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[Pachimari]

Review embargo for Netflix's and Marvel's The Defenders is up now. They are based on the first 4 episodes of the season. The show will release on August 18.

Empire Online - ★★★

Even so, there is enough joy in watching the sparks fly as these four alpha characters finally collide to make you feel The Defenders might just have been worth the wait. It's a long-anticipated crossover series that delivers some engaging character clashes, but which fails — in the first half at least — to up the ante story-wise.

We Got This Covered - ★★★★

While the show starts as something of a slow burn, once the heroes come together, it more than lives up to the promise fans have been clamoring to see realized. It may not be the strongest Marvel Netflix series thus far (that would be a toss-up between Daredevil and Jessica Jones), but The Defenders splits the differences between its leads, creating something that even casual fans of these shows shouldn't miss.

441mania - 9/10

The Defenders is so far off to a promising start. The return of all these great characters is fantastic, but the heroes getting to meet and interact with each other for the first time is equally satisfying. Sigourney Weaver's Alexandra, despite being steeped in mystery, might turn out to be the show's most interesting character. Consider the rating a bit of a placeholder, and that rating might change after the rest of the season has been released. Once, The Defenders gets moving and Iron Fist meets Luke Cage for the first time is where the show really starts taking off.

Collider - ★★★

It's something new, but it has a lot of problems. It's a tonal mishmash as it brings these characters together (including a very cringe-worthy decision to play hip hop every time we see Luke in the first hour when no one else gets a soundtrack — we get it, guys; he's black), but the interactions among the heroes are always great. There's just not enough of it to start, and it takes too long for them to team-up. If you thought Defenders would be a culminating chapter to the other Netflix Marvel series so far, think again. So far it feels like another prelude, and it makes one wonder if we'll ever get to the main event.

This Is Insider - B

When they all finally come together, fans may be sad to learn the mini-series will already be halfway over. Unlike every other 13-episode Marvel Netflix series, "The Defenders" is a short eight episodes, making you wish they all came together sooner. Since the first four episodes are a bit slow, I'm concerned the next four may feel rushed to take down the organization both Iron Fist and Daredevil have been trying to take down for seasons. Hopefully, I'm wrong.

Washington Post

And so it seems Marvel's connected Netflix universe is back on track with no apparent ”Fist" hangover. The biggest question going into this street-level hero team-up was how four shows with such different vibes would come together as one. The best part of ”The Defenders"? Watching how they make that happen.

Decider

Ultimately, The Defenders had to successfully accomplish one huge thing: justify 65 episodes of build-up. Despite a slow start, the show comes through on its promise and gives the heroes a threat worthy of their newly united attention. Defenders also doesn't sacrifice the vital voices of Jessica Jones and Luke Cage when it throws them in a very Daredevil-y plot, and Defenders even makes Iron Fist work. These characters work so well together, it's now hard to imagine them apart.

io9 Gizmodo

However, the good of The Defenders far outweighs the bad. The story isn't revolutionary, and as usual, the villains have a typically over-the-top and hilariously convoluted plan—but it's all a canvas to showcase Matt, Jessica, Luke, and Danny coming together as a team. They're not just stronger together than they are apart—it turns out they're more entertaining, too.

TV Guide

There are other villains introduced, characters who make surprising returns. And when I say Defenders isn't like Avengers, don't worry: there's an inciting incident at the end of the first episode that creates gigantic stakes for the heroes. This series is still pretty huge. But like we mentioned earlier, it comes down to them as individuals. It's about how their separate journeys bring them together. The episodes build, and build, getting faster, funnier and better as they go. If that continues in the back half, Defenders is going to be one hell of a ride.

Just don't call it an eight hour long movie.

 

[WrenchNinja]

Empire gave Iron Fist three stars too. Same reviewer.

 

[Maintenance]

Damn, this soon?

including a very cringe-worthy decision to play hip hop every time we see Luke in the first hour when no one else gets a soundtrack — we get it, guys; he's black

 

[gdt]

Seems solid enough.

 

[HStallion]

Eh I'll wait to see it myself after hearing all the praise heaped upon Jessica Jones and Luke Cage. That and its got Danny Rand.

 

[strafer]

In for Luke Cage.

 

[George Oscar Bluth II]

None of those excerpts make me want to watch it.

 

[jon bones]

thats early

ive cooled off on netflix mcu a lot but will def check this out

 

[Black Republican]

So mixed basically? Didnt know it was 8 eps which is good. Should really review the whole season ,no?

 

[Xe4]

Solid reviews, but I'm definitely waiting on impressions for this one. The only show that's impressed me thus far has been Daredevil.

 

[TrumanBurbank]

Empire gave Iron Fist three stars too. Same reviewer.

Empire is basically a studio shill

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/source-148

 

[Lashley]

I'm hyped

IF was pretty bad, but it has potential for season 2.

Liked all the other Netflix shows, DD reigns supreme

 

[Zen Aku]

None of those excerpts make me want to watch it.

This is basically what I thought reading those. But it sounds like a solid 7-8 out 10. Will watch for DD.

 

[OdysseusVA]

Mixed means its bad.

Its to be expected if JJ, LC, and Danny are in it.

 

[duckroll]

The review texts in the OP all sound terrible to mediocre. Yet the scores seem really high. What gives?

 

[Pachimari]

Washington Post

And so it seems Marvel’s connected Netflix universe is back on track with no apparent “Fist” hangover. The biggest question going into this street-level hero team-up was how four shows with such different vibes would come together as one. The best part of “The Defenders”? Watching how they make that happen.

 

[WadiumArcadium]

Sounds a bit underwhelming. I'll watch it for Daredevil anyway.

 

[Puck Beaverton]

Yeah none of that sounds promising

 

[plainr_]

Please don't tell me it's going to take several episodes to get the gang together.

 

[OdysseusVA]

The review texts in the OP all sound terrible to mediocre. Yet the scores seem really high. What gives?

ITS MAHVEL BAYBEE

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

Reviewing half the episodes always seems fairly useless anyway.

 

[George Oscar Bluth II]

Please don't tell me it's going to take several episodes to get the gang together.

Yup:

When they all finally come together, fans may be sad to learn the mini-series will already be halfway over.

 

[Penguin]

The review texts in the OP all sound terrible to mediocre. Yet the scores seem really high. What gives?

That's what I'm wondering as well.

A lot of the quotes put up red flags in my head, but I guess the pros outweigh the cons?

Washington Post

This pull quote says like nothing...

 

[DMczaf]

Damn, this soon?

It's 2017 and we're still using generic hip hop to tell audiences "this is our black character"?

😔

 

[LakeEarth]

Reviewing half the episodes always seems fairly useless anyway.

Especially for Luke Cage, which fell apart pretty much exactly at the halfway point.

 

[Maintenance]

The review texts in the OP all sound terrible to mediocre. Yet the scores seem really high. What gives?

Disney money, obviously.

 

[jett]

The review texts in the OP all sound terrible to mediocre. Yet the scores seem really high. What gives?

TV critics are equivalent to video game reviewers.

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

The review texts in the OP all sound terrible to mediocre. Yet the scores seem really high. What gives?

Think you're seeing what you want to see, you don't seem to really like the Netflix shows

 

[HeartlessNobody213]

So they don't team up until a few episodes in? Wasn't expecting that. I would much prefer them all coming together at the end of the first episode.

 

[Nightwing123]

I was expecting better reviews, I mean these are not bad by any means but those texts make it seem like the show has some glaring problems. I'll still watch for Luke Cage, Jessica and Daredevil (I don't care about this version of Danny)

 

[Pics_nao]

Damn, this soon?



[/QUOTE]

lmao, for real? Jesus

 

[Pachimari]

Newsrains

All in all, The Defenders is a solid addition to the Netflix branch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While not as revelatory as The Avengers (that kind of a game-changer can really only occur once), the show likely presents everything fans have been hoping for. From a narrative and thematic standpoint, The Defenders feels like a turning point for each of these characters, as their four paths intertwine in the face of their biggest challenge yet. From a production standpoint, the show has flaws — bizarre camera angles, inconsistent fight choreography, etc. — but none of that's a deal-breaker, especially when you're dealing with characters as complex and fascinating as those at the center of The Defenders.

[edit] Wait, I am looking into this review. It seems to be the exact same text from another review.

 

[SuperBanana]

Netflix did an amazing job of making me really stop caring about their Marvel shows. I went from loving the first season of Daredevil to not being able to make through any other season of these series.

 

[aly]

Yup:

Welp. That sounds awful.

 

[jett]

Netflix really did an amazing job of making me really stop caring about their Marvel shows. I went from loving the first season of Daredevil to not being able to make through any other season of these series.

Yep that's how it is.

 

[OdysseusVA]

Newsrains

Avengers was a game changer? Oh dear

 

[Jarmel]

Newsrains

Dumpster fire.

 

[Anson225]

Doesn't sound too hot. Was looking forward to it.

 

[kurahador]

Doesn't sound good. Seems like Iron Fist curse is spreading.

 

[Falchion]

Usually the first half of these shows are awesome and it starts falling off the rails in the later episodes. Maybe The Defenders can actually stick the landing.

 

[JCHandsom]

Man, I really don't want this to be bad.

Usually the first half of these shows are awesome and it starts falling off the rails in the later episodes. Maybe The Defenders can actually stick the landing.

That's not true, Iron Fist sucked from beginning to end!

 

[Triggerhappytel]

8 episodes? That's great news. That surely means it won't suffer the saggy, meandering middle all of the other Netflix MCU shows have had.

 

[Pachimari]

Dumpster fire.

Yeah, I've removed this one from the OP as it is the same one as the We Got This Covered review.

 

[Jarmel]

The fight choreography concerns are worrying though. That was a weak point of Iron Fist but this should have a completely separate team working on it.

 

[SporeCrawler]

hype!

 

[DeathoftheEndless]

Nice, sounds good.

 

[Spehornoob]

Avengers was a game changer? Oh dear

I think it was a major game changer. It was the first real proof that this whole shared universe blockbuster thing could make major bank, and other studios have been trying to follow that path since.

 

[overcast]

ITS MAHVEL BAYBEE

Sounds about right yeah

 

[Inferno313]

Avengers was a game changer? Oh dear

Of course it was. All of Hollywood has been trying to have their own Avengers ever since.

 

[Q8D3vil]

IF, LC (post ep 8) and JJ were trash. I really hope dd can carry this through.