Marvel's The Defenders
Series, 2017, Marvel Television, Set in New York
Marvel's The Defenders is #21 of 69 in release order and #68 of 69 in chronological order in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The story
Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist join forces to take on common enemies as a sinister conspiracy threatens New York City.
Marvel's The Defenders recap
Months after their own series, Matt Murdock, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Danny Rand are drawn into the same mystery. An earthquake rocks New York, and the Hand, led by Alexandra Reid and four other fingers, all ancient and extending their lives with a substance from the bones of a dragon, is trying to dig under the Midland Circle building. Their weapon is Elektra, resurrected as the Black Sky with no memory of Matt. The four heroes meet in a fight inside Midland Circle and grudgingly team up, hiding out in a Chinese restaurant. The Hand need Danny, the Iron Fist, to open a door under the building. Elektra kills Alexandra and takes over the Hand.
Marvel's The Defenders ending explained
The heroes decide to destroy Midland Circle with explosives while the Hand open their door. Matt stays behind to fight Elektra and keep her there, and the building collapses on them. Matt is presumed dead, but he wakes in the care of nuns, setting up Daredevil season 3. Danny stays to protect the city in Matt's place.
Where to watch Marvel's The Defenders
Marvel's The Defenders is streaming on Disney+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.2/10, Rotten Tomatoes 78%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Spider-Man: Homecoming, before Thor: Ragnarok.
- Chronological order: after Marvel's Iron Fist, before Marvel's The Punisher.
What to watch before Marvel's The Defenders
Nothing. Marvel's The Defenders (2017) doesn't continue an earlier version, so it stands on its own. Marvel's The Defenders itself is optional in the Marvel Cinematic Universe order.
Cast
- Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock / Daredevil
- Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones
- Mike Colter as Luke Cage
- Finn Jones as Danny Rand / Iron Fist
- Élodie Yung as Elektra Natchios
- Wai Ching Ho as Madame Gao
- Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple
- Jessica Henwick as Colleen Wing
- Scott Glenn as Stick
- Sigourney Weaver as Alexandra Reid
- Yutaka Takeuchi as Murakami
- Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson
Created by Doug Petrie, Marco Ramirez.