Danny Rand vs. Matt Murdock: Why the Sympathetic Friendship in Daredevil Season Three Failed to Form
In the world of Netflix series, friendship is often a central theme that brings characters together. However, when we bring the characters of Danny Rand and Matt Murdock into the equation, the narrative is far from clear. Despite their apparent mutual respect and a shared desire to protect their cities, their relationship seems strained. Let's delve into why the potential bond between these two characters didn't quite materialize in Daredevil Season Three.
friendship in The Defenders vs. lone heroes
When Danny Rand and Matt Murdock first appeared in The Defenders Season 1, they were more akin to competing beings rather than intimate friends. In that season, the narrative was primarily focused on these heroes working together to combat a common enemy. However, their interactions were limited to functional necessity, and there was no evident personal connection beyond that.
Their relationship in Daredevil Season Three was no different. Matt Murdock, a.k.a. Daredevil, clearly showed a protective stance toward Danny, willing to go to any lengths to ensure he stayed alive. This is evident in the following quote from Matt Murdock: 'I…don’t know so much about friends at least when we’re talking about their Netflix adaptations. Because they sure as hell weren’t that in The Defenders Season 1. Besides, I doubt they’ve even spoken more than ten sentences to each other or even practically like each other outside of necessity.'
City Pride and Personal Beliefs
Both characters have a strong connection to their respective cities. For Matt, he has a deep-rooted commitment to protecting New York City, exemplified by his quote, 'I’m not losing another. Never try and keep me here against my will city more than I do but you can’t leave this room.' Matt's dedication to his city and personal beliefs often place him at odds with Danny, whose own actions and values sometimes conflict with Matt's.
Danny Rand, portrayed by the character Iron Fist, has a similar sense of duty but often comes from a different perspective. His relationship with the city of Midland Circle, where he originally hails from, is marked by a desire to return and make amends. This is evident in the dialogue where he states, 'We make quite a team.' However, his mention of 'not looking for superfriends' and the statement 'Midland Circle for a reason. Came to help Harlem. Not you. Fix this thing together. Then that path comes to an end,' shows a clear divergence in their goals and motivations.
The Lack of Time and Opportunity
The most compelling reason for the lack of a strong friendship between Danny and Matt is the limited time and opportunity for them to interact. In Daredevil Season Three, the narrative focuses primarily on the individual journeys of Matt and Luke Cage, with minimal screen time for other characters. This scarcity of interaction disallows the development of a deeper, more meaningful relationship.
Moreover, when Danny does have a moment to consider Matt, his hesitation is palpable. He questions the idea of being friends with Matt, as evident in the dialogue provided: 'Luke: We make quite a team. Nah, let’s not use that word. Not looking for superfriends. It comes to an end. Midland Circle for a reason. Came to help Harlem. Not you. Fix this thing together. Then that path comes to an end.'
Conclusion and Future Possibilities
The strained relationship between Danny Rand and Matt Murdock is a testament to the challenges of building meaningful connections in a fast-paced, cinematic universe. While it’s tempting to blame the limited screen time and individual narrative focus, it’s also worth considering the thematic complexity of their characters.
Still, there is potential for improvement, especially now that they are in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The expansion of the MCU storyline could offer more opportunities for these characters to interact and develop a more deep and meaningful friendship. However, whether this will happen remains to be seen.