Originally written August 6, 2018

I think it’s absolutely crazy that we’re in the age of superhero adaptations where we’re to the point that heroes as obscure as Cloak and Dagger have gotten their own TV show now. I can definitely recognize that the market is extremely saturated at this point, so I do want to preface all of this by saying that I’d completely understand if someone didn’t want to watch Cloak and Dagger, considering how many other options are out there. Do I think that Cloak and Dagger is the best of the best? No, it’s not. If you generally don’t watch superhero shows, there are quite a few others I would recommend over this. However, do I think that Cloak and Dagger is worth watching? Absolutely. It’s just more the kind of show that I would recommend to people who love superhero shows rather than to the general population.

Considering I never had any exposure to the characters before, I was actually really interested in the dynamic and story of Cloak and Dagger. Basically, the opening scene of the first episode gives you the backstory you need. When they were kids, Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Johnson both experienced tragedy on the same night. A rig explosion caused Tandy’s father to crash his car and die, while Tyrone’s brother was unjustly shot by a dirty cop. Both of these kids, unknown to each other, get caught in a river as the rig explodes, and so they wind up gaining powers from this. However, their powers work in a symbiotic way, and so neither of them know that they have powers until they encounter each other eight years later. Tandy has become a bit of a con artist living on the streets, while Tyrone struggles to try to be perfect for his parents since he feels he needs to live for both he and his brother. When the two encounter each other, they discover that they have the powers of light and darkness. Tandy can create light daggers and see a person’s deepest hopes, while Tyrone can teleport and see a person’s deepest fears. Both kids try to use their powers to seek justice for the people that were taken from them eight years ago, while being drawn to each other through the tragedies they’re both familiar with.

Undoubtedly, Cloak and Dagger’s biggest strength lies in its leads. The characters of Tandy and Tyrone are extremely interesting to follow, and have a lot of depth to their personalities. Their story is well-developed throughout the season, and the show wouldn’t be nearly as good as it is if it wasn’t for the great protagonists we have to follow. These characters are well-written, but another big part of their charm lies in the people playing them. Olivia Holt and Aubrey Joseph feel extremely well-cast, and bring a lot of life to the characters they’re playing. I always wanted to see what would happen next for them, and a big part of that is because of their performances.

The big thing that most people might criticize the show for is its pacing. The show moves along at a really slow pace, especially in its first few episodes. I never found it boring or anything because of how interesting the story is, but considering the season is only 10 episodes long, it is noticeable when you’re halfway through it and realize how slowly it’s progressed. While this does work against the show at times, it also does work in the show’s favor at times too. I’ve had problems with other shows speeding through their story too quickly or not taking enough time to handle their plot lines with finesse, and this just definitely isn’t the case with Cloak and Dagger. Quite the opposite, actually. For example, a big problem superhero movies and shows often have is that it feels like the heroes get the hang of their powers way too quickly. They might falter once or twice, but then suddenly they wind up being pros. However, Tandy and Tyrone learn to use their powers in a very organic way here. While Tandy gets the hang of it quicker than Tyrone, it takes quite a few episodes for them to get a hold on things, and even then they’re not always perfect. The other great example I felt is that a lot of times in superhero properties, a character’s quest for “justice” can come off more as a glorified revenge scenario. Here, Cloak and Dagger earns its sense of justice, with Tandy and Tyrone’s intentions feeling pure and their journey for justice feeling natural.

All in all though, while it might not be my absolute favorite superhero shows going on right now, I really liked Cloak and Dagger. One thing I really appreciate about it is its tone. Sometimes I feel like the Marvel Netflix shows can be a bit too dark and serious, so it can be a bit draining to just watch them all the time. Then you have Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which is an extremely light and easy show to watch, so sometimes that can leave you wanting something more serious. Cloak and Dagger is somewhere in the middle, which I’m really thankful for. Again, it’s becoming increasingly hard to recommend certain superhero shows anymore considering just how many there are these days. So, I won’t lie and say that Cloak and Dagger is a must-watch, but for what it’s worth I think it’s really great. You don’t NEED to see it, but if you choose to you’re in for a really good treat.

4/5