The Defenders (Netflix)

[Totenkindly]

Watched half of it so far. It's not top-tier stuff overall (not like Westworld or Breaking Bad, etc.) but is decent for what it is. It still feels like the writers generalize too much in their dialogue, and I really don't like Danny Rand being the central figure to the plotline, but it helps a great deal that he is juxtaposed with the other three and they all get decent screen time apart and then, in mid-series, together.

Sigourney Weaver is, well, Sigourney Weaver. She gives some gravitas to the story and adds interest/empathy regardless of what kind of roles she plays. (I remember watching "A Monster Calls" last year and thinking as the movie started that she was horribly miscast as the British mother figure.... but she brought such nuance to the role later in the story, I totally get why they cast her.) Anyway, it helps she is part of this season.

There are of course things I don't get. including....

Mainly, they bring back Elektra as some super-secret weapon but all she does is try to beat up people and can't even quite do that when she's fighting superheroes. I mean, really, as portrayed, she's nothing more than some decent martial arts woman. I don't really get why she is considered such a big deal, she's not THAT impressive so as to be considered some top-secret solution to everyone's problems.

Anyway, if you liked both seasons of Daredevil, then The Defenders is on par with that. Kind of a fun way to pass the time and see what happens.

 

[Totenkindly]

I finished this. Obviously it was enjoyable enough I watched the entire eight episodes in about a 30 hour period

Actual Spoilers, so don't read until you've watched it, if you plan to watch:

Episode 5:

Probably one of the best "emotional" sequences in the season, with Elektra retracing her steps through Matt's life. Most of the emotional stuff feels kind of fake, but this felt real.

Episode 6:

hahaha, wow. That ending reminded me immediately of Deep Blue Sea, just not QUITE as good. The major disappointment is that Alexandra never really got a finished arc because of this.

What's in the box? WHAAAAT'S IN THE GODDAMN BOXXXXX???

I still don't quite get why Elektra is a villain, since they spend more time in the series reviewing all the good she's experienced or reflecting on her internal struggle... but then she just "goes bad" because she's amoral. Okay, whatever. It just seems they wanted to turn her bad.

Also, end of another era with the demise of another long-running character.

Episode 7:

Misty has a big problem -- she's trying to uphold law and order while trying to be reasonable about vigilantes. It won't work. I thought it was just bad writing, but it turns out (I THINK) that this was intended... that her future with the force will not last much longer.

Danny is a schmuck. I was waiting for Elektra to sucker him into punching the wall, and he's so damn kid-like / short-sighted that of course he falls for it.

I gotta say, though, blowing up a towering building in NYC to finish the Hand off is giving me the creeps. I was an adult for 9/11 and saw all the footage countless times. It makes sense that they have to bury the hole, but emotionally I don't like it one bit, it's just horrible.

Episode 8:

Okay, I'm not sure how old horned head survived that. Like, how did he get out? It's clear they are setting up a Born Again storyline or something, though... an arc I bought off the newstand when it came out.

I *really* like that they spent the last 15 minutes of the episode at least doing denouement stuff. It really gave the series more emotional depth and followed up on loose relationship ends. It also sets the stage for a number of other things.

It's pretty clear that the whole Misty Knight thing was planned... they formed a deep bond between her and Colleen Wing, they set the stage for Misty's bionic arm, and they set up Misty's probable bump from the force so she'll team up with Colleen in the future. But that's pretty cool. I felt like they have a rapport, and Colleen is the best thing from Iron Fist and Misty is formidable; they can handle a show.

I really don't like the stupid way they let normal people take horrible damage without it affect them. We are led to believe Colleen had her gut sliced an episode earlier, she gets a bandage, and suddenly she's having hardcore katana fights with someone better than her... like how? Every move is going to tear open her day-old wound. It's just so silly, she would barely be functional.

I'm sorry to see Gao go. She was probably my favorite Hand.

Jessica's "Alias" detective shingle is back out. Hooray!

Will Luke and Jessica get back together at some point? There is some grounding here, at least.

There's some funny stuff, like when Jessica and Matt get teamed up briefly -- and you realize they are the most private / self-protective two of the four... both are so tight-lipped about their personal lives.

Jessica's rolling sardonic commentary provides a lot of comic fodder throughout the series. Danny is the most annoying with all the vague optimisms and positive thinking he spouts. Luke is the practical realist, and he doesn't have a problem with calling something crazy if he thinks it is.

There's still some cheesy stuff that happens from time to time -- like, it helps the story along, but doesn't seem like it would happen IRL.

Like all the "hero sidekicks" getting stuck in a room together at the police station, to talk... and seemingly have pretty free reign to roam around the station? Especially with Colleen somehow getting access to the evidence room, without the door being locked or anyone stationed there?

All in all, it was pretty on par with the Netflix comic series stuff.

 

[Fluffywolf]

I like the fact it doesn't drag on and the pacing is good. Sigourney Weaver is awesome as usual.

I guess, the main thing I don't like is Danny Rand's naivity. Rather than seeing him grow, he continues to be a hurt puppy.

Daredevil is great. I like the little nuances like him being able to hear the electricity of lamps and turning off a desk lamp, despite being blind and little things like that.

I think Cage and Jones didn't really get their moment to shine though. The focus on Iron fist was big and only daredevil seemed to be able to take the stage well.

 

[Beorn]

Should I finish all the other individual series before watching this?
(I've watched s1 of Jessica and Daredevil and half of Iron Fist)

 

[Totenkindly]

To understand the Elektra and The Hand dynamic, watch season 2 of daredevil.

I saw all of JJ and Daredevil. But I only saw the pilots for Cage and IF and read an IF synopsis and was fine.

 

[Fluffywolf]

Cage series was the best amongst them in my opinion, but has the least to do with defenders.

I'd say watching iron fist is advised as well. I didn't like that series much myself but a lot of defenders is based on that.

Basically as I had said before, both daredevil and iron fist are very central to the story, unlike Jessica and Luke that are sort off just 'put in the mix' because of very weak plot devices.

 

[Totenkindly]

Cage series was the best amongst them in my opinion, but has the least to do with defenders.

Yeah, I still plan to finish that one. I just never got around to it. But I agree it has the least to do with The Defenders. They really did nothing with Luke's past in The Defenders, aside from where he picks up in Episode 1.

I'd say watching iron fist is advised as well. I didn't like that series much myself but a lot of defenders is based on that.

It is, but you can just read the synopsis rather than having to suffer through it. That's what I did. I didn't feel like the story was diminished, really; I read all the plot points that were important, in about three minutes, instead of having to sit through seven more hours of Danny Rand. I think if someone wants to sit through Iron Fist, it will be more for a few supporting villains + Colleen Wing.

But Daredevil Season 2 (moreso than one) really deals with the hand and Black Skye and whatever else... plus it's more watchable on its own merits than Iron Fist.

 

[Totenkindly]

Well, that didn't take too long to hit the fan sphere.
Marvel's Luke Cage Season 2 First Look- See Misty Knight With Her New Bionic Arm

I think it looks kinda dumb, though. Ehh.

 

[Atomic Fiend]

I felt it was better then Iron Fist, but not as good as any of the other solo Netflix series.

 

[Z Buck McFate]

I liked it enough to finish it.

I might be alone in this, and I have no idea what comic book Jessica Jones is like - but there's something about Krysten Ritter that seems too highschool/junior highschool to me. There's something that feels too much like angsty teenager behind the smart-ass comments. I find it distracting, and can't watch her without constantly thinking someone more legit badass (like Michelle Rodriguez) or dry (Aubrey Plaza) would deliver the sardonic comments better. Someone like Ripley-era Weaver. I like Krysten Ritter, just not for this role.

I also kinda feel like Iron Fist could have been cast better, but I don't like his character as much anyway so it doesn't distract me.