Earlier this weekend, Iron Fist star Finn Jones and Luke Cage hunk Mike Colter were tapped to do a Defenders panel in Houston’s mega-geek event Comicpalooza. In it, coffee jokes were told as well as several juicy pieces of unheard of information, including the timeframe the Defenders arc would play out. Finn Jones revealed that contrary to some Marvel/Netflix shows that take place over several weeks and sometimes even months, the Defenders would be a story that will span a couple of days at most:
It takes place in a very short amount of time. It’s 8 episodes but it takes place over a couple of days. So it has this real-time frenetic energy to it which I think adds to the impending doom. So we’re all kind of brought together not through choice, but through necessity. We don’t want to work with each other but our backs are against the wall and we kind of have to.
I love these comments. My thing with some of the Marvel/Netflix shows – and I think some of you may agree with me – is that they aren’t always paced very well. The 13-episode format doesn’t exactly lend itself to a momentum that fits the definition of binge-worthy. Binging them sometimes feels tedious. Because there are an ample amount of episodes in those shows, the timeframe of their stories tends to develop over the course of several weeks or months. From start to finish, Daredevil Season 2 takes place over from a hot humid summer’s night to cold New York winter. Jessica Jones Season 1 also takes place over a couple of weeks as well.
As Finn put it, having the story take place in such a small amount of time gives the show a frenetic sense of urgency. The kind of forward momentum that never lulls and bores. The kind that truly exploits the definition of binge-worthy. Having this kind of momentum also means that the threat they’re facing ain’t no joke. With the threat of Alexandra’s ancient ninja cult looming over the streets of New York, the idea of them having to band together at a short moment’s notice to deal with this shit ASAP makes a ton of sense. I for one can’t wait to see them scramble facing something they’ve never faced before.
Big thanks to our good friends and former collaborators at the It’s All Connected Podcast for hooking us up with the audio recording of the panel. You can check out their podcasts over at HHWLOD!
