So I did not go into Iron Fist, the newest Marvel Netflix series, with high hopes. Early reviews were vicious. They criticized the writing, the directing, the acting. I was worried I was going to be wasting thirteen hours of my life with a total snorefest, borefest of a series.
So far I am four episodes into it.
What the hëll is everyone bìŧçhìņg about?
It’s a perfectly fine series. It isn’t remotely slow, it doesn’t drag, the writing is fine, the acting is fine, the directing is fine. Is it up there with my favorite, “Jessica Jones?” No, but on its own as a series, it’s entertaining and engaging. Now for all I know, it falls apart by the end, but this far, it’s good. So again, why are so many people slamming it.
I hate to say this, but I’m forced to conclude that their own prejudgements are warping their insights. I think their mindset is that this dámņëd well better be the best program that was ever created in the history of television. I don’t think that any TV series, no matter how good it is, could stand up to the standards that fans have for it, consciously or otherwise.
As everyone knows, Iron Fist has been the subject of endless internet assaults because Danny Rand, who is a blonde Caucasian male in the comics, is being portrayed by a blonde Caucasian male in the TV series. Fans are angry because Marvel didn’t toss out the history of the character and cast an Asian actor to portray him. Why should he be Asian? Because he knows Kung Fu, and apparently if his thing is Kung Fu, then he should be Asian. Because…well, I guess because Kung Fu is only something that Asians are allowed to practice.
Which would be news to my Kung Fu instructor, who is Greek.
And only Asians can be martial arts heroes, I guess.
Which should come as news to Chuck Norris. And Jason Statham. And Jean Claude Van Damme. And Dolph Lundgren (he has a black belt). And Steven Seagal. And Jeff Speakman. And Cynthia Rothrock. And Ray Park (well, he’s a villain, but still.) And, hëll, Keanu Reeves.
I’m not going to comment on the grand literary tradition that gave us Tarzan and Danny Rand and every powerful Caucasian who comes into a situation where he’s an outsider and masters his environment because he’s the best around, other than to say this: It is, to my mind, absurd to hold the creations of decades ago to the standards of modern day. Because if we are, then we should all boycott Casablanca because at one point Ilsa refers to Sam as “that boy playing the piano.”
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