As Marvel and Netflix continued to release success after success with each of their original shows (aside from Iron Fist) based on lesser known superheroes, it was only a matter of time before we got to see a crossover series. Similar to The Avengers, Marvel’s The Defenders focuses on local superheroes Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Luke Cage (Mike Colter), and Iron Fist (Finn Jones) as they team up to save New York City from an evil organization known as The Hand, and just like the movie it’s a real treat seeing these characters interact with one another. The plot results from many factors from each of the previous shows, so it’s highly recommended that one watches all of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist before watching in order to fully understand the plot.
Marvel manages to stand out above the rest by crafting memorable and engaging characters with unique personalities while also writing interesting arcs to place these characters in. In this case, The Defenders is no exception, as each main character is given plenty of screen time to develop and learn how to work together, despite the fact that each one has been damaged in one way or another in the past. The action scenes are nothing short of fantastic, and the stunt work really shows each punch in full, brutal, and glorious fashion. The season does admittedly start off a little slow, but once the team starts to form, it’s engaging to the very end and leaves the viewer wanting to see more in the future.
Another slight gripe is with the series’ main villain, the leader of the Hand known as Alexandra. While Sigourney Weaver does offer a fantastic performance, her character as a whole felt underused and less memorable than other Netflix villains like Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin, or David Tennant’s Kilgrave. Overall, the series does have some flaws, but it’s another fantastic superhero ride from beginning to end and is highly recommended. It is unknown when season two will air, but The Punisher will soon be released in November to satisfy any cravings until then.
Joey Menendez // Editor-in-Chief
