Iron Fist is the last Marvel/Netflix solo series before they all
team up for the much anticipated The
Defenders series coming later this year.
Unfortunately, while the previous Marvel/Netflx series are profusely
praised, this one is met by critics with animosity, considering it Marvel’s “first failure.” Personally,
though, I don’t think it’s honestly that terrible.
There’s, of course, some truth in
the critical consensus’ evaluation of the series. Technically, it’s the “worst”, not only among
Marvel/Netflix shows, but among all productions set in the
Marvel Cinematic Universe, in TV and film. By that,
what I mean is if all MCU movies and TV shows are ranked, Iron Fist will easily be the last. However, it’s not really a
complete garbage of a show as the majority of critics imply. At worst, it’s disappointingly average. But not a “disaster.”
But even if it’s the least of all
Marvel Cinematic Universe productions, the drop of quality from its Netflix predecessors – Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage
– isn’t dramatically big. Now, either
the other Marvel/Netflix shows are tremendously overrated OR Iron Fist is unfairly brutally
appraised. In my opinion, it’s more of the latter.
I’m not saying that the criticisms
are all unwarranted. The show is
definitely flawed. For one, Finn
Jones isn’t a marvelous Danny Rand a.k.a. Iron Fist. He delivered a serviceable performance. But I was hoping more – much more – from him,
considering the fact that I wasn’t thrilled when he was cast. I never liked him as Loras Tyrell in Game of Thrones, and I didn’t think he had the charisma and
physique for giving the character of Iron Fist justice. And, unfortunately, he wasn’t vindicated by
the show. I never bought him as “The Living
Weapon.”
Which brings us to my biggest disappointment
about this show: the fight scenes. Compared
to the grace and badassery of the fight scenes in Daredevil, Iron Fist’s
are shockingly pathetic. Much of them
are tolerable, I guess. But definitely not
good enough – far from it – for what’s supposed to be a kung fu show centered on one of Marvel’s premier martial artists. If nothing else, this show should have
focused heavily in topping Daredevil
by delivering the most epic fight scenes in TV history.
Now, the feebly choreographed
fight scenes could have worked if the show was intentionally alluding to those
old, cheesy American martial arts films that feature a white man turned martial arts master (e.g. American Ninja
series), but that was never the case with this show. Which is a shame, really, for it could have
been a brilliant vision for the show, as the character of Iron Fist is
literally based on the popularity of that concept during the 70’s.
Moreover, aside from delivering
the goods in the martial arts department, it should have embraced the weird Eastern
mysticism of the Iron Fist mythos, as much as the Doctor Strange did. Yes, it
featured some mystical elements. But it
delivered them in the same “grounded” approach that Daredevil did. It could have benefited much, much more if it
went all in. For example, Danny Rand got
his Iron Fist powers by battling a dragon.
No dragon ever appeared in its 13 episodes.
But aside from these, Iron Fist is a perfectly fine, generally
entertaining show. True, there are times
that its storytelling is bogged down by boring moments. But if we can be honest about this, the
previous Marvel/Netflix shows have this problem as well.
Besides, all those times Danny
Rand’s fist starts to glow, excitement is effectively stirred.
Can’t wait for The Defenders!
No comments:
Post a Comment