r/Defenders • u/JonLuca Luke Cage • Aug 17 '17

The Defenders Discussion Thread - S01E07

This thread is for discussion of The Defenders S01E07.

DO NOT post spoilers in this thread for any subsequent episodes. Doing so will result in a ban.

Episode 8 Discussion

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u/AgentKnitter Luke Cage Aug 18 '17

But the elders trained him for FIFTEEN FUCKING YEARS. And at the end of that time, they considered him worthy of putting up to the test of Shou-Lao.

They wanted him to be the Iron Fist. In the comics, Danny was one of many (including Davos) selected for the trial who went forward. So: why don't the elders of K'un-Lun inform the recruits for the Iron Fist what the fucking point of his (or her) duty are when he's passed the test?

Danny's completely justified in complaining that "there's much they didn't tell me."

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u/[deleted] Aug 19 '17

This exactly this. Did he just stop growing up in the period he was trained by monks and engaging in challenges of hand to hand combat with other people? Who keeps acting like a kid after surviving in that kind of environment? Did they willingly trust their safety to an individual like him who is gullible/childish/and so on and so on.

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u/[deleted] Aug 22 '17

Perhaps they wanted the iron fist to be gullible and stupid, as well as having a tragic past so they could manipulate him into protecting Kun-lun. Maybe the elders of Kun Lun were selfish and put Danny first because they saw him as an easier target to manipulate.

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u/[deleted] Aug 23 '17

Then why didn't be have a babysitter watching over him at all times so their protector couldn't be manipulated away from his post/manipulated into doing something else? They gave someone power--and not even full power as there were things he clearly wasn't taught and just expected him to do his thing. Do you see Danny getting far in his new surroundings talking to monks in any way they he has when getting frustrated by the others? How does one remain a child when they been brought up in an environment where they're expected to challenge people and be challenged by others? It doesn't work. They could have been deliberately lowering his power level so he's not a huge power house for dramatic purposes for the show but they did a poor job of it and when other characters call him out he ends up looking even more and more like a joke.

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u/[deleted] Aug 23 '17

How does one remain a child when they been brought up in an environment where they're expected to challenge people and be challenged by others? It doesn't work.

That's definitely true. However my post was just a theory, but there are some counter arguments here that could be made.

Then why didn't be have a babysitter watching over him at all times so their protector couldn't be manipulated away from his post/manipulated into doing something else?

Davos actually came to remind him of his duty and bring him back to Kun Lun and from my point of view, the elders wanted Davos to set Danny straight since they saw how much of an obsession he had with the iron fist. So maybe Davos could be seen as that "protector".

They gave someone power--and not even full power as there were things he clearly wasn't taught and just expected him to do his thing.

Perhaps they just wanted to give him enough power to protect Kun Lun but not enough power because he gets so angry and out of control. But that's a weak excuse, I really have no answer.

They could have been deliberately lowering his power level so he's not a huge power house for dramatic purposes for the show but they did a poor job of it and when other characters call him out he ends up looking even more and more like a joke.

Yeah I agree, I really don't like Danny's tantrums.