https://youtu.be/QNwjRfSldM0
If you're someone who subscribes to Netflix, and more so a fan of the vast Marvel Cinematic Universe made up of countless heroes that seem to be popping up on TV as well as the big screen, then chances are you've already watched either Daredevil, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, or a combination of the four shows on the popular streaming site. What's even more exciting for fans of this content is the newly released The Defenders, an eight part miniseries that features a team up of the four characters, which became available on Netflix on August 18, 2017.
For those not familiar, there has already been two seasons of Daredevil and one season per character for the others, with Iron Fist being the most recent. In the first couple episodes of the new miniseries, the show feels like a continuation or sequel to all that have come before it. Jumping back and forth between the four characters as they deal with the aftermath of their past individual journeys, a new mystery to solve for each of them quickly leads them to the same place and the much awaited team up to fight a common enemy. It is immediately apparent that the primary villain(s) during this show is "The Hand," an ancient, secret organization that has been a large part of the narrative in Daredevil and Iron Fist.
Make no mistake. These "heroes" are not The Avengers. They are street level vigilantes with rough pasts, coming from a very real place, who, and with some reluctance, have decided to step up and defend the everyday citizens of New York. While you won't find any aliens coming out of the sky or travels to distant planets, that's not to say that there isn't a heavy dose of fantasy content at times, from superhuman abilities, to immortal enemies, and most of all, Danny Rand, who hails from a mystical place called K'un L'un, where he was trained to be the Iron Fist, sworn enemy of "The Hand," a rogue faction of the place he calls home. Once "The Hand" sets their sights on the destruction of NYC, The Defenders ban together to stop them.
Like many of these comic book derived adaptations, these shows are not without it's flaws, from typical genre cliches, to cheesy dialogue, weak plot points, over the top villains, up and down pacing and more. Like previous shows, parts of The Defenders can be slow-burning, while other times the action and thrills are off the charts. Viewers have criticized the performance of actor Finn Jones' Danny Rand/Iron Fist, and while I acknowledge his character can seem a bit childish and all over the place at times, I like to think that's just part of the portrayal of a man broken by his past, constantly driven by his emotions and the need to seek vengeance.
While the show can be hit and miss at times, the much anticipated team up of these characters and the payoff of their screen time together is more than worth anything that falls short. Action-fight scenes that make you want to throw your fists in the air, witty banter between the main characters, multiple cameos from just about any supporting character the shows have seen in the past, the continuation and culmination of an exciting story should make fans rush to check out this new miniseries. And without giving away too many spoilers, there's plenty of surprises that will shock viewers from start to finish.
On the future of Marvel's plans for these characters, Finn Jones mentioned that "The Defenders feels like the end of Phase One" of the Marvel Netflix series, similar to what they've been doing with The Avengers, and the events of the miniseries leads into "the beginning of another phase." Vincent D'Onofrio, who plays Wilson Fisk in Daredevil states that after the "series stuff with Netflix," Marvel has "a bigger plan to branch out." The head of Marvel Television, Jeph Loeb spoke about the ability to crossover the series with what's happening with the MCU on the big screen by saying, "it all exists in the same universe," so anything is possible. What we do know is that new individual seasons for all four characters are currently in the works, as well as the first season of The Punisher, among other developments.
The Defenders stars an ensemble cast of Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter, Mike Colter, Finn Jones, Eka Darville, Elden Henson, Jessica Henwick, Simone Missick, Ramon Rodriquez, Rachael Taylor, Deborah Ann Woll, Elodie Yung, Rosario Dawson, Scott Glenn, Wai Ching Ho, Carrie-Anne Moss and Sigourney Weaver.
