Marvel’s Iron Fist isn’t even out yet, but it’s getting a lot of buzz.
The series’ first six episodes have mixed reviews from critics.
Maureen Ryan of Variety has harsh words for the show. She calls it “Deadly- in all the wrong ways.”
“Iron Fist is the most frustrating and ferociously boring example of Netflix Drift in some time”, Ryan writes. She also lists “uninspired production design, unexceptional cinematography, and painful dialogue” as detractors. The review ends with these harsh words: “Getting through two episodes was a challenge.”
The Hollywood Reporter‘s Daniel Fienberg has a similar opinion. He calls Iron Fist “a step backward on every level and a major disappointment.” Among these include not much authenticity, the lack of subtext, and a strong villain.
Iron Fist‘s main enemy is The Hand, who have a major role in Daredevil Season 2. “An interesting bad guy with objectives central to the individual show feels important to the crafting of the hero,” says Fienberg. “Danny suffers from the absence of exactly that.”
In contrast, Miles Surrey of .Mic gives a mixed review of Iron Fist, which he calls “a flawed, cliche series.” He cites the show’s similarities to Batman Begins as a problem, such as Danny’s billionaire backstory and training. Surrey feels the Hand is “little on exposition” and more on action.
That being said, Surrey lists the stunt-work and fight scenes as a highlight of the show. He praises the choreography as “a ton of fun” and “some of the best you’ll see on TV”. Fans can expect a hallway scene which harkens to a famous Daredevil scene.
On a positive note, Josh Wilding of Comicbookmovie.com loves the show for “Strong action, a compelling story, and a compelling performance from Finn Jones.” He praises the choice of Jones in the role of Danny. “His naivety never becomes frustrating; instead, he’s a massively likeable character clearly setting out to try and do the right thing.”
Regarding the alleged whitewashing, Wilding states Danny has always been Caucasian in the comic books. “While Marvel decided against casting Jackie Chan as the lead”, he says, “the show does feature a kickass Asian lead in the form of Jessica Henwick’s Colleen Wing.”
Keep in mind, the mixed reviews don’t mean the series is bad, though. If anything, many want a show on par with Daredevil, and for some, this may not be to their liking.
Marvel’s Iron Fist comes out March 17.
