They certainly didnt end the threat of The Hand, because we already know The Hand is everywhere.
We all saw 8 episodes ofDefenders, but can we explain what caused that earthquake?
Was it a mystical quake triggered by the disturbance of the dragon skeleton?
Was it The Hand trying to fire up the seal?
Or was it because digging the hole had upset the citys bedrock?
Any of these explanations could be true.
But lets assume for a second that bringing down Midland Circle was immaterial to the story.
What about the character arcs in this show?
Did Danny Rand get to fulfil his destiny and destroy The Hand?
Did Luke eliminate the cancer afflicting Harlem and save the kids being recruited off the street?
Did Jessica achieve closure for the man whose disappearance she was investigating?
Off screen, perhaps, but in the show?
Did Matt resolve his struggle between his addiction to vigilantism and his attempt to become a law-abiding citizen?
Well no, because he chose to sacrifice himself instead, which is the ending of a different story.
So what, exactly, was the storyDefenderswas telling?
Why draw us in with personal stakes for each character if youre not going to resolve them?
Each moment of promised plot and character development seems to simply disappear, like breath in fog.
Its the content providers who are wrong.
She doesnt know her place in the world.
The people she loved are now trying to kill millions.
Bakuto returns, offers her the chance to start afresh, and join his quest for destruction.
And thats a story.
I feel like I could go on.
Why did they end the show with a fight that takes place almost entirely in the dark?
What happened to Matt being the guy whod have to lead the fight against The Hand in Dannys place?
What happened to Luke needing to learn to stop holding back?
What happened to Danny using his corporate interests to fight The Hand?
Why did the show apparently forget its own mythos?
You know what wouldve made viewers think Hey, Iron Fist is actually awesome!
if he punched a building so hard it fell down.
Is there literally anyone here who thinks that wouldnt have been a cooler way to destroy Midland Circle?
It doesnt make me angry.
It only makes me sad.
Read Jamesreview of the previous episode here.
