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SummaryLuke Cage (Mike Colter), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and Danny Rand (Finn Jones) join together to defeat a major threat.

Marvel's The Defenders

Season 1 Premiere: 
Aug 18, 2017
Metascore
Generally Favorable
63
User score
Generally Favorable
7.0
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
63
53% Positive
16 Reviews
43% Mixed
13 Reviews
3% Negative
1 Review
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
Aug 17, 2017
100
Colorado Springs Gazette
Intense, mysterious, action-packed and flat-out fun, this series takes all the best aspects of earlier Netflix Marvel shows and rolls them into one great package.
Jul 24, 2017
80
We Got This Covered
While the show starts as something of a slow burn, once the heroes come together, it more than lives up to the promise fans have been clamoring to see realized. It may not be the strongest Marvel Netflix series thus far (that would be a toss-up between Daredevil and Jessica Jones), but The Defenders splits the differences between its leads, creating something that even casual fans of these shows shouldn’t miss.
User score
Generally Favorable
7.0
66% Positive
359 Ratings
26% Mixed
140 Ratings
8% Negative
46 Ratings
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
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Nov 1, 2020
10
TudorPopescu
I really like it when multiple heroes team up to fight against a greater evil. The Defenders is a good series. I loved seeing them interact with each other and hearing their banter. I liked every action scene. Great combat choreography as we've come to expect from the Netflix Marvel series. I also think the pacing was good, I don't remember ever being bored. There are also some twists in the story. One of the main criticisms of this series was that the Hand was a boring and underwhelming villain. I don't think that. They weren't the best villain, but they weren't bad by any means.
May 11, 2025
8
decatur555
The Defenders is the closest thing you'll get to a superhero crossover without leaving Netflix’s universe. And while it doesn’t go all-in on everything, it’s definitely engaging and entertaining. Bringing Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist together in one story is a treat for fans, and the best part is it doesn’t drag on — eight well-paced episodes with no filler.That said, there are moments where the group dynamics don’t fully click. Sometimes it feels like Luke Cage could handle everything on his own — just by walking, no kicks needed — and at others, you wonder why he doesn’t. And while the show works overall, the absence of a character like The Punisher is definitely noticeable. He would’ve been a perfect fit and could’ve raised the stakes a lot.Sigourney Weaver adds gravitas to the villain role, and some of the dialogue between characters sparkles, though others fall into well-worn clichés. Still, the pace picks up as the story progresses, and once everyone kicks into action mode, things take **** in all, The Defenders feels like a reunion of old friends who might not be perfect together, but they’ve got enough charisma to make you want to stick around and see what happens next. And that’s saying something.
Aug 17, 2017
70
The Hollywood Reporter
Some eye-rolly writing drags down even the best parts of The Defenders, which is partly the fault of the writers of course but also partly due to the wholly weak comic DNA, where obvious shows of emotion and declarative sentences dipped in gooey cheese are part of the deal. And yet, despite all of that, The Defenders morphs into a likeable and enjoyable collaboration by the third episode.
Aug 15, 2017
70
Variety
The Defenders is a workmanlike series that gets the job done with a reasonable amount of energy and a few bursts of flair.
Aug 17, 2017
58
Boston Herald
Defenders rises and falls on what its cast can bring to the mix. The less Finn Jones is onscreen, the better. He might be the most miscast actor in any series ever. Colter brings Luke’s look and nothing else. Now Ritter and Cox, on the other hand, I could binge on a Jones/Murdock spinoff all weekend long.
Aug 15, 2017
50
San Francisco Chronicle
Iron Fist is the weakest link here, but because he is just a link, there are other characters who can do more of the heavy lifting. The first four of the series’ eight episodes are enjoyable, and Jones, Colter and Cox are especially fun to watch. Whether you’re a Universe denizen or a newbie, there’s no heavy lifting in The Defenders for audience members, either.
Aug 15, 2017
38
Slant Magazine
The story's larger stakes aren't always clear, and momentum falters, especially in the episodes that jarringly shift focus between the four characters. The Defenders' adversary complicates narrative coherence in the early going, with vague motivations and unclear means.
See All 30 Critic Reviews
Mar 29, 2026
7
MatePolcz
The Defenders isn't the best of Netflix Marvel, but it has its moments and those are awesome. I kinda wish this was 13 episodes instead some of the other shows, but nevertheless it also had pacing issues. The cinematography is mostly good and the action is better than it is in most of the other shows. All in all, liked it, but didn't love it as much as Daredevil.
Mar 28, 2026
7
KelvinSelimor
The Defenders. New York City's defenders assemble. "The Defenders" is a vibrant Marvel team-up show, bringing together famous New York City heroes. The atmosphere is dynamic, the characters are engaging, and they interact well. The fast-paced plot and high-quality action scenes keep you on the edge of your seat. Although the series is short, it perfectly wraps up the stories of Iron Man, Luke Cage, Jaed, and Iron Fist in a single world. Great job for Marvel fans!
Jan 7, 2021
6
geewah
What's an attempt to be the Avengers/Justice League for TV comes across as being forced and ultimately a mediocre show.
May 15, 2019
6
brockcheese
The defenders is an honestly disappointing miniseries. What was supposed to be the Avengers of television was ruined by the inclusion of iron fist.
Oct 11, 2024
5
BradEdwards
Extremely disappointing for the hype that I had for it. I've never gone back to rewatch it, but I'm sure I'd find it wasn't quite as bad as I remember. Sigourney Weaver as a villain was cool and I was so excited for the entire group to meet each other, and from what I remember the first couple episodes started strong. The middle and final episodes focused a little too much on Elektra and, again, purely from years old memory, just didn't really provide a satisfying fight or struggle to justify the entire group meeting like this.
See All 545 User Reviews
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Aug 18, 2017
1 Season
TV-MA
Black Reel Awards for Television
• 4 Nominations
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 2 Nominations
Image Awards (NAACP)
• 1 Nomination
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