‘Iron Fist’ Star Finn Jones Tries the ‘We Made It for the Fans’ Defense
Superhero movie audiences have lived through enough high-profile bombs to recognize a common refrain, likening any bad reviews to critics misaligned with fan interests. We saw it with Batman v. Superman and Suicide Squad, and now Iron Fist star Finn Jones is giving “we made it for the fans” the old college try in response to negative press.
It’s been a rough week for Marvel’s Netflix Iron Fist, as already-controversial casting choices were compounded by an onslaught of negative reviews for the initial six episodes, marking Marvel TV (and perhaps overall)’s first critical disaster. Jones too has borne a significant chunk of that criticism, even removing himself from Twitter after an attempt to defend the show’s racial casting by urging fans to watch it before passing judgment.
Well, we did. Not great, Bob Finn. Naturally, word of Iron Fist reviews have since reached Jones, who gave Metro UK the familiar “for the fans” defense:
Well I think there’s multiple factors. What I will say is these shows are not made for critics, they are first and foremost made for the fans … I also think some of the reviews we saw were seeing the show through a very specific lens, and I think when the fans of the Marvel Netflix world and fans of the comic books view the show through the lens of just wanting to enjoy a superhero show, then they will really enjoy what they see.
I think it’s a fantastic show which is really fun and I think it stands up there with the other Defenders’ shows without a doubt.
Look, we get it. Finn Jones is a young, talented actor excited for his highest profile gig, and isn’t about to throw Marvel under the bus that brings him to set. Still, a great many critics are fans, and certainly didn’t have the same quibbles with Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage. And are we to presume this “specific lens” as the omnipresent racial controversy mentioned in most reviews? Does he not think “fans” capable of sharing that concern?
I don’t envy Jones having to shoulder this defense on his own, but as a great man once said, don’t tell me to turn my brain off, or just “enjoy a superhero show.” The fans aren’t going to be crazy about it either.
All episodes of Marvel’s Iron Fist will arrive on Friday, March 17. Choose your lens.