Fixing Iron Fist
If I was going to attempt to fix Iron Fist (something no one has asked me to do), I’d have started by changing Danny Rand into an Asian American, who crash landed with his family in the Himalayas, learned kung fu, and came back to America to fight evil ninjas. At the very least, I would’ve cast an actual martial artist. This is why an established or up and coming Asian action actor would’ve been great. They’d already have the chops. Even better, I’d hire an established stunt team to be part of the show. This would do two things. It’d give the show a great technical foundation to start with, and it would’ve given it much needed credibility. Sure, fanboys would’ve complained, but, honestly, screw ’em. Danny Rand’s whiteness is not intrinsic to the character. What is interesting is his outsider nature. He can have that as an American-born Asian, and even better, he could have it in both the U.S. and his Himalayan second home. An outsider in two worlds would be very cool to explore. Also, I’d drop the whole corporate angle. I’d just have Danny be rich, come back, and dealing with ninjas. Straight up, ninjas from the get go. And not like he’s surprised ninjas are operating in New York, but like he specifically came to take on The Hand. Maybe The Hand stole an artifact from K’un Lun. Maybe their leader is a renegade master from K’un Lun, and Danny is honorbound to stop that master from bringing the martial arts secrets of K’un Lun to the outside world where they can do great damage. Danny would also be freakin’ amazing at kung fu. He’d mow down a dozen armed men without breaking a sweat. It would only be when confronted by truly exceptional foes that he would ever break out his mystical iron fist. And even then, it wouldn’t be a “win” button. It’d be his skill in using it that solved the problem. Stylistically, Iron Fist should be a much more aggressive show in its action elements. I know that Marvel on Netflix has this slow burn idea that bores the crap out of me, but it seems to work for most people. But by now, we’ve all seen it. Iron Fist could be the show that brings the action, raises the superhero stakes by focusing on the action more than any previous show. It won’t be considered as “smart”, but it could bring martial arts brilliance to the mainstream. And that’s how I’d fix Iron Fist.
date
newest »
newest »
So much can simply be explained away by them being opulently rich, and so many basic elements of the story made convenient. And it quells the more modern fan questions like, "How does he pay the rent?"
But, I think it diminishes character development opportunities and allows the writers to jump right into overly melodramatic character development (i.e. Batman). Because, I get that a kid can be traumatized by a terrible incident as a child, but seriously, some of these backstories and origins are just over the top, almost ridiculous emotional and developmental responses to the events.
There are people who barely survived the German death camps, weighing 75lbs, covered in scars, and forced to clean the gold teeth out of the ash piles from the showers (containing their family members), who went on to be accountants and loving grandparents, without benefit of millions of dollars and even anything resembling therapy.
Maybe that's why I am more attracted to titles like Raising Stars, than Batman. Sure, some of them used their powers to become rich and famous, but a lot of them just became normal people, or struggled to get by on what they could wring from their powers in terms of a living.
Also, yeah, in the show, why isn't Iron Fist the baddest MF on the block, in a fight?
Ok, he wins... he beats multiple opponents even, but they don't seem that skilled or tough either (for fictional bad guys). Plus he's supposed to win. Is it some sort of a suspension of disbelief thing? They're not that tough looking or skilled, he's not any more tough looking or skilled, but we're supposed to watch and imagine that was an epic and skilled fight, and he came out on top because of his (imagined) clear superiority? Is it like watching Bunraku and seeing the "man with the fastest hands in the world", so fast the others can't see him move, but without special effects and he actually just moves at normal speeds in the film (we're supposed to imagine the speed).
It just makes me "think, while watching it, "This guys is a super human, martial arts bad ass? So much so that it's supposed to be a super power? I don't get it." And Colleen Wing just seems to me to be a really accomplished black belt who spent years at the YMCA or a decent local Karate school, not a deadly, unstoppable killer with life-long, traditional samurai training. At least she is portrayed as Asian, and not retcon'ed.
And yeah, there could be at least more Asian or Asian American allies or friends for Iron fist, and maybe some good Asian organizations or elements to balance out the heavy use of Asians as the bad elements.
I can't say Marvel MCU isn't making strides in diversity and even some dramatic changes (making characters women or changing race altogether). There's plenty of that with even the actors chosen for side characters and the background elements. And it is really good work, that show they obviously aren't too afraid of upsetting the traditionalist fans, in favor of cultural progress. Maybe that's why Iron Fist stands out so badly in contrast.