Alexandra And Madame Gao Plot In New 'Defenders' Clip From Comic-Con

The Defenders are making their presence felt at San Diego Comic-Con this year. Not only did Marvel release a new trailer, but fortunate fans who were in Hall H actually got to see the first full episode.

Marvel's added to the excitement further by releasing a new clip that offers a tantalizing hint at the show's direction. It features #SigourneyWeaver's mysterious new villain, Alexandra, and suggests an intriguing dynamic between Alexandra and the Hand's leadership in Madame Gao.

Check Out The Clip

It's our first glimpse of Alexandra in action, and it features her arranging a public meeting with Wai Ching Ho's Madame Gao. We know that the Hand have been playing the long game, and it seems their plans were intended to come to fruition in seven months' time. Something's thrown a spanner in the works, and that something will clearly be the Defenders. With the four heroes causing a great deal of disruption, Alexandra feels she has no choice but to accelerate her plans.

Notice the power dynamic here. Alexandra is evidently the undisputed leader of the Hand; even though the Hand's leadership has already decided on a timetable, she gets to overrule them with just a simple command. It's apparent confirmation that Alexandra is one of the Snakeroot, the Hand's ancient mystical leaders. The Snakeroot typically include men and women from every strand of society; in the comics they even included former military generals, or notable businessmen. The first photographs of Alexandra have shown her staring out of a skyscraper, suggesting wealth, political power, or possibly a role in business.

But what is the Hand's masterplan? We can assume it's the reason the cult has been secretly digging a massive pit in New York. There's been some speculation that the Hand are digging for a mysterious 'Lost City' that was subtly referenced in Daredevil Season 2. In truth, though, this theory is more notable because it's currently the only one we have. The Hand's dark designs are as enigmatic and mysterious as Sigourney Weaver's character. Even more excitingly, fans who saw the first episode at #SDCC2017 haven't been able to shed any light on the Hand's scheme.

What has been revealed online, though, is that Alexandra is apparently dying. It's a fascinating twist, not least because so far the Hand have seemed to know the secrets of eternal life and resurrection. It's also a hint that fan theories suggesting she was a gender-swapped Alexander Bont, a Daredevil villain who ultimately died of a heart attack while battling Matt Murdock, may well be correct. If she is based on Bont, though, it's only going to be the loosest of homages; the character was never tied to the Hand.

The clip's a tantalizing one, and - like all the best teasers - it leaves us faced with a lot more questions than answers. Alexandra is clearly the undisputed leader of the Hand, and she has a dark plan that will no doubt bode ill for New York. Only four heroes are here to defend us!