TV Review: Marvel’s Iron Fist: Episode 2: Shadow Hawk Takes Flight (Netflix)

With the pilot episode in the clear, and all of the introductions sorted, the show finally gets into the nitty gritty and get the ball rolling.

While Episode 1 was a promising start for things to come, Episode 2 steadily propels everything forward, thanks to the writing of Scott Buck and Direction by John Dahl.

With Danny stuck in a psychiatric ward, after the events of episode 1, he is left with nothing and no one to call upon for help…or so he thinks. Meanwhile, Ward Meachum makes some advances in his pursuit to get rid of this man who claims to be Danny Rand. Joy Meachum is skeptical and starts to second guess whether the man that she and her brother denied is a floor or the real Danny Rand. How will she find out? Who will believe her? Behind the scenes, Harold Meachum observes with a hidden agenda and possible intentions for Rand. What does he intend for Danny? And What path will it take him?

Episode 2 is a real eye-opener of an episode that gradually reveals some answers while still effectively shrouding Danny Rand, the cast, and viewers in a shroud of mystery and intrigue that makes one guess for what is next. The build up to Danny’s Iconic right-hand power punch is displayed with stunning execution. It manages to not go over the top, while simultaneously managing to not be lackluster in its delivery. Even with that moment, it still manages to tell tidbits and pieces without giving the whole story and mystery away. The realization that Joy expresses when finding out that the man professing to be Danny Rand is the real genuine article is actually clever, making sense without falling into voids of disbelief. Colleen Wing also gets some moments, but it’s yet to be shown since her conflict is believing alongside everyone else whether Rand is really the actual man that he claims to be.  

FInn Jones may not be the man that people will come to know as the Ironfist, but he is convincingly on the way to becoming that, especially since that is sparked a bit within this episode. Seeing Jones as Rand struggle to maintain composure despite being medicated and subscribed to being a supposed mentally unstable individual kinda gives some commentary on psychiatric wards in some way that probably isn’t too far to the truth in terms of how some people can be misdiagnosed or implicated into being considered “unstable”.  The supporting character Simon, who is a patient that guides Danny through the clinic had me wondering, much like the homeless man Big Al ( from episode 1), if he is somewhat a manifested or metaphorical reflection or parallel to Rand’s actual anger and frustration. If so, then that’s clever writing on Buck’s side of things, if not, it’s still good as a mirror to Danny’s own personal conflict.

There is also a cool reference that seems to play as an ongoing theme with a certain raven/crow. Its significance is still unknown, but for what it’s worth, generates a lot of interest in what will transpire in the next episode and the rest of the series. This episode is a lot more stronger than the first episode and leaves much to be revealed while delivering some really good scenes between Danny and other characters. One thing I’d like to say is that the performance between Ward Meachum and his father Harold Meachum in this episode in some cases remind me of the comic version of Harry and Norman Osborn from the Spider- Man comics. In another universe, they would have been good as adult versions of Harry and Norman Osborn, but that is neither here, nor there. This was a much more promising episode with a cool closer that leaves the viewer wanting to see where the actions, in the end, lead these characters, most especially Danny. A solid episode.