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Marvel TV

Marvel’s Defenders (Netflix) – Love Conquers All

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It is kind of fitting that I finished this series and am writing this review in the midst of “Eclipsemania” because there are many metaphors/similarities that the wonders of the eclipse, this series, and a Christlike life all have. But we’ll get to that later.

Spoiler Warning: I will try my best to remain as spoiler free as possible, but there will be spoilers not just from this series, but those that led to this one as well. You’ve been warned.

Netflix is all in with their original series and ever since they released the first season of Daredevil, they’ve been on a collision course that led us to this series (similar to the MCU with Iron Man). Defenders is the culmination of a story line that started in Daredevil season one and continued through season two and Iron Fist. Although it barely touched the standalone series about Jessica Jones and Luke Cage, their stories were woven connected through side characters (most visibly being the nurse Claire who has appeared in every series).

Defenders brings the plans of The Hand to full view and with that plan it unites characters who would rather work alone but are forced to work together. The end game of The Hand was not something anyone saw coming which is refreshing in a series where so many things can be predictable. Although it starts slow to build the story, by the third episode it starts to pick up and the second half of the series was well-paced and action-packed. I liked that it didn’t try to overload the story which worked out great. Although Danny Rand is still a little annoying (I get what they are doing with him, I just don’t like it), it was nice as a comic geek to see a budding relationship somewhat start to form between him and Luke Cage. The setup is there for a Heroes for Hire series if they ever choose to go that route. Meanwhile, Jessica Jones and Daredevil (although great in the group) are definitely better off as a solo act.

As far as The Hand is concerned, Madame Gao has been front and center. For many, it appeared that she was the main person behind the organization until we were introduced to another faction in Iron Fist and its leader Bakuto. Then there was the mystery main guy in Luke Cage that was hinted but never seen. Fast forward to now and enter Sigourney Weaver’s character of Alexandra, the real leader of The Hand. Here is where we get their history. They aren’t ordinary enemies of Kun’ Lun, they are defected members of the order, five to be exact, that left and formed The Hand. The founding members, all leaders and powerful consist of Alexandra, Madame Gao, Bakuto and also making their first appearances Murakami and Sowande. Individually they are a formidable group, but together they are nearly unstoppable. But the key player to them all was teased at the end of Daredevil season two, where the corpse of a dead Elektra was taken by The Hand. As the Black Sky, Alexandra resurrected Elektra (the worst part of season 2 of Daredevil became one of the best characters in this series) as the perfect weapon. All her training and skills multiplied but an empty dark vessel of emotions. Now that all founding members of The Hand are revealed, and the Black Sky is theirs to wield, their plan for NY and what lies in the bottom of the giant hole we saw in Daredevil, comes to light.

This series isn’t necessarily great, but it is still very good and engaging. The events, trials, and tribulations the heroes face develop their characters in such a way throughout the series that really spoke volumes. You have these lone wolves who are so used to trying to protect everyone around them that they find it hard to make allies and friends in a fight that they all have a stake in. In a matter of days they didn’t just team-up, but they forged a lasting friendship. They found their place and their purpose. For some, they finally found home. In their darkest hour and darkest times, in the shadows of the night, they saved a whole city and are content with not getting any recognition.

In the midst of “eclipsemania” I started thinking on how this show ended. A prevailing theme, and what really brought everyone together, was their love for their city. It was home and it was worth fighting for. But for one character, there was more at stake. When we look at the eclipse, even in the midst of totality, there was a glimmer of light that still shined. It couldn’t all be covered because the light is still stronger than the dark. Christ, in the midst of our darkness knows that there is still a glimmer of light and us and that glimmer was worth dying on a cross and bearing our sins. Others will see us as hopeless and a lost cause. The enemy sees us as not worth saving and totally belonging to him. But Love conquers and God so LOVED the world. Daredevil wouldn’t give up on Elektra. He saw that glimpse of light and held on to it. And just like the eclipse, slowly the darkness and emptiness began to fade. In the end, it was love that won…..unconditional and sacrificial love.

Iron Fist – Light in the Darkness

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The latest entry to Netflix’s Marvel universe is both unlike the other entries, yet similar as well. Starting with Daredevil and followed by Jessica Jones and Luke Cage, Netflix has been doing a great job. The bar has been set high. Though, if you look at critics or Rotten Tomatoes, you would be led to believe that Iron Fist is a complete failure.

I, however, beg to differ.

While it isn’t as good as Daredevil, Iron Fist definitely holds its own. The fighting is a little underwhelming, but the story is strong and the characters pull you in. The show is paced well (if, at times, a little slow) and it actually works with the story being told. If you are looking for non-stop action in every episode, this isn’t it. Instead, view the show as a kung-fu type drama that is peeling away layers of darkness to reveal light.

Danny Rand (Finn Jones) lost his parents at a young age when their plane crashed on their way to China. Danny was the lone survivor of the crash and was found by monks who took him and raised him in a mystical city called K’un-Lun. The path to K’un-Lun is hidden and only appears every fifteen years. Danny would go on to learn and train, and eventually he would take the challenge of fighting Shao-Lao the Undying (a mystical dragon like serpent). If you defeat Shao-Lao, you are granted with the honor of being the Iron Fist, and Immortal Weapon. The job of the Iron Fist is simple: protect K’un-Lun from the outside world and, more importantly, destroy their greatest enemy, The Hand. It is a lifelong commitment of standing at the gates on guard, however, Danny chose a different path. He leaves his post and, after 15 years believed dead, he returns to New York.
Danny’s transition in New York is rocky. It’s clearly not a world he’s prepared for. The show is a true journey for him. Not only does he come back, but he finds out that The Hand are in New York. This has been an ongoing theme throughout the Marvel TV series, especially in Daredevil. You see some familiar faces, but also a few new ones. What Netflix does so well in these series is their character development by not only investing the viewer in the hero, but the supporting cast as well. In fact, I think that this is Iron Fist‘s greatest strength. I’m not just interested in Danny’s journey, but also those around him. Each character in the series is dealing with different “inner demons” or questioning morality. Every character takes this journey where they have to question everything they’ve learned, been told, or become because Danny was a catalyst of change. One would think, in the midst of their chaos, that he was the worst thing that ever happened to them, but that wasn’t so. Their lives were muttered in darkness that they didn’t know existed, until a little light unveiled the truth and deceit that encompassed their lives. It’s a great parallel on how spiritually we are dead in our sin until the light of Christ reveals what we couldn’t see in the dark.

Now, one may wonder, why does the show receive so much hate from critics yet loved by fans? I have my theory, and it’s about expectations and also a false “whitewashing”. In the latter, the series was heavily criticized during casting when Finn Jones was named the title character. Many wanted an Asian actor and, personally, I would have been fine with that. Still, this isn’t a case where an Asian character in the comics was made white for TV. Danny Rand is a white character so it isn’t whitewashing. You can be disappointed that he wasn’t cast differently, but let’s not give a false narrative.

“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

The other and main reason critics tore the show apart is because they had false expectations that weren’t satisfied. With Kung-Fu, you expect a lot of action and Iron Fist doesn’t deliver that. However, we tend to forget the other aspects of martial arts,  and the most important is the mental part of it. When you enroll yourself or your kids in martial arts, the point the sensei will make is that discipline and a strong mind are worth more than punches and kicks. The show does have similarities to Daredevil but, at the same time it cries out its influence from Sun Tzu’s Art of War. Danny is battling with himself in a world he barely knows. He’s juggling what he learned in K’un-Lun with who he really wants to be. In his interactions with The Hand, it is a psychological warfare, one that he was never prepared for. This is why the show can fall flat–because that expectation of action doesn’t get met.

The show is more mental than physical and, if you have that in mind, you will find out how good it really is.

Luke Cage – Oh, Brother Where Art Thou

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marvels-luke-cageThe one complaint that Marvel (or major comics in general) gets is about their lack of diversity. Recently, with their success in films, the cry has been for more diversity. We now have Black Panther on the way and Captain Marvel, two films that cover part of the cry for diversity. However, if we delve below major films, and even before WB/DC gives Wonder Woman next year, Marvel has already given us two female heroes (Agent Carter and Jessica Jones). And now, Luke Cage takes steps into diversifying the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his own thirteen-episode series on Netflix.

Luke Cage follows the excellence that Netflix and Marvel has been giving viewers with Daredevil and Jessica Jones. These characters work in this format because they are able to take their time and tell their story in a much deeper, darker, grittier way that works in this format as compared to an over the top superhero film. What separates Luke Cage from the rest is that it brings us to a world not often seen unless you are looking for it. It’s perfectly paced while not dragging his origin along and allowing him to just evolve into the hero he is meant to be. It’s a very grounded series that reminds us of the past, present, and leaves us with some hope for the future.

Rich in African American culture, it stands out from the rest and allows the outside to peek in and see life through different lenses. We are taught about the streets, history, trust, loyalty, power, faith, hope and love all in a tale of a man who has spent countless years running to realize that it is time to step up. The characters all stand out and none are insignificant. We learn lessons from all and that is what makes this series extremely well done. If you are a hip-hop aficionado, then the soundtrack, score, and even an episode that features Method Man freestyling on Sway will hit home for you.

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Set in Harlem, it has an old school gangster movie film (American Gangster, Hoodlum) with a new school feel. Harlem has a rich history that is often ignored because it is mostly a black community. I bet many don’t realize that the famous Apollo Theatre is in Harlem. But even though Harlem is mostly black, like anywhere in New York, it is very diverse and that’s what makes it a jewel within the concrete jungles of New York. The show does a great job in portraying the rich history and the pride that many from Harlem have. Do the research, and you will be amazed on how amazing Harlem is. The Jazz, oh man the Jazz in this series is top notch and again brings an appreciation and a nice salute to the Harlem Renaissance.

Of course, with all its richness, Harlem, like most cities, isn’t without its flaws. You will find corruption within Harlem just like you will find in Manhattan. And we see this in this series. Corrupt politicians, different high rolling gangs, corruption within law enforcement, the exploitation of a community; don’t be fooled, this doesn’t just happen on TV. We tend to think it, and surely this series has it all. It’s why it is so timely in a day and age where social tensions are at the highest they’ve been for years. Just because we don’t see corruption, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Just because laws and policies are not in place to oppress, doesn’t mean oppression doesn’t happen. Criminals don’t leave their communities to commit crimes; it happens within their own communities, and if the communities are handled by corrupt people, then the worst of it is what we see.

What this show really brings is the disconnect between the poor and middle class minorities as compared to the upper class and government. They aren’t really cared for, and like always the results are a disconnect between city council, law enforcement, and the people in the community. Those with power abuse it for what they feel is justifiable reasons. And no one takes responsibility for their actions. Sounds a lot like today, where everyone is pointing their fingers and shouting but no one is listening. You see, when it doesn’t directly affect us, we tend to think it isn’t really happening. But it does, and has been going for centuries. The mighty prey on the weak. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere…Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity” Martin Luther King Jr.

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*Spoiler warning-a certain aspect of the series is spoiled below, so you have been warned*

For Luke Cage, he wanted to be “normal” even though he was anything but “normal”. He wanted to live anonymously, but when you are called to something greater, you can’t run from it (ask Jonah). You have to keep moving forward. Luke finally decided to do something, at first for vengeance, but then he realizes that he has to be more. He takes it upon himself to take down the biggest “Mob” boss in Harlem, Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes. His efforts only result in Stokes terrorizing the community. Cage does all he can to basically give Stokes to the cops on a silver platter, but justice is not served (there’s that money, power, corruption thing again). However, Stokes meets his demise and Cage is framed for it. That’s when the real villain who was behind the scenes comes out. Willis “Diamondback” Stryker has a grudge against Cage. He is so obsessed with making Cage suffer and killing him that he never realizes that all he’s ever done is make Cage stronger. Cage wonders why his childhood best friend can hate him so much? What did he ever do to him? Well, Cage was born, that’s what. His preacher father wasn’t the Godly man he portrayed, and so Cage never knew he had an older brother. And here we are now, everything from Cage origin getting his powers, to being framed for multiple things has led them to a collision course.

Diamondback is the bastard child. He constantly quotes the Bible, but not because he views it as God’s holy word. Instead, he has read and marked up the Bible in a perverse way because of his hatred for his father, and the son he feels his father chose over him. Now, we can view the Cain and Abel aspect, but I see more of an Ishmael and Isaac aspect. One sent way because he wasn’t the heir. Now for sure, Cage’s father is no Abraham, but the conflict of the older brother growing to hate the younger is there. For all the things that Diamondback tries to do, he doesn’t realize that all he’s done is push Cage to his purpose. O’ Brother Where Art Thou, yes, where is he? Cage shows to be the brother that the community needed. Where the system failed to help, where corruption overflowed, Cage brought hope, love, peace and togetherness. He was a brother, he was their brother, he was one of them, he was what he always wanted to be and never realized he was….normal.

Daredevil Season 2: Choices

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daredevil season 2After a critically acclaimed first season that brought us to the dark side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Daredevil has returned to Netflix for its second season. Marvel TV and Netflix so far have done what Marvel Studios continues to do in their movies, create characters and a world that are interesting and complex. Netflix allows Daredevil and Jessica Jones to push the envelope in the dark underbelly of New York and the MCU. The first season of Daredevil was dark, bloody, exhilarating, and filled with plenty of drama. If you ever want to have a blueprint on how a Batman TV series should be, Daredevil is it.

With how great season one was, season two would need to really step it up. The bar was raised high, and although overall the season didn’t quite reach that bar, it was a good sophomore season for our blind superhero. In this season we have several things that expand the universe. There is mention of Jessica Jones (as well as a guest appearance from someone from the JJ series), there is the introduction of Frank Castle aka The Punisher (Jon Bernthal), and we have the introduction of Elektra (Elodie Young) and The Hand.

Throughout the thirteen episodes, there is a lot going on that at some points it feels like it was too much. The highlight of the season was Jon Bernthal’s Punisher character, while the low point was a subpar performance by Young for Elektra. I honestly can’t really say subpar performance when it’s more poor use of the character. But I’ll touch on her later. Season two takes us to a place where the actions of Daredevil are both praised and despised. But he gets the job done; the problem is he can’t separate it from his “actual” job of a lawyer. It drives a wedge between himself and his best friend Foggy while also stopping a would be relationship before it even starts. To top it off, he now has to deal with a vigilante who decides that the justice system just isn’t enough and that what Daredevil does isn’t enough. If you want the bad guys off the streets, then kill them. He has his own brand of justice that makes him a popular character in the city.

Jon Bernthal’s Punisher is a very complex but real character. A war hero come home only to be dealt a greater loss than he’s ever seen at war. His character is looking for justice, and the justice system isn’t enough. Daredevil struggles to understand The Punisher as he thinks that Castle is crazy and psychotic. However, the first part of this season is an origin story for The Punisher. As the episodes go on and they peel the layers as to why Frank Castle does what he does, one can’t help but think if he’s justified in his actions. Daredevil even begins to question his own faith in the off chance that what Castle does is maybe God’s plan. Bernthal delivers an amazing performance as Frank Castle that makes the viewer have the same struggles that some of the characters do about his actions. If evil continues to rise from the same place, does a permanent elimination seem justifiable? With prisons overflowing with criminals, should the war on gangs be taken to the next level and instead of prison should they be hunted and eliminated permanently?

Frank Castle has all the convincing arguments, yet Daredevil continues to believe in people. We have to believe that everyone needs a chance to change. How many chances does God give us? If we start to believe that others can’t change at what point will we stop at just the worst? As a society we will lose all moral boundaries and most of all, we will lose the ability to love our neighbors as ourselves. Daredevil reminds us that we have choices. We can’t be defined by what life has dealt us, or by who others decide we should be or we are. In the end Frank comes to grips with his calling. He may not stop being judge, jury, and executioner, but he also won’t just go on a personal war.

The second half of the film really highlights the idea of “we need to make our own choices”. In the midst of all the Punisher drama, an old flame of Daredevil comes to town and with her the realization that Hell’s Kitchen is the battleground of an ancient war and the most dangerous “gang” they never heard of. We get our introduction of “The Hand” an ancient Ninja like organization. Elektra has been on the other side of that war, and now Daredevil is caught in the middle. On top of that, his actions as Daredevil began driving a wedge between his friendships. The Hand ended up being a formidable foe, however Elektra seemed more of an annoyance than anything else. Hopefully if she comes back she is more dynamic (as a villain maybe?). The setup is there to have Daredevil have his hands full with Kingpin and The Hand.

What Elektra did bring is that continual theme of choices. Her presence alone brought in a whirlwind of problems for Matt. But in reality, she just brought to light the inevitable. Can Matt juggle both Daredevil and being Matt Murdock the lawyer? As it so happens, he could not, and his friends couldn’t handle it either. Matt’s decisions led to a big rift between him and his best friend and his girlfriend. But Matt’s choice is what defines him. Daredevil isn’t just something he does, it is who he is. That same realization is the only highlight of Elektra as she has always seen herself one way. Meanwhile, others believe her to be something far more dangerous that she starts to believe as well. Matt reminds her that it is her choice what she wants to be. She can choose to be good and not what she was made to be or what others believe she is.

It’s a choice we all have.

We either choose to be what others think we should be, or we be the best that we were made to be. The reality is God has a perfect plan for our lives, one that isn’t mixed with selfish desires or intentions but rather based in love. Love is such a powerful force, and the creator of Love seeks a relationship with us built around it. The end of this season shows us just how powerful love is, and when it comes to choices, love is the best choice to make.