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This is especially true for Misty Knight, the intelligent and badass detective brought to life by Simone Missick.
Misty is a basketball player, has been her whole life, and was successful at that.
Then she became a detective.
She obviously used her keen instincts and intelligence, but its also a physically taxing profession.
So, what is your life like when you no longer have that as your identity?
I assumed that it was going to be with a prosthetic arm and shes going to be kicking ass.
Instead, her first fight is her with one arm.
It was such an amazing gift to watch her go to throw that punch and her arm isnt there.
Theres this moment at the end of the season where Misty goes to arrest Shades.
She knows that he is responsible for a lot of death and a lot of pain in her community.
But I, as the actor, cried because all of the loss.
That death was covered up and her life was never avenged.
In that moment, I cried.
I remember the director being like, I dont really know if thats appropriate.
It would have come across quite differently with Misty crying.Its just a heartbreaking moment.
It goes into the idea of, who looks out for black women?
Who is avenging our murders?
Who is fighting for justice for us?
About midway though the season, Misty finally gets her bionic arm.
Can you talk about her relationship with her body?Mistys identity is so tied to her physical capabilities.
Shes a woman whose very confident in her body.
One of the things that was such a gift to explore in season one was Mistys sexuality.
I think that it takes a special person to still feel like themselves after losing a limb.
I did a lot of reading and watched a lot of documentaries.
Her fighting and fighting style is a gift to watch.
Its not her show, and shes not about to let that deter her from making the moment special.
You have these two women fighting side by side, but not in the way that you expect.
Are you going to stay down or are you going to get up?
Lets talk about the season finale.
What does that say about their relationship?That moment was crafted 100 percent by Cheo, our showrunner.
Its really setting us up for what that will be in season three, whenever that comes to pass.
Mistys smarter than that.
Luke Cagepremiered before the amazing success ofBlack Pantherand before other superhero shows likeBlack Lightning.
What do you feel it adds to the pop-culture landscape?Well, we were the first.
I think it only helps to have more of these.
There is enough sun for us all to sit in.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
