Took me a minute, but I'm back. I can't reply with quotes for some reason (?) but I'll just respond to what is said. Also, thanks for taking the time to read ALLLLLLLLLL of that text.
In regards to Iron Fist and the Chinese New Year- I'm going to disagree on it now being incredibly clear that that is what it is. Upon analyzation of the scene, multiple things stick out, those things are:
Dragon Dances, Lion Dances, Lucky Red decorative Lanterns, Fireworks, Sparklers, Bubble shooters, drum music, Traditional Chinese Opera masks and a mask that is more so like a big head. Now, upon research of Chinese holidays, a lot of these things are present in celebration, however only the Chinese New Year has all of these things simultaneously. The holiday that came closest to matching the traditions of the Chinese New Year was the Mid-Autumn Festival (The second most important holiday from what I have seen) but what stopped me from thinking it was the MAF was that on that particular holiday lanterns play a much larger role in the event, such as lighting a wide assortment of different colors and sizes and sending them into the sky, and that is never seen in this scene. Also, it feels as though the CNY is more of a celebration/party and the MAF is more of a festival (Like, it seems a bit more chill.) Mooncakes and other foods also play a large part in the MAF, and from what I can tell, no one is eating. Also, that scene roughly takes place around elevenish oÂ' clock, due to the fact that Danny is attacked, Ward is called and then Ward heads to HaroldÂ's. There Harold gives Kyle the rest of the night off only to have Kyle mention that it is almost midnight.
Again, I am no expert on Chinese culture, and if anyone has info that conflicts with this, please let me know, but from my research I firmly stand by that this is the Chinese Lunar New Year being celebrated. Which allows me to keep my placement in the late January area. I will also stand by ignoring the Rand executives phone for reasons listed above.
Regarding Scott Buck- Yes. Yes he does.
Regarding Luke Cage and his arrest- I'm not sure how to argue this because it seems like I'm arguing against a matter of opinion? But, I will do my best. So, if IF were to start in Late January, go through February and end about lateish February/early March (Depending on day passage), I would wind up putting Defenders in early April. This has him in prison for three months, like you said, however, that doesn't really feel that off to me.
First off, Foggy is representing him and the whole reason he was offered the job at Hogarth's firm was because he had experience in dealing with 'people with complexities' and they wanted that there. Not only that, I'm sure because Claire knows him from DD2, she got into contact with Foggy rather quickly. Also, in Luke's first scene the warden tells him that all his 'paper pushing worked' and Foggy tells Luke that he and Bobby Fish had been doing some 'impressive book crackingÂ' and seeing as we see Bobby find the file that proves LukeÂ's innocence and as you mentioned he only escaped from a wrongful imprisonment to avoid unlawful experimenting and torture, there isnÂ't really any reason to keep him there. So, I see it less as Luke fulfilled his sentence and got off early, and more as Luke Foggy and Bobby found a way to have the charges against him dropped.
As for the Claire stuff and it under cutting him going to jail.....well, that's a matter of opinion on the narrative. If you think Claire and Luke are super into each other, and writing each other as much as they say they do, then you can buy it, because as short as three months may seem, I believe it would feel much longer without the person you love being with you (cue romantic overture). As for it under cutting the original ending, maybe, but again opinion. I rewatched it recently and it still really bummed me out that after all the good Luke Cage did for Harlem and after becoming a hero, he STILL got carted off to jail. So, to me, it's still effective, but I can understand that point of view.
Involving actor's and actresses- I agree with you, however the more people that have similar answers, the more I am inclined to believe them. (
https://www.bustle.com/p/when-does-...he-heroes-havent-had-much-time-to-relax-77073) Here not only does Henwick says that it has been a month since Iron Fist, but Charlie Cox says it has been a few months since Daredevil 2. Which according to where I stand, lines up pretty damn perfectly. Now yes, the occasional actor or actress gets it wrong, but when what multiple people says lines up, I'm more inclined to look at it with a little more credibility.
Involving Jessica Jones- I see. I get where you are coming from, but I have never snapped a guys neck in front of a bunch of people after weeks of being psychologically manipulated and tortured, so I'm not going to speak to what the mental recovery time of such a trauma should be.
Regarding Daredevil/Punisher- Now, this is the weakest point of my argument just because I haven't sat down and really taken as many notes as I should, I've just done 'watch as I need to' research. The current time frame of his recovery is a little under eleven months per the current timeline. My way if we put Matt's attempted suicide by mugger and put it at the beginning of October my way puts his recovery at a little under six months which almost halves the recovery time. As far as Punisher and DD3's overlapping goes, honestly until I can sit down with it, I don't know.
From here on out, this is just brainstorming, not a concrete argument or pitch: Begin speculation.
Here is what I know:
DD3 would end before early November, which seems easy because if memory serves, it's pretty day to day
The Punisher is also, VERY day to day, I did a quick count of day/night cycles and came to about 35 days that pass (may be more when dialogue is factored in, not to mention Midani's unspecified recovery time after Stein's death)
Karen isn't told Matt is alive until Episode 4 and doesn't actually come into contact with him until Episode 10
Karen has pretty sporadic appearances throughout The Punisher making her a pretty flexible character throughout
The Punisher ends on Thanksgiving
In DD3 Ellison tells Karen "That's a hell of an exclusive, welcome back" and she winds up saying something about "This is about more than just our paper." So, that exchange alone has me thinking that although it isn't seen, it's pretty clear she could be back at the Bulletin.
So, I'm thinking there's sort of a bob and weave thing here. DD3 starts, Karen talks to Frank and she helps him, Karen learns about Matt but doesn't find him, Midani interviews Karen, Karen re-teams with Matt, DD3 ends, Lewis calls out Karen and the Bulletin, all the Lewis stuff happens with Karen, end of Punisher. Again, I'm in very early stages of this thought process and it could easily not hold up as I'm sure I've forgotten some things, but not only do the days that pass in Punisher help this, but it would also have a give a nice little explanation as to why Punisher doesn't show up right after Fisk is released and kill him like he said he would in DD2.
End speculation.
Again, a lot has been typed, so I appreciate the time you've taken reading it. It's just really great having people to talk to about this sort of thing, this isn't a bring this up at work thing, so it's cool that this forum exists.