Marvel's The Defenders: 8 Ways It Saved Iron Fist
If at first you don't do Danny Rand right, for the love of God, try again.
Marvel's Iron Fist was something of a streak breaker Netflix's Marvel shows. On its own, Iron Fist wasn't totally irredeemable, but the show was still subpar at best, with the bad certainly outweighing the good.
What made it such a crushing disappointment is that Marvel was on a roll with Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and both seasons of Daredevil, and Iron Fist didn't even come close to living up to that standard.
Among the show's many faults was the titular protagonist himself, Iron Fist (aka Danny Rand). He was immature and petulant to the point where it was annoying, he wasn't nearly as engaging as some the other characters on his own show, and Finn Jones was a questionable casting decision, to say the least (not even factoring in the fan backlash the series received for going with a white actor, as opposed to tacking the character from a different perspective).
However, with the release of the crossover mini-series, The Defenders, it seems as though there is hope for Danny yet. He still has a way to go, but this show has taken one giant step forward in salvaging the character of Iron Fist from the ruins of his solo series and turning him into a character fans can get behind.
8. Improved Acting By Finn Jones
When Finn Jones was brought in for the role of Danny Rand, fans had a lot of doubts that he was up to the task. And throughout the first season of Iron Fist, Jones didn't exactly do a whole lot to alleviate this and it was clear he was in a bit over his head.
That said, he has definitely been able to hone his skills a bit since then, as is evident from the first few moments of The Defenders.
In the mini-series, he comes off as much more competent and confident in the role, radiating with a certain fire he simply lacked in Iron Fist. His delivery is more or less on point, he plays off of his co-stars incredibly well, and his mannerisms, both the overt and the nuanced, are much stronger this time around.
In the end, Jones proves that even if you stumble after being put into a position too early, it's not too late to step up to the plate and prove yourself. And that's exactly what he did.