Just as Marvel has it's Cinematic Universe, they also have their shared TV-universe. Initially, this was tied closely to said Cinematic Universe, by way of Agent Coulson (Clark Greg) appearing in both the Cinematic Universe of Thor, and of course, Avengers - where he died, only to get revived in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - and his continuing adventures spins off from that. Once in a while, we get to see characters that appeared in the movies showing up in an episode of S.H.I.E.L.D. e.g. Sif (Jaimie Alexander) of Asgard, and later, Nick Fury (Samuel Jackson) himself.
Aside from that, the TV series has always referred to - or been affected by events in Captain America (HYDRA's rise and fall, and rise again - this latter, coinciding this time with the comic books. Anyway... most of these shows were courtesy of ABC studios and Marvel.
Enter Netflix - starting with Daredevil/Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), which became a success to merit a 2nd season, then Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) , Luke Cage (Mike Colter), Iron Fist (Finn Jones) and later this year, the Punisher (Jon Bernthal)! The main difference with the ABC style is that they make roughly 20+ episodes for a full season and release them in a serialized manner - one episode every week, while Netflix's format is usually 13 episodes per season - plus the fact that Netflix can be more 'mature' with their contents - being a subscription option, as opposed to ABC's more public broadcasts. All episodes are released for Netflix viewing in one go, so people can binge watch them. For more on the Marvel, ABC, Netfilx Defenders description - plus an idea on the individual shows themselves, here's a link to the show's Wikipedia page: Marvel's The Defenders
With exception to the Punisher, the early mentioned four characters have just banded together in a shorter (8-episodes in all) story, and anticipation for this could somehow be - fairly, or not, similar with that of Avengers. So how did they do?
Okay... I guess. It isn't that bad - but it isn't that good either, at least... not in an 'Avengers' way. Let me explain. The above link to the Defenders Wikipedia page also has information on critics reviews, so I won't focus on that, as they do a better job, so why reinvent something that's good, right? If you want to know more about how people and critics reacted, visit that link. I'll focus on my reactions.
First, let me expound on how Netflix approached each Marvel show with their 13-episodes model. You have a lot of time for build-up while having a few fight scenes sprinkled here and there to whet the audiences' appetite - but the point was that each show tried to make the origin and character progression organic... not too rushed, but there was an obvious need to balance the story's moving forward, with the character's build up and said build-up would cover their origin, also likewise included introducing the show's supporting casts, which of course includes the villain(s) for each show.
For people used to watching movies that are limited to two hours (sometimes, three), we are used to a quicker plot pacing, since everything needs to be resolved within those two hours. This reflects to having a quicker pace (like the previously mentioned Avengers movie - which was able to immediately integrate their characters together because each person's origin story (separate movie) was already told. Hence, in the first Avengers film, we see Cap meet Iron Man while fighting and later transporting Loki, then they meet Thor - have a few gratuitous fight scenes, etc... and it works. People loved it! Some would say these actors portraying the characters has screen chemistry -who knows? As a fan, I was seeing them together - interacting with each other for the very first time. It was historic and awesome! No movie ever did this prior to the Avengers. I mean, the X-men were basically a team formed around a school - these guys were individuals, then cast together. This movie bacame, and still is, the barometer that all other Super Hero team movies would be measured against.
Netflix, on the other hand, stuck to their formula of setting-up the character and their world (neighborhood and supporting casts, plus introduction of the villain) in the first three episodes, and the story progresses in a slow, and deliberate pace. However, just like in the Avengers, we know these characters already through their individual debut series. Yet we need see further character build-up, and catching up in a 'this is what happened since we last saw them' manner. Now, had this been just one character, that would have been over in maybe one or two episodes.
But with the Defenders, we had to see four individual stories move forward, with no interactions with the others, until their stories start crossing each other's paths. Before this happened, though ,it somehow felt like 'forever' before we even see a hint of the team coming together (organic, remember?), and though I understand the strategy, it felt like the producers were taking their sweet time, and I was like, 'hey... this is just eight episodes - maybe you would like to pick up the pace a bit - specially when you're trying to integrate four characters!
I even had a friend post a message to me saying he had to binge watch the first five episode before he felt 'satisfied' - I can't really recall the actual word he used, but it was synonymous to 'satisfied'., and I thought 'five? that's way over the halfway mark for this series' yet there you have it... five episodes before we actually see all four of them fighting side by side. The pace picks up from there - but I felt that a less patient viewer would have quit somewhere along episode three - thinking the whole series a drag.
So yeah... Avengers it isn't - no magic feeling of congruence here. and the story did move along despite the seeming slow pace feel, and I don't know if it was the director just wanting to stretch the story which makes me wonder if they seem to be reflective of the comics these days - stretching what can fit in a three issue arc - and stretching it to six, so they can have that stand alone hard cover collection later. It may sound ridiculous, but it sure felt that way to me. Of course, I can't compare world-shattering events to corridor-shattering action scenes, but pacing felt slow and stretched with Defenders.
I can't complain about character interactions between our 'heroes', or should I say 'vigilantes'?, as these were present 0 and to some comic book fans, these was priceless moments. Sure, Jessica doesn't want to be called a hero and refuses the spotlight - and that's organic. After all, what private eye in there right mind would like to be a recognizable face? Iron Fist was more like I'm to busy with this war with the Hand thing, since I blame them for everything bad that happened to me -a and he isn't really wrong, while Luke Cage just wants to protect Harlem. Matt Murdock is struggling to not want wanting to be Daredevil (like I said, a veritable collage of 'this is what's been happening to me since you last saw me.' thing. A lot of story time evolved around this.
The other weakness? Alexandra (Sigournay Weaver), the supposed big bad with origins just hinted by what she says - and if she's to be believed, she's been around since the time of Constantinople, remembering a particular dish, and knows that one composer did a piece to show 'he could do it', being petty that way. The way she points those out, reflecting that she lived those moments. She also points out to an amnesiac Electra (Elodie Yung) not to worry about the city falling - s she'll get used to that eventually (seeing cities rise and fall) . I get it... the show runners want us to realize that Alexandra has lived long, exactly how long? Well, it's not really revealed - as have all 'five fingers of the Hand'! Yes, she's not alone - there are five of them banished from K'un lun - the legendary hidden city where the Iron Fist comes from.
Ugh... who thought of that? You had to make the hand have five fingers? Really? We also get a hint of how powerful she probably was to command the grudging respect, and obedience of Madame Gao (Wai Ching) - who did not respect her fellow finger, Bakuto, (Ramon Rodriguez) and yet, Gao commanded the respect and courtesy of the Kingpin - Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio) way back in Daredevil Season 1. So if someone as powerful or influential as Gao treated Alexandria with respect... just who is this Alexandra? Unfortunately, we don't really know.
Granted, through her we know that she has lived long, and that the ingredients needed to preserve their long life has just been committed to help resurrect Electra. It is at this time that Alexandra discovers she is dying - they're long lived, but not really immortals - and some just want to live long enough to return to K'un Lun. They've been digging into New York city to retrieve a dragon fossil, said main ingredient (aside from human blood) - and yes, these five don't always see eye-to-eye, but as Bakuto points out, they may not like each other, but as the Hand, they have a common goal to achieve (the dragon bones). Here's the thing though... Bakuto (who seemed Spanish) has his army and recruitment process, Gao (Chinese) had her opium trade, and there was also the Ninja sect (Japanese) that the Chaste (good ninjas dedicated to following the Iron Fist) seemed to be countering, and of course the African 'White Hat' guy, recruiting kids form Harlem to do clean up jobs for the Hand. What did Alexandra offer aside from possibly running the business/financial empire through holding companies? What did she represent? Six episodes in - until her surprising death by Elektra's hands (no pun intended there), we still dod not know.
Another thing... Elektra kills Alexandra in front of the other Fingers, and they just allow her to take over> Is she that formidable as their new Black Sky? Something's obviously missing, and I wonder if said explanation was a victim of the editing scissors? Heck... Gao remained a mystery in two Daredevil seasons, plus the Iron Fist season as well... yet she showed surprising Chi powers here in Defenders, proving she was not just a cunning old crone. But Alexandra comes and goes - and we're left wondering if she was that all powerful, why was she easily disposed of? and why didn't the others scramble to gain control what she left behind instead of just accepting Elektra as their new leader? Succession procedures? Maybe.
I can probably nitpick more, but I would like to focus on what worked instead - after all, I did say it wasn't that bad.
Daredevil was still great - even his fight moves were at par with his previous two seasons. Likewise, Jessica Jones was great - though we forget her fight scenes, instead remembering more her 'mouth' as she likewise shows consistency with her series, and Luke was Luke - his character was still the same. Now I get to Iron Fist. If there is a most improved fighter here, it would be him - call it better editing, or better choreography, but Iron Fist showed he was at par with the rest as fighters. My problem? He IS the Iron Fist... he should still be better - deserving of the honor and respect that Stick, who trained Daredevil, shows the person and bestows the position. So I don't know if the show runners will address this in future Iron fist seasons, but his near dance moves in Season One was acceptable - if it could be shown to represent some transition to fighting. Fighting that looks like poetry - that is what the Iron Fist should look like to other fighters - being smooth, economical, yet equally effective... and when combined with this Chi power, stronger and possibly deadly. But as I said, most improved is good enough for me here.
The back and fourth between the characters - Matt with Jessica, Luke with Danny... these were good. Heck, the Matt with Elektra at the closing parts of episode eight were great. This was Elektra, and even if it wasn't shown how both of them survived the building coming down on them, well... being who they are, it could be plausible - acceptable.
The ending... with Iron Fist, now tasked by Matt, to protect 'his' (meaning the latter's) city in his stead, showed Matt possibly thinking he wouldn't get out alive - so Danny now has a new purpose - specially since they all think the Hand perished in the same building collapse (which I know is all crock, they've crept back to hiding - maybe reorganizing. After all, if Elektra and Matt can get out, why can't they?
Danny will be the new protector. Luke continues with his life, until he and Claire (Rosario Dawson) split and he has 'coffee' again with Jessica, and Matt? He ends up in a convent, all bandaged up being cared for by nuns - one of them, most likely his biological mother. That's all we're shown as payees one of the TV universe seems to end.. oh yeah... and that teaser with the Punisher as well. So until then, I hope the Defenders, as a team, do come back - after all, they just became the team in episode eight... meaning they started acting as a bona fide team at the close of the series. Prior to that, they were just a non-team (which by the way was the tag line of the comic book before) put together by circumstance.
What's in the future? Well... Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and iron Fist are all scheduled for a new season - same with Daredevil, and I hope they don't feel too stand alone-ish, all somehow showing up as cameos - one way or another. It's time for the TV series to show the expanded Cinematic universe as well... hoping to see cameos of some Agents from S.H.I.E..L.D. or eve the Inhumans (one can dream, right?)/
What will make the Defenders possibly group together again? Well... assuming the will have a season two, and this time, with not just eight episodes - maybe a dark Daredevil? This time, having the team working side-by-side with Elektra? Or getting some assistance from Wilson Fisk? Perhaps crossing paths with the Punisher? And I'm not even asking for a cameo from the big screen guys... but who knows? Maybe after the cinematic Infinity War movies, some of these characters can be free to show a cameo? I would like to see Daredevil work with the Spider kid. Stopping him from angrily taking justice in his own hands - maybe even defending someone who was involved in an incident that hurt Aunt May... you know, that kind of drama.
Note: The Defenders, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and IronFist are all characters owned by Marvel / Disney and the images shown in this blog are not owned by me. I'm just a fan, reacting to what I watched. #defenders #daredevil #jessicajones #lukecage #ironfist #marvel #netflix
Aside from that, the TV series has always referred to - or been affected by events in Captain America (HYDRA's rise and fall, and rise again - this latter, coinciding this time with the comic books. Anyway... most of these shows were courtesy of ABC studios and Marvel.
With exception to the Punisher, the early mentioned four characters have just banded together in a shorter (8-episodes in all) story, and anticipation for this could somehow be - fairly, or not, similar with that of Avengers. So how did they do?
Okay... I guess. It isn't that bad - but it isn't that good either, at least... not in an 'Avengers' way. Let me explain. The above link to the Defenders Wikipedia page also has information on critics reviews, so I won't focus on that, as they do a better job, so why reinvent something that's good, right? If you want to know more about how people and critics reacted, visit that link. I'll focus on my reactions.
First, let me expound on how Netflix approached each Marvel show with their 13-episodes model. You have a lot of time for build-up while having a few fight scenes sprinkled here and there to whet the audiences' appetite - but the point was that each show tried to make the origin and character progression organic... not too rushed, but there was an obvious need to balance the story's moving forward, with the character's build up and said build-up would cover their origin, also likewise included introducing the show's supporting casts, which of course includes the villain(s) for each show.
For people used to watching movies that are limited to two hours (sometimes, three), we are used to a quicker plot pacing, since everything needs to be resolved within those two hours. This reflects to having a quicker pace (like the previously mentioned Avengers movie - which was able to immediately integrate their characters together because each person's origin story (separate movie) was already told. Hence, in the first Avengers film, we see Cap meet Iron Man while fighting and later transporting Loki, then they meet Thor - have a few gratuitous fight scenes, etc... and it works. People loved it! Some would say these actors portraying the characters has screen chemistry -who knows? As a fan, I was seeing them together - interacting with each other for the very first time. It was historic and awesome! No movie ever did this prior to the Avengers. I mean, the X-men were basically a team formed around a school - these guys were individuals, then cast together. This movie bacame, and still is, the barometer that all other Super Hero team movies would be measured against.
Netflix, on the other hand, stuck to their formula of setting-up the character and their world (neighborhood and supporting casts, plus introduction of the villain) in the first three episodes, and the story progresses in a slow, and deliberate pace. However, just like in the Avengers, we know these characters already through their individual debut series. Yet we need see further character build-up, and catching up in a 'this is what happened since we last saw them' manner. Now, had this been just one character, that would have been over in maybe one or two episodes.
But with the Defenders, we had to see four individual stories move forward, with no interactions with the others, until their stories start crossing each other's paths. Before this happened, though ,it somehow felt like 'forever' before we even see a hint of the team coming together (organic, remember?), and though I understand the strategy, it felt like the producers were taking their sweet time, and I was like, 'hey... this is just eight episodes - maybe you would like to pick up the pace a bit - specially when you're trying to integrate four characters!
I even had a friend post a message to me saying he had to binge watch the first five episode before he felt 'satisfied' - I can't really recall the actual word he used, but it was synonymous to 'satisfied'., and I thought 'five? that's way over the halfway mark for this series' yet there you have it... five episodes before we actually see all four of them fighting side by side. The pace picks up from there - but I felt that a less patient viewer would have quit somewhere along episode three - thinking the whole series a drag.
So yeah... Avengers it isn't - no magic feeling of congruence here. and the story did move along despite the seeming slow pace feel, and I don't know if it was the director just wanting to stretch the story which makes me wonder if they seem to be reflective of the comics these days - stretching what can fit in a three issue arc - and stretching it to six, so they can have that stand alone hard cover collection later. It may sound ridiculous, but it sure felt that way to me. Of course, I can't compare world-shattering events to corridor-shattering action scenes, but pacing felt slow and stretched with Defenders.
I can't complain about character interactions between our 'heroes', or should I say 'vigilantes'?, as these were present 0 and to some comic book fans, these was priceless moments. Sure, Jessica doesn't want to be called a hero and refuses the spotlight - and that's organic. After all, what private eye in there right mind would like to be a recognizable face? Iron Fist was more like I'm to busy with this war with the Hand thing, since I blame them for everything bad that happened to me -a and he isn't really wrong, while Luke Cage just wants to protect Harlem. Matt Murdock is struggling to not want wanting to be Daredevil (like I said, a veritable collage of 'this is what's been happening to me since you last saw me.' thing. A lot of story time evolved around this.
The other weakness? Alexandra (Sigournay Weaver), the supposed big bad with origins just hinted by what she says - and if she's to be believed, she's been around since the time of Constantinople, remembering a particular dish, and knows that one composer did a piece to show 'he could do it', being petty that way. The way she points those out, reflecting that she lived those moments. She also points out to an amnesiac Electra (Elodie Yung) not to worry about the city falling - s she'll get used to that eventually (seeing cities rise and fall) . I get it... the show runners want us to realize that Alexandra has lived long, exactly how long? Well, it's not really revealed - as have all 'five fingers of the Hand'! Yes, she's not alone - there are five of them banished from K'un lun - the legendary hidden city where the Iron Fist comes from.
Ugh... who thought of that? You had to make the hand have five fingers? Really? We also get a hint of how powerful she probably was to command the grudging respect, and obedience of Madame Gao (Wai Ching) - who did not respect her fellow finger, Bakuto, (Ramon Rodriguez) and yet, Gao commanded the respect and courtesy of the Kingpin - Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio) way back in Daredevil Season 1. So if someone as powerful or influential as Gao treated Alexandria with respect... just who is this Alexandra? Unfortunately, we don't really know.
Granted, through her we know that she has lived long, and that the ingredients needed to preserve their long life has just been committed to help resurrect Electra. It is at this time that Alexandra discovers she is dying - they're long lived, but not really immortals - and some just want to live long enough to return to K'un Lun. They've been digging into New York city to retrieve a dragon fossil, said main ingredient (aside from human blood) - and yes, these five don't always see eye-to-eye, but as Bakuto points out, they may not like each other, but as the Hand, they have a common goal to achieve (the dragon bones). Here's the thing though... Bakuto (who seemed Spanish) has his army and recruitment process, Gao (Chinese) had her opium trade, and there was also the Ninja sect (Japanese) that the Chaste (good ninjas dedicated to following the Iron Fist) seemed to be countering, and of course the African 'White Hat' guy, recruiting kids form Harlem to do clean up jobs for the Hand. What did Alexandra offer aside from possibly running the business/financial empire through holding companies? What did she represent? Six episodes in - until her surprising death by Elektra's hands (no pun intended there), we still dod not know.
Another thing... Elektra kills Alexandra in front of the other Fingers, and they just allow her to take over> Is she that formidable as their new Black Sky? Something's obviously missing, and I wonder if said explanation was a victim of the editing scissors? Heck... Gao remained a mystery in two Daredevil seasons, plus the Iron Fist season as well... yet she showed surprising Chi powers here in Defenders, proving she was not just a cunning old crone. But Alexandra comes and goes - and we're left wondering if she was that all powerful, why was she easily disposed of? and why didn't the others scramble to gain control what she left behind instead of just accepting Elektra as their new leader? Succession procedures? Maybe.
I can probably nitpick more, but I would like to focus on what worked instead - after all, I did say it wasn't that bad.
Daredevil was still great - even his fight moves were at par with his previous two seasons. Likewise, Jessica Jones was great - though we forget her fight scenes, instead remembering more her 'mouth' as she likewise shows consistency with her series, and Luke was Luke - his character was still the same. Now I get to Iron Fist. If there is a most improved fighter here, it would be him - call it better editing, or better choreography, but Iron Fist showed he was at par with the rest as fighters. My problem? He IS the Iron Fist... he should still be better - deserving of the honor and respect that Stick, who trained Daredevil, shows the person and bestows the position. So I don't know if the show runners will address this in future Iron fist seasons, but his near dance moves in Season One was acceptable - if it could be shown to represent some transition to fighting. Fighting that looks like poetry - that is what the Iron Fist should look like to other fighters - being smooth, economical, yet equally effective... and when combined with this Chi power, stronger and possibly deadly. But as I said, most improved is good enough for me here.
The back and fourth between the characters - Matt with Jessica, Luke with Danny... these were good. Heck, the Matt with Elektra at the closing parts of episode eight were great. This was Elektra, and even if it wasn't shown how both of them survived the building coming down on them, well... being who they are, it could be plausible - acceptable.
The ending... with Iron Fist, now tasked by Matt, to protect 'his' (meaning the latter's) city in his stead, showed Matt possibly thinking he wouldn't get out alive - so Danny now has a new purpose - specially since they all think the Hand perished in the same building collapse (which I know is all crock, they've crept back to hiding - maybe reorganizing. After all, if Elektra and Matt can get out, why can't they?
Danny will be the new protector. Luke continues with his life, until he and Claire (Rosario Dawson) split and he has 'coffee' again with Jessica, and Matt? He ends up in a convent, all bandaged up being cared for by nuns - one of them, most likely his biological mother. That's all we're shown as payees one of the TV universe seems to end.. oh yeah... and that teaser with the Punisher as well. So until then, I hope the Defenders, as a team, do come back - after all, they just became the team in episode eight... meaning they started acting as a bona fide team at the close of the series. Prior to that, they were just a non-team (which by the way was the tag line of the comic book before) put together by circumstance.
What's in the future? Well... Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and iron Fist are all scheduled for a new season - same with Daredevil, and I hope they don't feel too stand alone-ish, all somehow showing up as cameos - one way or another. It's time for the TV series to show the expanded Cinematic universe as well... hoping to see cameos of some Agents from S.H.I.E..L.D. or eve the Inhumans (one can dream, right?)/
What will make the Defenders possibly group together again? Well... assuming the will have a season two, and this time, with not just eight episodes - maybe a dark Daredevil? This time, having the team working side-by-side with Elektra? Or getting some assistance from Wilson Fisk? Perhaps crossing paths with the Punisher? And I'm not even asking for a cameo from the big screen guys... but who knows? Maybe after the cinematic Infinity War movies, some of these characters can be free to show a cameo? I would like to see Daredevil work with the Spider kid. Stopping him from angrily taking justice in his own hands - maybe even defending someone who was involved in an incident that hurt Aunt May... you know, that kind of drama.
Note: The Defenders, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and IronFist are all characters owned by Marvel / Disney and the images shown in this blog are not owned by me. I'm just a fan, reacting to what I watched. #defenders #daredevil #jessicajones #lukecage #ironfist #marvel #netflix
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