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The Defenders

Credits

Cast

Network

Reviewer

Paul Asay

TV Series Review

Will Rogers thought lawyers’ lack of conscience is what makes them lawyers. And while that might not be true of all attorneys, Rogers certainly seems to have fictional Las Vegas lawyers Nick Morelli and Pete Kaczmarek pegged.

Nick and Pete’s methods are about as eclectic as their clients, and their firm, Morelli & Kaczmarek, will represent anyone, big or small—and sometimes not even human. Lisa, a former exotic dancer, and Zoe, a young and naive assistant, round out the practice that, while successful, has been known to inspire some serious eye rolling among the judges who try their cases.

The whole representing anyone shtick speaks to the size of Pete’s and Nick’s hearts. They might care about the wrong things at times. And they might make some pretty bad choices while they’re caring about those wrong things. But they do end up caring more about the people they work for (and with) than the money they might make if they fully lived down to Rogers’ opinion.

Something else, however, speaks to the color of their hearts: If Pete isn’t trolling for his latest romantic conquest, then he’s … unconscious. And if Nick isn’t trying to patch things up with his estranged wife, he’s subtly flirting with a client. And don’t think Pete’s above that, either. He’ll even sleep with clients. After all, these high-rolling attorneys live in Sin City, and they’ll bet their necks they’ll win your case. Why? Because they play people—clients, judges, other attorneys, the Feds—like cards.

Episode Reviews

The Defenders: Aug. 17, 2017 “The H Word”

The Hand begins flexing its fingers as our heroes are still in their own little corners of New York City. Jessica Jones begins investigating the disappearance of a well-to-do architect. Just-out-of-prison Luke Cage attempts to mentor a kid who’s gotten involved in something dangerous. Danny Rand has a bad dream. And Matt Murdock struggles with his decision to hang up his cowl.

One of Luke’s first priorities is, apparently, having sex with nurse Claire Temple. They soon pull off each other’s clothes and have noisy sex. Later, we see that various bits of furniture were trashed during their tryst. Luke and Claire sit around shirtless. (Claire wears a bra.) Jessica, meanwhile, first suspects that the missing architect is just having an affair, and tells his wife so. “You need a divorce lawyer,” Jessica adds. We see Danny without a shirt.

A frenetic fight to open the episode leads to someone getting cut in the gut and another person dying. In a dream, Danny recalls the bloody deaths of several people. “You let them die,” a shadow of himself says. Jessica drinks lots of whiskey, apparently spiking her coffee with it as well. There’s a reference to someone’s past heroin use.

Matt goes to confession, telling the priest he lied to someone about not missing his old life as Daredevil. The priest suggests that Matt’s lying to himself, too.

“Your mind and our soul are not aligned,” he says. “Ignoring [that] doesn’t change anything, Matthew. Let [God] in [to your heart] so He can help.”

“Even if it’s damaged?” Matt asks.

Especially if it’s damaged.”

Characters use the s-word eight times and utter other profanities as well, including “a–,” “b–ch,” “d–n” and “h—.” God’s name is misused four times, once with “d–n.” Jesus’ name is abused once.

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Paul Asay

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

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