My thoughts on Iron Fist

[fbhjr]

I know there was a lot of controversy about the NetFlix Iron Fist show. Much of it around the idea that a show about a Kung Fu master should have Asian actors and show runner.
The counter to this was that the comic book charter it was based on was a white guy and they should stick to the character from the comics.

I think the argument misses the point. Would it have been better with Asian producers and leads? Maybe. It wasn’t very well written so there is no great reason to think it would have been better. Sure, maybe it would. Maybe it wouldn’t.

The point for me is different.

The story:
Main character is a second generation super rich guy who inherited a major corporation and big pile of money.
At least one of the character’s parents had a tragic death.
The character disappears into Asia for a long enough time for others to worry they’re dead.
They gain abilities/powers they didn’t have.
They end up fighting/rebelling against the folks in Asia, destroying their base.
They return home and surprise all who think they were dead.
They find the people running their parent’s company while they were gone have made questionable moral decisions.
They try and change the company to what they think their parents would want.
They are thought of a rich playboys.
They get driven out of their own company.
They use their powers/abilities/gadgets to fight evil including the folks who have taken over the company and are in league with larger evil.
Yay, they win.
They use their money/company/powers for good.

That’s Iron Fist.
It’s also Batman Begins, Iron Man, Arrow and a bunch of others.
(I’ll grant you in Iron Man his time in Asia is less voluntary and most of the others.)

So, I don’t think that having Asian people behind or in front of the camera is what’s needed.
The problem for me is this “rich playboy with superpowers who is really good at heart” is getting pretty tired.

The other Marvel shows do not follow this trope. Is that why they’re better, or is it just better writing? Hard to say. But, certainly following this trope is going over well worn territory and it is a lot harder to stand out on that path.
Maybe being out of the trope on the other shows just prevented reusing so many items from other stories.

But, that’s what I really think folks should be asking for: stories/heroes with different premises.
There are LOTS of stories out there.
Try different ones.

Saying "A Kung Fu guy should be Asian?"
To me, that's just as worn.

Go out and find something better than either of those as they're both been told into the ground.

Comments

[newlifeinstpaul.livejournal.com]

Thanks for placing under a cut; I have yet to view the show.
I'm thinking he might hook up the Defenders with better gear and/or have some highly interesting discussions/debates with Luke Cage. Mostly getting schooled by Luke tho.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I hope so. Luke certainly should take him to school...

[evrgreen.livejournal.com]

I am all for following the original story as much as possible - at least - if one is going to use the same name as from the original novel. Making things "PC" for the its own sake is also one of my biggest pet peeves in all the universe - but I also agree the story line has been done to death 6 times over - but it is also a common enough theme in graphic novels, or even folk tales - Robin Hood?

[evrgreen.livejournal.com]

I think that some new storylines from new authors need to be tried out - maybe you need to run some of your own graphic novels past a film producer!