When 'Daredevil: Born Again' first arrived, it represented a pivotal moment for Marvel Studios, officially bringing the gritty, fan-favorite Netflix 'Daredevil' series into the MCU canon. Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock had already made his mark with appearances in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' and 'She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,' setting the stage for his solo revival. However, according to Collider, the slow pace at which his fellow Defenders were reintroduced has proven to be a misstep.
The original Netflix shows, including 'Jessica Jones,' 'Luke Cage,' and 'Iron Fist,' were once a cornerstone of Marvel's television efforts, culminating in 'The Defenders' limited series. While that team-up had its flaws, it established a shared universe for these New York City vigilantes. With Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio), ascending to the powerful position of Mayor of New York City, a threat already highlighted in 'Hawkeye' and 'Echo,' many expected a more immediate and united front from the street-level heroes.
Yet, the integration has been piecemeal. Season 1 of 'Born Again' saw the return of Jon Bernthal's Punisher, only for him to be written out for his own subsequent project, 'The Punisher: One Last Kill.' Krysten Ritter's Jessica Jones finally reappeared in Season 2, followed by a cameo from Mike Colter's Luke Cage. It's only in the now-finalized Season 3 that Finn Jones' Danny Rand, the Iron Fist, is set to complete the original quartet.
Collider's piece argues that while Daredevil was always meant to be the central figure, the other Defenders' absence during Kingpin's initial power consolidation was conspicuous. As the article notes, "It never sat right with us that a man like Wilson Fisk... would work his way all the way up to being the Mayor of New York City... and the Defenders... wouldn't intervene." While Spider-Man's absence was logically explained by studio rights and a brief mention, the complete lack of the other Defenders felt like a narrative stretch.
The sentiment now, with 'Daredevil: Born Again' facing cancellation, is that this full reunion feels like a case of "too little, too late." The third season is now poised to become a de facto 'Defenders' story, a grand team-up event akin to 'Captain America: Civil War' but under the 'Daredevil' banner. This mirrors the strategy of the original Netflix 'Defenders,' which aimed to draw a wider audience by bringing its disparate heroes together.
This final season presents a bittersweet opportunity to redeem aspects of the original 'The Defenders' series, which many considered underwhelming. With Matt Murdock's identity as Daredevil now public and him potentially incarcerated, the stage is set for a desperate reunion to prevent New York City from falling into chaos. However, the show's premature end leaves the future of individual 'Jessica Jones,' 'Luke Cage,' and 'Iron Fist' revivals uncertain, though the possibility of 'Punisher'-like one-shots or a 'Heroes for Hire' series remains a hopeful speculation. Ultimately, the delayed integration means these compelling street-level narratives might once again conclude with incomplete stories, leaving fans yearning for what could have been a more cohesive and timely Defenders' return.