Marvel's The Defenders

For starters...a problem with this is the watching commitment that goes into it. Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Daredevil, and Iron Fist...that is a lot of watching when you realize that they are each a series in and of themselves that you kind of need to invest the time into in order to really keep up with this series.... ...and that is why it took soooo long for me to write this review. I really don't have the time to invest in all of that right away. It takes time. But then Netflix did try to minimize that viewing so you could kind of come in to the Defenders without needing too much of that massive backstory. In the comics, it's not that bad, you have about 15-20 pages of graphics and words, you can plow through them fast...in television its a bit harder. And in movies, there just aren't as many to keep up with, especially since each episode is almost an hour in run time. If you get beyond that, though, it's a decent show. It could use a better villain, a threat a little bigger to pull them all together. But it's still fun to watch. The real issue is just the time investment.

(CASTELLANO) The Defenders es lo más parecido a un crossover de superhéroes que vas a ver sin salirte del universo Netflix. Y aunque se queda a medio gas en algunas cosas, lo cierto es que engancha y entretiene bastante. Juntar a Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage y Iron Fist en una misma historia es un caramelo para los fans, y lo mejor es que no se alarga más de lo necesario: ocho episodios bien medidos, sin relleno innecesario. Eso sí, hay momentos en los que no terminas de creerte del todo las dinámicas del grupo. A veces parece que Luke Cage podría arreglar todo él solito —con solo caminar, ni siquiera dar patadas— y otras no sabes muy bien por qué no lo hace. Y aunque la serie funciona, se nota la ausencia de un personaje como The Punisher, que habría encajado como un guante y le habría subido varios niveles de intensidad. Sigourney Weaver da empaque al villano, y algunos diálogos entre los personajes tienen chispa, aunque otros caen en clichés demasiado vistos. Aun así, el ritmo mejora a medida que avanza la historia, y cuando todos están en modo acción, la cosa despega. En resumen, The Defenders es como una reunión de antiguos colegas que, aunque no son perfectos juntos, tienen el carisma suficiente como para que te quedes a ver qué pasa. Y eso ya es mucho decir. (ENGLISH) The Defenders is the closest thing you'll get to a superhero crossover without leaving Netflix's universe. And while it doesn't go all-in on everything, it's definitely engaging and entertaining. Bringing Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist together in one story is a treat for fans, and the best part is it doesn't drag on - eight well-paced episodes with no filler. That said, there are moments where the group dynamics don't fully click. Sometimes it feels like Luke Cage could handle everything on his own - just by walking, no kicks needed - and at others, you wonder why he doesn't. And while the show works overall, the absence of a character like The Punisher is definitely noticeable. He would've been a perfect fit and could've raised the stakes a lot. Sigourney Weaver adds gravitas to the villain role, and some of the dialogue between characters sparkles, though others fall into well-worn clichés. Still, the pace picks up as the story progresses, and once everyone kicks into action mode, things take off. All in all, The Defenders feels like a reunion of old friends who might not be perfect together, but they've got enough charisma to make you want to stick around and see what happens next. And that's saying something.