9 Reasons ‘The Defenders’ Trailer Has Us Hyped

Samantha Loveridge
TV Streaming
TV Streaming Marvel

If you’ve watched any or all of the Marvel shows available exclusively through Netflix then you’ll know that they’re all coming together to kick New York villain butt in a new Defenders mini-series. Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Daredevil and Jessica Jones will be teaming up to fight a new enemy in NYC.

With the series launching on Netflix on August 18, we don’t have long to wait. But, until then, there’s a heck of a lot to learn from the first Defenders trailer.

Warning: Slight spoilers for multiple Netflix series – Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Daredevil

Jessica Jones is back up to her old private detective tricks

Defenders Jessica Jones

Jessica Jones‘ profession at the start of the Jessica Jones series is private investigator, but when Kilgrave rolls unexpectedly – and unwanted – back into her life, she’s forced to leave her old life behind. But it seems like The Defenders will start with our pal Jess up to her old tricks, breaking and entering and generally being a bit of a renegade in order to find out everyone else’s secrets.

However, it seems like she’s taken her quest for the truth a little too far this time. Turns out she’s pinched evidence from a crime scene, accidentally got a man she was trying to help killed, and seriously ticked off detective Misty Knight (of Luke Cage fame) in the process.

It’s not looking good for Jones, but luckily our favourite blind defence lawyer, Matt Murdock – aka Daredevil – is ready to assist.

Pop’s Barber Shop is back up and running… or is it?

Pop's Barbers Shop Defenders

The last time we saw Pop’s Barber Shop in Luke Cage it was a shadow of its former glory. It’s the spot where Luke Cage and Styrker try to parley, but end up having that long, long battle of strength. As Cage is driven away later in a police car bound for jail, Pop’s Barber Shop is merely a shell, having taken one too many hits in battle.

But in The Defenders, Cage is seen looking a little forlorn on a train and Pop’s Barber Shop is seen through the window. It’s all looking spiffy and new, the broken awnings have been removed, but it’s hard to know whether this little slice of paradise is back in business. Metal shutters are drawn and seeing as this the middle of the day, you’d think Bobby Fish would have customers getting their hair done.

This may well give an indication of how long after the end of the individual Marvel series The Defenders is set, because if Pop’s isn’t open it could well be sooner after the end of Luke Cage than expected.

Claire Temple and Luke Cage are finally an item

Speaking of Luke Cage, it looks like he and hard-working nurse Claire Temple are finally in a romantic relationship. At the end of Luke Cage, Cage is being sent back to jail for escaping in the first place. But, just before he’s packed into the cop car, he and Temple share a long, emotional kiss that’s the culmination of ALL that sexual tension between the pair.

In this trailer, Cage has obviously been freed from jail – doubtless thanks to the evidence Fish found in Pop’s Barber Shop – and the couple is seen scantily dressed in bed together. Now we know that it’s not a rarity for Cage to be seen topless, but there definitely seems to be more to the scene than Cage showing off his chiselled chest.

It’s up to Claire to keep the peace between Iron Fist and Cage

Luke Cage vs Iron Fist Defenders trailer

There might be a bit of friction between the various members of The Defenders if this trailer is anything to go by. Not only is Jessica Jones perplexed by the appearance of Matt Murdock in her interrogation room, Cage and Danny Rand – aka Iron Fist – actually get in a fight before any kind of allegiance can be forged.

The pair are so confused by the other’s abilities that it takes the influence of Claire Temple to actually get anything resolved. Turns out words are mightier than the Fist.

Of course, it is a tradition in the comics – and now in the films and TV series too – for superheroes to fight the first time they meet each other so it’s not a total suprise that Cage and Rand get in a Fist fight.

Elektra Natchios is alive… and kicking

Elektra Defenders trailer

At the end of the second season of Daredevil, Murdock’s old flame Elektra Natchios has sacrificed herself to save him. Murdock mourns her but is glad they had the love that they shared. But, unbeknownst to him, The Hand later exhume Elektra’s body, and place her in an ancient device that uses human blood to bring people back to life.

It’s seemingly that reason why Natchios turns up in The Defenders, first in the device itself looking a bit like a vampire and later fighting Daredevil – you know, that guy she used to be in love with.

We still love Stick

Styx Defenders trailer

Stick, Murdock’s mentor from the Daredevil series is making his comeback in The Defenders and we couldn’t be more pleased. This blind martial arts pro seems to be heavily involved in Defenders business, spotted in the line-up between Cage and Rand as they come face to face with supervillain Alexandra, played by Sigourney Weaver.

Iron Fist might be the least important Defender

Iron Fist Defenders trailer

In the trailer, you hear Stick describing all four of the Defenders and it seems he hasn’t taken a liking to Rand.

“You four – The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen, the smart-ass detective, the righteous ex-con and the kid with the glowing fist – the war for New York is here so get your s**t together!”

He isn’t exactly complimentary about any of them, as he isn’t really supportive of Murdock’s ‘title’ in the Daredevil series, but he’s particularly damning of the Fist.

Alexandra is going to be a huge pain in the butt

Sigourney Weaver as Alexandra in the Defenders trailer

We don’t know much about Signourney Weaver’s character, Alexandra, yet but based on the trouble the other Marvel antagonists have caused – Styker, Stokes, Kilgrave, Fisk, Harold Meachum and even The Punisher – Alexandra is going to be the ultimate foe for our heroes.

“The more connections you have, the easier it will be to break you,” says Alexandra in the trailer, and she remains particularly mysterious.

All we know about her so far is that she’s going to be “really smart” and “very in charge”. That’s according to showrunner Marco Ramirez, who’s also described her as an “utter badass”.

“Sigourney is the kind of person you can buy as the smartest person in the room, who you can also buy as a person holding a flamethrower,” explained Ramirez to Entertainment Weekly. “Her character is a very powerful force in New York City. She’s everything Sigourney is: sophisticated, intellectual, dangerous… I’m sorry. I can only say a bunch of adjectives right now.”

It’s not quite clear yet who she is, but it may be that her character is based on Alexander Bont who’s the first Kingpin of Hell’s Kitchen in the comics.

There’s a seriously powerful weapon involved

Alexandra may be some kind of superhuman herself, but from the looks of the Defenders trailer she’s got some kind of seismic weapon helping her out too. As you can see above, some kind of force is lifting cars from the ground and sending even the super-strong Luke Cage flying.

There’s no hints as to what it could be yet, but it’s certainly something to look out for when the series arrives in the summer.

Marvel’s The Defenders launches August 18, 2017 exclusively on Netflix. 

Samantha Loveridge
Sam is the UK Gaming Editor at Fandom. She's been addicted to games since she first got her paws on a GameBoy and hasn't looked back.