It seems that Marvel hit a bit of a snag with their latest partnered Netflix show: Iron Fist. And I’m sure you all have gotten your fill of over a dozen articles that tells you where they went wrong. I’ve watched the show and I’ve had this burning question: Does Daniel “Danny” Rand “accept” his destiny/duty as the Iron Fist? As I progressed through the series’ episodes, Danny goes back and forth with his answer. So if I were the Show-runner there are definite some things I would have done differently. Starting with…..
Danny Rand accepting his destiny and duties as the Iron Fist. Unequivocally. A character has to have his mind set on a goal. In this case, Danny is a guy who was given a responsibility and accepted it. He’s had ten long years of training so he’s clearly skilled and Mature. He is ready and capable. Now this may make Danny come off as a one-dimensional character but it’s how far is he willing to go to fulfill this duty. Does he falter? Or is he unwavering? It’s the decisions he makes and how he deals with the consequences that will make him three-dimensional. So his first decision is to leave K’un Lun because he’s discovered that the Hand is rooted in organized crime in New York City. Even worse. They are using his father’s company to do it. Now, how could he have come by this discovery?
The Chaste: A mystical martial arts enclave designed to combat the Hand. It is lead by Stick whom was introduced as Matt Murdock’s Mentor in Daredevil Season 1. It only makes sense to bring this aspect of the Iron fist world into the picture to stir up the pot. Especially since K’un Lun is one of seven cities of heaven located in another dimension. In opposition to the Hand, K’un Lun is isolated and not as resourceful since it appears in the marvel world every ten years. So now that the path to K’un Lun is open, the character Stick shows up to bring news of the Hand’s dealings and how they have infested New York. I like the character Stick in the Daredevil Season and I think he could serve as a good teacher of chi for Danny.
Now maybe K’un Lun Tradition dictates that the Iron Fist primary duty is to protect K’un Lun from the Hand—-Destroy them should they ever attempt to enter the city Maybe the Elders of K’un Lun forbid Danny from leaving but makes the choice to do so anyway because Again he discovers that his father’s company is the source for all of the Hand’s dealings in New York. Now Danny has a personal stake attached with his destiny and he decides to leave but not without complications…..
More Davos. This is the guy that actually wanted the responsibility but wasn’t chosen. He is Danny’s envious best friend. Davos serves as a constant reminder of Danny’s responsibilities as the Iron Fist and K’un Lun traditions. Danny leaves K’un Lun without consulting anyone especially Davos. Naturally this upsets Davos and he leaves K’un Lun with a goal to bring Danny back to K’un Lun before the path closes—putting Davos on a time clock. In my version of Iron Fist, Davos would pop up a lot sooner as a ally at first then as the season progresses they grow more and more apart. If you read the comics, you know that Davos is the Steel Serpent.
Now that Danny is back after ten years. He reconnects with the only family he has left…
The Meachums. They are not kids anymore. Change is natural. It’s interesting to see how Joy and Ward differ in response to Danny’s return. Even more interesting that they think its some random guy claiming to be somebody he’s not to take their company. Danny’s motivations to take the company isn’t anything personal against the Meachums or even to gain his life back— Again it’s to root out the Hand within his father’s company and destroy it. Danny’s business decisions are motivated to hit the Hand’s financial pockets to root them out. The Meachums would only serve as an obstacle because Danny is also hitting their pockets as well. And I think Ward’s connection with the Hand through his father Harold will make this even more personal for Danny when he finds out.
Other than that……everything else worked for me.