How does this compare to Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, etc.?

I wrote a long thorough reply and it was deleted. Sigh.

Here goes.

Admittedly, I've only seen Daredevil but Daredevil is infinitely better than this show, I haven't seen the others.

I decided to watch this because the trailer intrigued me.

I'll give you my honest review of this show and leave it up to you if you want to watch this or not.

First, I enjoy the show, why? Because of the plot. I find the plot highly intriguing and exciting. I like the side characters and side plots revolving around these side characters. On another thread, someone mentioned how boring the Meachums were BUT I disagree very strongly. I think they are the best part of the show, with the strongest and most complex characters. But amongst them, the highlight, not only of the Meachums, but of the entire show is Tom Palphrey. Tom Palphrey plays a childhood friend of Danny Rand, the main protagonist played by Finn. Palphrey is what sells this show for me. His acting and his character is what sells this show despite its problems. I won't say more on Palphrey as not to spoil it for you.

But just to let you know, both the plot/story and the character of Ward as played by Palphrey has made me binge watch this show within 2 days.

Now the negatives.

The actor Finn playing the title character is weak weak weak. His dialogue makes me cringe. Perhaps it's the writing since he has to say mystical monk-ish quotes, BUT perhaps a better actor would've sold such a line. He cannot sell his lines in any convincing manner.

His acting is unfortunately glaringly weak. he is the weakest in this show. Here, all the anti-heroes, the villains, the side characters outshine him. And like Thor - the antihero character (Loki) steals the spot from the main lead - namely Tom Pelphrey as Ward Meachum.

I have mentioned before, on another site, that this show would've benefited greatly if Pelphrey was instead chosen as the Iron Fist - Danny Ward. Pelphrey has range, charisma, and intensity that Finn has none of. Pelphrey can convey vulnerability and innocence, yet can also convincingly portray menace and cunning. He can portray a badass fighting warrior, as well as a buttoned up rich guy with Daddy issues. And most of all, he can pull off a monk from the streets, who slept in a dirty mat for 15 years, and who has been secluded in some isolated temple away from civilization. I know he can sell this because I have glimpsed such potential in both this show and a show called Banshee. Banshee is a terrible show btw, only Pelphrey is its saving grace.

But here are 2 links that showcases the extreme range and intensity of Tom Pelphrey:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAjAXUaCZuE&t=45s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QvuHSslKjY

BUT Pelphrey isn't the protagonist of the show, instead he plays Ward Meachum who, although isn't the main character, is able to bring such depth to his character. A character not meant to be sympathetic but is because of Pelphrey's abilities. In Banshee, he also plays another anti-hero - an ex neo-NAZI - tattooes all over his body, and yes he wins the audience over despite of it. So, would his character be as interesting if he had not played it? Who knows? But this show is a must see just for Pelphrey alone IMO.

Aside from Finn's weakness, the fight scenes are also weak. And this is a great detriment to a show that has a lot of fight scenes. The fight scenes are slow, sluggish, and extremely awkward. You can see the fighters waiting for every kick/punch and that does not make a great fight scene. The problem IMO lies in the director, the director simply doesn't know how to film and edit action scenes such as this and it really harms a show that focuses much on its fight scenes.

It doesn't help that the actor Finn looks extremely weak and feeble, when he is supposed to be a special warrior trained since childhood through extreme hardship for 15 years. Why does the actor look weak and feeble? I can only assume it is because that is the look or physique Finn is going for. Finn here looks like a cherub, too pretty to sell a monk raised to sleep on dirty mats and endure hard labor for 15 years. He looks to belong in a facial commercial advertising toners and moisturizing creams, a metrosexual who gets his nails done every week at a salon. He should've made up for this by working on a grittier physique. And the actor himself didn't want to get too bulky and muscular, he wanted a slimmer body which I find understandable. But when we say slim, I assumed it would be like Bruce Lee slim. Petite yet extremely toned and ripped - Finn did not look anything close to that at all. He looked too weak with little to no muscle definition whatsoever, with gangly arms to boot.

Pelphrey was slim and toned in Banshee and clearly lost weight for his role in this. Finn should've gone for that physique if he wanted to remain petite, but alas, that's not what we have.

Below is what Finn looks like on the show btw

its not even in the level of the 2 seasons of daredevil or jessica jones. even crappy luke cage is better. im now rewatching daredevil season 1 again after finishing the iron turd. its like watching the room and then the godfather. iron fist is really really bad