Here’s How The Defenders Meet Each Other

Throughout four different series, fans have watched the Marvel series on Netflix eager to learn how they’ll come together for the crossover event The Defenders. Now that we’re on the precipice for the event, we finally have a good idea.

While some details could be pieced together, be they from trailers, interviews, or even previous events, we weren’t exactly sure how it would all happen.

But thanks to a new featurette from Netflix, we now know how Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist unite to take on the Hand. Check out the clip above.

And of course, beware of spoilers.

Some of these may seem obvious, some of them might have passed you by. But if you want to get a heads up on the new series or maybe catch up on some of the events that brought the characters to this point, read on.

There’s still a lot of ground to be covered and we’re not exactly sure of all the specific circumstances that bring these characters together. We won’t know until the show premieres Friday, August 18, on Netflix.

But let’s start with something we do know…

Jessica Jones and Luke Cage

This isn’t the biggest spoiler considering it happens in the first season of Jessica Jones

The hard-drinking P.I. of Alias Investigations first came into contact with Harlem’s future Hero after spying on him from afar. She was wracked with guilt over being forced to murder his wife Reva Connors while under the influence of Kilgrave.

Jessica doesn’t admit it right away to Luke, the two end up sleeping together a few times before she finally comes clean. Luke himself gets mind controlled by Kilgrave and forced into burning down his own bar, leading him to forgive Jessica for her role in Reva’s death.

Just kidding! The forgiveness was all mind control as well, and Luke attacks Jessica with her guard down. She is forced to shoot Luke in the head and though the bullet doesn’t pierce his unbreakable skin it does cause massive trauma.

Jessica leaves Luke with every superhero’s favorite nurse Claire Temple and goes to deal with Kilgrave. Their relationship ends, and Luke eventually starts up a romance with Claire in his own series.

Jessica Jones and Daredevil

We’ve already seen the clip of these two character’s first meeting in the trailer for the Defenders, when Misty Knight is interrogating Jessica after she’s found with a dead suspect of another crime.

Matt Murdock barges into the room and implores Jessica to keep quiet, declaring himself her new attorney.

But why would Jessica need the altruistic Murdock when she already has the firm of sharks at Hogarth, Chao, and Benowitz at her disposal? Jessica has done more than enough favors for Jeri Hogarth and after the events of Jessica Jones, she should be getting pro bono representation for life.

Then again, Foggy Nelson now works for Hogarth after he split from Murdock in Daredevil Season Two. Maybe the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen’s old partner put him up to this?

Either way, Misty isn’t one to let a suspect get away that easily. We expect her to remain involved throughout the series as well.

Luke Cage and Iron Fist

That clip of Luke getting punched in the face reveals that the Danny Rand’s chi-powered punch is actually able to hurt the man with unbreakable skin. But why are they fighting?

They’re caught in an alley with someone between them scrambling to get away, so it looks like Harlem’s Hero is extending his protection to someone that the Iron Fist is looking to hurt.

Danny is not in a good spot after the massacre at K’un-Lun and is likely looking to deal some damage to the Hand. But why would he be willing to fight Luke Cage? It’s likely a case of the classic superhero trope where two heroes meet, have a misunderstanding, fight, then become best friends.

Another clip of Claire telling Luke “there’s someone you need to meet” likely refers to Iron Fist, whom she helped in the first season of his series as well. The two will probably meet up in Colleen Wing’s dojo to hash out the misunderstanding, but given both their stubbornness it might not turn out well.

Whether by choice or circumstance, Iron Fist will have to go it alone when he decides to go to Midland Circle…

All Together

The featurette explains that all the characters converge on this location, a secret front operated by the Hand and new villain Alexandra. Her role is still pretty secretive at this point, but it seems like she’s a high-ranking member of the powerful criminal organization.

Rand storms into the board room to take the fight directly to the Hand and nearly gets overwhelmed when Luke Cage kicks in the door (minus the 44).

Goons start swarming the future Heroes for Hire, and just when it seems like they’re overwhelmed they’re joined by Jessica Jones and her new lawyer Matt Murdock. But why? We’ll find out on the show.

The fight in Midland Circle seems to be going alright four the new foursome. And then Elektra shows up.

How Murdock deals with the confrontation and revelation will be explored in the series, but they all decide to retreat and fight another day. Escaping the resurrected Black Sky, they make it onto the Midland Circle elevator where a confused Iron Fist asks “Who are you people?”

He’ll find out too when Defenders premieres Friday, August 18.

The Defenders

Marvel’s The Defenders follows Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Luke Cage (Mike Colter) and Iron Fist (Finn Jones). A quartet of singular heroes with one common goal – to save New York City. This is the story of four solitary figures, burdened with their own personal challenges, who realize they just might be stronger when teamed together.