- "The story of the Hand was like a fable. More like Satan and his demons than anything real. Nothing I thought I'd actually have to fight."
"Oh, they are very real." - ―Danny Rand and Harold Meachum
Eight Diagram Dragon Palm is the fourth episode of the first season of the television series Iron Fist.
Synopsis
Danny makes a shocking discovery and a radical pricing proposal, Colleen's extracurricular activities go viral and Ward issues a stern warning.
Plot

Danny Rand falls after being kicked off the building as he was trying to follow Ward Meachum into Harold Meachum's Penthouse. He is saved when he falls onto a surface. When he awakes, Rand finds himself in company with Ward and Harold. Harold explains that he was diagnosed with cancer and fought it for 3 years. He says the Hand approached him with a cure and placed him in a debt. He needed to die before he could be saved, and awoke three days after he died. Rand explains he trained to fight the Hand, but he didn't believe they existed. Rand hints that he has the power of the Iron Fist but doesn't explain. Harold convinces Rand that it is his destiny to help Harold and fight the Hand. Harold orders Ward to give Rand his shares and his father's former office. Ward is clearly unhappy and remarks on how Rand just spent years studying kung-fu in a monastery. Rand offers to Harold kung fu and Harold welcomes him back. Ward tries to warn Rand about Harold and explains he is not a replacement for his dad. Harold only cares about himself.
Kids at the Chikara Dojo watch a video of Colleen Wing's fight off of Darryl's phone, however, she makes them turn it off. Darryl explains that he posted the video online and how it could bring more kids to the dojo. Wing counters that she stepped outside the code of Bushido by fighting for money, and she brushes him off.

Rand Enterprises hold a press conference to welcome Rand to the world. Rand, clearly nervous, delivers a meaningful speech about his values and family. Jennifer Many from the New York Bulletin questions whether it is true he was recently committed to Birch Psychiatric Hospital and Rand admits the truth, however, he spins a story about how the stay was up to a difficult transition to a different world.
Rand greets Jeri Hogarth as 'J-Money' but she isn't impressed. She welcomes him to Wendell Rand's old office and is shocked by the similarity. Hogarth remarks how the deal to regain his company came together fast. Hogarth explains he doesn't actually have a job, but the most dominant position on the board. Rand is warned to ease into things, as he is like a hostile takeover, and Hogarth tells him to be careful.

Rand enters his first meeting and asks Joy Meachum what they are talking about, which is Leishmaniasis. Rand asks how many people have died from from it and then asks why they would change the price when they could sell it for cheap to save more lives. The shareholders try to explain to him how a business works. When he grows annoyed, Joy brings him out of the room for a talk.
At the dojo, Wing trains on a Mu ren zhuang but punches too hard and breaks the wooden arm off. Meanwhile, Ward gets a call from Harold, who congratulates him for the introduction of Rand. However, he tells Ward to handle the reporter from publishing a false story.

Rand and Joy walk down the street while they discuss Rand's return. Joys says it makes her remember all of the people she had lost, including her father. They arrive at Rand's apartment and talk more about K'un-Lun. Suddenly, Joy is attacked by hit men, but are defeated quickly by both Iron Fist and Joy. At the Underground Fight Club, Wing arrives for a second fight. She asks him to double the competition if he doubles her pay. She breaks one of their arms and knocks out the other one. She backs the man into the corner and punches him in the face until he is knocked out as well.
Ward meets with Many and tries to get her to rewrite the article. However, Ward phrases everything badly, and she reports on that instead. At the dojo, Wing uses a foam roller to stretch out her back when Rand barges in. He tells Wing about the attack and she identifies them as the Yangsi Gonshi. He goes to find the leader, Hai-Qing Yang, and asks why he sent men to kidnap Joy. Yang explains that Rand Enterprises backed out on their deal of giving them control of their deal. Rand says that the Hand made them hand it over. When Yang hears about the Hand, he quickly walks away, giving no further details.

At the penthouse, Harold stops his boxing when he sees a blindfold land at his feet. He puts it on and the Hand take him. At the dojo, Wing trains Joy to be better at fighting. Rand walks in and realizes Wing's finger is dislocated. He pops in back in place. Harold and the Hand arrive at a house. Harold looks out the window and sees Joy in her house. He sees that she is hurt. Madame Gao explains that she had a run in with criminals. Harold asks Gao for a favor, to let him kill a member of the Yangshi Gonshi. He dons a Hand mask and kills their member.
At his apartment, Rand meditates and then receives a gift from Yang. The gift has the symbol of the Steel Serpent, Yang also offers to help.
Cast
Main Cast:
- Finn Jones as Danny Rand/Iron Fist
- Jessica Henwick as Colleen Wing
- Tom Pelphrey as Ward Meachum
- Jessica Stroup as Joy Meachum
- David Wenham as Harold Meachum
Special Guest Star:
Guest Stars:
- Wai Ching Ho as Madame Gao
- Marquis Rodriguez as Darryl
- Barrett Doss as Megan
- Clifton Davis as Lawrence Wilkins
- Henry Yuk as Hai-Qing Yang
- Russell Arden Koplin as Jennifer Many
- Samantha Herrera as Becca Yoo
- John Sanders as Donald Hooper
- Elise Santora as Maria Rodriguez
- Craig Geraghty as Ringmaster
- Jay Hieron as Jim Pierce
- Ying Ying Li as Hostess
- Jonathan Lee as Triad Fighter 1
- Alex Huynh as Triad Fighter 7
- Shane Yan as Triad Fighter 8
- Paugh Shadow as MMA Club Bouncer (uncredited)
- Ludovic Coutaud as Photographer at Press Conference (uncredited)
- Unknown Actor as Duke (uncredited)
Appearances
Locations
- New York City, New York
- K'un-Lun (mentioned)
- Asia (mentioned)
- Africa (mentioned)
- South America (mentioned)
- Europe (mentioned)
- Shaolin Monastery (mentioned)
Events
Items
- Steel Serpent
- Mark of Shou-Lao
- Yangsi Gonshi Hatchets
- Mu ren zhuang
- Rand Enterprises Leishmaniasis Cure (mentioned)
Creatures
- Dragons (mentioned)
Vehicles
To be added
Organizations
- Rand Enterprises
- Hand
- Order of the Crane Mother
- Yangsi Gonshi
- Hogarth, Chao & Benowitz
- New York Bulletin
- WHiH World News
- WJBP-TV
- WZVR News
- WNEX New York
- New York City Police Department (mentioned)
- World Health Organization (mentioned)
Mentioned
- Daredevil
- Wendell Rand
- Heather Rand
- Harold Meachum's Wife
- Paul Edmonds
- Yü-Ti
- Lei Kung
- Mitchell Ellison
- Karen Page
- Raj Patel
- Jesus Christ
- Illuminati
- Satan
- Bushido
- Tarzan
Trivia
- In the Italian and German dubbing of the episode, Ward Meachum mentions Spider-Man when he compares Danny Rand's scaling of a building, instead of Daredevil.[1]
- Some of the old stickers left by Danny Rand under his father's desk are classic Marvel Comics monsters, like Mangog, the Crawling Creature, Kraa, Xemnu and Orrgo.
Music
Song title | Artist | Location(s) |
---|---|---|
Hang N' Bang (feat. A$ton Matthews) | Vince Staples |
|
Blockbuster Night, Pt. 1 | Run The Jewels |
|
Unexpected Guests | Trevor Morris |
|
The Iron Fist | Trevor Morris |
|
References
External Links
Eight Diagram Dragon Palm on IMDb
Eight Diagram Dragon Palm on Disney+
Eight Diagram Dragon Palm on Marvel Database