Marvel's The Defenders: Ranking Every Episode From Worst To Best
3. Episode 6: Ashes, Ashes
The One Where: The Defenders turn against each other as they realise Danny is the key to the Hand's plans. Stick plans to kill Danny - but is instead murdered by Elektra. She brings Danny to the Hand and - shock twist time! - kills Alexandra, appointing herself their new leader.
The Verdict: The final ten minutes of this fittingly-titled episode completely turn the series around and are hugely exciting. Even before that, though, there is much to enjoy. Having Danny ostracized from the group doesn't exact make him more endearing, but it does deliver on what we were always promised about these heroes - that they would make an uneasy team.
Likewise, splitting the Defenders up into Matt/Jessica and Luke/Danny works really well. We get a Heroes for Hire tease and a great scene where Murdock and Jones bond as they investigate together.
As ever with The Defenders, however, you have to take the rough with the smooth. Alexandra's death is shocking, but I'm not sure it was the best thing for the show going forward. See also: Cottonmouth's exit in Luke Cage.