The return of the wonderful, aggravating (to the characters-- I think he’s great) Dr. Edmonds! After doing a number on Danny in episode 2, he now hits Ward with the same treatment. Ah, karma...
I mentioned this the last time he showed up, but what I like so much about Doctor Edmonds, and what makes him so effective as an antagonist, is the fact that he is impartial-- and therefore a nuisance to everyone. Harold might have cameras in his office, but Edmonds is beyond his control. He’s just a regular, well-meaning doctor trying to do his job, reacting rationally to these patients who keep coming in saying bizarre things, like they fought a dragon or their long-dead father framed them for drug possession (though one does have to wonder how he rationalized away the giant hole that Danny punched in his wall). And thus, as a result of Edmonds’ logical insistence that Ward spend some time at the hospital, Ward finds himself trapped in his father’s grasp yet again.
We don’t normally do this sort of thing (apart from our countdowns, and thematic holiday posts, and Happy Matt of the Month... actually, never mind, we do this sort of thing all the time), but we noticed that this event was happening, and it looked like fun! It seems to be Netflix-verse focused, so that is what we’ll be writing about. Besides-- there's no way we were gonna choose one favorite scene from 40 years-worth of comics. Just picking one from the show was tough enough. In fact, let’s just clarify that this is one of many favorite scenes.
In the featurette released in the last few days before Iron Fist aired, Jessica Henwick referenced the mystery elements incorporated into the show. There are many, but one aspect we particularly love is the way the core facts of Danny’s character-- his memories, his identity, and even his sanity-- are toyed with and undermined in the first two episodes. Introducing a story with so many overtly magical elements (alternate dimensions, glowing chi, dragons...) into a series of shows that up to this point was fairly grounded was a risky move. The Iron Fist creative team approached this challenge not by trying to tone down the magic-- which would have dishonored the concept of the character and the richness of the mythos (and made us extremely sad)-- but by leaning into the strangeness of it all. In the comics, Danny comes back from K’un-Lun after ten years and his identity is never challenged. In the show, we see how unrealistic that part of his origin story actually is. The odd nature of his return is amplified and scrutinized, and we are prompted again and again to question his story. For Iron Fist fans, the dramatic irony this creates is glorious, and Danny’s final victory of proving his sanity becomes that much more satisfying. And for viewers who may just stumble upon the show on Netflix with no background knowledge... they are awarded the suspense of wondering who Danny is, what he wants, and if he is actually out of his mind.
All of this comes to a head in Danny’s final conversation with Dr. Edmonds toward the end of Episode 2.
(Flash Fact: Paul Edmonds is actually a comics character. He appeared in a single, solitary Avengers issue. That is one heck of an obscure easter egg.)
Danny has been beaten down by this point-- drugged, abused, locked up, and nearly killed by people he considered family. Having left his home and journeyed back into a world he barely remembers, he was already starting with nothing. But over the course of the first two episodes, the one thing he does have to his name-- his name itself, in fact, and his identity-- is stripped from him. He finds himself fighting for his very personhood. This kickstarts one of the show’s main themes: that of identity, and of Danny’s quest to discover and assert his role as both Danny Rand and the Iron Fist-- both of which are threatened within hours of his arrival in New York.
His final meeting with Edmonds represents a moment of relief, and of hope. Finally, someone is willing to extend him the courtesy of believing he is who he says he is. It’s a tiny moment of empowerment, made gut-wrenching by the horrors of Danny’s de-humanization and loss of dignity leading up to it. For one brief moment his faith in humanity is restored.
But that alone isn’t what makes this scene so great. What follows is a brilliant reversal, in which Danny unintentionally sabotages his situation. We adore his willingness to discuss the most outlandish details of his time in K’un-Lun-- that was high on our wishlist for the show, and we’re grateful that the writers came through. K’un-Lun’s version of normal is far from Earth’s version of normal, and Danny has been off-dimension for so long that he’s lost his ability to discern what is going to make him sound crazy to the average New Yorker. That is a massive amount of fun (in fact, another of our favorite scenes is Danny casually mentioning Shou-Lao the Undying to Ward in Episode 5). Having received his longed-for validation from Edmonds, he plunges into an explanation of K’un-Lun and his identity as the Iron Fist, eagerly answering the doctor’s questions. Here, we again get that delicious dramatic irony. As informed fans, we know everything he’s saying is true. But we also see what Danny doesn’t until too late... that though Edmonds believes his identity claims, he is now also becoming convinced that Danny is completely off his rocker.
Edmonds is a great character because he is completely neutral and seems to be a genuinely nice guy, but he still fits into an antagonistic role via his lack of understanding and unintentional blocking of various characters’ goals (he does this to Harold and Ward, as well as to Danny). His intentions seem good. His claims about Danny’s mental state are well-reasoned and make perfect sense. If this weren’t a fantasy story, he would probably be right. The hypothetical uninformed viewer, wandering into the show with no idea what to expect, would have every reason to take Edmonds’ side and believe his diagnosis. His well-reasoned argument for the non-existence of Danny’s powers is thus the perfect set-up for the final scene of the episode... in which we see the Iron Fist for the first time. In spite of everything, bwahahaha-- Danny was telling the truth.
I’ve already written a post about why this is one of my favorite scenes in the show and how I love every second of it, and so I’ll try my best to not repeat myself too much. But man, I love this scene, and it serves several key purposes. It serves as another key step in this initial phase of Danny’s identity arc. Dr. Edmonds becomes convinced, after much consideration, that Danny is who he says he is. As such, it’s a bright moment for Danny after all of the torment he’s been through in these first two episodes. Someone finally believes him, and in the midst of his elation he eagerly answers Edmonds’ questions... and thereby sabotages himself.
This scene is also a focal point of this episode’s efforts to introduce the outlandish, fantastical elements of the story. This is done brilliantly by having Danny mention them, but then having his words questioned by the other characters. Thus, the viewer is not flung head-first into the fantasy-- rather, it is dangled tantalizingly in front of us throughout the episode, while we have the satisfaction of waiting for Danny to prove that his powers are real. And Edmonds serves as a key source of this skepticism. He has come to believe Danny’s identity claims, yes... but as Danny elaborates further in this scene, Edmonds also comes to the conclusion that he’s-- to use a medical term-- nuts.
(Look at his face! He’s so relieved! He’s so proud! Gosh golly, Danny... I love this scene...)
This is a very early introduction of the second stage of Danny’s identity arc: his grappling with his role as the Iron Fist. This arc doesn’t officially begin until episode 6, but Danny’s cheerful and wholehearted claiming of that identity can be seen as a taste of what’s to come. It’s also endearing beyond belief.
Aaand here’s the final stage of that arc, which doesn’t start until episode 11! This scene, among all its other points of significance, lays out the progression of a key part of Danny’s character development throughout this season. Edmonds questions facets of Danny’s identity in ways that Danny will be forced to do himself later on.
There are several things I love about this exchange:
1. Paul Edmonds is a great character because he exists outside the show’s protagonist/antagonist framework. He’s just doing his job, minding his own business, and he inadvertently causes trouble for people on both sides. Harold watching from afar, going “No! Stop helping him! Ask him about ____!” is really entertaining.
2. We haven’t yet learned about the magic in Harold’s story, but it’s hinted by the fact that he is willing to believe, all logic aside, that this might actually be Danny. He doesn’t require as much convincing as everybody else.
3. One factor that makes Harold such a powerful character is that he is inherently threatening. Any time he’s on-screen, the narrative tension skyrockets, and this becomes exacerbated as the show goes on and he gets more and more unhinged. When Kyle accidentally apologizes yet again and Harold responds with “You can’t help yourself, can you?” and gets up... you fear for Kyle’s safety. Even at this early point, there’s something off about Harold that makes him scary.
@samsmithworld: One of my best friends and my guardian angel @pauledmonds217 has opened his new salon today right next to the new Battersea power station!!!! It so beautiful and you will absolutely love it. I love you Paul. Thank you for everything xx always and forever 🌹🌹🌹🌹
