These viewing notes contain spoilers.
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It’s as if Marvel and Netflix knew who the Defenders would be, but instead of fully-realizing what they could do with Iron Fist, they rushed, creating a series of unfortunate events that net them the first overall fail in the MCU (Thor films notwithstanding). It’s that simple. Plus, why wouldn’t you want to watch?
“Danny understands the bigger threat, because he’s been dealing it all throughout his life and all throughout season one of Iron Fist”, he told Entertainment Tonight. “So, when he meets The Defenders, he’s the one who really drives the group to understand the bigger picture”. Now, for the fourth and final season, we’re back in San Francisco with a pair of new cops (Meaghan Rath and Neal McDonough) on Ethan’s ass-if Greene (really, the only worthwhile part of Rogue any more) doesn’t put him in the ground first. The bad reviews? The unfortunate colonial overtones?
“I think the world has changed a lot since we were filming that television show”, Jones said. I’m keen to judge the show as a viewer for what it is rather than what it could, or should have been, and certainly not before problems become apparent in the narrative. “I don’t think that gets touched on”.
New York Times critic Mike Hale also felt the superb cast was underserved and reserved some judgment as critics were only given the first six episodes.
Danny returns to NY 15 years later, wanting to reclaim his life and identity. Danny will also make her question how she has been running the business. His daughter Joy cries at receiving sweets from Danny but is OK with asking him to conveniently forget his identity. She’s older than me so it’s this weird thing. It just makes his choices seem unrealistic throughout, and that makes him a frustrating lead. While it’s super thrilling to watch Colleen Wing beat down a couple of dudes twice her size, one can’t help but wonder which part of herself she’s sacrificing by engaging in these fights to try and chase the high of winning. Because, you see, Iron Fist is the best kung-fu boy in the world, a monk-blessed avenging hero with a magical fist (the porn parody is going to be harrowing) who is destined, or ordained, or something, to fight The Hand, an insidious and far-reaching criminal enterprise that employs ninjas to do its dark deeds. The other series of the franchise have been very successful, Each getting an extra season – or even two as far as Daredevil is concerned – or even a spin-off! Barefoot, dirty, and scraggly, Danny fits in better with the homeless denizens of the park than he does in the upscale home and office building of his youth. Oh, and she does get condescended to by Danny, who has trained in an extra-dimensional dojo, so he knows far more about fighting and the philosophy behind it than Colleen-a paid professional!-ever could. I could go on.
Iron Fist actor Finn Jones has called out President Donald Trump specifically as one of the reasons critics had such strong, negative reactions to the series.
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For those of you unfamiliar with the character, Danny Rand is a child of wealth whose parents die on an expedition in the mountains of Tibet. However, based on the other shows’ success and how much all the Defender stories are interwoven together, I expect Iron Fist will do just fine. Joy, who is Harold’s daughter in both versions, first appeared in Marvel Premiere #18 (1974).
