Content Warning: This article contains references to sexual assault and alcohol misuse
After Wilson Fisk and Matt Murdock were re-introduced to fans in the MCU (through Spider-Man: No Way Home respectively), it's unsurprising that their Netflix shows will now be moving to Disney+ on March 16th.
Since Kevin Feige has hinted that the characters, particularly Daredevil, could play an important part in the franchise's future, some new fans might end up checking all the shows out to get an idea of what the characters are like and their mindsets. However, before new fans tune in, there are some aspects of Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, The Punisher, and The Defenders that new viewers should be made aware of.
Order Of Watching
With so much content appearing at once on Disney+, it can be overwhelming for viewers to navigate through and find the best starting point. Luckily, there's a solution to this problem.
The easiest way to approach watching the series' is powerful group, called The Defenders (which itself sets up storylines for later seasons of solo shows). Although this order is not essential, some characters (like Luke Cage and The Punisher) appear in other series before headlining their own stories, so following this order gives audiences the most information possible.
Character Crossovers
As was an established trend in the MCU's movies, characters crossing over into different narratives makes the world of superheroes feel far more interconnected - and Netflix followed this path.
A notable example of this came in the form of Claire Temple, a nurse first seen in Daredevil who eventually appeared in every Marvel Netflix series (save The Punisher). She often assisted heroes in getting patched up, proving time and time again the deadliness of their pursuits. While this continued presence makes Claire one of the figures most likely to appear next in the MCU, she was not the only character to appear in multiple titles, with Karen Page and Madame Gao just some of those to also crossover as well.
The Plot
All of Marvel's Netflix shows take place in New York City, building a layered world that shows the communities of different neighborhoods and establishes both unique and common threats that its protagonists fight against.
Each solo series follows its main character's journey to becoming a hero or vigilante of some sort, with their narratives all shaped by personal grievances, making them distinct from one another. Iron Fist, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage later come together in The Defenders to face longtime threat The Hand, in a battle that tests them all (while The Punisher has his own story elaborated upon in his self-titled show).
Darker Subject Matter
A decided part of the Marvel Netflix series that sets them apart from the larger MCU is their exploration of darker themes, whether it be alcohol misuse and sexual assault in Jessica Jones, or gun violence and the traumas of war in The Punisher, amongst others.
Given that the trailers for MCU show Moon Knight seem to suggest that Marvel is becoming more comfortable delving into serious issues, it appears that the franchise might be going down a darker route too. However, it's still sensible for viewers to be aware of the content they can expect to find, taking note of their higher age ratings and the content warnings.
Themes Of Morality
With vigilantism at the forefront of many Marvel stories, themes of morality naturally follow. In the realm of Netflix's Marvel stories, this is most clearly unpacked in Daredevil and, subsequently, The Punisher.
Matt Murdock and Frank Castle have opposing but similarly strong convictions when it comes to how best to take down their enemies (a conflict that carries much of the narrative in Daredevil season 2). However, while that does create some interesting dynamics between the two, the writers also want audiences to consider what makes a hero a hero and whether or not violence can ever be justified.
Romances
In stories as deeply personal as the Netflix Marvel shows, romance inevitably factored into the series' narratives, and these relationships served a variety of purposes.
From filling in details of a character's backstories to giving them something to fight for, or otherwise granting them new attachments as they became more deeply entrenched in the crime-fighting world, romance in these tales grounded the more fantastical plots that emerge alongside stories of superpowers.
Levels Of Violence
Marvel's choice to create shows on Netflix gave them greater freedom when it came to depictions of violence, freed as they were from the regulations of traditional broadcast networks and it showed, particularly in the brutality of individuals like Wilson Fisk and Frank Castle.
In fact, one of the biggest arguments against the idea that the the age ratings about to change on Disney+, maybe this is a sign of more adult-focused series to come for the studio.
Balancing Two Worlds
Perhaps more than any other Marvel adaptation, The Defenders franchise has repeatedly concerned themselves with the duality of a superhero's life.
Whether it's Matt Murdock trying to balance his daytime profession of being a lawyer with his nighttime pursuit of justice or Jessica Jones attempting to successfully run her private investigator's business, Netflix showed the harsh realities of heroism from every unglamorous angle.
Atmospheric Opening Credits
Before the content of Netflix's Marvel shows is even considered, the opening credits of each series does a tremendous amount of work to set the tone for the drama about to unfold.
Perfectly matched to the style of each show, these opening sequences bring to mind similarly dark productions like those that are typical of HBO. By doing this, they provide insight into their themes and also settle audiences in the headspace of their world for a compelling viewing experience.