Marvel’s Defenders Is Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts

It sounds like an insult to say that The Defenders is exactly what you thought it would be, but it isn’t. It’s a show that’s very aware of the expectations put upon it and the problems encountered by the other Marvel Netflix shows, and it knows how to best utilise its cast and its time. In other words, it’s great.

AU Editor’s Note: Marvel’s The Defenders is out on Netflix Australia on August 18. — Cam

Having seen the first four episodes of The Defenders, I can honestly say I was pretty pissed to not have been to able to watch the entire series. Now, granted, it’s usually in the second half of the season where Marvel Netflix shows have tended to flounder for a bit with filler; The Defenders only has eight episodes compared to the other series’ normal 13, which means it moves at a much faster clip than its predecessors — it doesn’t have any time to waste, which is a huge boon.

The shortened season brings with it a sense of urgency, but the extra-length afforded to the TV series means that, unlike its silver screen sibling The Avengers, a lot more time can be devoted to showing these characters get to know each other. The early distrust feels natural and so does the eventual teamwork. This is not a show that skimps on the banter, which is better than the action.

Image: Sarah Shatz/Netflix

Image: Sarah Shatz/Netflix

Everyone is exactly who you remember them to be, albeit better for having matured during their individual series. Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) had become rather unlikeable by the end of season two of Daredevil, but The Defenders reminds you why Cox is so good in this role. The inherent weirdness of Matt’s story in this universe is highlighted to great effect. (There’s a bit in the trailers where he identifies food by smell and the rest of the group stares at him, which is just wonderful.)

Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones makes you long for a second season of her show, and for it to come as quickly as. Her series depicted what was a very personal fight for her, and this show does a good job of using her buried-deep need to help and her not-so-buried curiosity to explain how she gets entangled with the Hand. The fact that she’s reluctant and almost hostile to getting involved is wonderfully true to the character and provides realistic tension.

Mike Colter’s Luke Cage is similarly brought into the events with care and understanding about his character’s motivations that rings true. And thank god for him, because his reaction to Danny Rand (Finn Jones) actually makes Iron Fist bearable. The show gives Luke a personal stake in the conflict, which serves as a reminder of its victims in a way that giant blockbusters can’t (or don’t) manage.

Is Finn Jones still so void of charisma that it’s still painful to watch Danny Rand? Yes. But thankfully, he is not on his own very much. He’s unavoidably still the point of entry into the story, but the second any other Defender arrives to puncture his self-importance, he fades into the background. The Defenders recognises, where Iron Fist did not, the many, many reasons people didn’t take to Danny Rand. Acknowledging his insufferableness by letting the othe charactrs recognise it doesn’t cure the mistakes of Iron Fist, but it helps.

Actually, there’s evidence everywhere that the writers though a lot about the questions viewers would have coming into the show, as well as the moments fans would love to see. If you’ve wondered about the weirdness of Daredevil being the only one of the four whose name no one knows, well, the show’s thought about that, too. It’s fanservice done right, without sacrificing the characters or the story.

Image: Jessica Miglio/Netflix

Image: Jessica Miglio/Netflix

The Defenders has also done a better job with its villain than many of the Marvel movies have. Sigourney Weaver wonderfully inhabits Alexandra, a character who seems unconcerned with constantly dropping bits of knowledge she simply shouldn’t have. Her motivations are a bit clunkily explained, which is a shame because Weaver’s good enough to show them through her acting without needing an infodump.

That’s actually part of the series’ biggest flaw: There is a lot of talking. Backstories, what happened between when we last saw these characters and now, who the villains are — everything is shown and told. While the banter is lovely and a single villain speech would be acceptable, there seems to be a fear that viewers would be completely lost if every bit of the story wasn’t explained out loud.

However, the good of The Defenders far outweighs the bad. The story isn’t revolutionary, and as usual, the villains have a typically over-the-top and hilariously convoluted plan — but it’s all a canvas to showcase Matt, Jessica, Luke, and Danny coming together as a team. They’re not just stronger together than they are apart, They are stronger together than they are apart — and it turns out they’re more entertaining, too.