I finally finished the series this morning. I liked it. I'm sorry if you didn't. I never read the comics but I was vaguely familiar with the character of Iron Fist; so, I didn't have a preconceived notion of how it was supposed to be, or not be.
A brief background of me... I worked for a few months in a comic book shop because I love comics and I needed the work since, being pregnant, I had to leave my other job. (Lifeguarding is not optimal. Something about lack of oxygen when I had to hold my breath to be underwater...) I am familiar with a lot of comics, not a super fan of one or the other, I admire the skill it takes to compress a story into 24 pages. So, I never read Iron Fist but I was still excited when Marvel and Netflix announced they were breathing life into minor characters in the Marvel Universe. We need more badass women that don't need to be saved every episode and the character Colleen Wing can hold her own. I will agree that sometimes the writing was a bit lackluster (hey, I'm available Marvel) and could have been better. Have you ever tried to deliver a line that was stiff and formal to begin with? It's not as easy as you think if you can't connect with the emotion that should be behind the line. Then add combat... I am not a Kung-fu master but it looked pretty obvious to me that there needed to be more rehearsal for some of the fight scenes. There was one that you could tell he didn't really kick someone in the face but did the hard step in front of the face to give the illusion. Maybe that was the fault of the camera angle? Who knows. While there were some minor missteps in the season... one can hope they will be repaired in the next because I'll be tuning in. I hope you do too.
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First things first. I have not watched the entire series, I do have things to do besides sitting on my backside binging shows.
Danny Rand. Iron Fist. I really didn't know a whole lot about the backstory of the character but I had heard of the character and the comic book. So, I did a bit of research. I love how they changed bits of the backstory for the show from the backstory in the comics. It works better for TV. Danny Rand is a rich white kid raised by mystical monks. If you know the story great! If you don't... Danny is the son of Wendell and Heather Rand. Wendell Rand is head of Rand Enterprises and has a business partner, Harold Meachum. There's an accident and the Rands are presumed dead, but Danny is rescued by two monks from a mystical order that live in a mystical village that appears in the Himalayas once a decade. He is raised for fifteen years to be a warrior before he returns to New York City in search of answers to questions he's had since the accident. (I skipped over a lot but I really want you to read the comic or watch the show!) The writers insert flashbacks at just the right points so the viewers can see what Danny remembers rather than be told. I'll tell you, flashbacks are tricky to use without being tacky, but have become a staple in the superhero universe. (Greg Berlanti and his team use them quite well over on the CW.) The effects they chose to signal the viewers that a key piece of exposition was coming is great. It gives the sense that his flashback isn't merely a memory but could be happening at the same time but on a different plane of existence. The interaction with the Meachums is quite interesting and a contrast. We discover that Ward was young Danny's antagonist and Joy was his friend. The dynamic hasn't changed a lot as far a Ward and Danny are concerned but Ward doesn't believe that it really is Danny. However, Joy is more willing to believe that the new stranger is Danny and when she does believe, she wants to help her old friend but Ward doesn't. What the what? Hm. Things might not be what the viewer thinks... I get why people have their panties in a bunch but what would people say if Luke Cage had been cast as a white guy raised by black parents? What? It could have easily happened but that's not who Luke Cage is. A black man is integral to who Luke Cage is. So why then are people pissed that Danny Rand is a white guy? Danny Rand is an Caucasian character (who just happens to be American) played by a Brit. Shouldn't Americans be mad? No. It doesn't matter all that much. The character of Danny Rand is a rich white kid from NYC, privileged. It makes him who he is. What does matter? Folks get mad at stupid little things instead of waiting to see what happens and that's what matters. Marvel casting has been spot on so far, so give them the benefit. Please see beyond the nationality of the actor cast as Danny Rand. If you can't, you imply that a white boy can't carry a martial arts show. (Remember Chuck Norris?) Think about what that means about your character. |
AuthorCollege graduate, Army vet, single mom, Husky mom, Movie lover, writer Archives
August 2022
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