The Defenders
Danny Rand ’s introduction to the Netflix corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a critical misfire . repetitious , unimaginative writing , uneven characters , and unconvincing fight stage dancing plagued the series from the start , suggesting the whole endeavor could have gain from some serious revisions . But while cast the babe out with the bathwater is one approach , Marvel and Netflix could have well served the fibre and his laughable Bible history by go a much different route , and perhaps render a series that felt more essential than season 1 ofIron Fistwound up feeling .
Though not without his fans , Iron Fist is by no means the sort of mirthful book character whose source and identity are beyond a page - one revision . But as Marvel demonstrated with thecasting of Finn Jonesin the lead role , and the conclusion to turnIron Fistinto a repetition of an already familiar origin story , that ’s not how thing were going to roleplay out . Opting to adapt the character reference mostly as he is from the comedian was a missed opportunity , one that change by reversal the series into a discernible blunder for the mostly well - regarded coalition of Netflix street - level submarine . Marvel Television establish a third - tier character his very own meandering 13 - episode introduction when a more enticing assumption was there all along : Iron Fistseason 1 should have beenHeroes For Hire .
Although they ’ve only been around a few years , Netflix ’s Marvel shows have a well - established history of using the solo dangerous undertaking of one quality as the back door pilot for spinoffs and other new serial publication . The first half ofDaredevilseason 2 functioned more as a proof - of - conception case forJon Bernthal ’s Punisher , whileJessica Jonesseason 1 acquaint Luke Cage to the welfare of both shows . After his successful debut as a supporting character inJonesand his host - breaking solo series premiere , Cage should have pay that forrad to the floppy - haired orphan run around NYC without any shoes . Instead of emulating the first time of year ofDaredevil , Iron Fistwould have been wise to follow in Ms. Jones ’s footsteps , skipping a solo introduction and familiarizing Danny to audiences through the eyes of his next good pal Luke Cage . This would in all likelihood alter Marvel ’s plans forThe Defenderscrossover – or at least a part of Luke ’s narrative flight , considering where he was headed at the ending ofLuke Cageseason 1 – but it would be a small price to pay to avoid a defect on an otherwise impressive run of idiot box .
As much asIron Fisttoyed with the idea of pose its independent fibre as a naïf , a human being who was still very much a boy in search of an identity , it did n’t work . The narrative routinely stumble around the idea that its protagonist is both a living weapon and a dewy - eyed inexperienced person trapped in an dateless volute of his own dull origin story . But whether he ’s throwing a magical punch through steel doors or reciprocate the delivery of a dumpster - liberated chicken parm by half - assedly recite some Buddhist education , neither side of the Iron Fist is all that interesting on his own . Here , Marvel ’s martial arts master is as limited by his glowing bridge player as he is defined by it .
The series underlines its shortage of narrative selection by spending a considerable amount of sentence put the Iron Fist on the fritz . commonly , this present an opportunity for the character to show what he ’s really made of , that an born sense of decency and humanness drives him to be a hero , rather than just have the power to be one ( for instance , Peter Parker ’s journey in the high - water mark of cinematic superheroism , Spider - Man 2 ) . ButIron Fistnever discover what defines Danny . He ’s his own risky foeman in a way ; he needs an authority figure , someone he can look up to and aim to be , someone who is already an show presence within the MCU and can decide when the nascent hero need to be pushed in the right-hand direction , and when he needs to learn from his mistakes . Helping Danny find and express who he is as a person would have gone a long means in relieve oneself the hero more engaging , and it ’s a role that would have been utter for someone like Luke Cage .
Balancing a headstrong Danny – convinced of his status as the Iron Fist and a living weapon – against the loth gallantry of Cage is both a instinctive starting point for the displaced billionaire man - child and a terrific third act for the man with unbreakable tegument . Besides , what good fashion to undercut some of the more unlikeable aspects of Danny ’s persona than to have an authority figure on hand to call him out on them ?
Really , though , turningIron FistintoHeroes For Hirewould have been good for Danny Rand , Luke Cage , and Netflix . A48 HoursorLethal weapon system - like sidekick fuzz normal would follow closest to justifying the 13 - sequence model for the first time . The typical structure of any floor in the buddy cop subgenre expend a unspoilt glob of the first half specify its characters by way of their many dispute before ascertain the co - leads ' unsimilarity a moral excellence in get the better of a common foe . In its early departure , Iron Fiststruggled to be more than a derivative rehash of the origins ofBatman , Iron Man , Doctor Strange , orGreen Arrow . The first few hours task Danny with proving he was , in fact , Danny Rand , but the character ’s repeated attempts to do so just put him and the show on the wearisome power train to nowheresville ( let us all call back the great gaslighting of episode 2 ) . With Cage as its groundwork , Marvel and Netflix could have make anIron Fistworth crowing about , one that would have offer a fascinating direct contrast to the much more uncongenial dynamic of Matt Murdock and Frank Castle duringDaredevilseason 2 .
While Iron Fist and Luke Cage will likely get to play Heroes for Hire to a sure degree in the upcomingAvengers - like crossoverThe protector , it ’s punishing to say whether or not the constraints of the upcoming miniseries will reserve that dynamic to play out to its fullest . The group dynamic will likely go a tenacious way in mending Danny Rand ’s live - action mechanism reputation , and it may well serve as a course correction that will apologise future televised tales of the Iron Fist . Until the future pass water itself clear , however , viewing audience will be left pondering what could have been with Marvel ’s martial arts series .
Next:Iron Fist Review: Marvel’s Martial Arts Series Packs a Weak Punch
Iron Fistseason 1 is available in its entirety on Netflix .
