Marvel's The Defenders: 10 Spoiler-Free Reactions To First Four Episodes

2. But The Story Isn't As Engaging

Part of this does come down to the pacing issues outlined previously, but it also speaks to some mistakes in the whole build-up to The Defenders. Each of the characters here are (or can be) interesting, but while it's great to see them together, there's not yet a concrete need for it to happen.

The problem there, then, comes down to the Hand. Sigourney Weaver is excellent, but not enough has been made of the organisation as a whole to feel convinced they could be so all-powerful, nor is there much engaging in seeing yet another story focused on having to defeat them, given this is the third time we've seen it play out in a year-and-a-half.

The show does, however, do a good job of balancing the split narratives that lead us to the group meeting, and it's in those moments where you get glimmers of more interesting arcs (such as with Matt and Jessica), but - four episodes in, anyway - they haven't nailed making a cohesive, compelling plot.