Welcome to the Second Union Iron Fist watchalong event! Watch along with us for the next several weeks as we check out the next hero in making in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage). Iron Fist’s entire first season was made available for viewing on Friday, March 10 on Netflix. Every weekend (Saturday and Sunday) starting Saturday, March 25th we will post overviews and opinion of an episode of the series. WARNING: This article is full of SPOILERS!
If you haven’t already, read the previous article for “Eight Diagram Dragon Palm”.
We begin this episode with a montage of dialogue by women pharma representatives walking the busy streets of Manhattan on their way to meetings to sell their new drug product formulated by The Hand.
The next scene shows Danny (Finn Jones) in the Rand Enterprises building, speaking to one of the employees. They are discussing the new wonder drug that has hit the market. With this new information, Danny sets out to see if something can be done to stop the mass effect the new legal heroin drug will have on the city.
Later, Danny goes to meet with Ward (Tom Pelphrey) to talk about the city’s growing drug problem. He informs Ward that the drugs are coming into the city via the Rand pier. Danny desperately tries to explain the situation to Ward, “The Hand is using our company to smuggle synthetic heroin into our city…”. Ward dismisses Danny’s story because he is dealing with the pressure of Rand Enterprise’s plummeting stocks. On their way to lunch, Joy (Jessica Stroup) and Ward are in an elevator trying to reevaluate their morality. And Ward is ensuring Joy that she is a good person and a good business woman.
In Colleen’s dojo, we are reintroduced to a Netflix MCU character Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson) getting some one-on-one self-defense training from Colleen but ultimately ends up being the third wheel when Danny arrives with a dinner date invitation for Colleen. Who is equally surprised at the randomness of this impromptu and awkward proposal.
Across town, Ward and Joy argue over how to handle the struggles facing Rand Enterprises while Danny, Colleen, and Claire have dinner. Danny talks about his time at the monastery and how he took a vow of chasity. Claire receives this news as a way to exit the table. Leaving the two to finish their conversation in private.
Danny wants Colleen to team-up to investigate The Hand’s heroin dealings. After Colleen demonstrates to Danny the true way to use a katana, they head towards the Red Hook pier to have a look around. As Danny is exploring a truck, Colleen is following behind in a car. Danny pulls back a curtain to reveal a man watching soccer on a tv. This man is revealed to be the Chemist. But before Danny can interrogate him, another man jumps out and a fight breaks out! Ending with the Chemist getting stabbed. Danny’s “Iron Fist” ability helps him to escape the truck and he flees (with Colleen in tow) to find help for the wounded. Good thing they just happen to know a good nurse who is always available for immediate care.
Sadly, we then encounter Ward struggling to get himself straight. His thoughts of his sister, his father, Rand Enterprises and Danny are showing it is too much for him to bare. Joy sits with him after he has taken a very dangerous mixture of drugs and alcohol. With his sister consoling him, Ward is slowly coming out of his rut. This moment shows the tight bond between the siblings, despite what is going on in their lives.
Lastly, back at the truck The Hand is cleaning up the scene. We are left with the question, ‘Who is this person who can punch through solid metal with his fists?’ The final scene unfolds with the faceless woman killing her henchman. She turns around to reveal that it is Madame Gao (Wai Ching Ho).
Observations:
- The continued closeness of Danny and Colleen is making for an interesting peak of the series. The slow build of it is allowing for the relationship to grow steadily.
- We see Claire Temple using her natural nursing chops to yet again help save lives during a brutal aftermath involving super human beings. This character is tastefully used to remind the viewers of the intertwined worlds of Netflix’s MCU.
- This episode brought up a question, how could Madame Gao not have already known Danny was the “Iron Fist” given her connection to The Hand and The Hand’s entrenchment of Rand Enterprise? Puzzling.
