New York's Finest.
8 Episodes. Starring: Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter, Mike Colter, Finn Jones, Elodie Yung, Scott Glenn, Elden Henson, Deborah Ann Woll, Eka Darville, Rachael Taylor, Jessica Henwick, Simone Missick, Ramon Rodriguez, Wai Ching Ho, Rosario Dawson & Sigourney Weaver. Creators: Douglas Petrie & Marco Ramirez.
"Looks like I made it here just in time". Marvel Asia really has more of what we want. Take 'Thor: Ragnarok' for example. In Japan it will be called the cosmic colourful, 'Mighty Thor-Battle Royale'. How Tokyo neon electric is that? And if that wasn't enough for you they get Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange in their international trailer too. Proving everything is better in the Far East. Now how about the South Korean teaser for 'The Defenders' and all their before ensemble assemble Netflix sub-series? Not only does it have Marvel creator Stan Lee in the back of a town call riding around the streets of New York talking about human heroes with special abilities. It also features an atypical after trailer credits reveal that has all the comic-book die-hards talking. In a steps down the hallway scene never seen before in 'Daredevil' Season 2, we see series stealer Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle sporting a new crop and spray painted bulletproof vest walk to his very quote that started this piece. Yes, that's right The Punisher baby! So in a spoiler free, no alert is he here? A Defender? Besides Bruce Banner and Steven Strange like the comics aren't a thing here. Well we will tell you this. Don't hold your breath everytime you hear "someone's here", out of nowhere gunshots, or see a big vehicle come crashing in to save the day (it may have just been thrown). You might just be as disappointed as the fact that all those Stan Lee police photo Easter Eggs in the 'Daredevil', 'Jessica Jones', 'Luke Cage' and 'Iron Fist' series' don't translate into an actual real life cop cameo which would have been perfect. At least there is a post credit, 'John Wick' style, concrete sledge-hammer thumping trailer for the gun-totting vigilantes solo series this fall that will give you plenty of Punisher by the barrel-load. Until then you'll have to settle for the devils own, power man hero for hire, the private investigator alias and the immortal kid with the glowing knuckle duster.
Proving defence is the best offence, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and the Iron Fist are back and together at last as New York City's street-level Avengers, 'The Defenders'. As Hells Kitchen is about to be woken up to a living nightmare in captivating use of red, green, yellow and purple city lights. Joining up to fight The Hand that has held and fed the intertwining threads of plot that have kept lawyer Matt Murdock and billionaire Danny Rand's storylines clasped together. And before this palmed villain gets out of hand believe me the five fingers are definitly about to say SLAP to the face. And you're going to love how this all comes together like a Murdock plan for this A-Star Avenging B-team. Even if Matt is the only member of this N.Y.C. vigilante alliance to actually suit up in his trademark horns...although we do get to Easter relish in some of those homemade bandana early days. Yep this is ran by those 'Daredevil' showrunners and to give them their due it really is better the two seasons you know. Charlie Cox again sees Daredevil's other-worldly vision crystally. Focussing on the two sides of his characters action and protection ethos whether court or street legal. And you know when it comes to the judge, jury and hell to pay executioner of the kitchen, when he spits crimson...it's on. Whilst private detective for hire Jessica Jones may be passing a different type of bar she still shows she has as much enhanced power and strength as anyone, as Krysten Ritter's Alias' second series has got next. And how about her former non-combustible flame. Mike Colter's Cage with unbreakable skin? Finally unlocked from Seagate prison and ready to have your head nodding everytime he and his into music comes into play. Well he's shaking Harlem again and the rest of the five boroughs as New York times grimiest fantastic four come together like the boroughs of Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Manhattan. And what about their Iron man too? The Fist that has provoked plenty of fury just like Black Widow's white-washed 'Ghost In The Shell'. Well some may say 'Game Of Thrones' star Finn Jones' Danny Rand is just some spoilt rich Karate Kid, but it's time to wax off all of that. Even if there are some in-jokes and jibes ("I tried to go it alone, but that didn't work") here that will leave the unpopular one all tied up. 'Iron Fist' was a cruelly criticized, actually compelling and underrated series that didn't run out of power like some of it's allies shows. And just like Jessica, Jones holds the key to this series in the palm of his Powerade hand.
And there's nothing quite like seeing these enhanced individuals team up to take down the big bad, even if they are without the man that did to this ABC run of shows what the vigilante Ghost Rider did to the already amazing 'Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.' Watching them elevator exit a foe to foe face off down the one-shot alternating corridors of set-pieces, or banter back and forth over a Royal Dragon restaurant after hours lock in (because even Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and The Incredible Hulk know putting a team together aint easy), as eagerly exciting as Hall H this time of year is for sure worth the wait. Serving up Hells Kitchen with satisfaction like the beautiful Broadway Metro Diner they use by the booth. But remember all these groups one shot solo acts came with their own guest spots. And this show features 'Daredevil's' favourite friends, Elden Henson and Deborah Ann Woll, 'Jessica Jones'' jacked-up, no longer character using Eka Darville and Racheal Taylor (not to forget a trinity Carrie Anne-Moss cameo in this Marvel matrix), a big act from 'Iron Fist's' Jessica Henwick and Ramon Rodriguez and the Misty Knight of the investigating Simone Missick from 'Luke Cage'. Not to mention the Sticks of veteran character actor, Scott Gleen, the great Madame Wai Ching Ho and of course the Rachael McAdams rivalling Night Nurse that stiches all these shows together Rosario Dawson. Proving this epic ensemble really is a sum of all its parts and the fear of its ultimate, Queenpin villain. As we are all in covenant that 'Alien' legend Sigourney Weaver who marches into this series in a Storm Trooper coat carries this show with her undying reputation and charisma. Believe it or not, we are all playing Ripley's game now. Even her Avatar the Dark Sky. No not a brainwashed Quake crossover of Chloe Bennett, but Elodie Young's resurrected back to life Elektra anti-hero. Here displaying the assassins creed of a Winter Soldier with samurai katana like strong and violent type. Just call this latest movie star 'The Hitmans Bodyguard' with Raphael weapons. All these characters make for quite a lot of conflict and carnage but a lot of it is New York noir dramatic in this compelling slow burner that culminates in a classic collaborative effort from all parties. And in learning from their unlucky for some 13 episode show stuttering stints previously (but lets face it you'd binge an ammo load artillery of Punisher solo hits wouldn't you?) these eight episodes work wonders on the same streaming sites these Marvels call 'Orange Is The New Black', 'House Of Cards', 'Narcos' and 'Stranger Things' their upside down neighbour. Save a somewhat stunted climax that makes the same mistake the powered up, one punch thrown too many 'Luke Cage' series did and a final few seconds of 'Daredevil's' definitive season 2 revealed, this suit up fits in Marvel's smartphone small screen run perfectly and aptly. Especially as these Netflix street fighting heroes may chill on a one and done, going their seperate ways and four seasons. Unless our wildest dreams and an 'Infinity War' calls. But to be Frank we won't get our hopes up. Until then the defence rests. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Daredevil', 'Iron Fist', 'Avengers Assemble'.
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