Marvel Netflix: Ranking all seasons of Marvel’s Netflix dramas

Photo Credit: Marvel’s The Defenders/ Marvel Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Media Center

8. The Defenders Mini-Series

Following the success of The Avengers, other production teams attempted to replicate the shared universe formula. Although the DC shows are fairly fruitful with their multi-show coalition, the DC movies disastrously rushed into Justice League. Then the MCU’s television branch made a go at it with The Defenders, however the Marvel Netflix superhero concoction proved that you can’t simply expect to paint by numbers when it comes to all-star team-ups.

What made Joss Whedon’s movie so entertaining is that every minute contains either top-notch dialogue and/or exceptional action. The Defenders mini-series was too often missing one of those components. The fight scenes land somewhere between serviceable and above average (for television). Considering that all four street level heroes were fighting side by side, the choreography and creativity could have been much better. One can find just as thrilling feats amongst Team Arrow or the Agents of SHIELD on a weekly basis.

The marketing team promoted Sigourney Weaver as a big addition to the cast and she was unfortunately a letdown as Alexandra. Elektra couldn’t have killed her off any sooner, yet we were still left with less riveting threats than we have already seen on Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage.

Even with a shorter eight episode order, The Defenders had plenty of time to pair off the team members for periodically lively conversations that highlighted Danny’s stubbornness, Luke’s level headedness, Matt’s sense of duty and justice, and best of all, Jessica’s candid cynicism about the rest of the team and their mission.

Unlike with The Avengers, The Defenders weren’t dealing with a conspicuous impending global threat and therefore SHIELD agents were not knocking on their door to recruit them. The Defenders came together in a particularly natural way… by just doing their day jobs.

Luke’s concern for a Harlem youth and Jessica’s investigative case both had completely separate connections to the Hand. Matt became Jessica’s lawyer via Foggy via Hogarth. Danny was at the center of the plot since it was literally the Iron Fist’s responsibility to protect an ancient city that the Hand wiped out. All of them wound up at the epicenter at the same exact time, which was way too coincidental, but also cool to watch play out.

The Defenders mini-series was not bad, but shouldn’t a unification of several great shows and characters have been terrific? Most of the negativity after The Defenders release came from a place of comparison and expectation. However, the relatively breezy pacing along with some new superhero partnerships provided enough fun to keep us occupied in between the superior solo series.