I wasn't very surprised at the cancellation of Netflix' Iron Fist, this week, as I felt it was the weakest of their Marvel shows. That they also cancelled Luke Cage did surprise me, though. Hopefully what's in store is a Heroes for Hire series that will feature both characters as well as Misty Knight and Colleen Wing.
I feel bad. I just haven't had any free time to watch the Marvel Netflix series. I liked the first couple of episodes of Daredevil I saw. But that was a while ago. I was excited about the shows. I'm just disappointed that both DC and Marvel are setting up their own streaming service. I remember when there were only three major networks; Spider-Man's webline looked a lot like rope, and The Hulk was NOT CGI...
ReplyDeleteI don't know, Ross. I don't think even Nightwing Restorations can restore dashed hopes.
ReplyDeleteI have not seen any of streaming services and barely watch tv now. When they are available on DVD I may get them.
ReplyDeleteNice one!
ReplyDeleteHere's a crazy idea - do one of those John Buscema team-vs-team lineups:
White Tiger opposite Bronze Tiger
Karate Kid opposite Lady Shiva
Shang Chi opposite Richard Dragon
Black Canary opposite Black Widow
Iron Fist opposite Daredevil
Kind of a interbook-intrabook mashup...
Wow. I have seen all of the Marvel Netflix series. Here's my take:
ReplyDeleteJessica Jones - for adults only. Edgy, and sometimes deep. Distrubing.
Luke Cage - good, good music, political, also for adults. The pace is slow, too slow, but the villains are good.
Daredevil - sigh. When it's good, it's really good. When he's a whiny git, he's annoying. However, the entire series is worth watching for Night Nurse, Karen Page, Foggy Nelson, Misty Knight, and EVEN the Punisher.
Punisher - I've hated this character since his inception. Every comic, every movie. The very idea of him. By some miracle of good writing and directing, the Netflix version of him is GREAT. They very cleverly make him a sympathetic character by means of how the other characters react to him. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think this ended up being the best of all the Marvel series. And I hate this character in the comics with a passion!!
Iron Fist - sigh. All of the side characters are great. Villains are great. Colleen Wing, Misty Knight, the Meachums, everyone...except Daniel Rand. If you like Danny Rand in the comics, that is NOT the character in the TV show. He's whiny, bull-headed, undecided, uncentered, whiny, a crappy martial artist, completely undeserving of the iron fist. I don't blame the actor, I blame the director for making him that way (and the writers). Watch the show for Wing and Misty Knight, and "Mary" (in the second season).
The Defenders - I love teams. (I even watch the CW show "Legends of Tomorrow" just because it's a team. Defenders was...meh. All of the faults of the individual shows, but in a team. Again, all of the side characters are fantastic. The headliners are OK. Frankly, the only episodes I really "enjoyed" were the last two episodes, with the setup and final battle at the end. OK, actually, just the final episode. You could probably watch just that episode and you'd be OK, especially if you're a Marvel fan who already knows all of these characters.
If you gave me DVDs of all of these shows I would rewatch:
Jessica Jones, all of season two.
Episode one and two of Daredevil, and then any scenes with Foggy and Karen.
Luke Cage, skipping around.
The Defenders, last episode.
Iron Fist, episodes with Misty Knight.
The Punisher, the entire thing.
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ReplyDeleteBronze Tiger is good but not that good.
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ReplyDeleteOf the Netflix shows, I actually found Iron Fist to be the most interesting. Even though I'd never really read the comic, I was aware that the title character wasn't much like that version, but then again everyone on the show -- including Danny, at the end -- recognized that he wasn't really that good. I think it's a shame that it went off now; it looked like he was going to finally come into his title by the end of Season 3.
ReplyDeleteLuke Cage was less interesting for me. Both that show and Jessica Jones have just too much sexual content for me -- not in that the event happens, but too much of it is actually shown that doesn't have to be to further the story. (Just cut 5-10 seconds here and there, and you have the same story with less titillation.) This is a weakness that, at most, occurs only occasionally on the other Marvel-Netflix shows.
Charlie Schneider of the Emergency Awesome channel on YouTube had a good analysis of why Iron Fist and Luke Cage were cancelled, as well as the sadly low prospects of a Heroes for Hire series or a second season of Defenders (or even the possibility of a Daughters of the Dragon show, now that I think on it). For now, we can expect the situations that those two characters were in at the end of their respective runs to be resolved on the other already-existing shows.
I'm with AirDave on Marvel (Disney) and DC each setting up their own streaming services. It's enough that I pay for cable TV; why add to that, and then have to watch the shows on these services on my computer instead of my TV? (Yes, I know there are ways to watch computer video on the TV, but they're not real practical in my household.) I may give them a try after a while -- especially since Charlie is also pointing out how misleading the first trailer for Titans was -- but only after a while.
@Brother Barnes: all together now!
ReplyDelete"Everbody was kung fu fight-hi-ting!
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Their kicks were fast as lightning.
La-la! La-la! La-la! La-la!
It was a little bit frightening.
Whoa-ho-ho-hoooo! HWA!
Whoa-ho-ho-hoooo! HWA!"
With utmost gratitude and respect (and deepest apologies) to Carl Douglas. ;-)
ReplyDeleteCary Comic I always thought (erroneously I might add) Carl sang Those Cats were Fast as Lightning. To my defense it was after all the early or mid 1970's when I heard it on my sis' VW Bug convertible's radio with the ladybug paint job. I did say it was the 1970's even her car was Groovy (for a Bug anyway). How's that for a colourful yet banal anecdote?
ReplyDelete"Smiles Everyone Smiles" - Mister Rourke your host, your Ghost Host.
@Brother Barnes: I bow to a quicker thinker. :-)
ReplyDelete@Carycomic: hey! That's _my_ line, you plagiarist!
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