The season, and sadly series, comes to an end for Iron Fist. I know this was the least popular of the Netflix/Marvel shows, but I’ve been a longtime fan of the character, and even most of those who have problems with the show agreed the second season was a big improvement. Just like with Luke Cage, they left off in a place that really made me want to see what came next. It’s notionally possible that, after the contractual few years pass, the shows could come back, but I somehow doubt it. It’s a shame, those end scenes were intriguing. With this being a final episode, there will be spoilers below. “Duel of Iron” was from the first issue of the Iron Fist solo book.

The episode opens with Danny providing voiceover, reflecting on fate, change, and how people come into your life. This is played over scenes of Danny and Davos’ younger days in K’un-Lun, and you can see how much the two used to care for each other, making the current storyline sadder. I was particularly entertained by young Davos’ reaction to a paper airplane.

There’s a lot less wonder in the present. Davos’ fighting back disrupted the exchange ceremony, and the partial power is doing bad things to both Davos and Colleen. A lot of the early part of the episode is those two lurching around drunkenly between blows, with Danny doing what he can to help Colleen. Misty wakes up in the cell-like room at Davos’ headquarters, not pleased to be confined. Using what she has at hand, Misty start working on an escape. Elsewhere, Walker hums to herself as she cleans up and deals with Chen’s body. That was a really interesting character whose time ended too soon. Walker then gears up for her next mission.

Under the wail of ambulance sirens, Ward rides with Joy to the hospital. Joy has looked a lot better, but still has the energy to be snarky at her brother. They talk about their complicated family history, atonement, and what might come next. I don’t think this is going to go the way Ward hoped. Ward does share some of his recent news with Joy. It’s not a great scene to be their last together. Davos staggers home and sees some of the mess from what happened earlier. His instincts are just good enough to get him out of the way as Walker opens fire on him, and they play cat and mouse.

Colleen is looking really bad, but contents herself with the idea that Davos must be feeling the same way. Colleen and Danny pursue Davos, quipping about date night and sharing. Misty keeps working on her great escape while Walker keeps missing Davos. On the one hand, that could seem very unrealistic, but, among other things, this version of Walker doesn’t have any superhuman powers, and Davos does. Danny and Colleen show up and tell Walker she can’t kill Davos, which doesn’t sit well with her. Walker is impressed Danny is up on his feet after the last time she saw him. This breaks down into more fighting as Davos charges Colleen and Danny ends up using Colleen’s katana to fend off Walker and her machetes. Arguments rage, Misty joins the chaos, and Davos manages to wiggle away again. Walker is taken out of the fight, but Misty is, too, leaving our heroes to pursue the murderous Davos. Colleen manages to defeat Davos and get all the power of the Iron Fist. Davos isn’t a good loser, and demands an ending, but Colleen refuses to indulge him.

Much later, the more conventional first responders show up to deal with the aftermath. Davos is strapped down to a gurney, and Mary Walker is, they hope, getting the help she needs after being left with the EMTs. Misty tells Danny this is his only chance if he wants to say something to Davos before he’s put in the system. Danny and Davos talk, and whatever set Davos’ rage and superiority off hasn’t left with the fist. Davos is very smug and puts Danny down, and Danny finally tells his brother goodbye. Misty and Colleen get a goodbye scene as they talk about the future. Misty mentions her worries about Luke these days, and that Colleen is now one of the only people that might be able to stop him. That sounds like another great might-have-been story we’ll likely never see. There’s a passing reference to the name of Misty and Colleen’s PI firm in the comics, and they agree to stay in touch. This is the last we see of both Davos and Misty as the series wrap up continues.

Danny and Colleen talk, and, while it’s not hostile, it doesn’t sound good for their future. After a lot of touching on all they’ve been through, they literally go their separate ways, although they agree to meet up later. Danny goes home and starts cleaning up after the fight. Neatening up some of Colleen’s things, he discovers something that shocks him. Colleen goes back to the community center, checking in with Sam and returning his surprisingly undamaged van. Colleen is a bit taken aback to see that Mrs. Yang is still there. They talk about the future of the triads, and what Colleen will be doing. It’s not a wonderful happy ending, but there’s hope.

Ward goes to see Bethany and makes some huge strides. He shares at a meeting and is brutally honest about himself and his flaws. His talk afterwards with Bethany doesn’t go that well, and, while I understand all the choices made, it’s rough to watch. Walker apparently didn’t stay with the EMTs, and pays a call on Joy. They have a conversation about Walker’s future, and some of her past. Joy, as she kept saying before, just wants all this to be done, but Walker doesn’t really care. They talk a bit more, and Walker leaves something behind with some vague talk of the future.

Colleen gets home to both good news and bad. I suspect this scene will anger the Danny-haters even more. She reads about a few surprising developments, and is left to contemplate her sword and her future, as well as her ancestry. Ward is at the airport, yelling at one of the poor corporate pilots. Danny shows up, and tells Ward about his immediate plans. It’s actually a good idea, although Ward isn’t thrilled about it. They have a discussion, and it’s an actual discussion, not an argument. Danny makes a surprising pronouncement, and we get a time jump ahead.

“MONTHS LATER” is the caption as we check in on our major characters. We see how Colleen is carrying on Danny’s mission and her own as well. Since Danny was picking up where Daredevil left off, I guess that makes Colleen Daredevil at a remove? She shows she’s picked up a really cool new trick as she deals with a few thugs, although she, like so many these days, is doing without a really important part of the superhero mythos.

Very far away, Ward is in a dive bar, but at least he’s only drinking water. He’s in negotiations with a disreputable looking man, and things don’t go that well. We do get to hear a familiar name from the Iron Fist canon, and, when things are spinning out of control, Ward turns things over to Danny. Danny, too, has picked up some new tricks and someone else’s trademark style. It’s a frustrating place for the story to end. I have a feeling the writers didn’t know what was coming when they wrote this.

What I liked: Davos is defeated, and the heroes triumphant. There are a lot of hopeful notes as the various stories draw to a close. There is so much potential for what could have come next. I’m glad Misty made it to the finale, since I doubt she’ll turn up on the final seasons of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, or Punisher. The hints we got about what both Danny and Colleen are up to were great, and I wish we could see more. I’d be really curious to see what develops with Joy and Walker, Misty and Colleen, and both Danny and Colleen’s new tricks.

What I didn’t: While I spent a lot of the series disliking him, Ward was really trying near the end and I feel like he deserved better, although he did seem to be enjoying himself in that final scene. Chen could have had a lot more story around him. We don’t get to see what happened with BB’s former gang. And, of course, I’m not happy this is the end.

I’ll give the finale a 4 out of 5, the series as a whole a 3 out of 5, and season two a high 3.5 out of 5. So long, Danny and Colleen. I’ll miss you.