Marvel Cinematic Universe: Every 2017 Project Ranked Worst To Best

After years of anticipation, The Defenders finally arrived this year, teaming up Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist for the first time, their worlds - and many of the supporting characters in them - colliding as the ever-growing threat of The Hand finally came to a head. And while it ultimately didn't feel like the massive event it had been teased as, it was still a fun ride anyway.

Let's face it, though: The Hand disappointed. From wasting Sigourney Weaver to the foot soldiers coming off less threatening than they did back in Daredevil, The Hand simply felt underwhelming, the least interesting part of the season by far. Even further, whereas the solo shows sometimes feel like they could be shortened by a few episodes, The Defenders actually feels like it suffers from being too short, shortchanging the fun of seeing its titular characters finally spending time with one another.

And when it comes down to it, it's the character interactions that make the series worth it. The show truly shines when it's allowing Matt and Jessica to figure each other out or getting Danny to lighten up and start forming his bond with Luke, and it's these types of dynamics that are going to come to the forefront going forward as the solo shows start crossing over more. At the end of the day, The Defenders may not have totally lived up to the hype, but it was still entertaining and has opened the door for even richer storytelling in the Netflix corner of the MCU.