TAGGED AS: Netflix, Superheroes
Iron Fist, the fourth Netflix series focusing on one of Marvel’s superhero troop the Defenders dropped on Friday, March 17 — and reactions have been a really mixed bag.
On Rotten Tomatoes, season 1 only reached an 18% Tomatometer score with critics (as of this writing). To compare to the other stand-alone Defenders shows, the first seasons of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage all scored over 90 percent fresh. The second season of Daredevil dropped to a 76, but that’s still over four times the Iron Fist score.
Turning to the fans, Daredevil and Jessica Jones’ Audience Scores on RT are over 90% for all seasons, while Luke Cage sits at 85 and, despite having 2,000 or more user ratings than each of its Netflix comrades, Iron Fist brings up the rear at 83.
While the discrepancy isn’t nearly the same with viewers as it is with critics, there are still multiple and varied complaints that fans are levying against the fourth installment in the Defenders series of shows, which is making for some really fun social media posts.
On the serious side, there is a debate raging about the “whitewashing” of Iron Fist with the casting of curly-topped Game of Thrones alum Finn Jones, which is an interesting criticism, since the character has been Caucasian since his debut over 40 years ago — the argument is that in this day and age, he should have/could have been a person of color.
This is the guy Marvel turned down to hire Finn Jones for Iron Fist. He's an actual Martial Artist. pic.twitter.com/lcG7EmlWjY
— Heonard Washington (@BlackIce392) March 21, 2017
Idgaf about Iron Fist. Another day, another piece of White media about finding yourself by exploring Asian art/culture/people's bodies.
— 박주현 (@Hermit_Hwarang) March 21, 2017
Adding fuel to the fire is former Marvel editor-in-chief Roy Thomas, who co-created Iron Fist in 1974 with artist Gil Kane, saying in an interview, “Don’t these people have something better to do than to worry about the fact that Iron Fist isn’t Oriental, or whatever word?”
When the co-creator of #IronFist can't be bothered to not call Asian people Oriental. ? pic.twitter.com/LSFcNbn8Pj
— Nymeria of Rhoynar (@JSoAbove) March 21, 2017
But some fans still don’t have a problem with this particular issue.
SJW: Iron Fist is Asian he's supposed to be Asian because martial arts culture and stuff
Me, an Asian person: What— Scott Lang (@quackerducker) March 22, 2017
I never heard about Iron Fist before the show but if he was white in the comics why do people want him to be Asian on the show?
— Imperator Funmiosa (@funmzire) March 21, 2017
On a more fun note, one of the biggest beefs fans have with Danny Rand is that he’s such a Burning Man dude-bro.
Iron Fist kept looking familiar, then I was like oh yeah that’s the guy I have to kick out of my Burning Man camp every year pic.twitter.com/135eKIXnEc
— anFIFA '18 (@ravikanodia) March 23, 2017
Marvel's Iron Fist – 2017 pic.twitter.com/MkA3qEcBQp
— elodie (@chrisbearfield) March 19, 2017
What we hoped Iron Fist on @netflix would be Vs. what we got pic.twitter.com/IbPGfBATaq
— Jebailey @ #DHDEN17 (@CEOJebailey) March 21, 2017
THIS IS IRON FIST – See this, folks? This incredible John Byrne illustration right here? THIS is the real Iron Fist….
Posted by David DeVenter on Thursday, March 23, 2017
So Iron Fist is bad, for many reasons but this fight scene got me really upset, especially when compared with an earlier one from Daredevil. pic.twitter.com/OePampcy7s
— Gerald (@Gerald_AWO) March 20, 2017
Iron Fist's superpower is being real pretentious about his semester abroad
— BANSHEEhan (@ItsDanSheehan) March 19, 2017
Some fans are annoyed the show creators couldn’t get any more creative with the storyline, calling the show boring and unimaginative.
The elephant in the room.I just said to someone last week, while the story is indeed in keeping with Marvel canon…
Posted by Niama Safia Sandy on Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Doubt I finish Iron Fist. Snoozefest. Can we get a Kingpin centric Punisher series? Donofrio and Bernthal are the best actors in Netflix MCU
— Larry Beyince (@DragonflyJonez) March 21, 2017
Got through all but 3 episodes of Iron fist today. I get a weird feeling watching it. I think it's kinda boring yet I want to keep watching
— Damon B (@OpTic_DKarma) March 22, 2017
#IronFist has somehow found the most boring stories to tell about a character that has literally punched dragons.
— Sugar, Water, Purple (@TheArnold_SoM) March 20, 2017
Even among people who generally like the show, the lack of good fight scenes is problematic.
the more I watch #IronFist, the more I'm disappointed w the casting. Not because of race. Poor kung fu, absurd hair. Annoying hipster affect
— School of Comics (@CaptFiction) March 23, 2017
Fight choreagraphy in Iron Fist. pic.twitter.com/1adtLcgLKc
— Qoomanehh (@MQumane) March 22, 2017
IRON FIST is bafflingly terrible. Like, almost student-film level bad. Signs of lack of care are everywhere, from the choreography to script
— David Chen (@davechensky) March 23, 2017
How do you make a show called Iron Fist, about a guy whose one gimmick is an iron fist…
and manage to mess up the iron fist completely?— GAIL SIMONE (@GailSimone) March 22, 2017
So, what’s a martial arts–TV fan to do? Some online commenters offered alternative viewing suggestions, including AMC’s Into the Badlands (pictured) and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC.
I just watched 30 seconds of Into The Badlands that was better than two whole episodes of Iron Fist.
Posted by Jerry Barrow on Sunday, March 19, 2017
Fact is @AgentsofSHIELD has better: Characters, Storylines, Acting, Directing, Writing, Dialogue, and better ACTION Sequences than #IronFist
— Alexis J. Soto (@greatthealexis) March 23, 2017
If you were disappointed in #IronFist and need some Marvel, the fourth season of #AgentsofSHIELD is excellent and is a good place to jump in
— Dana Leigh Brand (@DanaLeighBrand) March 21, 2017
But despite all the complaints, there is still a very vocal contingent of viewers defending this Defender and his crew.
You guyz. Watch Marvel's Iron Fist. The reviews are being strange for some reason, but after episode 2, it gets fantastic and stays that way.
Posted by Micah Smith on Thursday, March 23, 2017
I didn't care what anyone says @MarvelIronFist is my favorite show right next to @Daredevil and @JessicaJones and @LukeCage
— matthewmckee (@therealmckeemvp) March 23, 2017
Fact: if you watch #IronFist without perpetual outrage, you may notice it's a far better show than these crybullies say.
— Johnny Sandwich (@Workandtwitch) March 22, 2017
Trying to figure out how people think Iron Fist is boring… pic.twitter.com/KwIPZK1ZMq
— G.A. – Connor (@GAEdits_UK) March 19, 2017
And hey, Iron Fist has at least one really famous fan.
Anyone else LOVING @MarvelIronFist ?!?
HeeeYAA!! ???
— Sam Heughan (@SamHeughan) March 22, 2017
Iron Fist is available to stream now on Netflix. Watch for more Iron Fist when Netflix debuts The Defenders later in 2017.
