You'll Need More Heroes To Watch After 'Luke Cage'

Netflix's latest Marvel series, Luke Cage, just premiered on Sept. 30, and even before its debut, the series had audiences excited. It features heart-stopping action scenes, dynamic characters, a rich world of good and evil, and more, so like any Netflix series, it should be easy to marathon. Once we've burned through all of the first season, the question becomes, will Luke Cage return for Season 2 and give us something to look forward to? Though nothing has been confirmed yet, the chances are extremely high.

The character of Luke Cage was first introduced to TV audiences on Jessica Jones, which was renewed for a second season two months after its premiere. Netflix's Daredevil was renewed for a third season this summer and a character from its second, the Punisher, will be getting his own show. We'll also be meeting Iron Fist on Netflix soon and eventually, these heroes will come together for a Defenders series. All of this is to say that there are big plans for the Netflix Marvel universe, so no one should be worried about the future of Luke Cage. Really, a second season is more of a matter of "when" than "if."

Unfortunately, I do not have the same level of confidence in when a potential second season would premiere as I do in the series being renewed. Jessica Jones released its first season in November 2015 and according to The Hollywood Reporter, it won't return until after The Defenders, which won't premiere until 2017. Daredevil only had a little less than a year between seasons, but with so many other Marvel series now in the works, I think it will be a while before we see Luke Cage again. Luckily, there are a lot of other superhero series that you can watch while you wait for official news of whether Luke Cage will return, and then for another season.

Jessica Jones

This is an obvious supplement to Luke Cage. Mike Colter's version of the character began on this fellow Netflix series, so if you haven't watched it already, you should right now. Jessica Jones centers around the titular (former) hero who starts a detective agency and tries to stop villain Kilgrave, with whom she has a traumatic past. It's dark and gritty with noir influences, and uses the dynamic between Jessica and Kilgrave to address domestic abuse.

Daredevil

Though not as directly connected to Luke Cage as Jessica Jones, Daredevil shares many of the same ingredients. A lead with a complicated history? Check. Fighting crime in a city that is plagued by hardship and evil? Check. A rich superhero world where there's a large grey area between good and evil? Check. Plus, it's where Claire Temple got her start.

Arrow

Once you've finished all of the Netflix superhero shows, turn to The CW for Arrow, which brings DC Comics characters to TV. Arrow also features a complicated lead that walks the line between hero and antihero and excels at using flashbacks to tell the current story. telling the story using flashbacks. Arrow will start its fifth season on Oct. 5, and you can watch past seasons on Netflix.

The Flash

While very different in tone, The Flash is another DC character come to life on The CW. It has a mix of comedy and drama that gives it a lighter tone than its counterparts, but still creates a rich world and poses questions about what it means to be a hero. Its second season begins on Oct. 4 and you can find previous seasons on Netflix.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D

As ABC's take on the Marvel, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D follows a team of former S.H.I.E.L.D. agents — including Phil Coulson — as they fight the world's evils. Like Luke Cage, it has many connections to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and features some misunderstood heroes who are often incorrectly painted as the bad guys. The fourth season is currently airing on ABC and you can find past seasons on Netflix.

Heroes

This last pick is a throwback. Heroes was an NBC series that told the story of regular people who discovered that they had abilities. While not adapted from any Marvel or DC comic books, it does feature regular people dealing with superhero-like powers and has many twists and turns So once you have your fill of comic book adaptations, travel back to 2010 on Netflix and watch some Heroes.

Hopefully, this list will help you fill the void of Luke Cage, which not be guaranteed a second season yet, but will likely return to Netflix once his fellow heroes have continued their stories.

Images: Miles Aronowitz (2), Patrick Harbron/Netflix; Bettina Strauss, Katie Yu/The CW; Matthias Clamer/ABC; NBC