Review: Iron Fist: Marvel’s lucky streak is over

Iron Fist is just one of the latest shows to get the so-called “Netflix treatment.” This far into the Netflix content timeline, we’re slowly learning the lesson that the “Netflix treatment” and the Marvel brand aren’t automatic hits. While Netflix has had its fair share of lackluster shows, Iron Fist snaps Marvel’s win streak in the Defender universe. It’s still watchable, but it’s a far cry from Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage.

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As far as must-watches go, Iron Fist is required viewing only for viewers who follow the Marvel-Netflix timeline. It’s a trudge, though. Other critics and viewers decry the show’s lack of diversity, but its narrative inconsistencies and poorly shot sequences ruin the show by themselves.

Like Luke Cage, Iron Fist’s original story was written during a racially insensitive time. Hence, it featured over-the-top Asian characters and a white man as the protagonist. Unlike Luke Cage though, Iron Fist’s Netflix treatment made no effort to modernize the story for more liberal sensitivities. This doesn’t even mean casting an Asian actor for Danny Rand. Jessica Jones campaigned for women empowerment, for mental health, and against rape culture. Even Luke Cage turned its blaxploitation angle around and steeped itself in Harlem’s black culture.

Meanwhile, Iron Fist’s Manhattan has no heart. As far as settings go, it’s just “the Rand building” or “the Chikara dojo.” Places like these aren’t plottable on a map, but rather settings that happen just because they’re convenient for the story. Jessica Jones’s and Daredevil’s Hell’s Kitchen felt lived in. Luke Cage’s Harlem was charming with protagonists and antagonists fighting for its heart. Iron Fist’s Manhattan was as bland as Danny Rand himself. It’s set in New York City in the same way that Avengers was set in New York City—meaningless until it’s convenient.

Unlike its contemporaries, Iron Fist doesn’t even show awareness for Asian-American culture. Danny Rand doesn’t champion Asian-Americans (or anyone, for that matter). For a Defender, Rand doesn’t seem to defend anyone other than himself as the so-called Iron Fist. Iron Fist is just another exhausted version of Marvel’s white man origin story.

To illustrate, Danny Rand is a former success story who falls from grace, gains superpowers, and struggles to meld his former life with his new, superpowered one. Sounds familiar? Ever seen Iron Man, Thor, Ant Man, and Doctor Strange? Iron Fist’s treatment stays true to its origin but its lack of creativity is just exhausting.

As far as characters go, Danny Rand was rightly portrayed as a child trapped in a man’s body because of emotional immaturity. A kid-at-heart superhero had the potential of showcasing a new dynamic for the Marvel universe. Sadly, Danny Rand just ended up as a man-baby obsessed with telling everyone that he’s the undefeatable Iron Fist. Of course, he’s stabbed, sliced, and knocked out a lot. Plus, the most Iron Fisting he’s done is punching doors and holes in walls. Did I mention that he’s riddled with laughable inconsistencies? In one episode, he proudly declares that he’s taken a vow of chastity but has a love scene in the very same episode. But that’s beside the point because he’s the Iron Fist, goddamnit!

The stars of the show were undoubtedly the supporting cast. Colleen Wing, the Meachums, and Claire Temple could have had their own individual shows. Instead, we have this mish-mash of storylines that followed had no sense of consistency. By the latter episodes, new characters and villains were still being introduced. In the span of just thirteen episodes, Danny Rand goes up against three villains (one of which could have been cut entirely without consequence to the plot). A three-villain season is understandable for shows billeted with 24 episodes. But thirteen? When a villain gains enough momentum, Iron Fist indefatigably shifts the focus to a new villain without an adequate conclusion for each.

Spoiler alert: Iron Fist ends in two separate cliffhangers. For perspective, Luke Cage and Daredevil ended with just one cliffhanger. Iron Fist ends in two that don’t do anything other than set up more convoluted storylines. After everything, I’m not crying out for more. I just want to get off this train. Give me the Defenders without Danny Rand. Frank Castle is still lurking around. Can we have him instead?