Daredevil
Netflix ’s Marvel experimentation has come to a close afterJessica Jonesseason 3 , with the decline of this corner of the MCU most probable to be remembered as a failure for both the streaming service and Marvel . That ’s not entirely inaccurate , but it ’s also not totally fair either .
The aforementioned slide , in both interest and quality , is what the Netflix ’s corner of the MCU will most in all probability be remembered for . The slew of cancellations that engage berth in late 2018 , whenIron Fist , Luke Cage , andDaredevilwere all canned in quick sequence , meant that it was already a dead universe of discourse walk before time of year 2 ofThe Punisherandseason 3 ofJessica Joneseven had loss dates . Now , it ’s officially over .
Related : A Complete Timeline Of Netflix ’s Marvel Cancellation
finally , both Netflix andMarvel TVmade a act of mistakes that led to the perceive failure of their ambitious labor , especially where tempo and the rigid figure of episodes in each time of year were relate . Some of the shows have already been forgotten too . But Netflix ’s MCU should also be applauded for the things it get veracious , include some of the best stories Marvel have put on a screen of any sizing .
Netflix’s Initial Marvel Series Almost All Worked
The Netflix Marvel Universe has shuffled off this mortal curlicue so quietly that to say it went out with a whimper would be generous , and yet it start with an almighty , deafening bang . Back in early-2015,Daredevilwas still mostly well - cognise to a unsubtle hearing for the break Ben Affleck picture show a dozen years earlier , while the MCU was defined by its papa - distort , family - well-disposed , quip - happy popcorn flicks . Somehow , the two combined to deliver one of the most exhilarating , natural action - packed , and very much adultsuperhero video showsever seen .
This was n’t a one - off , either . A few month afterwards , along cameJessica Jones . While the series could n’t compare in the military action stakes , it more than made up for it with a complex champion , dark humor , and a entrancing exploration of themes around assault , abuse , and trauma . come up when the big concealment MCU was have one of its weakest ever twelvemonth -Avengers : Age of UltronandAnt - Manmean 2015 is definitely not a great time of origin - the Netflix series stage the good live - legal action Marvel content available to fan .
It did n’t quite hit those highs the next yr , but it often follow close . Daredevilseason 2 andLuke Cageseason 1 were n’t as altogether bang-up as what came before , but certain elements such as the Daredevil vs. Frank mini - electric arc , or the Cottonmouth - centric one-half ofCage , were every bit as good , and the rest was solid enough to keep the faith . It ’s been bully since then too , as withThe Punisher ’s first seasonor , best of all , Daredevil ’s third , which stands atop the entire pile despite coming out so close to the destruction . Marvel Netflix may have failed by the last , but in the beginning , it was well-nigh so seraphic .
concern : Captain Marvel Could Have Been In Jessica Jones ( As A Villain ? )
Netflix Proved The MCU Can Be More Than Just Movies
Daredevilseason 1 was n’t just big , but a mission statement . It was , for Netflix , an attempt to get themselves a slash of the oh - so - lucrative MCU pie . But for Marvel , it was perhaps even bigger : it was test copy that they could do TV . And not only that , but do it really , really well .
agent of SHIELDhas been critically acclaimed for the past couple of season , but in the daylight beforeDaredevilit was n’t such a pretty picture . plan to be the MCU ’s big leap into TV , with the promise that " it ’s all connected",AoSwas often ok , but only occasionally must - watch . Marvel was take the way in comic Good Book moving picture , but on telly , it was DC who had the vantage , thanks toArrowseason 2 and thenThe Flashseason 1 blazing new trails in what superhero TV shows could be .
DaredevilandJessica Jones , then , functioned as Marvel TV ’s big response . It was n’t just something to complement the big screen door movies , but to bear on its own two feet . It occupy a gap that many Marvel fans had n’t even bring in was there . It was sinister , vivid , dealt with real - creation , grounded , grownup issues , and hold fight stage dancing well than anything else around , with firm villains than what the MCU - exterior of Loki , at least - had managed to dish up . It was exciting , farsighted - form storytelling . The MCU is croak to get a destiny boastful in this regard thanks to a number of new show planned for bothHuluandDisney+ , but it was the Netflix MCU that first shew just how well they could do it .
The Defenders Failed To Be Netflix’s Avengers
Netflix and Marvel Television essentially follow the same design as the movies when building their recess of the MCU , with four show ( and five season , as they made way forDaredevilseason 2 ) leading to the big team - up outcome . Even if the lineament had been immix so far , withIron Fistthe dud of the chemical group like Phase 1’sIron Man 2 , it ’d be fine so long as they nailedThe Defenders , much like Marvel Studios did withThe Avengers .
Related : The REAL Reason For Captain America : Civil War reveal By Marvel TV Timeline
Sadly , The Avengersthis was not . Despite receive only eight episodes , which should have allowed for an volatile mini - series , The Defenderswas bogged downby the same pacing issues that would come to define Marvel Netflix . It took a few hours to even just get the team together , but even once that happened the Muriel Sarah Spark did n’t start to fly .
There were a number ofproblems withThe Defenders , from poor direction to lackluster activity sequence , and again being get stuck by the villainous organization the Hand , but the biggest is that it never vindicate its own being . DaredevilandJessica Joneshad some fun minute in the squad - up , but for the most part these sub were n’t as with child together as they were apart . InThe Avengers , it was a joy to follow the superheroes meet , bicker , and ultimately fight alongside one another . Here , it felt like a chore .
There Was No Reason For Marvel Netflix To Continue
When Netflix and Marvel first announce their project , there was a clear ( if challenging ) plan in post . There would be four shows , each with 13 sequence , follow by the eight - episodeThe Defenders . A multi - class , 60 episodes partake in existence , as an effort to mime some of the MCU ’s movie achiever , but it was never really designed to go beyond that .
As is more often than not the case , though , if something is successful , then it ’ll get another expedition . This happened fleetly in the case of Marvel Netflix , withDaredevilseason 2 arriving just a twelvemonth after the first , and that in turning guide to a spin - off forThe Punisher , with Jon Bernthal ’s portrayal proving passing popular . Even with some of those successes , however , showed that this was n’t something build for longevity .
Related : Netflix Does n’t postulate Marvel ( & The Umbrella Academy Proves It )
The second time of year ofJessica Joneswas a major downturn on the first , without managing to contribute much new to the mesa either . Luke Cage , too , die to dispatch the heights of its first seven episode . Iron Fistdid improve in season 2 , but it was starting from a low taproom and , by that power point , few people really care . The Punisher ’s second season was n’t as strong . OnlyDaredevilseason 3 made a significant improvement , but even that mattered little , becauseafterThe Defendersthe interest in theNetflix MCUwas rapidly dwindling . Like with the team - up itself , these 2d season never managed to give a convincing reason for why they be . There was n’t a logical plan or purpose , they were just there . And now they ’re not . It ’s deserving remember how skilful they once were , but it also highlights how hard and fast they fall .
More : Jessica Jones Season 3 ’s Ending Resolves The grown Marvel Netflix Story
