9 Years Ago Today, Marvel Introduced a Major Hero in a Doomed Series, and They Desperately Need To Return

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been around for 18 years, and while it’s had its highs and lows, today marks the ninth anniversary of a particularly weak point in the franchise. The MCU has brought many famous superheroes and villains to the screen, with mixed results. However, the handling of one popular hero was a clear misstep, and its future is now questionable.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is generally known for being family-friendly, but the comics are often much more mature. Because of this, many R-rated superheroes weren’t included in the early days of the MCU, as Marvel wasn’t sure how to bring those characters to the screen. They eventually tested the waters with the R-rated Defenders series on Netflix. Daredevil kicked things off successfully, but the quality of the shows unfortunately went downhill, reaching its lowest point nine years ago.

Netflix’s Iron Fist Season 1 Released 9 Years Ago Today

Before the team-up series The Defenders premiered, Netflix released individual shows focusing on each of its four heroes. Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage were all well-received by critics. The final solo series, Iron Fist, arrived on March 17, 2017. It starred Finn Jones as Danny Rand, who returns to the United States after years of training and must confront both the Meachum family and the dangerous organization known as The Hand.

Let’s just be honest: the first season of Iron Fist didn’t land well. Critics really didn’t like it – it’s stuck at a dismal 20% on Rotten Tomatoes even now. And it’s often cited as the weakest link in the whole Defenders saga, which was a shame because it was supposed to be a key part of that bigger story. Honestly, the whole thing felt messy. The plot was hard to follow, it dragged in places, the dialogue felt unnatural, and visually, it just wasn’t very appealing. But the biggest issue? This was a show about Marvel’s supposed master of martial arts, and the fight scenes were… underwhelming, to say the least. It just didn’t deliver on the basics.

A major point of contention with the Iron Fist series was the casting of Finn Jones as Danny Rand. Many fans had hoped the show would cast an Asian-American actor in the role, challenging the common storyline of a white character learning magical skills rooted in Asian traditions. However, the Netflix series stayed closer to the original comic book portrayal. Ultimately, Jones didn’t quite deliver a compelling performance as the main character.

The Defenders series saw some improvement as it went on. Viewers liked Jones’ portrayal of Iron Fist more in The Defenders and season 2 of Luke Cage, suggesting the character functioned better in a supporting role. While Iron Fist season 2 was better received than the first, it still wasn’t a critical success, earning a 56% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Ultimately, the show ended, leaving a somewhat disappointing mark on the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Iron Fist Needs To Be In The MCU (Whether Or Not It’s Finn Jones)

The recent revival of the Daredevil storyline has brought back characters like Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and The Punisher. This leaves Luke Cage and Iron Fist as the two major heroes from the original Defenders series who haven’t yet reappeared. Many fans loved Mike Colter’s portrayal of Luke Cage, so it’s likely we’ll see him again. However, the Iron Fist series wasn’t well-received, which creates uncertainty about the character’s future.

Iron Fist is a significant character who many fans want to see in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But bringing back the original actor, Finn Jones, could tie the MCU to the less popular Netflix series. One solution would be to find a new actor to play the role. This would essentially separate the new MCU version from the Netflix show, letting it stand on its own. However, because Iron Fist’s story crossed paths with characters like Daredevil and Jessica Jones on Netflix, changing the character could also create confusion about the continuity of their stories.

Another possibility is to revive the character of Colleen Wing. Jessica Henwick, who played her, was more popular than the actor who played Danny Rand (Iron Fist). Many fans would welcome her return, and she could easily take on the role of Iron Fist in any future comic book adaptations. However, bringing her back still ties the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the earlier Iron Fist television series.

The MCU faces a tough choice with Iron Fist. They can either revive the old Netflix series or leave out a well-known hero. It will be interesting to see what they decide, and the second season of Daredevil: Born Again might give us a better idea of how the MCU plans to handle the Defenders characters and storylines in the future.

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2026-03-17 18:14