Pokémon Alphabet Challenge: U is for Unexpected
A/N: Can also be read on ffnet here
Each paragraph is a different scene. They start off being weeks or months apart, growing to be years apart. Inspired by I Wasn't Expecting That by Jamie Lawson (from which the last line is taken).
The biggest surprise was the first.
He was ten years old and certainly not thinking about death. Well, maybe Pikachu's but not his own. But later it occurred to him that he very well could have died—he and Pikachu both could have. Had it not been for Misty and her stray fishing line.
It was a surprise that she'd stayed. He wasn't bothered about it particularly, happy or sad. He'd definitely been confused—and the whole bike thing had definitely been annoying—but she…well, she was decent company. And Ash had always liked that.
*
Maybe he didn't really see her until the Gym Battle. Meeting Brock as a Gym Leader and then becoming friends was such a switch to finding out that she was a Gym Leader after the fact. He had been surprised and amazed that she was in such a position, but then, when he battled her, it added up. She was good. And at the time, he'd had too much pride to say it, or even consider it, but she was far better than him.
*
Ash had always loved his birthday, but his mom had warned him that on the road, there would be very little that she could do for him. If he wasn't staying at a Pokémon Center that day, then they might not even be able to talk until a few days after. And there would be little she'd be able to do for him in terms of a cake. When he woke up to the smell of sugar and Brock and Misty standing in front of him with a strange, flame-baked cake, he couldn't believe it. He knew Brock was behind the cake. But he'd told Misty his birthday one of their first days traveling together. And she'd remembered.
*
The first time he had seen Pokémon as a threat was when those Spearow had come after him. That had been a moment of realization for him. But at the same time, it didn't change anything. He still loved all Pokémon and continued to think the best of him. So it was a surprise all over again to encounter the destructive and threatening Squirtle Squad. And it filled Ash with a new and unfamiliar fear when they'd threatened Misty out of nowhere. Long after the panic of making it back in time to save her had faded, he thought that maybe that was the moment he realized they had become friends.
*
In hindsight, his life had already been put at risk once or twice by this point, but waking up in a sunken boat was the first time that he thought: Wow, we really might not make it out of this. But it was her; she saved them all almost singlehandedly. He'd had no idea that she was capable of that. And despite occasional jokes and jabs, truly, he never questioned her capability again.
*
There was a good moment. There was the nonsense with the Gastly and, frankly, the utter nonsense with Brock, but the maiden festival was a good time. Ash had always worn traditional garb for events at his mother's behest, and he'd never complained because he never wanted to upset his mom. But he didn't like wearing them. But when he saw Misty wearing one, it was different than when he'd seen his mom dressed up. She looked…special. That was all. And then they danced.
*
Then there was the first time he died. He didn't see it like that at the time, but later, when he thought about it—and when she yelled it at him—he realized, yeah, his soul had been outside of his body; he had died. And, strangely, it wasn't the last. Or even the second to last. It took him a long time to realize all that. But she'd known right away. Or feared for it, at least. She and Brock both. He, Pikachu, and the Ghost Pokémon had just been having fun. But when he saw the fear in their eyes, he hoped never to do it again. He did, of course. But he was always so, so sorry for it. Maybe more than anything else.
*
She could have been anything. He'd never been that bright or had any ambitions in athletics. He'd never thought about anything else but being a Pokémon Master. But seeing her play the part of the Misty Mermaid after only a day's rehearsal it struck him that she really was amazing. She was an actor, a water dancer like her sisters, she could have been a swimmer for sure, but she just loved Pokémon. Like him. He'd always loved that about her.
*
The League was something else. He'd never had feelings as big as the ones he'd felt during his first Pokémon League. There was excitement, fear, confidence, nerves, achievement, ambition, all rolled into a nearly twelve-year-old body. And he needed a tether to keep that all on Earth, to keep it all bound. His mom was that. Professor Oak was that. Brock was that. She was that. Time and time again, she was that.
*
And she'd been there when he'd needed her most, which was after. Even when he didn't want her there, she was there. And he was grateful.
*
He honestly hadn't been prepared for Brock leaving. Not in a way where he was distraught or lost, but where he didn't know what to feel at all. He'd never considered any element of a journey's end before; as far as he was concerned, he'd be traveling forever. But he wasn't alone in his feelings. Every experience was easier when you knew you weren't alone. And right beside him was someone going through the exact same confusion and loss. So he was okay. Because he had her.
*
When one door closes, another opens. Before they were even able to settle into a routine without Brock, in walked Tracey. Tracey, who was a great, welcome addition to their group. But he was different. Different from having Brock. And different from having Misty. Not even in a good or bad way, but enough to notice. That was all. He just noticed.
*
Starting a new journey hadn't been the plan. Well, of course it had been the plan, but not here, not now. But when he decided to stay in the Orange Islands for a while longer, he knew that she was staying as well. She was there for him—there supporting him. Whether he had a plan or not, whether they were staying or not; she was there. The life of a traveler held no certainty. But he had that.
*
He'd seen her smile a million times. Really, he knew it by heart. Usually, her mouth was closed, but her eyes would squint, so he would know that she meant it. That it was a real smile. But sometimes her mouth would go wide, almost trapezoidal in shape, uneven and uncontrolled. That was when she thought something was really funny, or maybe something really wonderful had happened. He didn't even remember what had triggered it, but one day, she gave that rare second smile, and his chest felt warm. And he couldn't help but smile too.
*
He was being a jerk. Maybe he wasn't the most self-aware kid on the planet, but he liked people enough to know when—on the rarity that it occurred—he didn't get along with someone. And he did not like this Danny guy. And Misty was kinda pissing him off. But that was a separate thing.
*
She wouldn't talk about it. He wasn't exactly sure what had happened on Trovita, but she was acting differently. Even days later. Tracey wouldn't talk about it either, and it seemed like he knew more than Ash did. Even though they'd been together the whole time while Misty had been out. He was confused and he didn't like being confused, but he also wasn't the type to dwell on stuff. And if everyone said that he'd understand later, then he would just have to trust that he would.
*
She'd saved him. Not for the first time and not for the last time, but just like the day they'd met, she pulled him out of the water and saved him from drowning. But it was different this time. This time it wasn't a rogue hook from an anonymous fishing pole. This time, it was his friend, his best friend, risking her life in the cold, dangerous waters as she swam for him. She could have sent out one of her many Water Pokémon. But she didn't. It was his life in hers. And he was safe.
*
She'd been there when he lost. His worst moment into the days where he'd been at his worst. And now she was here when he won. He was proud of his Pokémon. He was proud of himself. But when he saw her smiling so big, so proud of him, his chest swelled. His heart felt bigger than it ever had. And it was only the start.
*
It was like Brock had never left. But at the same time, the group dynamic was different. Brock didn't seem to have so many fights to break up. They were just getting along. It was smooth, it was easy, they were happy. Well, they'd always been happy, but now they were good. Really good.
*
It was a weird thought, Chikorita having a crush on him. He'd never really considered anything like that before—certainly not coming from a Pokémon. But somehow, it got him to thinking. It was never good when that happened.
*
He was usually the one to fall headlong into the water, but this time it was her. Ash watched in shock as she, with Pikachu and Marill in hand, fell into the stream and was dragged away from him. And in that instant, he wondered how she handled watching him fall so many times. They'd both witnessed Brock fall off that bridge back in Kanto, but this was different. With a frightening urgency, Ash leapt to his feet and ran towards the stream, with promises of saving her flying from his lips.
*
There was nothing spectacular about the first kiss. There was no proclamation of love or affection, and there wouldn't be for a long time. Maybe it wasn't even supposed to happen, but on an insignificant night, filled with insignificant talk, she leaned over and gave him a little kiss. And they blushed and they did not talk about it. It was the first and even then, he suspected it wouldn't be the last.
*
It wasn't romance, or even a relationship. They didn't go on dates. They didn't hold hands. The things they said weren't any different—they still fought as they always did, though it was less than in the old days. It wasn't about any of that, though. It was the shy smiles, the warm blushes, the secret thoughts that made it exciting and new. They shared something now, something neither of them had ever had before. And, for now, it was just for them.
*
He hadn't thought about crushes since Chikorita had made hers obvious, but this girl Macy suddenly put the topic on his mind again. And, abruptly, he realized that Misty probably had a crush on him. And, though there was no way to tell, nothing to compare to, really, he probably had one on her. He didn't know what to do with that, but, if anything he smiled more often when he looked at her.
*
Another loss. But, for some reason, this one didn't sting as much as the first. Maybe it was because he was older, maybe it was because he'd experienced it before, maybe it was he'd made it further this time. Or maybe it's because he knew how good the after was. He'd lost, but now he had a whole new journey to look forward to. He didn't know where they'd go next, but he was certain that, somewhere, there was another round of badges to collect, and another League for him to try his luck at. And that made the losing not so bad.
*
The hardest thing he'd probably ever done at that point was leaving Charizard at the Charicific Valley. For some reason, that goodbye, even though it hadn't been permanent, had been the heaviest weight to bear. Perhaps it's because they'd been through so much, perhaps it was because he'd struggled for so long to get Charizard back on their side, and it felt like they'd only just become friends again. But the idea of leaving Misty was so much harder. She'd been there since before Charmander, before Brock, before everyone but Pikachu. And she'd been by his side the whole time. And just like with Charizard, he didn't want her to leave, but he couldn't hold her back. So le let her go. But before that, he kissed her, and kissed her, and kissed her.
*
It was a hard decision to start over again. New region. Just Pikachu. No Misty. No Brock. Just his experience and penchant for good luck. Gary was an influence, of course, but it was more than that. He'd relied on Misty and Brock so much in the past, but now he didn't have them. Not in the same way at least. It was time to trust himself, and know that they would still be there inside him.
*
Most people begin relationships when they're together; theirs began apart. They couldn't talk often, because it was typically many days between towns and access to a phone or mail service. Plus, she was busy and they were, after all, in different time zones. But the effort that was there was different. She had seen more than three years go by where he rarely phoned his mom, Professor Oak, or Brock while he'd been away. They didn't usually have much new to talk about, but that wasn't the point. The talk was nice, but the contact was better.
*
He was glad that she wasn't jealous of May. At this point, he knew that Misty was not immune to jealousy by any means, but something about being in an actual relationship must have calmed her. Or maybe the distance just meant that she had no choice but to trust him. He certainly trusted her.
*
The Gym's reputation was soaring, and he was so proud. Now that he'd challenged just about two dozen Gyms, he really had perspective on what had been only his second Gym Battle. And, with all due respect, the Cerulean Gym had been a mess. And he was willing to bet it hadn't gotten much better in the past few years. But after only a few months of her being in charge, it was rising in the ranks in Kanto, past Forrest, Aya, who'd taken over for Koga, and A.J. the new Viridian Gym Leader. That was according to the articles Brock had helped him find, at least.
*
Since being with her, he had gotten better at keeping in contact with everyone in his life. His mom, Professor Oak, and his other friends—when he could. Sometimes letters were the only way, since traveling friends weren't always at Pokémon Centers at the same time. But he did his best—or at least, much better than before. Something else to thank her for, he figured.
*
He'd been worried about how to act when she came to visit in person. What were the expectations now that they were 'together?' But the worry ended up being for nothing. As soon as she came, it was as natural as it had ever been. Not to say that it was the same as it had been when they'd first started traveling again—no not at all. They held hands, they kissed, and now when people made jokes about them…well, he still blushed, but it felt very different. But it wasn't just that lovey-dovey stuff. They were too distracted by the Mirage Kingdom for the most part anyhow. It was good to know, though, that they were still them.
*
The L word came so naturally he almost missed it. She said it first, and he had to do a mental rewind to check that he'd heard correctly. But of course he had and of course she'd said it, because the truth was that he loved her too. And she definitely didn't miss it when he said it back.
*
There was one thing that struck him on his journey through Hoenn that he couldn't help but get stuck on. May had only just started off as a Coordinator, but she was already well on her way to the Grand Festival. She was following her dream parallel to Ash challenging the Hoenn League. But Brock and Misty—who had had dreams long before Ash had come along—hadn't done the same. They'd been his support, following him where he'd gone, always done what he wanted. And that quickly concerned him. But when he spoke with Misty, she told him one thing. That a person could have multiple dreams, and somewhere along the way, traveling with him had become her dream as well.
*
He'd kinda thought that when the year was up and her sisters returned, she would come back to him. But, at the same time, he wasn't surprised when she didn't. She'd found her place in the world and, slowly but surely, she was on her way to becoming a Master. So he kept traveling. And she stayed there. But they were nevertheless together.
*
Their first date was a year in, when he was in Kanto for the Battle Frontier. The truth was that he didn't care what they did, where they went, or that they even went on an 'official' date, save for one thing; he knew that she wanted it. She was a romantic, and that was that—he was going to ask her out. They went to a fancy restaurant that his mom recommended, and it cost what a week's worth of meals on the road would have. But to see her face…it was worth it and more.
*
When he entered the Battle Frontier Hall of Fame, he was hit with a dilemma. If he became a Brain, he'd be able to stay in Kanto, fighting really strong Trainers and meeting new Pokémon. And he'd be close to Misty. But he wanted to keep traveling. And he wondered if that was selfish.
*
He went off to Sinnoh with Brock, and she, again, stayed behind. It was routine, and they were happy, but for the first time, he wondered something. How was this going to be sustainable? He asked her and, for once, she admitted that she didn't know. As he went through the Gyms, one thing was clear: he'd made the right decision to continue traveling. He loved meeting new Pokémon, and Dawn reminded him how much he liked meeting new friends. If he was going to have to stop one day, it wasn't just yet.
*
Maybe journeys became stale for some, but for him, this one felt very different, primarily for one reason: Paul. Gary had been a good rival in Kanto, but after a while, they weren't challenging each other anymore. Their paths hardly crossed, and they'd become quite different from one another. And now he was a researcher, of all things. Paul was first real rival in a long time, and maybe even more of a challenge than Gary. With Gary, it had been petty childishness that had pushed him. Now, it was something greater. Of course, he could really test himself against, Paul, but there was also a point to be proven. And he wasn't going to settle.
*
Though he hadn't realized it at the time, he knew he'd experienced jealousy in the past. He thought he knew the extent of it in terms of his relationship. But he hadn't realized that it could manifest in other ways, one of those being jealousy of others' relationships. Sure, they were only in the budding stages, but May and Drew were able to have that at each others' side, traveling together. And even though he wanted it all the time, that just made him want Misty to be there more than ever.
*
Lorelei stepped down from the Elite Four, and Misty's name was on the short list of replacements. He'd never been immersed in League politics before dating her, but now he followed every move of the Kanto League. Usually Gym Leaders were first choice to fill the slots, then Frontier Brains, then Trainers with other accolades, like League victors or even Top Coordinators, though that was uncommon. Regardless, in the current moment, he hardly cared about his career as all eyes were on hers.
*
She got it. And that only meant one thing. For most of the year, she could travel again. With him.
*
As soon as he got her back, Brock left. It turned out that in all his time riding along with Ash's dream, he had been working on his own. And he'd discovered that that wasn't the dream he wanted anymore. He was going to be a Pokémon doctor. And for that, he needed school. So on the happiest of notes, ones again, they went their separate ways.
*
This time, things really were different. Even though her dream was well in the works, now they made sure to make time for the both of them. They spent more time by the ocean. More time catching new Water Pokémon and training together. He developed a real patience for fishing. Their relationship was tested for the first time and they found out that yes, indeed, they could be together always, and still love one another.
*
The first time they made love it was awkward, as it tends to be. It was messy and, at times, uncomfortable, but it was also lovely and amazing. He'd been a little surprised to find himself ready for such a thing but, with her, it was the easiest choice he could have made.
*
They went through the Leagues, Unova and Kalos, and they waited as the Alola League became up and running. He was always better, and always closer. Always closer, but never there. But maybe it was better that way because, as he often joked with her, he'd have no idea what was next if he ever made it.
*
They were married young, both nineteen and blissful beyond all belief. Brock was the best man and Pikachu was the ring bearer. It was small, but perfect. It was early, but long, long awaited.
*
Then there was talk of children. They both wanted them, but then he wouldn't be able to travel anymore. That was less an issue for her, because she was an Elite either way, but without traveling, what did he have? Then Blaine retired, leaving the Cinnabar Island Gym conveniently open.
*
He became the first traveling Gym Leader. Sometimes you would find him at the Gym, and sometimes you had to find him elsewhere, not always close. The child in him loved the game of it all, and he wondered how Misty had ever complained about being a Gym Leader. She argued that she hadn't complained often. But she didn't argue long, because she loved being able to come back to an island home.
*
They had three, which was at the same time way too many and hardly enough. Part of him wanted to have enough kids to have a family baseball team. But she drew the line at three, and he was just fine with that. Of course, they were all Trainers, and one by one, they left the house on journeys of their own, just as their parents had done so long ago.
*
When the kids were gone there was one choice to make: stay settled—as settled as they'd ever been—or begin travel again?
*
Was it even a choice?
*
The most fun they had was when they would not-so-accidentally stumble across one of their kids journeying. They would cry out that eye contact had been made and assume a no holds Battle. It wasn't exactly fair, but no one objected. That wasn't the Ketchum way.
*
They grew old together. And when she got sick, the journey had to stop. But it was the perfect time to recall how easy it would have been to have missed all of this. They might have spent their whole life as friends or not even that, had it not been for a few surprises along the way. They were sad, but they laughed.
*
Then you closed your eyes, you took my heart by surprise. I wasn't expecting that.
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Netflix MCU Wish List (as of 2017)
Since Marvel’s Defenders premiered, I’ve been thinking about how the Netflix corner of the MCU could evolve from here. I can’t wait to see Daredevil season 3 (still my favorite of these series), and Luke Cage & Jessica Jones’ second seasons are also highly anticipated. If Iron Fist learns from its missteps in Season 1—namely, decide whether he was supposed to stay in K’un-Lun or seek out & destroy the Hand and start writing him like he’s had 15 years of training & study instead of playing him like a novice who doesn’t know basic details about his enemies...or that they still exist—the more the merrier. I’ve never been a huge Punisher fan, but I really liked him as a foil for Daredevil and I’ll give his show a shot as well. Here are some things I’d like to see as the shows enter the post-Defenders landscape.
Full spoilers…
Embrace “Filler” Episodes
While Defenders makes sense as a single serialized story, the Netflix solo series are feeling increasingly worn thin by forcing a limited number of plots to stretch over 13 episodes. I think these series could break up their seasons and include a few “cases of the week” instead of making 13-hour movies. All four characters have ready-made jobs to provide this structure: Matt’s law clients, anyone needing Jessica’s detective skills, and everyone needing to hire Luke and/or Danny as heroes can open doors to a wide variety of enemies and conflicts. I’m glad Jessica is opening up to the world around her, but I really wish Luke would finally start his own hero for hire agency to embrace his destiny as a helper for his community in an official capacity. Throwing in other, largely unconnected plots can help flesh out the elements of these characters’ worlds more fully than focusing on one group of villains or one plot over 13 hours. You can also explore minor villains’ thematic connections and parallels to the heroes without tying them directly into a season-long arc. “Filler” episodes let us live in the world created by big moments and twists instead of just rushing from twist to twist, and I’d much rather live with these characters as they grow by facing a wide variety of challenges than watch them solve one super-long plot.
One-off cases could also allow for easier connections between the heroes, allowing them to explore the bonds that were forged in Defenders. Matt and Jessica had fun banter and good chemistry I’d like to see explored, maybe even in a relationship. Luke made Danny likable to me and opened his eyes to some truths about the world. Mixing things up and teaming Matt with Luke and Danny with Jessica would also be fun: I’d love to see what wisdom Luke has for Matt (and any conversation between the two of them about the law) and Jessica not having any of Danny’s supernatural craziness will always be entertaining. I don’t need season-long team-ups, but interactions over an episode or two would be welcome. A wider variety of cases could also lend itself to a wider variety of tones, and I’d definitely like to see some Daredevil adventures in the vein of Mark Waid’s tenure on the comic. That optimistic Silver Age-style could make a lot of sense as Matt continues to work out how to be a good hero. A Silver Age-styled adventure could also drive Jessica bonkers, which would be a lot of fun.
Dive into the Marvel Universe
While they don’t need to go as far as Agents of SHIELD did in its first season, where The Battle of New York was brought up all the time, the idea that the Netflix characters almost never refer to the Avengers by name has gotten ridiculous. Even moreso, there’s no reason Claire Temple couldn’t just say “Daredevil” when she told Danny Rand about her friend with experience fighting the Hand (or that she wouldn’t try calling him; his retirement explains that a bit but not enough that she wouldn’t ask him to help). Why bother creating a shared universe if proper names can’t even be invoked? On the other hand, I really like how elements of the MCU have touched the four series—the Battle of New York reverting Hell’s Kitchen to its pre-gentrification, crime-ridden identity and bootleg copies of the Chitauri Invasion being sold on the street, for example—but there’s still a palpable disconnect that doesn’t seem necessary and has gotten distracting.
One aspect that should definitely come into play is the Sokovia Accords. As I saw mentioned on IGN, Luke, Jessica, and Danny should’ve definitely been forced to sign them after the destruction of Midland Circle. The Accords’ absence not only feels strange but like a major missed opportunity to increase the pressure on the Defenders and to police what they can and can’t do to help people. Once Matt comes back, Daredevil being hunted by the government (since he’s violating the Accords) could be a perfect way to raise the stakes each time he goes out and to explore Matt’s view of the law when he’s flagrantly violating it for the right reasons.
Get the Villains Off the Ground!
I get that the Defenders are designed as the street-level heroes of the MCU. That’s fine, but I’d love for them to face some street-level supervillains instead of just non-powered gangsters. We’ve seen all four heroes outmatch human gangs many times and it feels like it’s time to level-up the enemies, particularly now that they’ve taken down a supernatural ninja cult. Speaking of the Hand, if their agents are still implanted throughout the city, that’s a perfect opportunity for one of them to take control or to have Madame Gao return and attempt to maintain the status quo. And like I realized when writing my Defenders review, there’s no more perfect enemy for heroes who represent the downtrodden than the entire societal system. The hidden Hand agents would personify that perfectly.
Back to supervillains, the Purple Man and The Hand as they appeared in Daredevil are a good start (and Diamondback was a fun example of a villain with tech upgrades), but I’d love to see costumed super-villains. Villains like Bullseye, Mr. Fear (who is also a lawyer, so he’d be able to confront Matt everywhere), the Owl (Junior, here), Typhoid Mary, Echo, Lady Bullseye, Death-Stalker (maybe a former Hand agent with a deadly touch in this version…perhaps he’d be a better enemy for Luke), Ikari, Ox, and even Stilt-man would all provide unique challenges for Daredevil to overcome, necessitating a wide variety of action scenes. Kingpin can certainly try to get his revenge, but I don’t want all of Daredevil Season 3 consumed with just him and it’s time Matt started fighting enemies outside his weight class.
I’m not familiar with Luke, Jessica, or Danny’s rogues galleries, but I’m sure they’re extensive and I’d love to see what unique challenges each of them brings to the table. For example, Danny could and should dig into the supernatural side of the Marvel universe villains. The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s superheroes aren’t a new phenomenon anymore, so there’s no reason not to embrace the proliferation of powers and technology in Netflix’s corner too. In fact, I’d love for the next Defenders miniseries to give us a supervillain team-up after introducing them in the heroes’ solo series!
Play Up the Powers
I’d love more scenes from Matt’s point of view with his radar vision, for example (an area Ben Affleck’s Daredevil film outdoes the Netflix series). It’d also be great to really explore Matt’s unique relationship with the world around him due to both his blindness and his powers. How do those unique aspects shape his worldview? While we’re at it, Defenders was a good start, but I’d definitely like to see more of Matt’s acrobatics and parkour travel put to use!
Luke Cage’s potential vulnerabilities were brought up in his first season, but the villains never tried drowning him, electrocuting him, or hitting him with knock-out gas (though Stick successfully gassed him). As perfect and relevant a metaphor a bulletproof black man is nowadays, I’d like them to challenge his limits through other threats as well. Matt and Danny have distinctive fighting styles; can Luke and Jessica develop their own as well? I do see the connection with Luke’s unbreakable status with him just letting guys get tired hitting him or just barreling through legions of enemies, so perhaps that works for him as his style.
Jessica could stand to get a style of her own, however; maybe she could start tearing up the environment around her and using it against enemies. Furthermore, I’d love clarification on what Jessica’s limits are. Two seasons in, we should be beyond “vaguely strong and can kinda maybe fly.” Perhaps this stems from her disdain for her abilities, but with Jessica opening up and letting people in, perhaps she’ll also want to know just how much she can do.
Can Danny focus his chi to do anything besides punching hard and healing himself? Does he have villains that use supernatural forces in different ways than chi manipulation? Are there literal monsters he needs to vanquish?
Support the Supporting Characters
Now that the Defenders have come together and her purpose as their foundation is fulfilled, what new role is Claire going to take on? Where does she go next? I’d like them to find something totally distinct for her instead of becoming a hub of information, since that seems like such a stock superhero position these days. I love that she’s always there to talk sense into these heroes and ground them, so something that incorporates that is a must.
I’m eager to explore the dark past Karen’s hinted at. Her reporter career could also open up interesting avenues; it might be cool if she hunted down the embedded Hand operatives throughout the city now that Matt can’t fight them. Maybe not the full-on Death’s-Head, but if Karen’s father appeared as a villain, he’d be a cool foil for Matt’s mom in Daredevil Season 3. I hope that Matt’s supposed death doesn’t drive her or Foggy—especially since he gave Matt the suit—into darkness. It might be cool if Kristen McDuffie from Mark Waid’s run on Daredevil appeared and somewhat replaced Matt as the defender of the downtrodden until Murdock gets back; maybe Foggy will go back to that style of law too to honor his friend.
Will Trish take up her Hellcat mantle as a superhero? Trish reporting on the earthquakes in New York felt like a classic superhero/journalist connection for Jessica and I’d like to see that played up in Jessica Jones Season 2 whether Trish becomes a superhero or not. I wonder if Malcolm will have a larger role at Jessica’s detective agency than her secretary too. It’ll be interesting to see how he and Jessica work together once she’s more open to the business.
How will Harlem react to a Luke who doesn’t have to look over his shoulder to watch for his past coming for him anymore? I love that he takes the time to get to know the people he helps; aside from a great character trait it’s an easy way to flesh out his neighborhood and I hope it continues. What have Mariah and Shades been up to in his absence? Even if they’re lying low, they’ve got to be planning something.
What hijinks are Misty and Colleen going to get into as Daughters of the Dragon? I like both of them a lot and I’d love for them to team up! I hope we get to see Misty getting used to her robotic arm instead of jumping to her being even somewhat experienced with it. Will Misty become a vigilante, and if so, how will she balance that with her job as a police officer? How extralegal can she let Colleen get without feeling she’s aiding and abetting her crimes? Will Colleen take down the Hand assets she helped to train? Does she feel responsible for putting them into the world where they can harm others?
New Series
I’m sure the Netflix world will extend beyond The Punisher, and I’ve got a few ideas how. They don’t have to join the Defenders full-time and solo “one-shot” seasons would be fine too, though it’d be cool if they did get to interact with Matt, Jessica, Luke, and Danny.
Steve Rogers: Nomad
The Captain America films are among my favorites of the MCU, but one thing I wish we’d seen was a deeper exploration of Steve as a man out of time. With Infinity War looming (and Kevin Feige saying endings are coming for the heroes), I’m a little worried we won’t get a chance to see Steve trying to make a life for himself in the present without some MCU-shattering event happening. I’d love a miniseries set between Civil War and Infinity War that explores Steve’s time on the run as a fugitive. Let’s see him really experience the differences in our era from his beyond pop culture. Would he help superheroes (and Inhumans?) escape the Sokovia Accords, like an Underground Railroad? What does he think of our current political climate (or one similar to it)? Does he struggle to reconcile the idea from Age of Ultron that he can’t live comfortably in peacetime with his generally peaceful and optimistic nature? I’d love to see a show where Steve just travels the country, getting reacquainted with the world and helping out whenever he comes across trouble. If he’s going to call himself Captain America, he should know what and who he’s standing for; do the people live up to—or even just aspire to—the ideals he embodies anymore? The movies have touched on several of Steve’s comic book villains, but they could be fleshed out—and the rest of his rogues gallery could come into play (Red Skull could finally return!)—in a miniseries like this. Perhaps Nuke shows up here and his pills are revealed as part of a modern super-soldier project. I’d design the plots as intentionally low-key, because Steve would be concerned with the people on the ground, not on the global implications. Maybe Sharon Carter comes with him to develop that relationship beyond what little we got in Winter Soldier and Civil War. Maybe Sam Wilson comes too, to give Steve an insight into the modern world and its problems that a white guy from the 40s simply can’t fully understand (Sharon can provide him with a woman’s perspective as well). Luke Cage could also add to any discussion about modern society, and I’d love to see these similarly good-natured heroes meet and bond! Captain America’s one of my favorite characters and I’d love to see what Chris Evans could do with him if given a broader, more personal canvas to play with.
Black Widow
This is so far overdue it’s ridiculous, especially with Jennifer Lawrence seemingly playing a Black Widow character in Red Sparrow. If they won’t give Scarlett Johansson a movie, give Natasha a Jason Bourne-esque miniseries! Since all her information was released in Winter Soldier, let’s see all her enemies come after her at once, so we get to learn her past through flashbacks and see her clear her Red Ledger once and for all. There’s still so much story to her and I can see her leaving the Avengers to finally settle her past on her own terms, by herself. Maybe let Hawkeye come along, since they have a well-established friendship. Natasha had a significant partnership/relationship and eventually friendship with Daredevil in the comics, so getting to see her meet and interact with Matt would be excellent.
Elektra
Elektra killed both her mentors in Defenders, clearing herself of her past and symbolically readying herself for a new future. I’d definitely like to see her forge this new path in a Netflix season (if not in Daredevil Season 3)! I suppose she still wanted to stay immortal and lead the Hand, but I’d like to see what her endgame was. Was she just out to maintain the status quo, only with herself in charge? If so, leading the Hand’s remaining hidden army within New York (if Gao doesn’t do that) would be a cool way to play the Defenders against the system in a literal way. Perhaps Elektra could reshape the way things work in a way none of the Hand’s leaders wanted or even thought of. On the other hand, she could become a full-fledged assassin like in the comics. She could even be employed by SHIELD to take out enemy combatants; making her a government-sanctioned killer could make her an interesting foil to Matt (and the law backing her immoral activities would give Matt a different ethical conundrum than Punisher’s vigilante vendetta). Maybe she could be an asset used to track down those who evade the Sokovia Accords. Whatever they decide to do with her, she’s very deliberately a blank slate and I can’t wait to see what she chooses now that no one is controlling her. Despite saying the fight with Matt and leadership of the Hand was what she wanted, if she saved him he wasn’t completely wrong about her. Perhaps there’s still hope for her after all.
She-Hulk
Jennifer Walters deserves to be introduced into the MCU somewhere. There are precious few heroines who enjoy their power onscreen (usually that’s reserved for villains, though The CW has been working to counteract that trend), and Jen would be fantastic here. She’d also provide some levity to the Defenders’ world…though her legal career might be a little redundant with Matt’s in play as well; ditto her super strength with Luke, Jessica, and sorta Danny having that power. On the other hand, that’s just a reason to show how differently they approach their jobs and how she uses her brain as much as her brawn. Jen sees her power as a gift, and seeing your “damage” as an asset could be a perspective the Defenders sorely need. I once wanted Jen to deliver this message to her cousin Bruce in a Hulk movie, but it’d be just as meaningful if she and Jessica met and discussed their powers, which neither of them asked for. My dream casting would be Gina Torres. Play Jen as an Erin Brockovich type, called into a small town where people are getting sick and people are seeing monsters (“but that sort of thing only happens in New York, not the heartland”). I’m definitely thinking a modern take on a 50s/60s monster movie here. Jen’s kidnapped by The Leader and given Banner’s blood, like all the rest of the “sick” people he’s been experimenting on, which can provide not only her origin, but that of any number of Hulk foes. If She-Hulk is allowed to break the fourth wall (maybe explain it as a side-effect of Leader’s tests), it’d be a fun opportunity to put some Deadpool into the MCU and to comment on the restrictions behind the usage of the characters.
Peggy Carter and the Agents of Atlas
I’d love to see more from Peggy in any form; she’s one of my favorite MCU characters and there are still lingering plot threads from her series that need to be wrapped up! What about exploring her time with SHIELD in the 1950s? The Agents of Atlas are a lesser-known government team composed of heroes representing classic sci-fi pulp tropes from that period (a Uranian alien, a robot, a siren, a gorilla-man, etc.). Maybe Peggy worked with them back then. This would obviously be a departure from the Netflix shows, both in terms of scope and subject matter (though the Agents do have a dragon advisor…), but a pulpy trip back to Marvel’s past could be a fun way to spend 8-13 episodes. Jimmy Woo—the Agents of Atlas’ leader—is going to be in Ant-Man and the Wasp, but this could be a prequel series. Perhaps Peggy’s seasons could function as an anthology series, with each season taking place in another era of her life. Maybe she met Namor, the robotic Human Torch, and any number of pulpy Marvel vigilantes in the 40s too! That would allow them to finish off Agent Carter’s story threads while fleshing out the MCU’s history.
Blade
Daredevil, Spider-man, Punisher, and Ghost Rider have all reentered the MCU, so it’d be cool if Blade got a chance to bring a horror vibe to its Netflix segment. I’d definitely play up scares rather than superheroics with him and they could introduce all manner of monsters for him to protect people from (or begrudgingly team up with). Marvel’s got the Frankenstein Monster, Dracula, a Living Mummy, the Werewolf by Night, and a trans-dimensional swamp monster in Man-Thing (who has been mentioned on Agents of SHIELD), among many, many other creepy creatures! I’d send Blade against all of them. With all the powers of a vampire (including their thirst for blood) and none of their weaknesses, he just might stand a chance against these Marvel monstrosities. Since the supernatural’s been introduced in Daredevil and Iron Fist, it wouldn’t be that big a leap to monsters, even if they are initially presented as more grounded than monsters generally are (to lay low in modern society, of course). Maybe they’d be the logical step up from supervillains in terms of raising the bar on adversaries.
What do you want to see from the Netflix corner of the MCU?
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