Marvel fans are probably reeling from where The Defenders left its characters by the end of the series. The Phase 1 wrap-up of Marvel's Netflix Universe has set up Daredevil Season 3, The Daughters of the Dragon, Iron Fist Season 2 and much more - but at what cost? They're the first group who will probably never see each other again. The showrunner has even said it's Unlikely they'll come together again. Why? They technically stopped the Hand and saved New York City, leaving all of them a little wiser and a little more aware of their place in the world around them. While the Avengers handle cosmic threats, the defenders seem like a perfect team to handle the friendly (or not so friendly) neighborhoods of New York City.The fact is that no matter how far they got their division proved that they're better off leaderless, indeed that they're better off as a one-shot group of individuals who will probably influence each other but never fully come together again unless the city really needs them. Even then though? It's unlikely. Matt's recovering in a convent, Jessica found a degree of self-confidence and healing, Luke Cage returned to Harlem and Danny Rand took over Matt Murdock's rooftop patrols. Each one of them found a place in the city that they saved ready for their next adventure.The fact is that if Matt had listened to Stick in episode 5, Take Shelter, and they had a leader, they might not have gotten as far as they had and the series would be far less entertaining. Why does it work for The Defenders as opposed to the Avengers or Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D? Let's take a look at just why they function better on their own as opposed to under direct leadership.
THEY EACH BRING SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THE TABLE
Leadership is a rare quality and those who become leaders don't do so easily. In the Marvel Universe, both Captain America and Phil Coulson have led teams with both positive and negative consequences. Captain America's leadership eventually clashed with Tony Stark giving us Captain America: Civil War and Phil Coulson's leadership in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D has been tested strenuously both by outside forces and Grant Ward, a member of his team who lied to Phil and tried to sow discord from the inside out as a member of Hydra.
It's possible that both Captain America and Phil Coulson could work well with the defenders, but we've had 2 years of getting to know these New York characters intimately. They're all extremely powerful but they're also very aware of their strengths and weaknesses. Matt Murdock knows that he's compromised by Elektra because of his faith and because of the law, Jessica Jones is painfully aware of her faults, and Luke Cage spent time in jail. The only person who initially tries to take charge is Danny, but even Danny recognizes that he's far too burdened to try and take charge of the so-called "team" even when Colleen suggests it.
They all know what they can do, but in knowing who they are they also know that none of them are fit to lead the group as a whole. That's different from both Steve Rogers and Phil Coulson because while they know they have faults they also see a clear threat. Dealing with lies and shadows and misinformation from the Hand, no one has a clear picture until it's too late. Matt fundamentally does not want to take charge, he's trying to break away from the vigilante life he's led. Luke knows where his allegiances lie and he's motivated to protect Harlem, apart from Jessica he has no real connection to the rest of the characters (as of yet.)
By the time Elektra and the Hand are in position, the team is thrown together without a common cause or purpose. While Captain America is here to save the free world and Phil Coulson is here to save the world from alien threats, the Defenders don't know what they're fighting until it's too late - and they don't trust themselves to lead the fight against it. Each one of them has faced their own demons and they're not prepared to take on any extra ones including the ones that come with saving the world. The fact that they do is a testament to four good people working together against incredible odds but with a leader? Things would have been far different.
THE BAD GUYS HAD LEADERSHIP
In the Marvel Universe, whenever a superhero team goes up against a "bad" guy there's inevitably an opposing team on the other side. Shield went up against Hydra, The Avengers are going up against Thanos and his Black Order, the Defenders went up against the Hand and won. All 5 fingers supposedly make a fist, but they needed Danny's fist to break down the wall despite their so-called history and so-called unity. Throughout the series, Alexandria points out that the Hand is unified and that it's everywhere but right before she dies she points out that their unity is a lie. "We've all survived assassination attempts from each other." she points out. That's similar to the history of hydra and the black order as well. In Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D Grant Ward seemingly kills his way to the "top" of Hydra before he goes to Maveth to become the host for Hydra's ultimate evil. Guardians of the Galaxy vol 2 explained that Thanos forced his "children" to fight, pitting Gamora and Nebula against each other for his gain. The bad guys are always united under a manipulative evil leader and while some of them might try to crawl their way to the top the leader usually prevails.
With mixed results like Grant Ward killing his way to the top before becoming the ultimate head of hydra upon his death, Nebula swearing to kill Thanos, and Elektra putting her sais through Alexandra's back.
The people who succeed are the ones who always focus on the individuals - and there's no group of heroes more individual than the defenders and their allies. Captain America won when he fought for what he believed in, Coulson won when he fought for the people who he cared about and believed in. The Defenders fight for the people who they can trust. For Luke it's the people of Harlem, for Danny it's his history and his training, for Matt it's his faith and his belief in the law, and for Jessica Jones, it's when she finally comes down to it, for herself and to protect the people she loves too. Having a leader try and unite them under a single goal would have put them on a level with the bad guys where they, like the Hand, would have been forced into squabbling over just what mattered to each of them trying to unite the group behind a common goal.
Marvel's stories have always has been the uplifting of the individual before fitting them into a group dynamic. Putting a leader in front of The Defenders would have lessened the impact of their individual natures.
IT'S JUST MORE FUN
The simplest and most obvious reaction is that it's just more fun. Marvel's Netflix series has created a collection of amazing heroes who each have unique individual personalities. From Matt, Jessica, and Luke teasing Danny Rand to Danny charging ahead regardless of the consequences, the defenders function better as individuals than as a unit. With a person like Captain America or Phil Coulson leading them, there's a very good chance they'd all get belligerent and leave, with Jessica surprised and annoyed that everyone was following her. From a character standpoint, the defenders work better as individuals as opposed to teammates, and if any of them were to take a leadership role he'd be reluctant.
If any of them were to take a leadership role, however, it would be Luke Cage. While Matt has, according to Stick, been trained to lead, Luke Cage has the genuine wherewithal to want to do so. Matt wants to help people but he's burdened by his previous actions and will probably be blaming himself for Elektra for a good long while. Luke has done his time, has faith, has the backing of his friends and family. Luke is ready to step into a leadership role of some sort. The question is if it'll be on The Defenders season 2, Luke cage season 2 or Iron Fist Season 2. With the team in its current incarnation, however, from their quirks to the way their world works, a leader wouldn't currently be in the cards.
The Defenders is a story about the ordinary people with extraordinary abilities that will eventually make up every corner of the Marvel Universe. They represent the best and worst of those qualities. While they're iconic, they're also in their own way a superpowered window to the world for the audience. They allow an older audience with all of their flaws and faults to borrow a set of super powers and fight evil in the Marvel universe. If they were unified under a single leader it would diminish the impact of having individuals that everyone could relate to.