Marvel mastery isn’t required to enjoy series
Unless you’re a complete comic-book geek, the whole Marvel Universe thing can be overwhelming as it continues its march toward total media domination.
Marvel shows can already be found on ABC, NBC, FX, AMC, Hulu, Netflix and Disney XD.
Some of the shows are great; others are forgettable. Some, such as “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D,” have outlived their sell-by date.
Its “Universe” nature is fine for comic-book geeks (who know the origins of the various superheroes) but can be confusing for the unenlightened.
Fortunately, you don’t have to do homework to enjoy “Marvel’s The Defenders,” a nicely crafted series available for streaming on Netflix beginning Friday.
The main characters do have origin stories, but you don’t really have to know that Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) killed her nemesis, Kilgrave, at the end of “Marvel’s Jessica Jones.” What you learn is that she’s moody (not much in the warm and cuddly department), brilliant and the source of a steady stream of deadpan humor in “The Defenders.”
Jones is one of four Marvel characters who eventually team to save New York City from destruction by an ages-old, worldwide occult network known as The Hand, headed by a very wealthy woman named Alexandra (Sigourney Weaver).
Not for four episodes does the team come together, but not to worry: Showrunner Marco Ramirez and his writing team build the story with heavy doses of dazzling action and compelling character development. For the cognoscenti, there are gentle reminders of backstories; for newbies, there is just enough to get a quick take on who’s who and where they came from.
The other Defenders are Luke Cage (Mike Colter), newly released from prison and ready to return to being the Hero of Harlem; Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), who is trying desperately to leave his alter-ego as Daredevil behind him; and Danny Rand (Finn Jones), the boy billionaire known as the Iron Fist.
Alexandra has her own superheroine to make sure that she achieves her goal of flattening Gotham, someone with personal ties to one of the Defenders.
Weaver is great fun to watch, especially because her acting style is so carefully reserved compared with the actors playing the Defenders. (It must be said, though, that her character’s taste in couture is atrocious for someone who’s supposed to be filthy rich. Most of her shmattes wouldn’t make the former Home Shopping Network’s 3 a.m. fire sale.)
One asset of “Marvel’s The Defenders”: its strength in numbers. The stronger characters shore up the weaker ones.
Iron Fist is the weakest link — because he is only a link; there are other characters who can do more of the heavy lifting.
The first four of the series’ eight episodes are enjoyable, and Jones, Colter and Cox are especially fun to watch. Whether you’re a Universe denizen or a newbie, “The Defenders” requires no heavy lifting of viewers.