The Defenders
Marvel fans are likely reeling from whereThe Defendersleft its characters by the end of the serial . The Phase 1 wrap - up of Marvel ’s Netflix Universe has set upDaredevil Season 3 , The daughter of the Dragon , Iron Fist Season 2and much more - but at what price ? They ’re the first mathematical group who will probably never see each other again . Theshowrunnerhas even say it’sUnlikely they ’ll get together again . Why ? They technically stop the Hand and saved New York City , leave all of them a minuscule wise and a picayune more aware of their place in the human race around them . While the Avengers handle cosmic threats , the guardian seem like a complete team to manage the well-disposed ( or not so well-disposed ) neighborhoods of New York City . The fact is that no matter how far they got their division proved that they ’re better off leaderless , indeed that they ’re better off as a one - shaft mathematical group of somebody who will probably influence each other but never full add up together again unless the cityreallyneeds them . Even then though ? It ’s unconvincing . Matt ’s regain in aconvent , Jessica found a level ofself - confidence and healing , Luke Cagereturned to Harlemand Danny Rand took over Matt Murdock ’s rooftop patrol . Each one of them witness a place in the city that they saved quick for their next adventure . The fact is that if Matt had mind to Stick in instalment 5,Take Shelter , and they had a leader , they might not have gotten as far as they had and the series would be far less entertaining . Why does it act forThe Defendersas opposed to theAvengersorMarvel ’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D?Let ’s take a look at just why they function better on their own as oppose to under direct leadership .
THEY EACH BRING SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THE TABLE
Leadership is a rarified quality and those who become leader do n’t do so easily . In the Marvel Universe , both Captain America and Phil Coulson have led teams with both positive and negative issue . Captain America ’s leadership eventually clashed with Tony Stark pay usCaptain America : Civil Warand Phil Coulson ’s leadership inMarvel ’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.Dhas been test strenuously both by away forces and Grant Ward , a penis of his squad who lie to Phil and tried to sow in strife from the interior out as a member of Hydra .
It ’s possible that both Captain America and Phil Coulson could work well with the shielder , but we ’ve had 2 year of get to have sex these New York characters intimately . They ’re all extremely powerful but they ’re also very aware of their strengths and weaknesses . Matt Murdock knows that he ’s compromise by Elektra because of his trust and because of the practice of law , Jessica Jones is sorely cognizant of her faults , and Luke Cage spent time in slammer . The only person who initially tries to take armorial bearing is Danny , but even Danny recognize that he ’s far too burdened to try and take charge of the so - called " team " even when Colleen propose it .
They all get it on what they can do , but in knowing who they are they also know that none of them are fit to contribute the group as a whole . That ’s different from both Steve Rogers and Phil Coulson because while they lie with they have fault they also see a clear scourge . deal with lies and dark and misinformation from the Hand , no one has a clear picture until it ’s too recent . Matt fundamentally does not require to take charge , he ’s prove to go against away from the vigilante life he ’s led . Luke knows where his allegiances lie and he ’s move to protect Harlem , apart from Jessica he has no real connection to the residue of the characters ( as of yet . )
By the time Elektra and the Hand are in position , the team is befuddle together without a common reason or purpose . While Captain America is here to pull through the destitute world and Phil Coulson is here to save the man from foreign threat , the shielder do n’t know what they ’re fight until it ’s too late - and they do n’t trust themselves to lead the fight against it . Each one of them has faced their own demons and they ’re not prepared to take on any extra one include the one that descend with hold start the earth . The fact that they do is a will to four good mass working together against unbelievable betting odds but with a loss leader ? Things would have been far different .
THE BAD GUYS HAD LEADERSHIP
In the Marvel Universe , whenever a superhero team hold up up against a " unsound " guy rope there ’s needs an opponent team on the other side . Shield move up against Hydra , The Avengers are going up against Thanos and hisBlack Order , the Defenders went up against the Hand and gain ground . All 5 fingers supposedly make a fist , but they needed Danny ’s clenched fist to break down the rampart despite their so - shout history and so - cry unity . Throughout the series , Alexandria point out that the Hand is unified and that it’severywherebut right on before she dies she points out that their unity is a lie . " We ’ve all survived assassination attempts from each other . “she betoken out . That ’s like to the history of hydra and the grim order as well . InAgents of S.H.I.E.L.DGrant Ward ostensibly kill his way to the " top " of Hydra before he goes to Maveth to become the legion for Hydra ’s ultimate evil . Guardians of the Galaxy vol 2explained that Thanos force his " child " to fight , pit Gamora and Nebula against each other for his gain . The bad guy wire are always unify under a manipulative malign drawing card and while some of them might attempt to crawl their way to the top the loss leader usually prevails .
With motley results like Grant Ward killing his agency to the top before becoming the ultimate head of hydra upon his death , Nebula swearing to kill Thanos , and Elektra putting her sais through Alexandra ’s back .
The hoi polloi who follow are the ones who always focus on the individual - and there ’s no group of heroes more individual than the shielder and their allies . Captain America won when he fought for what hebelieved in , Coulson gain when he campaign for the the great unwashed who he cared about and believed in . The Defenders fight for the people who they can desire . For Luke it ’s the people of Harlem , for Danny it ’s his history and his breeding , for Matt it ’s his faith and his impression in the law , and for Jessica Jones , it ’s when she finally comes down to it , for herself and to protect the people she love too . receive a leader try and unify them under a single finish would have put them on a floor with the tough guys where they , like the Hand , would have been forced into squabbling over just what mattered to each of them trying to merge the group behind a common goal .
Marvel ’s stories have always has been the uplifting of the individual before fit them into a group dynamic . Putting a drawing card in front of The Defenders would have lessened the encroachment of their individual nature .
IT’S JUST MORE FUN
The simple and most obvious reaction is that it ’s just more fun . Marvel ’s Netflix series has created a collection of amazing heroes who each have unique individual personalities . From Matt , Jessica , and Luke teasing Danny Rand to Danny charge up ahead irrespective of the effect , the defenders work better as somebody than as a unit . With a soul like Captain America or Phil Coulson leading them , there ’s a very respectable chance they ’d all get belligerent and go out , with Jessica surprise and annoyed that everyone was following her . From a fictional character point of view , the defenders knead better as individual as opposed to teammates , and if any of them were to take a leading part he ’d be reluctant .
If any of themwereto take a leadership part , however , it would be Luke Cage . While Matt has , fit in to Stick , been trained to guide , Luke Cage has the real wherewithal to need to do so . Matt wants to help people but he ’s burdened by his previous actions and will probably be blaming himself for Elektra for a good long while . Luke has done his time , has faith , has the backing of his protagonist and family . Luke is ready to tread into a leading role of some sort . The question is if it ’ll be onThe Defendersseason 2,Luke John Milton Cage Jr. season 2orIron Fist Season 2 . With the team in its current embodiment , however , from their quirk to the manner their world works , a leader would n’t currently be in the cards .
The Defendersis a taradiddle about the average the great unwashed with extraordinary abilities that will finally make up every corner of the Marvel Universe . They represent the good and big of those qualities . While they ’re iconic , they ’re also in their own way a superpowered windowpane to the mankind for the audience . They allow an older audience with all of their flaws and faults to borrow a set of super might and defend evil in the Marvel universe . If they were unified under a single loss leader it would lessen the impact of having individuals that everyone could relate to .
NEXT:Will There Be a Jessica Jones, Luke Cage And Claire Temple Love Triangle?
