Nine years is a long time to let a show sit unwatched — but with Daredevil: Born Again heading back to screens for its second season, there may be no better moment to revisit the Marvel Netflix era that started it all. Specifically, the chapter of that era that viewers have never quite agreed on: The Defenders.
The 2017 crossover miniseries brought together Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist for a team-up that felt, at the time, like Marvel’s answer to The Avengers — but on the street level, grittier, and with far higher stakes for its characters personally. The reception was mixed. Some fans loved it. Others thought it fumbled the landing. Nearly a decade later, the conversation is worth reopening.
Because whatever its flaws, The Defenders is directly connected to the story that Daredevil: Born Again is continuing. And if you want to understand where Matt Murdock has been, it helps to understand where he ended up.
The Marvel-Netflix Partnership and Why It Still Matters
The collaboration between Marvel Studios and Netflix produced something genuinely unusual in the superhero television landscape. Rather than the lighter, serialized tone of network Marvel shows, the Netflix series committed to darker storytelling, longer character development, and a New York City that felt lived-in and dangerous.
That creative direction gave the world some of the most celebrated superhero television ever made — particularly the first season of Daredevil, which is still regularly cited as a high point of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, big screen included. But it also produced uneven results across its various series, and The Defenders sits somewhere in the complicated middle of that legacy.
The show was designed as a culmination — a payoff for fans who had followed all four individual series. In practice, that meant it carried the weight of wildly different tones and character arcs, some more developed than others. The Iron Fist problem, in particular, followed the crossover directly from that character’s poorly received solo debut.
What Makes The Defenders Worth Watching Before Born Again Season 2
Here is the straightforward case for a weekend binge: The Defenders is only eight episodes long. That is a genuinely manageable commitment compared to the 13-episode seasons of the individual Netflix shows. You can get through the entire thing in a weekend without much effort.
More importantly, the events of the series have direct consequences for Matt Murdock specifically. Without giving away everything for those who never watched, the ending of The Defenders puts Daredevil in a position that shapes everything that came after — including his eventual return in the MCU proper through She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, his appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home, and ultimately Daredevil: Born Again itself.
Understanding that connective tissue makes the current show richer. The character continuity that Marvel has worked to preserve across the Netflix-to-Disney+ transition is more meaningful when you have actually seen where it began.
The Defenders at a Glance — What You Need to Know
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Series Title | Marvel’s The Defenders |
| Original Release | 2017 (Netflix) |
| Number of Episodes | 8 |
| Characters Featured | Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist |
| Where to Watch Now | Disney+ |
| Years Since Release | Approximately 9 years |
The series is currently available on Disney+, where all of the former Netflix Marvel shows now live. That means there is no subscription gymnastics required — if you are already watching Daredevil: Born Again, the content is right there waiting.
Why the Divisive Reputation Shouldn’t Put You Off
Part of what makes The Defenders an interesting rewatch target is that its reputation as a disappointment was shaped significantly by the expectations surrounding it. Fans had invested years into these characters across multiple seasons of television. The crossover was supposed to feel monumental.
When viewed without those inflated expectations — when watched simply as a compact, eight-episode story about four very different people reluctantly working together — the series holds up better than its legacy suggests. The chemistry between the lead actors is real. The villain work, anchored by the Hand storyline, has genuine menace. And the moments when the four heroes finally share the screen together deliver in ways that still land.
It is not a perfect piece of television. But nine years of distance has a way of softening the frustrations that felt enormous at the time. What remains is a story that is worth your time, particularly if Daredevil: Born Again has reminded you why you cared about this corner of the MCU in the first place.
What Happens If You Skip It Before Season 2
You will not be completely lost. Daredevil: Born Again does not require viewers to have completed the entire Netflix Marvel catalog. The show has been designed to function as its own entry point for new audiences.
But there is a difference between following a story and fully feeling it. The emotional weight of certain character moments, the callbacks to past relationships, the significance of choices Matt Murdock makes — all of it lands harder when you have actually watched the journey that brought him to this point.
A weekend is not a huge investment. And with season two of Daredevil: Born Again on the horizon, there is a clear deadline that makes the timing feel right. Eight episodes. Two days. One of Marvel’s most argued-about shows, ready to be reassessed with fresh eyes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Defenders?
The Defenders is a 2017 Marvel Netflix crossover miniseries that brought together Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist in a single eight-episode story.
Where can I watch The Defenders now?
The series is currently available on Disney+, along with the other former Marvel Netflix shows.
How long is The Defenders — is it a big time commitment?
At only eight episodes, it is significantly shorter than the individual Netflix Marvel series and can reasonably be watched over a single weekend.
Do I need to watch The Defenders before Daredevil: Born Again Season 2?
It is not strictly required, but watching it adds meaningful context to Matt Murdock’s character arc and the events that shaped him ahead of the current Disney+ series.
Why was The Defenders considered divisive?
The show carried high expectations as a crossover payoff for fans of four separate series, and its mixed reception was shaped largely by how far it fell short of those expectations — though many viewers find it holds up better on rewatch.
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