Every DEFENDERS TV Show Ranked According To Rotten Tomatoes (Including DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN)

Every DEFENDERS TV Show Ranked According To Rotten Tomatoes (Including DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN)

With Daredevil: Born Again bringing the Man Without Fear into the MCU, now feels like a good time to look back at how it and all of Netflix's Defenders shows compare based on their Rotten Tomatoes scores.

Feature Opinion
By JoshWilding - Mar 07, 2025 01:03 PM EST
Filed Under: Daredevil

Love it or hate it, Rotten Tomatoes is now more important than ever when it comes to whether film and TV fans decide to check out the latest releases at home or in theaters, and it's not uncommon for studios to tout scores as proudly as star ratings.

In 2015, Marvel Television and Netflix launched Daredevil. That was followed by Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and, eventually, an Avengers-inspired team-up called The Defenders. There was even a spin-off for The Punisher

Following this week's premiere of Daredevil: Born Again, we're taking a look at how each of the shows set in his corner of the MCU compare based on their respective Rotten Tomatoes scores. This era of storytelling was something of a mixed bag and you'll likely be surprised by how these shows fared with critics.

To check them out, you just need to click on the "Next"/"View List" buttons below...
 

7. Iron Fist

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Score: 37% (Season 1 - 20%, Season 2 - 55%)

Rotten or Fresh? Rotten

Critics Consensus: Despite some promising moments, Iron Fist is weighed down by an absence of momentum and originality. (Season 1)

Better action scenes and tighter pacing elevate Iron Fist's second season, but it remains a lesser light among MCU shows. (Season 2)

There were some things it was easy to love about Iron Fist, but the story being told never quite clicked. That killed the show's momentum before it could even really get started, and when Danny Rand finally embraced being Iron Fist...he lost his powers in the season 2 premiere.

The creative decisions made here were beyond baffling, and this was one of Marvel Television's biggest duds. By the time some vaguely interesting ideas were introduced, Iron Fist had been cancelled. 
 

6. The Punisher

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Score: 64% (Season 1 - 68%, Season 2 - 61%)

Rotten or Fresh? Fresh

Critics Consensus: A rocky start can't keep The Punisher from pushing the boundaries of Marvel's TV universe with a fresh take on the comics-derived action thriller. (Season 1)

The Punisher's second season leaves fans torn between the undeniably action-packed fun and the underwhelming portrayal of the charismatic Frank Castle. (Season 2)

There was no faulting Jon Bernthal's performance, but why did Frank Castle need such an overly convoluted origin story? The death of his family shouldn't have ever been part of a larger conspiracy, and while the action was firing on all cylinders, the story was not.

Season 2 moved on from that, but it was too late by then. The Punisher could and should have been better but it was largely handcuffed by Marvel Television's reluctance to embrace the comics. 
 

5. The Defenders

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Score: 78%

Rotten or Fresh? Fresh

Critics Consensus: Marvel's The Defenders further develops well-known characters in an action-packed arc whose payoff packs more than enough of a punch to offset its flaws.

It wasn't quite the epic crossover event we hoped for, and there were arguably more characters than were necessary (not every supporting player needed to join the leads from their respective series). 

Still, it was hard not to enjoy watching these heroes cross paths, even if The Hand had been so poorly handled (heh) that they never really came across as a convincing threat. While the reaction was mostly positive, we'd bet on Marvel Studios doing this team-up justice one day. 
 

4. Jessica Jones

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Score: 83% (Season 1 - 94%, Season 2 - 82%, Season 3 - 73%)

Rotten or Fresh? Fresh

Critics Consensus: Jessica Jones builds a multifaceted drama around its engaging antihero, delivering what might be Marvel's strongest TV franchise to date. (Season 1)

While Jessica Jones is a slower burn with less focus than its inaugural season, its enticing new character arc more fully details the most charismatic Defender. (Season 2)

Even if it's not the most satisfying finale for an entire era of Marvel television, Jessica Jones' final chapter finishes strong by giving its complicated heroine the space to change -- and Krysten Ritter one last chance to work her sarcastic magic. (Season 3)

Given how weak the second and third seasons were, it's a little surprising that Jessica Jones scores this well. It was hard to fault the first batch of episodes, and Marvel Television struck gold by casting Krysten Ritter and David Tennant (literally the perfect Purple Man).

The former remained superb throughout, but moving away from the comic books led to a lot of weird, forgettable story arcs, including bizarre takes on characters like Nuke and Typhoid Mary. 
 

3. Daredevil: Born Again

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Score: 85%

Rotten or Fresh? Fresh

Critics Consensus: Resurrecting Charlie Cox's Daredevil with his virtues intact -- namely Vincent D'Onofrio as his terrifying adversary -- Born Again is an ambitious and at times ungainly crime saga that marks a mature tonal shift for the MCU.

For us, this is quite easily the best series on this list (we've been fortunate enough to see the season in its entirety, remember). This is a solid result, particularly at a time when many critics are going all-in on the "superhero fatigue" narrative. 

Daredevil: Born Again takes everything that worked in the Netflix series and adds what we love about the MCU to create a show that does right by the Man Without Fear. The action is also next level, while the cast is in top form from start to finish. This is a very special series. 
 

2. Luke Cage

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Score: 87% (Season 1 - 90%, Season 2 - 85%)

Rotten or Fresh? Fresh

Critics Consensus: An immersive, socially conscious narrative and a confident, charismatic lead performance make Marvel's Luke Cage a stellar sampling of the new Marvel/Netflix universe. (Season 1)

In its second season, Marvel's Luke Cage delivers a satisfyingly complex narrative and a solid ensemble cast led by Alfre Woodard's standout performance as the archvillainess Black Mariah. (Season 2)

The first six episodes of Luke Cage were Emmy-worthy. Unfortunately, when Cottonmouth was killed, it all went downhill from there. Cartoonish villains took his place, and we got yet another overly complicated origin story, this time for Power Man.

Season 2's cliffhanger saw Luke taking a villainous turn by becoming what he hated to protect Harlem. It was a disappointing, depressing note to end a series full of great performances on and the ending was never resolved.
 

1. Daredevil

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Score: 92% (Season 1 - 99%, Season 2 - 81%, Season 3 - 97%)

Rotten or Fresh? Fresh

Critics Consensus: With tight adherence to its source material's history, high production quality, and a no-nonsense dramatic flair, Daredevil excels as an effective superhero origin story, a gritty procedural, and an exciting action adventure. (Season 1)

Bolstered by some impressive action, Daredevil keeps its footing in season two, even if its new adversaries can't quite fill the void left by Wilson Fisk. (Season 2)

The Man with No Fear returns to top form with a third season that begins tediously slow but gradually generates comic book thrills, immeasurably helped by the welcome return of Vincent D'Onofrio's menacing Kingpin. (Season 3)

Daredevil made quite a few mistakes throughout its three seasons, with the death of Elektra and Karen Page's often-bizarre story arc among the biggest. That aside, it's impossible to say anything bad about Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio's work.

As Wilson Fisk, the latter was perfect, while Cox proved himself the perfect Man Without Fear time and time again. Throw in some killer action scenes and mostly strong story arcs for the show's leads, and we're overjoyed to see this hero be born again. 
 

DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN Episodes 5 And 6 Stills Highlight HAWKEYE Star [SPOILER], Daredevil's Return, And More
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Twenty23Three
Twenty23Three - 3/7/2025, 1:28 PM
I scrolled past everything, because I can only assume the list goes. Every season of Daredevil, season 1 of Jessica Jones, then who the hell cares
WhatIfRickJames
WhatIfRickJames - 3/7/2025, 1:31 PM
These RT scores are so off. That one season of Jessica Jones was ...oof.
Juicebox316
Juicebox316 - 3/7/2025, 1:34 PM
F*cking WHY, Josh?
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 3/7/2025, 1:41 PM
@Juicebox316 - rent money
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 3/7/2025, 1:57 PM
Disney's Daredevil would be last on this list. What a horrible skinsuit of a show.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 3/7/2025, 2:12 PM
@JacobsLadder - it doesn't have the soul that the original series had.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 3/7/2025, 3:03 PM
@JacobsLadder - I would at least put it above Iron Fist and Punisher.
narrow290
narrow290 - 3/7/2025, 3:10 PM
@JacobsLadder - Really? you've based this opinion just 2 episodes in? 2 wonderful episodes in my opinion
What exactly didn't you like about it?
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 3/7/2025, 3:26 PM
@ObserverIO - honestly, I didn't watch Iron Fist.
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 3/7/2025, 3:30 PM
@narrow290 - I don't have the space. They should've just started fresh. I wonder if they even watched season 3 of the Netflix show. They don't understand his powerset at all. What a cheap "spoiler" and Kingpin has been humiliated already. I can't take him seriously now. That's the same guy who smashed a dude's head in a car door? I keep waiting for him to start crying. Marriage counseling? If the show finishes strong, I'll be the first one to stand corrected. I'm not seeing it.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 3/7/2025, 3:31 PM
@JacobsLadder - Then you're a smarter man than me, gunga din.
narrow290
narrow290 - 3/7/2025, 3:55 PM
@JacobsLadder - Man I feel like for the very 1st time they actually do understand his powers. I loved the Netflix show but it had absolutely no parkour in all three seasons (like he would look silly af walking down the street in costume) witch is what made him my favorite character to begin with. This show has done a fantastic job with that right off the bat! Matt doesn't have superhuman agility but working in tandem with his heighten senses and his superior balance he is able to pull off almost impossible feats. As far as Fisk goes, I'm loving his new position as Mayor were in for one helluva ride I'm damn sure he be his violent self soon enough-let em cook!
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 3/7/2025, 4:47 PM
@ObserverIO - I had every intention, but too many people talked me out of it.
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 3/7/2025, 4:56 PM
@narrow290 - he almost gets hit by a car by walking out into traffic and 10 minutes later he grabs his girlfriend a split second before the mob ran her over. the opening was very reminiscent of Affleck's Daredevil, which I admit I enjoy. The costume is great but I need consistency with his powers that's all. I thought Affleck's did a real cool job of showing off his powers.
narrow290
narrow290 - 3/8/2025, 9:36 AM
@JacobsLadder - I understand. My thing is, I’m over hero’s quitting because of tragedy! Also I don’t love the suit
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 3/8/2025, 11:27 AM
@narrow290 - they've got time to pull off a good show. I hope they do.
narrow290
narrow290 - 3/8/2025, 4:52 PM
@JacobsLadder - I’m confident they will! It’ll be a good year for us
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 3/7/2025, 2:09 PM
Hope we pickup with Luke Cage sooner than later, that was an unexpected position to leave the character in.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 3/7/2025, 2:11 PM
It all pales in comparison to DD season 1.
HeavyMetal4Life
HeavyMetal4Life - 3/7/2025, 2:50 PM
I'll wait until the season is over to rank.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/7/2025, 2:54 PM
I’m not as down on Iron Fist as others on here but I don’t think the show was particularly great or even good with S1 being mediocre at best imo & 2 being decent.

Anyway , the shows were flawed and inconsistent in quality (for the most part) season to season but I did enjoy all of them to varying degrees or atleast things about each of them

User Comment Image
narrow290
narrow290 - 3/7/2025, 3:08 PM
I love season one of DD but Born Again is the closest to the comics! Easily the best version of these characters
cadunovaes01
cadunovaes01 - 3/7/2025, 4:12 PM
My rank:
1-Daredevil Seasons 1-3
2-Jessica Jones Season 1
3- Daredevil Born Again
4-Defenders
5-Iron Fist Season 2 (my gulty pleasure)
6-Luke Cage season 1 (only episodes 1-5)

Everything else for me is the same quality
Spike101
Spike101 - 3/7/2025, 5:05 PM
The new Daredevil series from what we have seen so far fails on a few counts, a) that terrible CGI roof top scene, b) the filtering on the cinematography completely changes the tone compared to the Netflix shows and c) killing of Foggy, even supposedly and writing Karen out in episode 1, why? Are they mad? It’s these characters that support the show. Those points aside I loved it, so pleased they kept some essence of the music too, shame about the awful credits music choice though.
Order66
Order66 - 3/7/2025, 6:56 PM
My ranking

1. DD 1-3
2. DD Born Again
3. Defenders
3. Punisher 1-2
4. Luke 1-2
5. JJ 1-3
6. Iron Fist 1-2
Order66
Order66 - 3/7/2025, 6:59 PM
I’ll give Iron Fist season 2 credit, it was so much better than season 1.
Franshu
Franshu - 3/7/2025, 7:27 PM
Typhoid Mary was actually featured in Iron Fist S2, not Jessica Jones, though...
Spike101
Spike101 - 3/8/2025, 2:09 PM
In no way have Disney/Marvel succeeded in equalling or bettering the Netflix shows. It seems that whatever they have tweaked is worse, costumes, adding CGI, lighting, soundtrack.

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