The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s street-level heroes are clearly bonded by their enemy—The Hand—and a couple of Marvel Easter eggs in “Marvel’s Iron Fist” make it all the more obvious. We find it no less than a coincidence either that “The Defenders” wrapped up shooting a day after “Iron Fist” premiered on March 17.
Here are the marvelous details to geek over on “Marvel’s Iron Fist” (Disclaimer: spoilers ahead):
Episode 2: The Chikara Dojo flyer
Yup, you’ve seen that flyer before—to be more specific, you’ve seen heroic nurse Claire Temple take its number in the last episode of “Luke Cage.” The master of the dojo, Colleen Wing, also calls herself the Daughter of the Dragon at a fight club match—we wonder when she’ll meet her “sister” Misty Knight?
Episode 3: Madame Gao
If there’s anything truly feared about Madame Gao, it’s her clairvoyant wisdom. Although we’ve grasped the power she wields as early as “Daredevil,” she is yet to be introduced to be a stronger, multidimensional threat—although hints have been dropped in this series.
Episode 4: Friends from publishing
Looks like the comics exist in Hell’s Kitchen, too. Danny Rand stuck vintage stickers of monsters created by comic legend Jack Kirby, namely Orrgo the Conquerer and Mangong, under his father’s office desk.
“Daredevil’s” Karen Page’s journalism career seems to have taken off at The New York Bulletin, and fellow reporters want to steal her usual spot on the front page. Her name’s been mentioned a few times, and in episode 7, Danny seems to have given her an exclusive interview, too.
Episode 5: Marked heroin
In “Daredevil,” it was revealed that Wilson Fisk was involved in the illegal drug trade overseen by The Hand. Blind people are trafficked to manually package heroin, with the drug wrapped in paper with a red serpent symbol. The drug resurfaces in “Marvel’s Iron Fist,” and a frustrated Danny says: “Don’t you see it’s all connected?” We know, Danny, we know.
Episode 7: Same universe
We’re aware that the MCU is one and the same with the Netflix series because of the repeatedly mentioned New York “incident” in reference to the Chitauri invasion in “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” But when Harold Meachum mentions that The Hand has also found its way into Roxxon, it all the more confirms it. The energy company goes as far back as Captain America’s time, and is heavily explored in “Agent Carter.”
Episode 8: The Private Investigator
The appearance of Jeri Hogarth gives away the series’ connection to “Jessica Jones,” but we lost it when Joy Meachum revealed that she hired a private investigator to dig some dirt on Rand’s board members. We only know of one PI that’s “useful when she’s sober,” and who seems to have the perfect timing in witnessing people screw up.
Episode 9: The Beast(s)
“You got anything scarier than a dragon in a cave?” Danny mockingly asks Madame Gao, but joke’s on Danny as she confidently agrees. If our hunch is correct, she would be referring to The Beast, a demonic entity that craves only death and destruction.
There’s another beast we know of—the man with unbreakable skin—whose rugged shirt and handwritten letter are seen on this episode.
Episode 10: Snarky details
It’s been revealed that there has been a couple of warriors who took on the duty of becoming the Immortal Weapon, the destroyer of The Hand. In a supposed 1948 documentary clip of the Iron Fist, the hero’s first and classic costume is shown.
Now, take your eyes off Danny’s striking photo as a multibillion-company’s prodigal 51-percent shareholder for a bit and notice the headline above the Forbes magazine cover which says “Stark big enough to fail?” Could this be one of the issues between Tony Stark and Pepper Potts in their fallout in the third “Iron Man” movie? Or will it be the deepening the riff of the Avengers in the next films? One thing’s for sure: Rand isn’t alone in a company riffraff.
Episode 12: Reincarnated villains
Davos’ jealousy reminds us of another mystical villain-to-be: Mordo from “Doctor Strange.” But does Harold’s character remind you of another Marvel villain? Does it happen to be the Norman Osborn? Notice his death is also similar to Green Goblin in 2002’s “Spider-Man 2,” where he gets stabbed in the gut.
Episode 13: The cameo
Catch the poster where Stan Lee is the face of the NYPD—again.