Disclaimer that I'm white and my opinion on this is worth nothing, but personally, I think that Kilgrave's racism is just another reason to hate him. He's the worst kind of villain because he sees himself as innocent, and his misogyny, racism, ableism, etc. Is there to create the worst kind of character. The narrative never really tries to justify his behaviour, or imply that what he thinks is right. I don't think the show itself is racist, I think Kilgrave is!
I think itās both. From this post.Ā
Not only did they kill Clemmons in a very graphic way, they also made Malcolm an addict because of course they did. But not even that gross, racist storyline was his. Kilgrave made him so, to get at Jessica and she, in turn, used him. She put him in danger, she mocked his sufferings and made his addiction about herself. Frankly, it was. We were never shown him actually fighting, resisting to it. He was an addict and then, he was fine. Eventually, he became the support system of Rubenās sister, another white girl willing to step on him if needs be. From beginning to end, Malcolm was a pawn and a liability, his efforts to insert himself on the narrative dismissed with a patronizing pat on the back.
Luke Cage got off worse. This show was supposed to lead the way to his own show, premiering in Ā 2016. Luke Cage, that historical hero, impervious to bullets, whose story matters so much as of now. We were introduced with is character through Jessicaās binoculars, as she stalked him.
He is shown having sex with a black woman. Said black woman, it turned out, was cheating on her husband with him, allowing us to understand a bit more about Luke as he declines her advances. A straight-up guy, he ādoesnāt do dramaā. Never once is that woman shamed for her choices, however. Sheās confident and upfront and challenges Jessica, calling her out on her obsession with Luke. Nevertheless, she is soon forgotten, set aside to let Jessica and Lukeās story begin. She was the only black woman with a speaking role in the whole series and her potential was already conveniently abandoned before the end of the pilot.
From that moment onward, Luke is surrounded by white people. His colleague is a white guy and all his scenes are with Jessica. He has no world, no friends, no relations. He is utterly othered, rarely if ever sharing the camera with another POC and linked solely to Jessica.
Their relationship is physical, leading to many sexual scenes between the two. The spectator watches as a blooming fondness is born, a trust shared. Luke helps Jessica in many ways, his moral support giving her a drive and a new-found confidence in her abilities. That, in itself, is already symptomatic of a lack of balance in their interactions. Never once is Jessica here for him, to propel his story. So far, there is none to tell. He has no ties but her.
The truth comes out, eventually. Jessica killed his wife, a black woman once again set aside by the narrative to propel their romance. She killed her and never told him, even though she knew who he was. She tricked him, abused of his trust and only came clean because she had to. Luke doesnāt shy from stating how violated he feels, how betrayed. He is completely disgusted with the very though of having slept with his wifeās murderer, showing to the spectator how wrong Jessicaās actions were. Jessica raped him and there is nothing more painful to watch than his face as he realises what sheās done. Mike Colter plays it with such intensity and raw pain, itās unbearable.
His plight doesnāt end here, however. Kilgrave finds him and learns about is relationship with Jessica. Because they could, the writers didnāt refrain from showing the former bewildered with the very idea of their Ā interracial entanglement, referring to it as a āpity shagā. He proceeds to take control of Luke, unbeknownst to the spectator. Throughout a whole episode, Luke is literally forced by the narrative to forgive Jessica, to stay near her and to offer his moral support, once more. He has no choice, no say in this. Yet, we are never showed that. His turmoil remains silent, the focus staying on Jessica and her relief at being once again the receptacle of Lukeās affection. His story and feelings are of little consequence. He is pushed back in the arms of his aggressor, by Kilgrave but also by the narrative. That state of helplessness, which is so often described as traumatizing and painful, holds only emotional weight when Jessica learns that him forgiving her wasnāt real. The consequences on his mental well-being arenāt worth dwelling into because, as per usual, only Jessica and their ship matter.
Knocked unconscious for the entirety of the finale (!!!!), Luke is powerless as Jessica holds him, kisses him and professes her love. Once again, he is but a silent witness, a barely consenting participant in that poor excuse for romance.
This show is racist and romanticizes the abuse of black people. And thatās not right in the slightest.
If we are divorcing the writers from character narratives the bold parts are the writers racism and anti-blackness. But they kinda intermingle with the character narratives.
