SUPERHEROES WALK-THROUGH
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been dominating the box office for the past 10 years, and it doesn’t look like it’s stopping any time soon.
Black Panther starring Chadwick Boseman and Michael B Jordan has been a box office hit, and has critical acclaim to go with it.
With Avengers: Infinity War coming to cinemas soon, in which The Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy unite to stop intergalactic warlord Thanos (Josh Brolin), why not take a look at the MCU from a different perspective…
Daredevil S1
Image: Netflix
This is the perfect place to begin your journey through the Marvel-Netflix series.
Refreshingly more grounded, grittier and adult than the Avengers films, Daredevil tracks the origins of superhero Daredevil as he fights crime and corruption on the streets of Hell’s Kitchen, New York.
Blinded as a child by a toxic accident, lawyer Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) has been granted exceptionally heightened senses and uses them to attempt to take down crime boss Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio).
One of the highlights of the series is the way in which it links back to the MCU, especially Avengers: Assemble, in which New York was heavily damaged in the films main action sequence.
Jessica Jones S1
Image: Netflix
The next instalment in the Marvel-Netflix series you should watch is Jessica Jones, which is my personal favourite.
The series tracks superhero-turned-private investigator Jessica Jones (Kristen Ritter) when her dream of a normal life is shattered by the return of villain Kilgrave (David Tennant), who can control anyone he wants just by telling them what to do.
David Tennant is genuinely scary as Kilgrave, and it’s great to see him branch out into a more villainous role. The series also does a great job of setting him up as a real threat through the fear and PTSD he has caused super-strong Jessica Jones in the past.
The series also introduces titular character Luke Cage (Mike Colter), whose series we visit later in the walkthrough.
Daredevil S2
Image: Netflix
We now return back to Matt Murdock, following the demise of Fisk’s crime empire.
Many new gangs are now fighting for control of Hell’s Kitchen, but many of them are being gunned down by an apparent ‘army,’ and one of the survivors come to Matt and Foggy’s law firm for help.
Series 2 adds comic book favourites The Punisher (Jon Bernthal) and Elektra (Élodie Yung) to the MCU’s huge roster of characters.
The introduction of vigilante anti-hero The Punisher is one of the strongest aspects of the series, as his morals conflict with that of Matt’s.
Luke Cage
Image: Netflix
Now that you are familiar with the slick martial arts of Daredevil, meet the brutal power of Luke Cage.
Luke Cage follows bulletproof ex-con Luke Cage as he tries to rebuild his life in Harlem, New York.
Luke is a reluctant hero, not wanting to admit that he is one, but tries his best to make Harlem a better place.
The series finds clever ways to put a near-invincible character in danger, and the rough and ready fight scenes are highly entertaining. The hip-hop laden soundtrack, and Colter’s layered performance carry the series through the slower moments in storytelling, leading to a great introduction for the character.
Iron Fist
Image: Netflix
We now go on to meet an entirely new character here, Danny Rand (Finn Jones).
Danny Rand is the heir to a billion dollar fortune, and returns to New York to reclaim his family company after being presumed dead in the plane crash that killed his parents 15 years ago.
While missing, Danny trained in martial arts and gained the superhuman power of being the Iron Fist. This means that by channelling his chi, he can make his fist incredibly strong.
While in New York, Danny must decide between his family’s legacy and the duties of the Iron Fist.
The Defenders
Image: Netflix
Now for the big one…
The Defenders is the Avengers of the Marvel-Netflix series, which brings together Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist into an action packed ensemble series.
Together, they must take down Alexandra (Sigourney Weaver), a foe that none of them can take down alone.
The dynamic between the characters is interesting and injects a lot of humour into the generally dark-toned saga. One of the strongest parts of the series is the action scenes, which are choreographed exceptionally well and show off each characters strengths and fighting styles equally.
Many other characters you have met throughout the previous seasons also join the cast, including regular Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson), Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) and Misty Knight (Simone Missick).
The Punisher
Image: Netflix
Now that you have finished the explosive Defenders, we return to the streets of New York in The Punisher.
The darkest and most violent of the series, Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle/The Punisher returns for his own series.
This series explores the backstory of one of the MCU’s finest killers. Ex-Marine Frank Castle’s family is murdered and he then becomes vigilante The Punisher, seeking only vengeance.
The dark tone works well in this series, and it doesn’t shy away from the violence that only a man like Frank Castle can inflict upon his enemies.
Jessica Jones S2
Image: Netflix
What’s next for snarky detective Jessica Jones?
Following on from her time working with The Defenders, Jessica is still working as a private investigator.
The second season continues to explore Jessica's intriguing past, and Kristen Ritter is as good as ever as the titular heroine.
There are more character crossovers from the Netflix-Marvel series, and there are satisfying nods to recent developments in the MCU.
________________________________________________________________________________
And that's it (so far) for your superhero Netflix walk-through! Don't be left stuck for what to watch all over again, though! FLIXGUIDE has even more unique walk-through's on the way!