Despite – or maybe because of – years of hype and anticipation for the stars of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist coming together, The Defenders turned out to be fairly underwhelming when it arrived in the summer of 2017. That said, Marvel fans were still hoping to see more of the titular streetwise superheroes working together, as there was certainly potential in that first season of the team-up series.
Unfortunately, though, it looks like that’s all we’ll get, as earlier this week, Netflix pretty much dashed all hopes of a second season and let’s just say folks aren’t too happy with the streaming service. Taking to Twitter as they so often do, viewers made themselves heard, blasting the company for changing the name of The Defenders Facebook page and giving the show the axe.
Below, you’ll find just a sampling of what people are saying:
Netflix just rebranded its Marvel's Defenders Facebook page as a page for all superhero and scifi shows on Netflix and people simply LOVED that decision pic.twitter.com/QI3VoLG9Qw
— Brad Stephenson (@Shuttlecock) September 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/Croakk_/status/1041748134437769216
As someone who works in social media, I’m cringing so hard over this. @netflix removed all existing Defenders content, so it’s not even a rebrand, it’s erasing the existence and purpose of the original page. pic.twitter.com/hCsDPLqtWm
— Phoebe ✨💀🪩 (@magicallyphoebe) September 17, 2018
I wasn't aware of this new NX thing Netflix was going to launch, but doing it by taking over the @TheDefenders fb page without any warning, leaving people confused as to what's going on with Defenders and the other Marvel shows and not answering anyone is awful to do to fans.
— Vamps Maxwell (@fiestypelican) September 17, 2018
@PhillyD are you going to cover this BS Netflix is pulling with the Netflix Marvel Defenders Facebook page?
— Tal Kliger (@XaeroSignal) September 17, 2018
@netflix Defenders page on Facebook changed to NX. Is it legit ? If so, can you guys apologize for this mess ?
— therealjoeytremblay (@freshcleanjoey) September 17, 2018
So apparently Netflix renamed their Defenders Facebook page as "NX" which is to promote their sci-fi shows and movies… so I guess we can't expect Defenders season 2 anytime soon. Not shocking, but disappointing.
— JD DeMotte (@JDDeMotte) September 17, 2018
Check it, there are thousands literally unfollowing it right now #nx #netflix #facebook
— Rommel Z (@JRommelSnz) September 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/xXxKajunxXx/status/1041742620232441856
Are you crunching the numbers of followers you are losing on Facebook since you changed @TheDefenders FB page to NX ? Hope the whole team who said yes to that shit lose their job. Trash marketing at it's finest.
— therealjoeytremblay (@freshcleanjoey) September 17, 2018
Yeah @netflix, why create a new page for your #NX social media channel when you can just pretend that the @TheDefenders page never existed. 🙄 pic.twitter.com/rYfJsYGs8p
— Phoebe ✨💀🪩 (@magicallyphoebe) September 17, 2018
Netflix has yet to release a statement on all this, but from what we understand, issues with scheduling, not to mention those mediocre reviews, appear to have sunk the titular team before they even truly got a chance to cement their place on on the streaming site.
Earlier this year, Netlflix’s Cindy Holland pinpointed the exact reason why The Defenders season 2 is pie in the sky, citing those aforementioned scheduling problems as the biggest issue:
The biggest issue was the timing of production and launching of The Defenders, because what that meant is we had to shut down all of the shows, so all the actors could be available.
Whatever the case may be, it seems The Defenders will always be remembered as a one-off special, as Netflix now starts focusing its energies on new installments of The Punisher, Jessica Jones and Daredevil, the latter of which is expected to return before the year’s end.