【Flashpoint X Porn (1997)】

That Iron Fist is Flashpoint X Porn (1997)the weakest link in The Defendersshouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who saw Iron Fist, or even anyone who just read the reviews for Iron Fist.

But like it or not, the dude's not going away anytime soon. Just last month, Netflix announced it had ordered another season of his show. Which leaves us to wonder: Is it even possible to fix this character at this point?

SEE ALSO: 13 times 'The Defenders' roasted Iron Fist so you wouldn't have to

The good news is ... maybe. At least based on what we've seen in Iron FistSeason 1 and The Defenders. While the latter doesn't undo most of the mistakes made by the former, it does make them a bit easier to live with – mainly by having all the other characters constantly acknowledge that, yes, this Iron Fist is a "thundering dumbass."

It's not much, but it is a step. Here's how Iron FistSeason 1 can continue going in the right direction.

Make him less of a dumbass

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So far in Netflix's corner of the MCU, Danny Rand has been defined by his naiveté. He's a spoiled little rich boy who abandoned his sworn duty to protect K'un-Lun because ... well, I guess because he felt like it. He then returned to New York City with the expectation that his old life would be handed back to him on a platter, no questions asked.

Apparently because of his unorthodox upbringing, he has trouble with grown-up concepts like "moral ambiguity" and "emotional intelligence." He's oblivious to the way he comes across to other people, and blind to the privilege he wields. (Though he's aware enough to smugly tell a friend in Iron Fistthat driver license laws don't apply to him because "I'm rich.")

One of the most satisfying moments in the entirety of The Defenderscomes when Luke Cage gives Danny Rand a much-needed talking-to. "You had power the day you were born," Luke scolds. "Before the dragons, before the chi, you had the ability to change the world without anybody getting hurt."

Miracle of miracles, Danny actually listens to what Luke has to say. He takes the fight to the top, addressing Alexandra directly at her office instead of skulking around alleyways beating up poor kids.

if Danny continues in that vein, he could become more than tolerable. He could be a much-needed example of a superhero who not only acknowledges his own privilege, but uses it to do good.

Make him more of a dumbass

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Conversely, the show could keep Danny exactly as dumb as he is, and really just lean into the absurdity of his whole situation. Part of what makes Iron Fistso vexing is that it's never quite clear how seriously we're supposed to take him.

Danny's a fish out of water by design, but Iron Fistdoesn't always know what to do with that tension. Is it supposed to be funny when Danny explains his fantastical backstory to blank stares, or sad? Are we supposed to laugh at the clueless shit that Danny says, or are we supposed to find his childlike innocence endearing? Only Ward seems to react to Danny in a rational way, and he's portrayed as an antagonist for most of the season.

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SEE ALSO: Why Ward Meachum is the real hero of 'Iron Fist'

The Defenders, on the other hand, seems to know exactly how ridiculous Danny's story sounds. It grounds Danny by having sympathetic characters like Jessica and Luke react with healthy skepticism. Turns out it's much, much easier to put up with Danny when the show gives us permission to laugh at how absurd he really is.

Make him a villain

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Or perhaps Iron Fistcould take Danny in a darker direction, and turn him into an out-and-out supervillain.

Danny Rand has always been an awkward fit for the Netflix MCU anyway. His Defenders teammates are all defined, in some way, by their underdog status. Daredevil's a blind man who takes advantage of other people's tendency to underestimate him. Jessica's a woman moving past prolonged sexual assault and abuse. Luke's a black man trying to forge a way forward after getting screwed over by the criminal justice system.

And Iron Fist? He's a straight white guy with a billion-dollar fortune and actual magic powers. He's advantaged in every single way he can be advantaged. While the other Defenders are down in the streets cleaning up their neighborhoods and protecting the forgotten and disadvantaged from the rich and powerful, Danny Rand is looking down at those same neighborhoods from the top of a skyscraper with his name on it.

SEE ALSO: Danny Rand is a bad person, and 18 other thoughts I had while watching 'Iron Fist'

That's not to say that rich, straight white men can't be heroes, of course. (Just ask Iron Man, Doctor Strange, or Batman.) But Danny's terribleness goes beyond the institutional privilege he never asked for. He's oblivious to the ways his actions wreak havoc on other people's lives, whether he's destroying Ward Meachum's life or beating up the poor Harlem kid that Luke's trying to help – or, again, abandoning the very city he swore to protect.

When, at the end of Iron FistSeason 1, Davos suggests to Joy that Danny "destroys everything he touches," it's tough to argue. Maybe, then, it's time for Netflix to let Danny take a natural course into full-on villainy. He can always redeem himself later – just ask Ward, who managed to be a villain anda hero in the course of a single season.

Make him part of an ensemble

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Okay, fine, so Marvel likely doesn't have the guts to transform one of its flagship heroes into a full-on baddie. Another solution? Just throw more heroes in the mix.

Danny Rand may not always play well with others, but he does play better as part of an ensemble, if only because it means he has to do less of the heavy lifting. Iron Fistwas better the more it steered away from Danny – Colleen, Claire, and Ward all proved to be more compelling characters than the ostensible hero, and Colleen and Claire in particular paired beautifully as buddies.

SEE ALSO: Here's what that 'Defenders' ending means for Marvel's other Netflix shows

In The Defenders, it's fun to watch Luke give Danny a dressing-down, or Jessica cut him down with her signature snark. It's even kinda nice to see Matt play nice with him. The show also introduced characters like Misty, Foggy, and Trish into Danny's orbit, even if he didn't interact with them much directly.

Why not take advantage of that? Danny might be a weak link, but he's a weak link surrounded by strong ones. Downplaying Danny would mean more room for characters like Colleen (who's got just as much trauma to work through as her boyfriend does, if not more) or Ward (whose dramatic emotional arc was a highlight of Iron FistSeason 1). And since all these characters like Danny already, maybe we'll even start to see him the way they do.

Just ditch him altogether

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... Or, you know, maybe it's best if Netflix just ditches this Iron Fist altogether.

Iron Fistdid Finn Jones no favors by saddling him with terrible dialogue, sloppy storytelling, indifferent fight choreography, and a rushed schedule. But Finn Jones didn't do the show any favors, either. He's not talented or charismatic enough to sell this tricky character, and his lack of martial arts know-how shows in the fight scenes. Making matters worse, he demonstrated a real knack for putting his foot in his mouth during the Iron Fistpress tour.

SEE ALSO: Finn Jones blames Trump for everyone hating problematic 'Iron Fist'

It'd be great if Netflix could just cut their losses and start over with a new Iron Fist. Heck, they don't even have to reboot the show. The Iron Fist is a power that's passed from person to person. It'd only take a bit of narrative maneuvering to come up with an excuse to get rid of Danny and bring in a new hero.

This is, of course, the least plausible of all the suggestions I've presented here. If Netflix has been satisfied with Finn Jones' Danny Rand so far, the odds are slim that they'll make such a sharp pivot and risk alienating the fans he does have. But until Netflix figures out how it's actually gonna fix Iron Fist– hey, a fan can dream.

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Topics Comics Marvel Netflix