The Defenders: 10 Reasons It's A Massive Disappointment

10. Iron Fist Is The Key (But Also A Joke)

When Iron Fist bombed so dramatically compared to the other Netflix shows (at least in terms of critical response - it was still watched a lot) - you could have assumed that he'd be used more sparingly in the ensemble. Instead, Netflix went hard on him, introducing him as the key to the entire plot (quite literally), and building the show's entire mythology around his relationship with The Hand.

Unfortunately, that was the equivalent of building a bridge on the flimsiest peddle foundation, and it doesn't really work to captivate the imagination. Iron Fist is BETTER, yes, but he needed more help than this. Particularly as the show still turns him into the butt of the jokes, as if trying to knowingly suggest his reception is well-known to them and they're cheekily reclaiming it.

But you don't set someone up as the hero and still take pot-shots at his lore. You can't have it both ways. That's just reductive.

Also, this entire show is basically the plot of Hellboy. Which was much better.