Iron Fist Season 2 is released on Netflix on Friday, September 7. If the teaser trailers are anything to go by, the upcoming sequel to season 1 promises to offer a much improved take on the Marvel character, with fight sequences, character development and a more refined plot than the initial 13-episode run.
With the first season coming out 18 months ago – and crossover series The Defenders having released over a year ago – it may be easy to have forgotten what went down, who the new antagonists are and other bits from the Iron Fist universe. Here’s a full rundown of everything you need to know ahead of Iron Fist Season 2:
What Happened in Iron Fist Season 1?
Quite a lot, despite the lack of glowing reviews. Danny Rand – heir to Rand Industries and the titular hero – returns to Hell’s Kitchen after being presumed dead for 15 years. Taken in by the K’un-Lun monks after a plane crash that killed his parents, he trains to become the latest in a long line of immortal Iron Fists – the protector of K’un-Lun. Able to summon and focus his “chi” energy into a powerful force in his hand, Rand is granted superhuman strength, agility, durability and reflexes when he does so, plus he’s a pretty handy close combat fighter to boot too.
Danny becomes embroiled in a battle to oust the Hand – an order of evil, mystical ninjas hell-bent on taking over the world – who have run amok in New York City. Alongside this, he must also retake his father’s billion dollar empire from his late dad’s associate Harold Meachum who, coincidentally, was resurrected by the Hand after he died from incurable cancer, and for whom he declares his supposed loyalty. Harold, who becomes a more violent representation of himself each time he is killed off – and resurrected – during season 1, is also the individual behind the plane crash that killed Danny’s parents.
Danny meets, and eventually falls in love with, Colleen Wing, the owner of a small dojo in Manhattan who is secretly the apprentice of one of the Hand’s leaders in Bakuto. He rekindles his childhood relationships with Harold’s children Ward and Joy to varying degrees of success too. Meanwhile, Danny’s close friend and rival from K’un-Lun, Davos, turns up in New York to force Danny to return to his second home after the latter breaks his Iron Fist oath and leaves to return to the US. Unable to persuade Danny to return, Davos becomes resentful and leaves to concoct a plan to overthrow Danny, which we’ll see in season 2.
Season 1 sees Danny and Colleen defeat the Hand to a degree, force Bakuto and fellow Hand founder Madame Gao into hiding, and see Ward kill Harold for the final time – shooting his own father before burning the body to prevent his return from the dead.
Iron Fist Season 2: How Does The Defenders Play into it?
Danny and Colleen, alongside the other Marvel TV heroes Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage – as well as their allies – work together to stop the Hand from achieving world domination through both the “Black Sky” – or the resurrected Elektra Natchios, former girlfriend of Daredevil/Matt Murdock – and the ability to bring people back from the dead.
They succeed, but not before Daredevil seemingly sacrifices himself to allow the others to escape. His heroic act causes Iron Fist to claim the mantle of New York’s protector-in-chief in his absence.
Where do the Main Cast Stand Heading into Iron Fist Season 2?
After swearing to protect New York City Iron Fist must deal with the added expectation of being the protector of Hell’s Kitchen, as well as dealing with his past coming back to haunt him.
Rand had a cameo in one of Luke Cage‘s season 2 episodes, but nothing was made of how the new series of Iron Fist would play out based on this. Judging by the trailers, he will have to deal with the return of the vengeful Davos, who seems set to give him a tough test as the so-called Steel Serpent.
Wing, meanwhile, is trying to find her place in the world following the collapse of The Hand and the death of Bakuto. Ward must overcome the reality that he ended up killing Harold and his apparent heroin addiction, while Joy will likely continue to do dealings with Davos in a bid to overthrow Danny.
Which Iron Fist Characters are Returning for Season 2?
Danny Rand/Iron Fist – played by Finn Jones – will obviously be returning. Alongside him will be Colleen Wing (Jessica Henwick), Harold and Joy (Tom Pelphrey and Jessica Stroup respectively).
Davos (Sacha Dhawan) returns as the main antagonist for Iron Fist Season 2. Misty Knight (Simone Missick), the New York police detective who is a regular in Luke Cage, will also guest star at points.
Who are the New Cast Members of Iron Fist Season 2?
The main new cast member is “Typhoid Mary” Walker, who will be played by Alice Eve. Taking inspiration from the Marvel villain of the same name, Typhoid Mary is usually depicted as a Daredevil arch enemy, who has also crossed paths with Spider-Man and Deadpool.
A sufferer of personality disorder, Typhoid Mary has three separate identities vying for control – Mary, the normal personality, Typhoid Mary, the ambitious type, and Bloody Mary, the darkest of the trio. Possessing martial arts sword fighting skills, telekinesis and pyrokinesis, she could prove to be a formidable foe – or ally – for Iron Fist.
Another new addition to the cast is Sam Chung (James Chen). In the comics, Chung is Daredevil’s sidekick Blindspot but it is not yet known what his role in proceedings will actually be.
When and Where can I Watch Iron Fist Season 2?
Iron Fist Season 2 will be available worldwide on Netflix from Friday, September 7. It consists of a 10-episode series instead of the usual 13-episode run, and will be available to watch in 4K Ultra HD and high dynamic range.
Tom Power 