Summary
WhenMarvelteamed up with Netflix to create a series of interconnected TV shows based on more street-level superheroes, it seemed that the idea was too good to fail. This notion was also bolstered by the glowing reviews of the first season ofDaredevil. This franchise would see diminishing returns as it continued, though, and the project ended in 2020, and theMCUleft it discarded, until now.
With the production ofDaredevil: Born Againwell underway for Marvel Studios, many fans speculate on what will carry over from the Marvel Netflix universe into the mainline MCU canon. With more merging of these two worlds expected to come, there are some other aspects of the Marvel Netflix shows that the MCU should ditch.
6Dragon Bones
A Plot That Breaks The MCU
One of the main selling points of the Netflix Marvel franchise was that there would be a set of shows that would run parallel to the main MCU. However, it slowly became clear to viewers that these two universes were separate as the shows continued. The biggest offender in this department was the dragon bones that made up the central plot ofThe Defendersteam-up series.
In the show, the street-levelheroes in New Yorkhad to team up to stop the villainous organization, The Hand, from reviving a long-dormant dragon hidden under the city. Such a premise was a bit wild, but it does not gel with anything that was going on in the MCU at the time. Trying to find the dragon bones caused collosal earthquakes in New York, something that should have alerted any other hero established in the MCU. Both Spider-Man and Doctor Strange live and operate in New York, so it was a bit far-fetched that they both ignored this plot. Hopefully, this idea is long dead and is wiped from MCU history.
5Disconnection
Interweaving These Characters With Others In The MCU
Some of the fun that comes from a franchise that deals with an interconnected universe of heroes is seeing these characters interact. TheNetflix Marvelshows did have a few crossover characters in their own series, but nothing that related to the widerMCUwas ever mentioned. There were a few newspaper headlinesdotted about like Easter eggsin the shows that hinted at the events in the movies but nothing concrete.
Spider-Man and Daredevil have a great relationship in the comics, so it would have been nice to see these two hang out on the small screen. Now that all these characters can exist in the mainline MCU, let’s hope that audiences get to see more of these characters connected.
4Plot Lines
The MCU Could Work With A Clean Slate
It is clear now that the Daredevil currently operating in the MCU has had a past. Plus, the version of the Kingpin inEchohas the same backstory as the one in theNetflixshows. However, there is no reason why the MCU should feel obligated to continue all the plot lines left unaddressed in the Netflix Marvel shows.
Marvel Studios has been given a chance to give all the characters from this franchise a clean slatefor MCU television. As such, that means they should avoid returning to any old plot lines from previous incarnations. Sadly, that does mean getting rid of some of the plots and characters that worked, including the return of Bullseye that was teased at the end ofDaredevilseason three.
3Low Budgets
Disney Can Now Up The Ante
Working in a TV environment meant that the Netflix Marvel shows would not have anywhere nearthe same budget as the MCUmovies. Therefore, the creators had to get creative with their action scenes and plot lines. As a result, a lot of the fight scenes were shot in the cover of darkness, and some characters' power sets were nerfed.
Few viewers are aware that Jessica Jones can fly, and Iron Fist rarely gets to use his signature power. Now that these characters can work on a bigger budget, let’s hope audiences get to see them shine in the way they are meant to now under the Disney Plus banner.
2Bloated Stories
One of the biggest criticisms of the Marvel Netflix shows was the fact that they were all too long. Each series, exceptThe Defenders,was thirteen episodes long, even if there wasn’t enough story to fill this runtime. This led to a lot of bloated plot lines, and some episodes that felt like filler with little payoff.
The most obvious example of this was in the first season ofLuke Cage. The main story in the show was wrapped up by episode six, which led to a further seven episodes of filler. Now that these characters and shows are under the watchful eye of Disney, perhaps they can all receive theattention they deserve.
1Different Cast Of Characters
Not Everyone In The Franchise Was Beloved
Some of the actors and characters in the Netflix Marvel shows are seen as the definitive versions of these heroes. Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio have already been brought into the MCU franchise as Daredevil and Kingpin, respectively. However, every time fans ask for Kristen Ritter as Jessica Jones and Mike Colter as Luke Cage, there is nothing but silence instead of confirmation on their return. There are a few characters fans would not be happy, or indifferent, to seeing return into the MCU.
Finn Jones was not favored as Iron Fist and Elodie Yung’sfemme fatal Elektrawas mixed on reception. Now that these characters are with the MCU, the studio is free to recast these roles instead of ditching the characters altogether, as they get to decide what stays as canon and otherwise.
