Cloak and Dagger Season 2 Episode 10 Review: Level Up
Justin Carreiro
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We've made it, Marvel's Cloak & Dagger fans! The battle for the future of New Orleans was sung with the sweet jazzy tunes from Andre's trumpet.
The nefarious new Loa has put his plan into effect on Cloak and Dagger Season 2 Episode 10. His music slowly captivated and kidnapped unsuspecting victims, but our trusted heroes weren't going to let that plan go on for much longer.
Cloak and Dagger Season 2's finale is going bigger and better in the Darkforce, but did it leave us with despair or were we filled with glowing hope?
"Level Up" followed Tandy and Tyrone's intense confrontation against the Big Bad of Cloak and Dagger Season 2. The fight balanced the need to stop Andre's ego-centric villainy while also showcasing how the pair overcame their own internalized fears.
Having the final hour continue with these themes, and guide both Tandy and Tyrone into the superheroes they were meant to be, helped to close off this chapter on a positive and hopeful note.
Tandy and Tyrone needed to face these hurdles if they were ever going to grow, even if those hurdles were ones they built inward. The same goes for the supporting characters as well, like Mayhem/Brigid, Adina, Melissa, Mina, and so forth.
Andre took on that role; both physically and supernaturally with his powers. Now that he's out of the way, Marvel's Cloak & Dagger is entering the next phase of its characters' development.
In particular, overcoming the stigma and fear of the past was a common thread that tied many of the characters together.
Mina finding peace over becoming a Terror, Delgado finding forgiveness, and Mayhem coming to terms with Fuchs' death were plots that achieved optimistic resolutions. With despair in the air (or after being resolved), the characters faced the pain that burrowed deep within them for so long.
And the resolutions from the season finale were in addition to the endings that progressed during Marvel's Cloak & Dagger's sophomore run.
For example, the connected journey of Adina's and Connors' stories. Connors overcame his villainous past to seek redemption and do some good to make up for the evil he caused. While Adina, on the other hand, faced the pain head-on in the form of Connors to close the book on her fear.
I enjoyed this ongoing theme because it stayed consistent through its many forms. And with Tandy and Tyrone being the heroes of light and shadow (i.e., hope and fear), that connection suited the tone of the story.
These endings, while not always resolved in the best ways, showcased that hope is stronger than despair. Even in the darkest depths, there is a light that can shine through.
Plus, with Andre being the embodiment of despair, defeating him was the perfect symbolic victory.
In the case of Tandy and Tyrone, taking their journey to the Darkforce to face Andre helped them more than they even realized.
Being forced to battle within the Darkforce left the pair at a disadvantage since anything could happen in this evil dimension. With Andre now acting as a god, he had the upper hand with stronger powers and control.
Evita: First, we look at the past.
[Evita deals out the cards]
Evita: Ancient Loa made rare allowing responsible mortals into their ranks.
[She deals more cards]
Evita: It seems some force has been given all the power with none of the responsibility.
Tandy: That would be Andre.
Evita: Despair. That’s all I see in his future.
Plus, as more people fell victim to Andre's spell, his energy increased. Seeing unsuspecting victims, like Mina, the getaway driver, and the cop, be ripped from their normal lives showcased how powerful he was becoming.
If the pair hadn't stopped him when they did, Andre's song would've kidnapped every single person in New Orleans.
He set the battlefield, he directed the progression and the movement, and he had the leverage. However, his ego didn't take into account the human spirit. His control inadvertently taught the heroes how to conquer their inner foes.
Nathan Bowen being Tandy's final boss battle symbolized a climax that took two years in the making.
Tandy's development since Cloak and Dagger Season 1 Episode 1 tied closely to the heartache and resentment that stemmed from her father's actions. Everything goes back to Nathan; his death, his abuse, and his lies negatively impacted Tandy's life.
Related: Cloak and Dagger Season 2 Episode 9 Review: Blue Note
And ever since the truth came out, Tandy's impulse to stop abusers and criminals kicked into overdrive due to the guilt of not stopping her father. Her coming face-to-face with that guilt (i.e., Nathan) was the ending she needed to reach.
I liked that Tandy refused to listen to any of Nathan's excuses.
This version of Tandy was a stark contrast to the Tandy of Cloak and Dagger Season 1. Every time he tried to give his side of the story or play on her emotions, she dished out a retort to shut him down. Nathan couldn't prey on her old memories; Tandy knew of his monstrous side.
Even though she fought admirably against him, her crowning moment has to be the Zorro sign-off.
Tandy's white dagger turning into a sword signified her transformation into a mature hero. A "warrior," if you will. She faced the demons and fought the enemies to come out on top as a stronger and hopeful person.
Since she found the courage to face her biggest regret (i.e., Nathan), her powers reached a new level we hadn't witnessed yet. And sending Nathan into the darkness was her biggest accomplishment to date.
Back in the day when we used to play the clubs, you never knew who would walk in the door and jam with you. Ms. Bowen and Mr. Johnson, I appreciate your enthusiasm and your effort to make your way here, but ain’t no geek off the street can just jump in and jam with me anymore.
Andre
Though, slashing Zorro's "Z" on Nathan's shirt was a tad ... cheesy.
The one-liner was cute, but adding in the whole explanation of classifying Nathan hammered this joke in a little too much. The TV show really wanted Tandy to have a clever moment to finish off Nathan.
Tyrone, on the other hand, faced a doppelganger of his preppy and privileged past. His inner demon stemmed from squandering all the opportunities he had in life due to the mistakes he made within the last year.
Marvel's Cloak & Dagger missed a big opportunity to make Tyrone's final boss battle either Billy or Connors.
Even though he was hard on himself, a majority of his problems can be traced back to what happened at the pier. Tyrone felt guilty over letting down Billy, and he blamed Connors for the pain he experienced in life, regardless that they found peace near the end.
Related: Cloak and Dagger Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Two Player
Connecting the inner turmoil back to one of them would've had the same impact as Tandy's situation. Their connected stories should have found faced the same obstacles to showcase the power/impact of the oil rig explosion.
Though, I do appreciate the metaphor of Tyrone beating himself up over his guilt. (Which is very meta and psychological in a way.)
I guess it goes to show that it's true that your own worst enemy can be yourself.
Still, Marvel's Cloak & Dagger made the right choice by utilizing the bond between Tandy and Tyrone to save the day. Once the pair came together, they found the strength to defeat their inner foes and Andre.
This theme has been the ongoing thread that has connected the series overall.
Even in the darkness, Andre's powers couldn't keep them from reuniting. They broke through every wall and barrier to come together and assess the situation. And when they decided to fight each other's baddies instead, that moment summed up their relationship.
Tandy and Tyrone, regardless of their pain, will be there to help one another in the thick of things. That's one of the reasons why I love Marvel's Cloak & Dagger; the bond of the characters is one of the strongest pairings seen on any TV show.
Also, let's not forget the glorious scene that was Tandy bursting from Tyrone's shadow to stab Andre with the sword. That moment is epic!
Cloak and Dagger were in peak superhero mode during that defeat. It had everything: an intense fight, their allies (Mina, Melissa, and Mikayla) holding back their enemy, and a heart-pounding final strike that combined their powers.
That moment has to go in Marvel's Top 10 TV battles.
Tandy: The light can’t be good for the migraine.
[Tandy throws out daggers and hits Melissa, Mikayla and Mina]
Andre: You missed!
Tandy: I wasn’t aiming for you.
[Mina, Mikayla and Melissa go back to normal]
Tyrone: How did you know it was going to work?
Tandy: A wise man once told me they’re made of hope.
[Tandy dishes out a large light ball]
Plus, the payback of Andre being forced to listen to his broken record in the Darkforce for eternity was simply sweet, sweet justice. (The tea was boiled, and the pettiness was extra salty.)
Andre couldn't have had a more fitting defeat.
Back in the real world, I enjoyed the duo of Evita and Mayhem trying to protect the candle.
Neither were on the best terms with the pair, but they set that aside to make sure that New Orleans would get saved. Plus, if Mayhem hadn't shown up when she did, the shadow men would've caused the candle to go out, so her arrival was perfect timing.
Tandy and Tyrone are never alone; they'll always have their allies to help them if need be.
Though, not romantically based on the cold shoulder that Evita gave Tyrone yet again. Can they just be friends again?
The final moments of "Level Up" ended the season on a hopeful note, but it also provided a conclusion to the series overall.
Let's brace ourselves, Marvel's Cloak & Dagger fans. Based on how everyone had a good resolution, I wouldn't be surprised if the journey ended here.
Mayhem found peace with Brigid; Father Delgado got clean, Mina is working on her science, Connors paid his debts, Lia's in jail, and Tyrone's name got cleared in the scandal. For the most part, the story in New Orleans finished.
Tandy and Tyrone getting on the bus and heading to a new city (New York City?) to become superheroes essentially rebooted the show for the next stage of their adventure. If Marvel's Cloak & Dagger comes back for another season, we could be seeing a completely different show, but if it doesn't, I'm happy with the ending delivered.
Tandy: Do you think we can do it?
Tyrone: What’s that?
Tandy: Be good … be heroes … be divine impaired in other places?
Tyrone: Let me answer that question with another question.
Tandy: And what question is that?
Tyrone: Waffles or pancakes?
[They stare at each other and smile]
Tandy: Waffles, duh.
[Tyrone offers his hand and Tandy interlocks her fingers with his]
Tandy and Tyrone are together, and it's going to be the start of something new in their hero's journey, as well as their romantic relationship.
Marvel's Cloak & Dagger has consistently been a visually cinematic and action-packed TV series that put its characters to the forefront. The show never shied away from the real pain its characters faced, as well as having one of the best soundtracks on TV. It's an underrated treasure from Marvel's TV properties.
If the journey ends here, let's always remember that hope is stronger than despair. Tandy and Tyrone taught us that.
Last Thoughts From The Dream World:
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Tandy and Tyrone emerging from the mirrors in their Cloak and Dagger costumes is a mood. They came ready to fight and had the confidence to take on the world. New York City criminals should be afraid.
- Stan Lee's tribute after the bus drove away was the perfect clip to end off Marvel's Cloak & Dagger Season 2. He will be missed!
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The final battle shifting through the multiple worlds positively utilized all of the set pieces. The scenes had somewhat of an Inception vibe to it; you never knew where the heroes would end up next in their fight or who would emerge next.
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When Delgado threw out Andre's vinyl record, did that mean Andre was trapped in the record?
- Who else screamed, "Kiss each other!" when Tandy and Tyrone interlocked their hands? Talk about a perfect rom-com moment.
Now, over to you, Marvel's Cloak & Dagger fans!
What did you think of "Level Up"?
What new adventures await Tandy and Tyrone on their journey? Could this trip be the start of their romantic relationship? Did you tear up during the Stan Lee tribute?
If you missed the latest episode of Marvel's Cloak & Dagger, you can watch Cloak and Dagger online via TV Fanatic. Come back here and share your thoughts in the comments.
Justin Carreiro was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.
