Marvel's Netflix Shows: Marvel's Loss

Tv Shows get cancelled all the time. They don't make enough profit to warrant another season or they just run their course. There are many other mitigating factors that contribute to the rise and fall of a tv show but from the get-go, I should probably make it clear that I'm not going to be talking about any financial reasons that contributed to the fall of all the Defenders and it's accompanying Tv shows as well as the Punisher Tv show.

The Defenders was a miniseries that combined the characters Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, Daredevil & Luke Cage all of whom have their own separate Tv Shows. As for this miniseries, I felt that it was a decent enough attempt at a small scale Avengers team up and I would really have liked to see a Season 2 that possibly incorporated John Bernthal's Punisher in it. All-in-all this miniseries as a whole, showcases a more human side to the Marvel Universe. It shows its superhero characters in a believable scenario (to an extent) and allows for an audience to emote more with characters that they can see themselves in.

My reaction when it was cancelled? Sad, but not that big a miss.

Moving on,

Jessica Jones aired on Netflix and ran for 3 Seasons. Kristen Ritter who plays Jessica was in my opinion, the PERFECT actress for the role. Her dry almost bored tone added up with her sarcastic delivery of every line wonderfully encapsulated her comic book character. As for the source material, Jessica Jones as a show adapted many aspects of her environment to fit the dull, dead theme of New York in the show. The show as a whole pulls no punches when it comes to the bad things people do. Jessica Jones who works as a P.I. unearths these various people. From cheating husbands to rapists, to thieves and murders and of course villains like Killgrave who can control the actions of others by using pheromones in his body. The show as a whole is an acquired taste and isn't for everyone, but it nonetheless has a steady storytelling pace and showcases a character in a dismal R-rated environment which is shocking for Marvel and really impressed me overall.

My reaction when it was cancelled? An unfortunate end to a promising show.

Next Up, Luke Cage.

When I heard that Mahershalla Ali was playing Cottonmouth, I was sold. I HAD to see this. Season 1: It did not disappoint. Mike Colter as Luke Cage was amazing. He really felt invincible. Throughout the show, I began seeing Luke Cage taking down thugs like nothing even mattered. He took bullets like a champ and still won. But the true beauty of this show was how vulnerable he felt. He may have super strength, bullets can't kill him but he was constantly in situations that made you question if he could win. Cottonmouth was amazing. The kind of villain Marvel needed. I was very very impressed with how he fits into the story and had his own argument that was also difficult to refute. The narrative felt fresh even though it's one of MANY stories told about the injustice that the African American community have faced. The show really deepens the character of Luke Cage to more than just some bulletproof muscle man.

How did I feel when it was cancelled? Not shocked, but disappointed. It may not have been the greatest show ever, but it deserved to finish telling its story, that's for sure.

Up next, the man with the glowing fist, The Immortal Iron Fist.

Starring G.O.T alums like Finn Jones and Jessica Henwick, alongside Jessica Stroup and Sacha Dhawan as well as Tom Pelphrey. Iron Fist had all the ingredients to become a smash hit. Season 1 wasn't a MASSIVE letdown as some people might say, but it did have a lot to improve on. To the credit of the entire team working on Iron Fist, the second season improved massively on all aspects and then some. The characters are all very relatable and it was nice to see a relationship between characters in a superhero film feel so normal and pedestrian. It not only made the characters more relatable but also gave a sense of ease and warmth to the show. As far as the show in its entirety goes, it is the least R-rated of any of the Netflix Marvel shows, but not superficial to its detriment.

My reaction when it was cancelled? I felt that the show did improve massively and deserved a 3rd season at least to further explore its narrative structure that had been fixed and aligned so well in season 2.

Now onto the man without fear, Daredevil.

In my opinion, Daredevil is the best show out of all the other shows combined. It combines inspired filmmaking choices with a beautifully ironic and poetic narrative that is second to none. Every filmmaker can take a lesson from this series. Each of its 3 seasons, explores a different genre and tone almost entirely. Which is an unbelievable risk for a series to take. What if the new tone doesn't work as well? What if audiences who loved the first season want it to go back to the way it was? What if it costs too much to do this new style? etc. Daredevil is Marvel's closest equivalent to Batman I feel. Even though the characters are drastically different in their situations and means, they both share very similar traits that make them do what they do and be who they are. I thank god every day that they took an R-rated approach to this series. I just wouldn't have discovered this side of Marvel otherwise. I would, in a heartbeat trade WandaVision and Falcon&The Winter Soldier for another 2 seasons of Daredevil to wrap up its story and end on its own terms. In fact, I'd trade the two Disney+ series for all of the aforementioned shows and The Punisher to return. It's that good. Charlie Cox IS Matt Murdock. That's all I'll say on that because to really feel the emotions in my words you need to have seen Daredevil's 3 amazing seasons in all its glory.

How did I feel when it was cancelled? Devastated. I thought that Marvel has just lost something precious here. They really messed up by cancelling this show.

Finally, The surprise addition, The Punisher.

The re-iteration of Frank Castle and The Punisher played by the amazing John Bernthal was first introduced in Daredevil Season 2. Bringing a wonderfully raw performance to the vengeful former marine, Bernthal quickly gathered a following and fans wanted a Punisher show. Well, they got their wish and The Punisher aired for 2 glorious seasons. Initially slow-paced in its delivery, the show then becomes more drama thriller rather than action for a portion of it and then delivers surprisingly (by Marvel standards) brutal action sequences that even have some painful gore that can be a hard watch for some.

My reaction when it was cancelled? Not that surprised considering the fate of the other shows, but disappointed that Bernthal didn't get to play Frank Castle more. It's likely that we'll never see this show again because this level of violence is not happening on Disney +.

Marvel lost their ability to cater to more than just one type of audience. It brought a down-to-earth portrayal of characters that otherwise would have been subjugated to the superficial superhero inspiring treatment. Kids may get a kick out of it, but I wouldn't watch Daredevil or The Punisher if they weren't R-rated. There just wouldn't be any point. No shade to the new Marvel Tv Shows, I wish them the best but they just can't compare to the ones they lost. It's devastating for a comic book fan and a cinephile such as myself but hopefully, down the line, we'll get to see these characters again.

If Martin Scorcese saw Daredevil or The Punisher he wouldn't call them "amusement park films" I can bet on that.

What do you think? Do you think Marvel should cater to both types of audiences or use their formula of superficial superhero stories that they churn out like a factory? Comment Below! Thanks for reading!