The Defenders | Season One

"The thing about war is, it only works if both sides believe they’re the good guys."

The First Season of The Defenders premiered on Netflix on August 18, 2017. It is a crossover event between Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist, set after the events of the second season of Daredevil, the first season of Jessica Jones, the first season of Luke Cage and the first season of Iron Fist.

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.

Plot[]

Alexandra Reid is approached by Sowande who tells her that the Black Sky is ready. Reid goes to a facility where she watches the now resurrected Elektra awaken. Through many months, Reid made Elektra her personal warrior and manipulated her.

Iron Fist and Colleen Wing go to save Chaste allies, but find that they have been killed by Elektra. They are told by the last dying member that the Hand is in New York City. Jessica Jones talks to Trish Walker. The latter tries to convince her to restart her vigilantism, but Jones declines. Luke Cage is finally released from Seagate Penitentiary and meets with his lawyer, Foggy Nelson. Matt Murdock, who quit being Daredevil, hears commotion, but relaxes when hearing that the police are on the scene. He wins his lawyer case and goes to lunch with Karen Page. Alexandra Reid is told by doctors that she has weeks to months to live. Cage reunites with Claire Temple and then goes on a walk with Misty Knight. Knight informs him that Candace Miller's brother was killed and suspects her second brother, Cole Miller is next. Cage goes to rescue him, but he doesn't want help. Knight goes to investigate John Raymond. Suddenly, an earthquake rumbles through the city.

With this commotion, Murdock decides to finally go back to fighting. He saves a man in an alley and flees the scene. The next morning, Walker talks on air about the earthquake and how it could possibly be staged. She then gets taken off air and told she can't say that. Unbeknownst to everyone, it's a cause of the Hand, who are digging under Midland Circle for a dragon. Cage and Temple work to save people hurt by the earthquake. Meanwhile, Jones tails a man named John Raymond. She goes to his house and finds many bombs.

Rand looks for a member of the Hand called White Hat, he finds the man talking with Cole Miller and goes to attack. Cage stops Rand from attacking Miller which causes the two superheroes duel. Rand eventually uses his Iron Fist and punches Cage in the jaw, sending him flying. The cops soon arrive, causing all to flee, but Miller ends up arrested. Jones go back to her apartment, but sees Malcolm Ducasse being held at gunpoint by a frightened Raymond. Suddenly, Elektra shows up and kills Raymond. Jones chases Elektra out, but stops when she sees Knight arrive. Knight then arrests Jones. At the precinct, Knight interrogates Jones, but she is instructed to not say anything when Murdock walks in telling them he's her lawyer. He then helps her get out of the interrogation.

Reid arrives in a facility and sees her captive, Stick. After Stick insults her, she sends Elektra to torture him. Stick cuts his hand off to get free of the restraints and escapes. Wing and Temple get Cage and Rand to make up over their differences. Meanwhile, Jones tails Murdock and sees his using acrobatic moves which surprises her. She trails him into a building that is under attack. She meets with Murdock who decides to let her join. However, he takes her scarf to hide his identity. They attack the Hand members in the building and start fighting. Suddenly, Cage and Rand enter to stop the Hand as well. Elektra fights Murdock with no memory of their past. Murdock is quickly knocked down. When he takes a breath, he realizes the enemy is Elektra. With this pause, Elektra takes the opportunity to kill him, but he is saved by Rand who uses the Iron Fist to punch Elektra into a wall. The four vigilantes then escape through the elevator.

The group enters a restaurant for cover. Rand pays the owners to allow them to stay. Cage and Jones reunite and ask about their lives since the Kilgrave incident. However, the four heroes begin arguing as none of them trust each other. Suddenly, Stick walks through the door. Stick explains how Elektra was resurrected and they need to stop the Hand. Jones decides it is too much to handle and leaves. Elektra looks in the mirror and sees scars. Reid explains that they were from her past life.

Stick quiets the group and tells them Reid has arrived. Suddenly, an SUV drives in and Elektra walks out. Jones returns just in time as they begin to fight. During the fight, Murdock gets a hold of Elektra and calls her name. Elektra pauses, but hears Murakami tell her to kill him. Instead, she throws Murakami and runs away. Cage gets knocked out and taken by the Hand. After the battle, the group reconvenes at Chikara Dojo. Cage soon walks in and explains how he broke free and captured Sowande. They all then force the people that they care about to stay safe at the precinct.

Wing follows the commotion down the street and soon finds her old master, Bakuto who should be dead. She tries to fight him, but gets badly hurt. He is then disarmed by Cage. Back at the building holding Sowande, Daredevil angrily knocks Sowande out which causes an argument among the group. Sowande wakes up and breaks free, attacking Iron Fist. He says that it would be better with Iron Fist on their side. Stick comes in and decapitates Sowande. Meanwhile, Elektra remembers Murdock's place and enters it. She feels around trying to remember more than falls asleep on Murdock's bed.

The group decide that because of Sowande's last words, it is better to sideline Rand, which angers the latter. Daredevil stops Rand from attacking everyone, but is forced to attack Rand himself. After a duel, the others help and finally knock Rand out. Murdock and Jones go back to his apartment to gather items. He notices something is off and realizes Elektra was there, but doesn't tell Jones, they walk back to the building. Rand wakes up, restrained and guarded by Cage and Stick. After a talk, Stick uses chemical smoke to knock Cage out so he could kill Rand to stop the plan that Sowande mentioned. Elektra barges in and kills Stick then beats Cage, Jones, and Murdock who have arrived late. She then carries Rand out on her shoulders. Later, in a Hand meeting, Reid instructs everyone to kill Cage, Murdock, and Jones. Suddenly, Elektra snaps and kills Reid. She then announces that she is the leader now.

Jones wakes up in the precinct and sees Knight interrogating her on why they found her, Cage, and a blind lawyer in a building with a dead body. Murdock wakes up to see Nelson. Murdock immediately feels his body and realized he wasn't wearing the Daredevil suit. Cage finally wakes up from the smoke which prompts Captain Strieber to gather them in a room. Knight convinces him not to arrest them, but to allow them to stop the Hand. Nelson sneaks Murdock his Daredevil suit, and the Defenders leave to get Temple, Wing, and Knight. They all decide the best thing to do is to bomb the support beams of Midland Circle to bring the building down on top of the dragon and the Hand. Meanwhile, Rand wakes up inside the dragon skeleton under the building.

A fight ensues between Elektra and Iron Fist. Soon, Jones, Cage, and Daredevil join. Up above, Wing encounters Bakuto. The latter gets the upper hand and goes to kill his former student, but Knight saves Wing, but gets her arm cut off. Wing then decapitates Bakuto. Down below, the Defenders finally work together to stop the Hand. They fight for a while to stall the explosion. Daredevil tells the team to get to the surface. They protest, but he insists he'll meet them up there. He then whispers something to Iron Fist. On the way up, they have to fight Hand ninjas, but eventually defeat them. However, the elevator cable snaps, but Jones jumps up just before and holds the cables together, saving the team.

Daredevil holds off Elektra and tries not to hit her, but is forced to. He continuously tries to make her remember, which partially works. The building starts detonating as he continues to fight her. The two reminisce over their relationship and kiss as the building topples on top of them and the rest of the Hand, including Murakami and Madame Gao. The Defenders watch as Midland Circle collapses. Rand tells the team that Murdock had no intention of making it out alive. He also told Rand to protect his city.

At the precinct, everyone reunites with their loved ones. Jones with Walker and Ducasse, Cage with Temple, Rand with Wing. Page and Nelson stand up to greet Murdock, but see that he doesn't come through the door. Page starts crying and hugs Nelson who stares at the doorway, thinking it's his fault for giving Murdock the suit. Knight recovers in the hospital and Iron Fist decides to listen to Murdock and protect New York. Later, Murdock is found alive and injured, washed up on the shore. He asks the bystander for Father Paul Lantom, he then is brought to Clinton Church to recover secretly from his wounds.

Cast[]

Starring Cast[]

Special Guest Star[]

Carrie-Ann Moss as Jeri Hogarth

Recurring Cast[]

Episodes[]

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	Teaser Trailer

References[]

The Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki has a collection of images and media related to The Defenders/Season One.

Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki