With The Defenders releasing on Netflix all the Marvel heroes who call the streaming service home unite after hosting a total of fifty five episodes on an individual basis, though not all of them are necessary to understand the major plotlines of the ensemble.
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Ensemble films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe can be difficult to follow considering there it now houses over a week’s worth of watchable content. Many fans are likely asking themselves, “Do I have to watch Daredevil?” “Should I have watched Jessica Jones?” or “Do I need to see Luke Cage to understand The Defenders?”
For each of those questions, the answer is ultimately, “No.” Like all entries to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Marvel Television branch makes The Defenders enjoyable without having seen the titles which came before it.
Still, there are certain seasons of each of the Marvel series which came to Netflix before The Defenders which better prepare viewers for the events taking place in New York City. For a quick and thorough recap of each individual series, check out the ComicBook Cram at the top of this page, or continue reading for a spoiler free guide to which series are most crucial!
Crucial Seasons
Two of the five previously release Marvel seasons on Netflix play considerable roles in the lead up to The Defenders.
The first is Daredevil Season 2. Though the aspect of Daredevil‘s second season which fans gravitate to is Jon Bernthal’s the Punisher, this is not what makes the 13-episode run integral to The Defenders. In fact, The Punisher is absent from The Defenders entirely with the exception of the already released online post-credits scene.
Daredevil Season 2 introduces characters and groups which play considerable roles in The Defenders, though those names will be left out here for sake of keeping the viewing experience spoiler-free.
Iron Fist‘s first season also plays a key role in setting up The Defenders, as it not only introduces Danny Rand, but brings an important mythology to the Netflix pocket of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
What do both of these seasons have in common? The titular heroes are dealing with The Hand.
Less Important
Though watching the three remaining seasons of Marvel’s Netflix series is still recommended to get the complete experience, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage‘s first seasons do not provide information which is crucial to understanding the events of The Defenders.
Supporting characters from Luke Cage play considerable roles in The Defenders, especially in its later episodes, making getting to know them an enhancement for The Defenders viewing experience though still not a requirement. Aside from a couple of name’s of smaller characters Luke mentions early on, viewers can survive The Defenders without knowledge of the character’s first season.
The same can be said for Jessica Jones — the titular character is more of a lone wolf than Luke Cage but still manages to bring a friend to The Defenders who played a key role in her first season. Still, this character’s role in The Defenders is not necessarily crucial enough to warrant another 13-episode binge for fans looking to simply enjoy the eight episode ensemble run in The Defenders.
Still, Jessica Jones might come out of The Defenders as the fan-favorite character.
