I like Jessica's theme as well. Noir-ish and mysterious.
The Defenders--Marvel/Netflix
- Thread starter Turtletrekker
- Start date
It's clever the way it starts out in a laid-back, jazzy mode like a vintage detective score and then modulates into this intense, driving hard rock sound. It fits the character very well. Great visual design for the title sequence too. It's my favorite of the five.
Yep.
io9 has a pretty mixed rundown/review up. I do find it amusing that, in the same weeks Game of Thrones is unleashing some living, (fire-)breathing dragons, the long-awaited Defenders miniseries involves... dragon bones. Long-dead dragon bones. When I first read about the newly greenlit Marvel/Netflix-verse, I certainly expected the first team-up season to land with a bigger splash than the one it seems to be getting.
I will say that my one big disappointment in The Defenders was the reveal of what was at the bottom of the pit. I was hoping for something a little more menacing and mysterious. Some version of the Beast (Not Hank McCoy) perhaps would have worked better for me and maybe made that final act a little more memorable. Getting the substance from dead dragons bones is one thing, but the blood of a demon? THAT'S menacing.
Otherwise, thumb's up all around.
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It's not just the forgettability of the them that irritated me with the Defenders theme song: the first bar or so also sounded way too similar to the "Sherlock" theme. Half the time I wasn't even listening to the second half of the Defenders theme anymore because the beginning of it automatically me start humming Sherlock in my head...
^ For several years now, I've wanted to see a James Bond or Mission: Impossible movie in which the protagonists have to deal with two completely different world-dominating/ending plots at once. Why must all these supervillains obligingly wait their turn to fight the good guys and lose? And would they merely cooperate scheduling-wise, or would they actually team up? 
They may have gone to that well one too many times because I felt more letdown than shock after it played out. It was more "pssh, really?" than "OMG, REALLY?!??!?!".
Yeah, the dragon bones thing was a bit underwhelming.
One thing I really enjoyed was the bits with Jessica being a detective. Chasing the shell companies, the tail/counter-tail scene. (Let's just pause for a second and consider that Jessica Jones gave Matt "I can hear a heartbeat from 200 yards" Murdoch the slip!) I feel like part of the reason why I like her and Matt more than Luke & Danny is because they have practical skills beyond being good at punching people. Being a lawyer is just as core to Matt's values and identity as being a detective is for Jessica, even if she won't admit it.
Luke was a soldier and a cop, but he doesn't seem to carry either of those things with him and I get the feeling like he's still trying to find his purpose. Danny on the other hand has nothing but his purpose.
Luke was a soldier and a cop, but he doesn't seem to carry either of those things with him and I get the feeling like he's still trying to find his purpose. Danny on the other hand has nothing but his purpose.
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That is a great analysis, I think Luke is finding his purpose in defending the community he grew up in and understands, which outsiders might not as much, and fighting the weaknesses and dangers within it. He's basically becoming a bulletproof community worker. I think Danny is the one who needs to face the fact that ultimately he will need more than "I am the immortal...".
One sets up the other. Danny's interactions with Luke give him more of a street-level perspective. In a divergence from the lore, Luke Cage was already a "Hero for Hire" when he met Danny in the comics rather than a "bullet-proof social worker", and at times, was rather mercenary about it. He had bills to pay, right? Joining Luke in "Heroes for Hire" wasn't a financial decision for Danny, it was an attempt to be where he needed to be to help those in need. And when they came across a case that was out of their customer's financial range? A case that Luke may have turned down before? Well, that's when his billionaire partner steps in. They really did have a very unique and enjoyable dynamic.
Well, I've enjoyed it. The 4 combined shows and this, I feel they have struck a tone of their own. They have been laboured and turgid at times, but overall I think the whole thing has been a pretty entertaining run so far. Serious enough to take seriously, but not serious enough to become depressed at what a shithole of a world they live in.
Luke Cage was the best show, for me. This came a close second.
Luke Cage was the best show, for me. This came a close second.
Yeah Luke's still getting there, which to be fair is mostly because his first season was more or less dedicated to putting his past behind him. Hopefully his second season will have him actually "moving forward". Nevertheless he's still fairly passive and narrow in his approach. People come to him with problems and he gets shot and punches his way though it. Honestly it made his (well deserved) telling off of Danny seem just a little bit hypocritical. I mean how many of the thugs he's beaten up were just poor people trying to keep their heads above water?
Assuming they don't go the "Heroes for Hire" route with him and Danny (they may be saving that for a Misty & Coleen spin-off) I can see him taking on the literal role of a community social worker and have to operate in an ecosystem as Matt and Jessica must do. One where punching is the *last* resort, not the first.
Not sure where they can go with Danny. Not familiar with the source material so I don't know if he has a life or purpose beyond being The Immortal Iron Fist. Philanthropy seems like a logical choice I suppose..?
See my post above.^^^
Yeah, as I said above, I was thinking more along the lines of just Danny going solo (or just not with Luke) since it doesn't really look like they're ready for them as a duo just yet and may not even bother at all.
Either way though, that's still just him being Iron Fist, just in a different context.
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Well, that was pretty great. And the Hand's ultimate plan was actually much simpler and more straightforward than I was expecting, which I appreciated. I really like where all of the Defenders ended up by the show's end, and I can't wait to see how their stories continue into their next seasons. (Yes, even Iron Fist.)
Was the whole thing about the Hand harvesting fossilized dragon bones to fuel their immortality meant to be a metaphor for oil and how important it is to modern military powers maintaining their strength and influence, or am I just seeing something that's not really meant to be there?
Was the whole thing about the Hand harvesting fossilized dragon bones to fuel their immortality meant to be a metaphor for oil and how important it is to modern military powers maintaining their strength and influence, or am I just seeing something that's not really meant to be there?