8) It Improves The Hand
Let’s be honest, the Hand are pretty underwhelming villains. The evil clan of ninjas might be the overarching foe of the Netflix corner of the MCU – they’ve been knocking around since it all began in Daredevil season 1 – but they come across as a nebulous, one-note threat at best, and an offensive, outdated one at worst.
While they still don’t soar in Iron Fist, the show definitely goes a long way to improving on their first major role in Daredevil season 2. In place of the forgettable Nobu, the Hand is given two much more interesting leaders. Firstly, returning character Madame Gao is revealed to run her own breakaway faction of the organization. The fact that she’s too evil for the rest of this ancient evil brotherhood definitely helps her feel like a more formidable foe.
Secondly, the other Hand leader we meet is Bakuto, Unlike Gao, he charms and manipulates others into doing his bidding. For instance, coaxing kids off the street by promising them a family and somewhere to belong. He’s also tied in with Colleen’s backstory, as he was her treacherous sensei, which gives the Hand’s villainy a personal edge.
Neither of them rival Kilgrave or Fisk as fascinating antagonists, but Iron Fist is certainly better than Daredevil in this regard.