Many initial critics came out with negative reviews of Iron Fist and I was frankly very worried about it when I turned it on.
Before I give you a review I need you to know who I am. I don't believe the background of the critic can not color their judgement. I am a fan of Heroes of Hire comics series in which Iron Fist was one half of the team. I always enjoyed the street smart Cage and idealistic but naive Iron Fist as they battled crime in the streets of NYC. This of course is the main reason why Iron Fist survived the 70s because he and Cage are such an amazing partnership. My primary concern in watching Cage is will he still be good good at teaming up with Iron Fist, and my primary concern watching Iron Fist is the inverse. I am happy to say that Colter's Cage and Jone's Iron Fist are going to be great together!
Now for the review:
Iron Fist is very GOOD!
I am now on episode 4 I can already tell you a few things. Iron Fist is good and frankly very good. Is it as good as Daredevil Season 1 no not quite to me that is still the hallmark of the Defenders series. However, most interestingly Iron Fist resembles very closely Daredevil season 1. The season early on tackles his origin, who he is, what does he want and introduces his surrounding cast. This is done prior to getting into the epic kung fu battles that come later on in the season.
There are issues in the show Iron Fist but they are the typical Origin story problems. To those who don't like super hero stories in the first place I think they have begun to hate any form of the typical hero origin story. There is time spent on establishing who he is, his skills, his idealism, his spirituality, and worldly naivety. However, Danny has one aspect to him that helps his show shoot off with a rocket. Danny has no illusions about the Hand or his place in the world as a hero. While Danny struggles with worldly things and street smarts he is very comfortable as his role as a Defender. The other cool thing about Iron Fist is that like the Doctor Strange and Thor films he opens a door to a huge world. A massive amount of characters and themes are introduced here. The first character that gets a huge introduction is Colleen Wing is brilliant star throughout the entire series.
Season set up:
Without giving too much away I would say that the first 4-5 episodes focus on Danny's and Colleen Wing's origin stories. After that the show begins to push into the Matt Fraction Immortal Iron Fist series....which is awesome! The major corporate aspects of the show are mostly wrapped up by the 4th episode. Most of what people have seen come from the first episode.
Fighting style:
Those worried about Finn Jones body or fighting style should be happy. While Matt is the mad boxer, Jessica is a super strong detective and Luke Cage is walking steel, Danny is air, he fights like a gentle breeze that doesn't dodge so much as pivot. He uses the strength of his opponents against themselves.
As an amateur fighter myself I can clearly see styles that include Kung Fu and Aikido. In some sense his fighting style is both the most sophisticated and clear of all defenders.
As far as Finn not being buff enough he is not that kind of hero. Iron Fist is not Thor, or Hulk he fights with grace and finesse.
Villains:
One problem of the first part of Iron Fist is that he has no opponents that offer a physical challenge. The Meachums particularly Harold are great cerebral villains much like Zemo in Captain America Civil War but neither they nor their guards can match Iron Fists martial skills. I felt similarly about much of the battles in Luke Cage. It was hard to find an opponent that truly offered Cage a challenge.
The difference though is that villains by episode 4 start go up a notch and a big notch
Rating of Episodes:
More updates to come:
Episode 1 - Toylab Rating 9/10 - # of fight scenes 2
Episode 2 - Toylab Rating 6/10 - # of fight scenes 1
Episode 3 - Toylab Rating 6/10 - # of fight scenes 3
Episode 4 - Toylab Rating 8/10 - # of fight scenes 3 - Wing epic cage match, Triads attack
Episode 5 - Toylab Rating 6/10 - # of fight scenes 1
Episode 6 - Toylab Rating 8/10 - Iron Fist fights in tournament against the hand
Episode 7 - Toylab Rating 8/10 - # of fight scenes 3 Hand vs Triads
Episode 8 -
Amazon Description:
Experience a brand-new kind of Iron Fist story, one steeped in legends and fables stretching back through the centuries! Orphaned as a child and raised in the lost city of K'un-Lun, Danny Rand returned to America as the mystical martial artist Iron Fist - but all his kung fu skills can't help him find his place in the modern world. After learning that the legacy of the Iron Fist holds more secrets than he ever dreamed, Danny is invited to fight in a tournament against the Immortal Weapons. At stake is the life of his friend, the legacy of his father and mentor...and the future of K'un-Lun!
COLLECTING: Immortal Iron Fist 1-16, Annual 1; Immortal Iron Fist: Orson Randall and the Green Mist of Death 1; Immortal Iron Fist: The Origin of Danny Rand 1; Civil War: Choosing Sides 1
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