kicks up, and they start spending time together. Many things play to the show's advantage. Unlike most in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the show takes place in New Orleans. This is a breath of fresh air compared to the usual area of Manhattan. The choice of location is optimal as the directors put the city's rich history and culture front and center. As well, these characters felt like they were from New Orleans.

One of the most refreshing aspects of the series is the diversity. The show explores themes of racial injustice and police brutality. Tyrone's primary motivation is trying to find his brother's killer, a police officer who wrongfully shot at him and covered it up. While the directors did a phenomenal job of portraying this through the anxiety of Tyrone's parents and how Tyrone is treated by his classmates and the police, this commentary takes a backseat later in the show. While this should not be a problem, it is tied directly in with the character's motivation. Many concerns are left unanswered. I'm not asking that a character complete their full arc within the first season, but it would be nice for it not to be left behind.

If you read the title of this article, you know that I feel let down by the show. Let me explain why. I mentioned pacing earlier, but what I omitted was that the first season is ten episodes, and it starts to become interesting at around the seventh. Up until this point, we see the characters explore their powers by chance, then all of a sudden, they have mastery over them. Tyrone is the Cloak. His darkness can consume, and he can teleport. Tandy harnesses light and can use it as a "Dagger." Individually, they are weak, and they must rely on one another. I find this concept unique and engaging. However, their powers operate in a bizarre fashion, where the audience is not brought in on their overall level.

We don't observe their progression with powers. Instead, the show spends a lot of time on the backstory and personal character development. The explosion haunts the two protagonists, and rightfully so. However, the directors chose that trope as a main focus for their growth. In theory, this works, but this is not the only genre trope the show fell into. The conspiracy is created by the prototypical "giant evil corporation" that had to cover their tracks, the police are either corrupt or blind, and our characters are all alone against the world. While the show focused on story and characters, the fighting was a bit lackluster. We did not experience much action until the later episodes, and even then, the choreography and timing were uncharacteristic of Marvel. Additionally, the stellar CGI Marvel is known for is not present at all in this show. Nothing really stood out to me and there were moments where I questioned whether Marvel truly had a hand in this.

Continuing on the theme of disappointment, I direct your attention to the music. The season one soundtrack is filled with incredible artists such as The Siege, Bea Miller, and many more. And yet the scenes in which they are played are quickly forgotten. These artists and songs evoke many powerful emotional states and feelings, "The Siege" are even known for their empowering lyrics, yet the music fades away into the background.