It’s official:
Cloak & Dagger definitely shares the same corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with
Luke Cage. In the Season 2 episode “If It Ain’t Rough, It Ain’t Right,” the Netflix series referenced a key character from the freshman Freeform show, in what might be Marvel Netflix’s first mention of a Marvel TV series outside its own network. As it turns out,
Luke Cage characters Misty Knight and Nandi Tyler know
Cloak & Dagger‘s Brigid O’Reilly.
“Inspector West called. Callahan is in Maui, and O’Reilly moved to New Orleans,” Nandi explained. “None of them know you quit. West said until One Police Plaza sends somebody else, you’re the highest ranking detective here. You’re in charge.”
The mention of O’Reilly here is, of course, paramount. Considering
Cloak & Dagger takes place in New Orleans, it seems very likely that the O’Reilly namedropped on
Luke Cage is the same character that appears in the flesh on
Cloak & Dagger. What’s more, on
Cloak & Dagger, O’Reilly’s coworkers have made it abundantly clear she is from out of town.
In “Stained Glass,”
Cloak & Dagger‘s third episode, Detective Connors taunted O’Reilly with the fact she isn’t from New Orleans. “I thought the NYPD only hired the best and brightest,” he said. When he told her she owed him a beer, he added, “Make sure it’s none of that Brooklyn hipster shyt.”
At this point in
Cloak & Dagger, O’Reilly hasn’t specified where exactly she transferred from.
Luke Cage Season 2, however, establishes she worked in Harlem. It’s possible, then, that she has past experience with enhanced individuals like Luke Cage, which may prepare her to work with Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Johnson. Considering this major reference, we might even hear her refer to the events of
Luke Cage in a future
Cloak & Dagger episode. Regardless,
Luke Cage proves once again that the MCU is all connected.