Why "Iron Fist" Is Better Than Reviews Suggest

Colleen Wing is the most badass character in this show, even more so than Danny, who is a surprisingly vulnerable fighter for an Iron Fist. She kicks major tail and even taught Claire Temple how to do so. But Colleen is more than just a strong fighter; she's strong and independent in every sense of the word. She's Danny's rock. It's clear he would not succeed without her. Joy Meachum is also the load-bearer for a lesser man—Ward is clearly dependent on her even though he thinks the reverse is true. She's a strong businesswoman yet capable of recognizing her flaws. Even the antagonist is the venerable Madame Gao—incredibly intimidating despite being a four-foot-tall 500-year-old.

Perhaps more than any other show in Netflix’s Marvel universe, Iron Fist does a great job of incorporating elements from the other series, as well as laying the groundwork for The Defenders team-up - and that includes Jessica Jones, which offered a heavy helping of Luke Cage, but the main plot ultimately seemed to have no real lasting effects on the continuity. Iron Fist delved deeper into the Hand, uncovering more truths about the mysterious organization. This will clearly carry over to The Defenders. Beyond that, the subtle reminders of Luke Cage and Claire’s relationship (the letter from prison, for example) were a nice touch, deftly avoiding the pitfall of heavy-handedness. Not to mention Claire herself, whose ever-expanding role is becoming quite exciting. 

Redemption is one of the most powerful elements of storytelling. Ward Meachum is initially a heinous character with virtually no redeeming qualities. But as Iron Fist progresses, we begin to understand why Ward is the way he is, and he gradually transforms from villainous to sympathetic. Ultimately, Ward finds some semblance of redemption; it feels natural, not forced, making for a great payoff. 

There are very few characters in Iron Fist (if any) who are one-dimensional. Joy struggles to find a balance between morality and running a mega-corporation. Ward is beset by the demon that is his father, which makes him a monster in his own right, but understandably so. Danny is torn between his duties as Iron Fist and his desire to be a normal member of society. Colleen is forced to question her lifelong beliefs in numerous ways, creating multiple dilemmas for her. The point is, no one has an easy path, and the characters - and the show as a whole - are much more intriguing for it.

Some critics have said Iron Fist is too slow, but what's wrong with character development? What's wrong with a gradual build of suspense? The writers showed restraint, whereas Daredevil Season 2 got away from itself. Without the Punisher, Season 2 of Daredevil would, without question, be worse than Iron Fist. Maybe there's no standout character like the former had, but that also means nobody is outshone, as was the case with everybody in comparison to Frank Castle. 

Like the other Defenders shows on Netflix, in the midst of an unfolding comic book story, Iron Fist addresses a serious social issue—in this case, drug addiction. Ward Meachum struggles with an addiction to pain medication, which is one of the greatest problems of American society at this moment. His struggle is recognizable; it genuinely feels realistic. This is in keeping with the way Luke Cage addressed racism, or Daredevil and religion, or Jessica Jones dealing with rape and post-traumatic stress disorder. These real-world problems ground the Netflix Marvel properties like few other comic book adaptations.