Iron Fist (Marvel/Netflix)

[The Nth Doctor]

I'm only one episode in so far, but I think I can already tell why critics haven't liked it. Stylistically, it's very different from Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage. The biggest contrast is that Iron Fist, at least in the first episode, is very quiet. The plotting, the music, the natural sounds. That's not inherently a bad thing, but I can definitely see how that be jarring for many viewers and critics. I'm enjoying it so far, although I'm not instantly hooked like I was with the other three shows.

Otherwise, not much else to say at this point other than I liked how the show went straight into the whole awkward "I'm Danny Rand! Why don't you believe me? situation in the first scene. That particular transition is going smoothly and isn't going away right immediately, and I think that's the right choice.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Just one comment about episode two: I'm disgusted and infuriated by the inhumane way the patients were treated at the psychiatric hospital, particularly the enforced medications.

 

[Commander Richard]

Just finished the back seven. My assessment is that Iron Fist started off great with a clear story and objective but got more complex and muddled in the back half. It's been said that these 13-episode seasons are probably too long and could use some trimming and it felt like this was the case here. It was still a decent show though. It's the kind of show where a rewatch will have you looking for clues or hints about what's yet to be revealed. It also had the most dysfunctional family ever with everyone constantly changing allegiances. The outcome of that was good in places and sad in others.

Spoiler

A shame that Joy and Davos have turned on him but good that Ward of all people turned into a friend and ally. It's also too bad that Danny never really had a second family with the Meachums given how Harold really felt, not to mention how he was initially treated by Ward all those years.

I guess The Defenders is next. I don't know if this show's events will continue there or if Defenders will be a separate story shoehorned in before events continue with season 2.

I do hope that season 2 does better with the mysticism. I love the grounded approach we've been getting from Netflix but there's room for more flair and to go all out with his abilities since they're pretty much about channelling and focusing what he already has.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I have had this on for a good part of today playing on my second monitor while working on my primary. This show is kind of odd and Finn Jones is the least of the problems. First, there's all the family business, immortal father, sometimes murderous assholes, sometimes sympathetic siblings and what not. The show gets off to a bad start with the whole nuthouse, is he/isn't he crazy tropes that are frankly kind of tired these days, some nutty kung fu shenanigans would be better. Lucky for Iron Fist, Daredevil must have cleaned most of the guns from the streets. Some of the action is decent but drunken monkey kung fu guy may have seen their reach exceeding their grasp, Jackie Chan isn't losing any sleep over that one.

As I said Finn Jones is a lot better than I expected from the previews. I liked him in the beginning in the zen hippie mode. I was kind of hoping that his homeless friend lasted longer, I thought he was interesting. I don't know the comics but it feels like he stumbled into someone's else's show. The actress playing Colleen WIng is winsome and his siblings are OK when they aren't trying to kill him.

 

[Skipper]

^ You made your point, than you made it again, and then repeated it several more times, and you're still at it, while adding nothing new. It's getting tiresome.

I'm the internet incarnate.

 

[tenmei]

The show gets off to a bad start with the whole nuthouse, is he/isn't he crazy tropes that are frankly kind of tired these days, some nutty kung fu shenanigans would be better. .

I think this is - and the critics made the same move - a misinterpreting of that episode. It's never an is he/isn't he story (such as Legion) - the audience aren't supposed to doubt that he IS Danny Rand, it's supposed to be about whether others believe him and why the Meachum's need him in the hospital. Some reviews say the thread should have come much later - but this is the exact position it had to come because it would have been pointless later after his identity as Rand had been verified.

 

[dahj]

People, don't be yourself let fooled by his angelic face. This guy is a monster.

Literally nobody here said an unkind word towards Finn Jones.
You're ranting at the wrong people...

 

[Reverend]

Bad move for Danny. Once the doc believed him, he should have stopped right there. And why does the doc think he's crazy? They're living in the Marvel universe.

That's exactly the point. He says himself that since The Incident they've seen a massive trend in delusional people who think they have powers. Exactly where would the psychiatric profession be if they believed every disturbed person who claimed to be possessed by a black alien slime monster that really hates bells or imbued with powers by an Egyptian moon goddess?

Mind you, even if he did believe Danny about his powers, that would likely just result in a call to SHIELD informing them he has an unregistered enhanced in custody.

I think this is - and the critics made the same move - a misinterpreting of that episode. It's never an is he/isn't he story (such as Legion) - the audience aren't supposed to doubt that he IS Danny Rand, it's supposed to be about whether others believe him and why the Meachum's need him in the hospital. Some reviews say the thread should have come much later - but this is the exact position it had to come because it would have been pointless later after his identity as Rand had been verified.

Sure, going in most people are going to be reasonably sure he is who he says he is but to most people it's just a name and why should they even care? I think the point of that whole thing is less about whether people believe him or not and more about showing the audience who Danny Rand is, or at least was, as reflected in the eyes of those that knew him before.

 

[Tosk]

I for one really enjoyed it. Did it have stumbles? Sure, but no more than Luke Cage. (Fewer maybe.)

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I think this is - and the critics made the same move - a misinterpreting of that episode. It's never an is he/isn't he story (such as Legion) - the audience aren't supposed to doubt that he IS Danny Rand, it's supposed to be about whether others believe him and why the Meachum's need him in the hospital. Some reviews say the thread should have come much later - but this is the exact position it had to come because it would have been pointless later after his identity as Rand had been verified.

While I take your point I just find it a tired trope along with the drugged out character struggling to escape against his captors. If it wasn't for the Iron Fist angle I would never watch a show like this normally. The whole Meachum stuff just seems out of some melodramatic show about a messed up family dynasty. Why do I care about Ward's addictions? My mom used to watch Days of our Lives so I'd pick up some of it from osmosis or it being on occasionally and this reminds me a lot of that. There are other odd elements like Colleen's involvement with underground fighting that I don't feel they sell very well. It's an odd stew that they've thrown into Iron Fist.

I'm also not sure how we are supposed to take Danny's business decisions. Are we supposed to be behind him because he's got a good heart and ignore just how nonsensible they are? Then, the way he shrugs off the things that have been done to him especially by Ward is odd as well and adds to that weird soapy vibe. I know I'm not articulating it well but the show feels messy and just off to me.

 

[Commander Richard]

^ Makes perfect sense. I had the same observations.

Spoiler

Seeing Ward and his dad get more wacky and comedic was an odd turn too, but amusing never the less.

 

[JD]

Sooo, what's the verdict? It's the most racist thing ever appeared on screen after Griffith's Birth of a Nation? By comparison the character of I. Y. Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany's is a bastion of cultural sensitivity?

The U.S. are risking a diplomatic incident with China on the subject?

Please, the rest of the world needs to know what's at stake!!!

Catwoman was simply a bad movie. According to Internet, Finn Jones is the only culprit of decades of racism in Western cinema and had, single handed, insulted every single member of the Asian American Community and their deep believes in Kung-Fu. Really, he (and only he) is the pinnacle of centuries of xenophobic hate towards Asian peoples and probably the biggest liability in the diplomatic relationships with People's Republic of China after Trump.
Probably now he have to fear that people spit at him when he walks along the streets.

Or he just played the role of a guy who learned Kung-Fu. Your choice.

If this is directed at me, I never actually accused the show of being racist, I was just talking about the issues other people were bringing up in relation to it. I did use it as a general example because of the premise, but I never said the show was racist.

 

[dahj]

Up to episode 3, it's a bit slow paced, but no slower than other Marvel Netflix shows...

 

[Skipper]

If this is directed at me, I never actually accused the show of being racist, I was just talking about the issues other people were bringing up in relation to it. I did use it as a general example because of the premise, but I never said the show was racist.

Not at you, just as the toxic atmosphere on the internet/twitter. I'm sorry that I wasn't clear enough on it.

 

[Romulan_spy]

I just finished episode 7 and the show gets a lot more violent and bloody.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Through six episodes and I'm really enjoying the show. I love the quiet, low-energy of the show and how it contrasts to the other three shows. Even the three duels Danny faces aren't that high-energy. However, I didn't like how the spider-assassin was all sexed up. Sure, that's part of her stratagem but I felt that the outfit was a bit too much.

So while I kind of see what the critics are complaining about, I think they were also overreacting. Especially in regards to their numerous complaints about board meetings. Yeah, there were a few meetings, but they weren't that many, weren't that long, weren't that tedious, and they usually served a purpose for individual character paths (whether it was Danny or Ward or even Joy). The complaints feel blown out of proportion in retrospect.

Great to see Claire in action again, Night Nurse and "Sweet Christmas!" and all. "You mean to tell me I have more experience with The Hand than you?"

 

[Skipper]

Especially in regards to their numerous complaints about board meetings. Yeah, there were a few meetings, but they weren't that many, weren't that long, weren't that tedious, and they usually served a purpose for individual character paths (whether it was Danny or Ward or even Joy). The complaints feel blown out of proportion in retrospect.

Yep! I was always waiting for those "interminable board meetings", but nothing, they never materialized... I don't know what critics were talking about...

 

[Commander Richard]

However, I didn't like how the spider-assassin was all sexed up. Sure, that's part of her stratagem but I felt that the outfit was a bit too much.

The outfit was par for the course and I thought it was rather conservative.

Too bad Danny fell for her. Just goes to show that he's got power, skill, a fancy title and some nuggets of wisdom he can repeat but he still has a lot of cracks. He's not Jack Reacher just yet.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I think this is - and the critics made the same move - a misinterpreting of that episode. It's never an is he/isn't he story (such as Legion) - the audience aren't supposed to doubt that he IS Danny Rand, it's supposed to be about whether others believe him and why the Meachum's need him in the hospital. Some reviews say the thread should have come much later - but this is the exact position it had to come because it would have been pointless later after his identity as Rand had been verified.

I actually didn't see reviewers complain about that particular part, but I agree that they've misinterpreted that episode entirely. The viewers have seen what he can do, so we know he isn't crazy. It was only ever a matter of convincing everyone else.

The outfit was par for the course and I thought it was rather conservative.

Conservative, I suppose, but really served no purpose for her fighting. She can still be seductive without that kind of outfit. Maybe I'm overreacting but it felt absurd to me. Not really a big deal, but it stood out to me.

But then I also find it ridiculous to watch May and Daisy fight in modified heels/platforms or whatever they're called.

 

[FPAlpha]

3 episodes done and it isn't the trainwreck some critics said but it sure ain't Daredevil too (which i think is the best Netflix show followed by Jessica Jones).

It sure builds up very slowly.. maybe too slow for some. 2 episodes in and they are making a very huge fuss about his identity. Sure in a real world scenario that would play out like this, maybe even more dull with way more legalistic mumbojumbo but entertainment shows are a different animal so it's a bit odd to devote so much time to this aspect of the character that could have been dealt with in one and half episodes maybe.

That said i liked the introduction of the characters and the slow setting of the pieces. We get to learn who the characters are and what they are about so kudos to the show for not rushing through it and establishing each character.

Storywise we are already seeing some more major plots being set in motion.. the Hand has been mentioned multiple times now and i hope it gets expanded so viewers get some good Kung Fu fighting out of the show (which i believe many expected it to be all about.. sort of 13 episodes of not stop Iron Fisting and Tornado Kicking slugfest). I liked it that they waited until the end of the second episode before Danny breaks out the Iron Fist.. it sure looks awesome

Off i go with episode 4. Be back later.