See What Top Critics Are Saying About Marvel’s Iron Fist

Marvel & Netflix series have packed both a jaw-dropping punch and gained an amazing fan base ever since the first season of Daredevil was released. From then on, it was all about building up the characters to the release of Marvel’s Defenders later this year.
Daredevil (two seasons), Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage all received great reviews by top critics and fans alike, but it seems the last defender is getting the stick, unlike the other stand-alone Defenders series.
That opinion seems to be echoed by We Got This Covered‘s recent review of the upcoming Netflix project, which acknowledges the inherent fun of a new Marvel series debuting, while also pointing out the fact that certain tropes and ideas from this universe have become tired. The review specifically says:

“Marvel fanatics will relish another addition to the growing Netflix canon but should be forewarned of the diminishing returns inherent in the fun but subpar Iron Fist.”

“Iron Fist isn’t terrible, and some of it is actually very good, but it should be so much better. What could have been the boldest series is instead the quietest. Seriously … in the comics, the man gets his powers from punching a dragon in the heart, but that’s withheld from us? If I wanted to focus more on reality I wouldn’t spend so much time watching superhero TV.”

This is an idea that’s echoed further in IGN‘s review for the show. Even with magic properly introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Doctor Strange, Iron Fist seems more content focusing on corporate, boardroom drama than pure super heroics.

“Marvel’s Iron Fist starts off sluggishly, seeming far more like a soap opera than a superhero series, complete with bland, pretty, rich people sneering and scheming over family fortunes.”

Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re likely under the assumption that the action will be Iron Fist‘s saving grace in the long run. After all, the show has the word fist right in the title. However, THR‘s review of the show seems to suggest that Finn Jones’ portrayal of Danny Rand and the overall lack of quality stuntwork do not help sell this hero as a genuinely physical presence.

“It’s unclear if Jones’ lack of physical authority is dampening Iron Fist‘s ability to be an action show or if Iron Fist‘s lack of interest in being an action show has negated Jones’ ability to display physical authority. For five episodes, Danny’s fights are weakly staged and all-too-brief, without any effort to even pretend that the show’s leading man is doing any of his own stunts.”

However, despite the fact that Finn Jones’ Danny Rand doesn’t make an enormous impression on audiences, certain silver linings have been acknowledged online. Film School Rejects’ Neil Miller took to social media to praise Jessica Henwick’s portrayal of Colleen Wing (as well as the show’s VFX) while also pointing out that not much else works on the series. He said:

That feels like an important way to wrap things up. Iron Fist is not uniformly bad, and there are even some seriously standout qualities here. However, it just doesn’t live up to the standard set by its predecessors.

Read Mavel’s Iron Fist full review here