DAREDEVIL, CONSTANTINE, and why Netflix is the best sidekick for Marvel

“We got on the bandwagon of these shows based on comic books, and maybe there are too many of them. It’s a popular series of comics, but it’s not The Flash.”
 

This is what Robert Greenblatt, entertainment chairmen at NBC, had to say a few weeks ago about Constantine’s failure to draw viewers. There hasn’t been any word yet as to whether or not Constantine will get another season, but its odds don’t look good.

So, why am I telling you this?

Marvel’s 4-series deal with Netflix is starting to show results with this teaser trailer for Daredevil’s first season. 

AKA Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist are on the way, too. Daredevil looks a lot darker and grittier than that awful movie from the early 2000’s. Okay, whoa! I’m having déjà vu! I think I wrote the exact same thing for the Fantastic Four trailer last week. Can we expect a darker, grittier Howard the Duck next?

I can understand why Marvel wants to produce a TV show that’s decidedly dark. Initially, my biggest complaint with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is that it felt way too much like a network show. The characters were cheesy, the dialogue was flat, and there was absolutely no suspense throughout most of Season 1. I half expected every episode to end with a corny joke, a big laugh, and an audible sigh from the entire cast. “Agents” improved a lot as the season went on, and what I’ve seen of Season 2 has been promising, too, but I have my doubts about the show’s longevity.

And that’s because Greenblatt is right. There are too many comic book TV shows for network or cable audiences to invest in. I’ll be honest. Aside from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I don’t watch superhero TV shows. It’s called SUPER MOVIES with MATT, not SUPER TV. Really, I just don’t have the time to keep up with traditional TV. That’s why I have Netflix.

And it doesn’t help that there are more high quality TV shows to get into than ever before. Never mind Constantine competing with The Flash, it needs to compete with The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, and every other TV show and movie that’s ever been made. Because we’re all just downloading this stuff anyway, right? 

At least with Netflix, you’re getting a reliable streaming service that you can watch at your own pace. On top of that, Netflix is willing to take risks on content. Networks tend to follow trends, play it safe, dumb it down to reach a wider audience. It’s sad when you hear that Hannibal has trouble attracting viewers and Two and a Half Men is getting a twelfth season. 

I can’t predict Constantine’s fate, or if Daredevil will be a big success. But if this superhero TV trend is going to last, it won't be on NBC.