Marvel's The Defenders: 10 Ways It Sets Up The Next Phase
The Punisher is coming to collect...
After watching 16 movies set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we have got used to the way each phase of the franchise works. A bunch of characters are introduced over time, they team up in a big event, rinse and repeat. So far, the Netflix corner of the MCU has followed the same pattern, with Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist leading up to The Defenders, which has just landed on Netflix.
And just like The Avengers foreshadowed the coming of Thanos, or Age of Ultron introduced the Infinity Gauntlet, The Defenders dropped a lot of teases about what will happen in the following seasons, as well as moving all the players to different places on the board, ready to explore fresh storylines in future.
Some of these aren't massively important - e.g. a burgeoning relationship or friendship - but others should have huge repercussions going forward. We didn't get anything as Earth-shattering as a cameo from an evil purple alien, of course, but the next phase of The Defenders' lives is already taking shape, thanks to these intriguing hints and developments.
Warning: spoilers for all eight episodes of The Defenders will be found within.
10. Mariah And Shades Still At Large
At the beginning of the series, Luke Cage begins investigating the strange disappearances - and later deaths - of some local kids in Harlem. Having never encountered the Hand before, Luke naturally assumes this is the work of his old enemies, Mariah Dillard and her partner in crime Shades.
The namecheck of these two villains serves to remind us that the duo are still at large, after Misty Knight was unable to hold them accountable for any crimes at the end of Luke Cage season one. Lowlife Turk Barrett also turns up in episode two for his regular cameo to tell Luke that Mariah and Shades have "ghosted" since he was sent to jail.
Come Luke Cage season two, though, we imagine that the pair will come out of the woodwork to cause trouble in Harlem once again. Thanks to Foggy Nelson (now with Hogarth, Chao and Benowitz), Luke is now cleared of all charges and will be out on the streets, ready to stop them.