The First Season of The Defenders premiered on Netflix on August 18, 2017.
Synopsis
Marvel's The Defenders follows Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. A quartet of singular heroes with one common goal - to save New York City. This is the story of four solitary figures, burdened with their own personal challenges, who realize they just might be stronger when teamed together.[1]
Plot
While seeking out allies to combat The Hand, Daniel Rand and Colleen Wing learn from a Chaste operative in Cambodia that the war with The Hand would take place in New York shortly before encountering a recently resurrected Elektra Natchios. Rand and Wing's pursuit would lead them to a reluctant alliance of convenience with Matthew Murdock, Luke Cage, and Jessica Jones, each of the three heroes conducting separate investigations into The Hand. Jones was hired by a housewife to search for her missing husband, John Raymond, Cage was requested by Misty Knight to investigate the unexplained deaths of young adolescents, while Murdock was requested by former colleague Foggy Nelson to aid Jones from legal troubles. They all converge at an office building owned by its socialite owner Alexandra, who is revealed to be the senior leader of The Hand.
With the aid of Stick, the heroes learn of the Hand's remaining leadership composed of Alexandra, Madame Gao, a resurrected Bakuto, Sowande, and Murakami. Unknown to the heroes, the Hand had depleted their supply of Dragon bone when resurrecting Elektra in order to weaponize her as The Black Sky, and their recent operation is to excavate the resource underneath New York's Midland Circle. The Hand's only method of facilitating this is through the usage of Rand's Iron Fist power. Sowande is murdered by Stick when attempting to escape captivity, while Elektra murders Stick when kidnapping Rand. Shortly after, Elektra murders Alexandra in order to assume leadership of The Hand. Murdock, Jones, and Cage rescue Rand while Wing, Knight, and nurse Claire Temple plant bombs to destroy Alexandra's office building and permanently end The Hand. During the aftermath, the Defenders' activities were covered up, while Knight is undergoing a medical recovery for her severed arm. Daredevil is presumed dead to the public, Jones reopens her private investigation agency, Cage resumes his street patrols in Harlem, and Rand assumes hero patrol duties in Hell's Kitchen.
Cast
Starring Cast
- Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock/Daredevil
- Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones
- Mike Colter as Luke Cage
- Finn Jones as Danny Rand/Iron Fist
- Eka Darville as Malcolm Ducasse
- Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson
- Jessica Henwick as Colleen Wing
- Simone Missick as Misty Knight
- Ramón Rodríguez as Bakuto
- Rachael Taylor as Trish Walker
- Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page
- Élodie Yung as Elektra
- Carrie-Anne Moss as Jeri Hogarth
- Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple
- Scott Glenn as Stick
- Sigourney Weaver as Alexandra Reid
Recurring Cast
- Wai Ching Ho as Madame Gao
- Babs Olusanmokun as Sowande
- Yutaka Takeuchi as Murakami
- Ron Simons as Captain Strieber
- J. Mallory McCree as Cole Miller
- Debbi Morgan as Dolores Miller
- Michelle Federer as Michelle Raymond
- Chloe Levine as Lexi Raymond
Episodes
| Image | Title | Number | Airdate | Writers | Directors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The H Word | 1.01 | August 18, 2017 | Douglas Petrie & Marco Ramirez | S.J. Clarkson |
| Matt Murdock, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Danny Rand investigate criminals and fight injustice, unaware their paths are about to cross. | |||||
|
Mean Right Hook | 1.02 | August 18, 2017 | Lauren Schmidt Hissrich & Marco Ramirez | S.J. Clarkson |
| As a new conspiracy takes shape, Matt finds old habits are hard to break, Jessica gets in over her head, Luke tracks a lead, and Danny meets his match. | |||||
|
Worst Behavior | 1.03 | August 18, 2017 | Lauren Schmidt Hissrich & Douglas Petrie | Peter Hoar |
| Elektra's secrets are revealed. Danny changes his tactics. Matt gives Jessica some legal advice. Luke searches for the White Hat. | |||||
|
Royal Dragon | 1.04 | August 18, 2017 | Douglas Petrie & Marco Ramirez | Phil Abraham |
| As the Defenders get to know each other over dinner, they're greeted by a series of party crashers -- none of them friendly. | |||||
|
Take Shelter | 1.05 | August 18, 2017 | Lauren Schmidt Hissrich & Douglas Petrie & Marco Ramirez | Uta Briesewitz |
| Elektra's loyalties are questioned, Colleen clashes with an old acquaintance, and Luke proves he knows how to take a hit. | |||||
|
Ashes, Ashes | 1.06 | August 18, 2017 | Drew Goddard & Marco Ramirez | Stephen Surjik |
| Stick offers up a theory, Danny finds himself sidelined, and Alexandra learns that it's not easy being the leader. | |||||
|
Fish in the Jailhouse | 1.07 | August 18, 2017 | Lauren Schmidt Hissrich & Marco Ramirez | Félix Enríquez Alcalá |
| Matt, Jessica and Luke embark on a desperate search. Colleen and Claire debate heroism. Elektra tries to recruit an all-important ally. | |||||
|
The Defenders | 1.08 | August 18, 2017 | Lauren Schmidt Hissrich & Marco Ramirez | Farren Blackburn |
| As New York edges closer to disaster, Elektra sees what's beyond the wall, and the Defenders make a last-ditch effort to save the city. | |||||
Music
| Song title | Artist | Location(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Come as You Are | Nirvana |
|