MARVEL MARATHON DEEP DIVE
CLOAK & DAGGER
SEASON 2
Cloak & Dagger returned to Freeform on 4 April 2019 for a ten-episode second season that gave Emma Lahana’s Brigid O’Reilly a vigilante alter ego, Mayhem. Freeform cancelled the series in October 2019.
RENEWED AT COMIC-CON
HOW THE SECOND SEASON REACHED FREEFORM
Freeform renewed the series for a ten-episode second season on 20 July 2018 during its San Diego Comic-Con panel, with a teaser reading “Season 2 will be Mayhem.” Filming began in New Orleans by 18 October 2018. The season premiered with two episodes on 4 April 2019, and the finale, “Level Up,” aired on 30 May 2019.
A VIGILANTE WITH A FACE
WHAT MAYHEM MEANT FOR THE SEASON
Emma Lahana plays Brigid O’Reilly and Mayhem. Joe Pokaski said on 4 April 2019 that giving Mayhem a life of her own was “a decision that the show made,” and said on 5 April how the character fits the season’s theme:
“We want to see justice but sometimes we don’t wait for it.”
Joe Pokaski, 5 April 2019
THE SAME LEADS, A BIGGER CAST
WHO IS IN THE CAST AND WHAT THE POWERS MEAN
Olivia Holt returns as Tandy Bowen and Aubrey Joseph as Tyrone Johnson, with Gloria Reuben as Adina Johnson, Andrea Roth as Melissa Bowen and J. D. Evermore as James Connors, and Miles Mussenden recurring. The season explores Tandy’s and Tyrone’s powers and their connection through the “Divine Pairing” mythology from Season 1, which draws on Vodun.
A SMALL AUDIENCE AND A SMALL SET OF REVIEWS
WHAT THE RATINGS AND REVIEWS SHOW
The premiere drew 0.477 million live viewers and a 0.2 rating among adults 18 to 49, or about 0.800 million with DVR. Rotten Tomatoes lists an 86% critics’ score, but from only seven reviews, and a 48% audience score. Decider’s Alexander Zalben said the two-part premiere “cements itself as the best Marvel show on TV.”
THE REWATCH
A CANCELLATION AFTER TWO SEASONS
Freeform cancelled the series on 24 October 2019. Its statement said: “We are so proud of Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger and the trailblazing stories this series told.” No official reason was given, though Jeph Loeb was reportedly leaving as head of Marvel Television and Marvel was shifting toward series made by Marvel Studios for Disney+.
In the Marvel Marathon it is catalogued as Marvel Television and sits in the Marvel TV shows in order guide between The Punisher Season 2 and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 6. It is not in the MCU timeline guide or the MCU release-order and series guides.
QUICK ANSWERS
CLOAK & DAGGER SEASON 2 WATCH QUESTIONS
Do I need to watch Season 1 first?
Yes. Season 2 follows directly from the first season’s ending and builds on Tandy and Tyrone’s connection, so watch Season 1 first.
Who is Mayhem?
Mayhem is the vigilante alter ego of Detective Brigid O’Reilly, played by Emma Lahana. Pokaski has said the show chose to give her a life of her own.
Why was Cloak & Dagger cancelled?
Freeform announced the cancellation on 24 October 2019 without giving a reason. Reports at the time linked it to a shake-up at Marvel Television.
Which Marvel Marathon guides include Cloak & Dagger Season 2?
It appears in the Marvel TV shows in order guide, between The Punisher Season 2 and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 6. Its catalogue entry is classed as Marvel Television rather than MCU, so it is not in the MCU release-order, series, movie or timeline guides.
EDITORIAL NOTES
SOURCES AND UPDATES
Release, story, ratings, reception and cancellation details are checked against a series reference, interviews with the creator, entertainment reporting and aggregator scores, cited individually below.
- Wikipedia: production, cast, story and ratings
- TVLine: Cloak & Dagger renewed for Season 2, 20 July 2018
- TVLine: Joe Pokaski on the Season 2 premiere, 4 April 2019
- Den of Geek: what is next for Mayhem, 5 April 2019
- TVLine: Cloak & Dagger cancelled, 24 October 2019
- TMDB: season 2 episode runtimes and air dates
- Rotten Tomatoes: Cloak & Dagger season 2 critic and audience scores