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Marvel’s Iron Fist has a familiar storyline with quite an unfamiliar approach. It starts off with a the basic plot: rich couple dies, leaves a son behind, who learns an ancient form of martial arts - comes back to take control of family legacy while fighting crime. That is the familiar part. The unfamiliar is the very Logan-esque approach the series takes.
If you’re looking for big explosions, watch something else. This one is subtle with its fight sequences and focuses well on building a storyline. This 13-episode series is a Netflix Original series and what follows is the review of the first 3 episodes that I got to watch at a preview.
Iron Fist introduces the last of The Defenders, a team of street-level heroes that include The Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage. Essaying the character of Danny Rand/Iron Fist is Finn Jones of the Game Of Thrones fame.
Assumed dead in a plane crash, along with his parents, Danny is back to fight an ancient evil that has made its way into the underworld of Manhattan. Danny is a Kung-Fu master, who has learnt the art in the mysteriously mythical city of K’un-Lun. All this while, he tries to convince his old friends, siblings - Joy and Ward Meechum - who have now taken control of this parents’ legacy company, that he truly is their old friend, Danny. Another character, Colleen Wing is also introduced, who will prove to be a competent ally of Danny.
Initially skeptical, the Meechums get him admitted to a mental health facility, but as they learn the truth, it becomes apparent their position at the company is threatened. Ward has been keeping a devastating secret and has his own vested interest that’ll be secured if Danny were to disappear. Joy, only seems to be happy that her old buddy is back.
Now, the show is riddled with the controversy of the “white-saviour”. Again, white dude is restored to life to come and save the lesser mortals. Rings a (church) bell? And that isn’t even all. While the other Defender’s plot lines slow down mid-way, Iron Fist starts off a bit sluggishly. The show is also packed with Chinese cliches and malignant mansplaining. However, Iron Fist does the needful of backing up the final Defender and giving him a substantial background.
Iron Fist releases on Netflix on 17 March.
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