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I’ll say right off the bat, I’m agnostic about the Marvel/Netflix television universe. Jessica Jones was smart, tough to watch at times, and very good. I quit Daredevil roughly halfway through season one because the writing was terrible. The formidable Luke Cage remains top of my to-watch list, largely because the hero we need right now is a bulletproof black man with a heart of gold. One hero we don’t need right now is an Orientalist white saviour rich boy who knows kung fu, so save yourself some time and skip Iron Fist. Despite that, I figured I’d give The Defenders – which brings all four series together – a shot.
The writing was more self-aware than I had anticipated, embracing cheesiness in a way that seems to be an emerging trend in comic book adaptations post-Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). It takes several episodes before our heroes converge on the central plot, each of them coming at it from a different angle or niche. There’s a sense of how broad the scope of their problem is, and moments of realistic grittiness, but when the central plot involves immortal ninja assassins, magical energies, resurrection and a dragon skeleton, it’s pretty clear we’re not in Christopher Nolan’s Batman anymore.
Sigourney Weaver highlights the limits of big name stunt casting; her main villain, Alexandra, seems perpetually confused rather than mysterious and cold. The rest of the supporting cast – with a lot of awesome representation of women of colour – are, however, superb. All the Marvel/Netflix regulars get their moment. Jessica (Krysten Ritter) and Luke (Mike Colter), the most relatable of the superhero quartet, lampshade the absurdity of mystic ninjas trying to take over the world beautifully… and then get on with saving the day, because damn it, someone has to. Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock/Daredevil has found a better groove than in the half series I watched, and gets teased mercilessly for being the only member of the team with a super-suit. “Nice ears,” Jessica drawls. “They’re horns,” counters The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen. Finn Jones (Ser Loras from Game of Thrones) shows up here as Danny Rand/Iron Fist, another superhero rich boy with attitude. Jones seems entirely aware of what a douche his character is, and commits in a way that almost redeems him. Styled like Jamie Dornan’s Christian Grey, and pouting about his Mystical Cultural Appropriation, Rand wants to do what’s right and save the world – but even that can’t mask how annoying and entitled he is. Over the eight-episode run, he’s punched in the face not just by villains, but by each of the other three Defenders, and it was nearly as satisfying as seeing King Joffrey get slapped about.
Don’t rush to put this top of your queue, but if it’s a rainy night and you’re not really in the mood for anything that requires concentration, I found it entertaining background watching while I crocheted.
