Top 3 Thursday – “Defenders”

Despite trying to minimize my television intake, Netflix keeps creating and posting the most amazing series! Now, being the marvel nerd that I am, I feel it’s time to rank the Netflix Defenders (I say “Netflix” because, well, Marvel comic nerds, you understand all the name changes and member changes of that group so I won’t get into that now). Warning: I tried to keep the spoilers to a minimum, but still, some were unavoidable. You have been warned.

Honorable Mention: Iron Fist

This series was disappointing to say the least. The cameos and attempts to link him to the rest of the defenders was tolerable, but even still, there was something about Ser Loras, Danny Rand that was not believable at all to me. It was as though the directors said, “Hey, I don’t care for this character so let’s just copy Green Arrow and do it poorly.” Honestly, Rand and Queen have so much in common, just Rand was younger when he was “adopted” into an island tribe of mythical training. Back to the show, the fighting scenes were contrived and too slow to be captivating. They tried the slow-motion camera effect that worked with some early Dare Devil Season 1 fight scenes but with Iron fist I expect intricacy and technique that I simply did not see in this series. Honestly, Dare Devil Season 1 was better but I had to get this off my chest.

3) Jessica Jones
I love a strong female lead but it took me a while to get into this one, and honestly, I kept watching for Luke Cage and David Tennant… because it’s freaking David Tennant! The first couple of episodes couldn’t decide if they wanted to be Frank Miller Noir-esq or Batman isolationist. She’s not a very relatable character nor is she very empowering, especially if you’re expecting a Buffy, Sarah Connor, or even Holly Marie Combs in Charmed character. It’s not until they start hinting at the extent of her and Kilgrave’s “relationship” that you begin to understand her disassociated demeanor and PTSD. As much as I adored David Tennant, I think starting off their introduction of Jessica Jones with a character as strong and unbelievable as Kilgrave really set them up for failure. The best part of this show was the tie-in to Luke Cage and his wife.

2) Daredevil season 2
There were so many amazing elements to this season! Seamless fluidity from season 1, tighter yet expanded story arcs, binge-worthy ends to singular episodes, inspiration for our Halloween costumes last year! 😊 Once we move past the weight of Foggy’s sweet but repetitive disappointments in his friend’s crime-fighting double life, you get an interesting and amazing Punisher, a mixture of tenderness and rage, who pulls Karen Page (I keep calling her Jessica because True Blood) away from her interests in Murdock, as well as a fun though sociopathic re-imagining of Elektra and her shared backstory with DD, which frees up our Latinx healer, Rosario Dawson, to do just that without relationship woes. All is right in the world for now. Vincent D’onofrio’s Kingpin remains chilling and terrifying. The fight scenes are paced perfectly; there is a clear sense of “just scratching the surface” but with enough gusto to want to find out what lies beneath. There’s excitement every time they mention or hint at something I recall from the comics. This entire season was, in a word, squee! The only and I mean ONLY thing that bugged me… *SPOILER WARNING* …. The shoulders!? I mean, are you serious right now? The ONE part you arbitrarily decide NOT to cover and THAT is the end. You spent so much time methodically creating these connections to prophesies, intertwining destinies, and that’s all you can think to do to move the story to the next stage? *le sigh* Still a close second best show of the series.

1) Luke Cage
 I mean, c’mon! Not only was I in suspense and immensely entertained throughout the season but this series gave me something DD2 did not, and those were tears. The tears shed in this season edged out DD2 to win my first place spot in this week’s T3. *Pop for life* I had some trouble placing the timeline of this season, especially with Rosario Dawson’s character, but overall, the season took the cake. The cinematography choices (can we talk about biggie?), the real world topics, and the positive do-good messages. Diamondback was honestly second-rate plot, everything else is gold!

Mahershala Ali was superb and honestly, (SPOILERS) I don’t know how the second season can compensate for the chemistry and charisma Cottonmouth brought to this season. He was one of my favorites. I suppose I still have Shades. Also, the best soundtrack hands down. PS. I met Mike Colter, he has a great handshake and his favorite class in school was World History. #TeacherLife #SuperDreamy