Luke Cage heavily centers its narrative on identity, particularly race, sometimes at the expense of broader character depth or universal storytelling. Some storylines and character choices feel constructed specifically to foreground social commentary over organic narrative development. The focus on representation is clear, occasionally pushing heavy-handed moments that disrupt immersion.

The show consistently critiques traditional authority figures and social structures. Masculinity is mostly presented in a redefined, modernized sense, with classic tropes subverted. Family, community, and religion are explored, though often as sources of conflict or as needing reform. Traditional values rarely escape criticism.

There’s little genuine exploration of viewpoints outside the show’s preferred ideological frame. Most traditional or dissenting characters are relegated to antagonistic or outdated roles, rarely afforded complexity. The series strongly reinforces one moral outlook, making alternative perspectives seem either villainous or irrelevant.