Cloak & Dagger jumped back into action with its 2-hour Season 2 premiere, which picked up several months after Tyrone and Tandy saved New Orleans.

The Divine Pair’s powers have been taken to another level and Mayhem is officially loose on the streets, both of which will keep fans enthralled and entertained this season. But, the bigger story lies in the real-life issues that Cloak & Dagger are exploring this season, particularly domestic violence and how race plays a role into human trafficking for girls.

Last season revealed that Tandy’s mother was physically and verbally abused by her deceased father. It was a shocking blow to Tandy because she had idolized her father and isolated herself from her mother without realizing that she was an abuse victim.

Season 2 shows them attending a domestic abuse therapy group with other survivors, some of whom Tandy has tried to help by scaring their abusers. The premiere showed Tandy trying to protect Mikayla from her abusive boyfriend to no avail because of his lies and manipulation.

It’s extremely important to put this issue in front of fans of all ages to show them how psychological and mental abuse play a role in controlling a person and to let them know that it’s not okay to be treated in such a terrible manner. But, it also shows that victims need a listening ear, compassion, and empathy as they come to certain realizations on their own.

Tandy later found herself in one of New Orleans’ predominately Black and brown wards with Andre Deschaine, a former musician turned community leader who schooled her about what it means when girls of color go missing. She learned that several girls from the neighborhood have gone MIA and the police are doing very little to find them, so it’s up to their mothers and the community to search and advocate for their children.

Tandy was angry about the lack of effort to locate these girls, but Andre, a Black man, reminded her that things would be different if a blond, White girl with a pretty mom to cry on TV disappeared without a trace. This unfortunate reality has been addressed in several reports, including a 2017 Ebony report by La’Tasha D. Mayes which reveals that only 20 percent of reported stories are about Black children.

There have been countless stories of girls of color going missing and their families having to plead social media to share their photos in hopes of getting the media’s attention. However, most missing White children’s cases are given the attention they deserve with timely news reports and necessary details that aid in their safe return.

It’s no secret that human trafficking is a worldwide problem that has millions of children in its grasp and girls of color are likely targeted because its easier to “get away with it.” The Cloak & Dagger scene was short but it set the stage for a bigger story this season that will serve as a privilege check for Tandy, and many others, and a reminder to Tyrone that Black lives are often not a priority to many.

This issue will resonate deeply with young women who might believe that this horrific situation could never happen to them or someone they love.

The Cloak & Dagger writing staff took to Twitter to further explain why they wanted to tackle human trafficking this season. It’s certainly a problem that transcends socioeconomic and racial lines, but the fact that the show will include girls of color in the narrative is a big deal.

Hopefully, this show will continue to bring social issues to light while simultaneously giving fans everything they expect from a Marvel series.