Get hyped!
Never let it be said that a 20-something media whore did not give into the hype and binge watch his way to awesome. Last year’s premiere of Daredevil was one of the single greatest experiences of 2015 and heralded a new chapter in the development of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In a departure from the light-hearted tone of stories like Agents of SHIELD, this particular corner of the universe embraces all of the darkness and violence that would come with being a hero in a way that reminded me of Batman Begins. Needless to say, I loved Season 1, but what about the recent return of the story?
It takes a great set-up and characters that you love, and turns their story into a triumph of modern television.
The Cast.
Everything works.
Charlie Cox returns as the titular Man Without Fear, leading an all-star cast in the roles that will define their careers for years to come. When you come into Season 2, it will feel as if you are revisiting an old friend because each member of the core cast slips back into their roles like they are putting on a glove. This is one of the few dramas on television where not a single actor is left out of the story, building on their characters in ways that are understandable and completely natural.
Among the established cast, Deborah Ann Woll shines the brightest in her take on Karen Page. It’s always nice to see a female character that can be a great sleuth and be a good-hearted person all at the same time. In many ways, she is more watchable than Jessica Jones or Peggy Carter. I’m not leaving Foggy out of this one, though. Elden Henson emotes the hell out of the material that he has been given, and you will buy every single minute of it.
Now, you may be wondering about the new arrival of The Punisher and Elektra Natchios. More on that in the spoiler section, my friends.
The Story.
I’m Batman… er, wait, wrong universe.
This new season of Daredevil focuses on the sudden killings of several gangs around New York City, but then moves into much darker territory as the personal stakes rise for our heroes. Without spoiling things, there are elements of this story that make it a little bit more superhero-ish than Season 1, but you’ll be along for the epic battle no matter what happens.
Among the major themes that have to be explored are what it means to be a vigilante in an age of superheroes, how people cope when society fails them, and how people move on after tragedies. There are also a few surprise cameos to tie things into the wider Marvel Universe, but not quite enough for my liking. More on that later.
The Technicals.
There’s a certain sense of glee in watching the heroes you love kick almighty ass.
Much like Season 1, the creative team behind this series knows how to create some absolutely jaw-dropping fight scenes and visual effects to go along with their masterful story. New York comes alive in what is arguably the most practical effects driven entry of the Marvel saga, culminating in another single-take fight scene that will blow your mind. The dark and moody atmosphere fits right alongside the numerous devil references to deliver an experience that you won’t forget anytime soon.
Oh, and be sure to look in the background. The creative team has placed a bunch of references to other events in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the keener viewers to pick out. It’s a nice touch that adds a little bit more depth to the saga beyond the traditional name drops that could have been presented in the series. However, the association between this story and the wider universe is not without its’ problems, which leads me to my next point.
The Flaws.
There are imperfections, but only tiny ones.
These may be minor nitpicks overall, but they do portray a problem in the wider conception of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
On a smaller scale, it is difficult to tell where this story fits in the realm of the wider universe, especially since the only major event that is explicitly referenced is the Battle for New York from The Avengers. It would be nice to know where this story is in the wider pantheon because it could open up wider opportunities for crossover events, especially since Phil Coulson’s team might inevitably find themselves in New York on Agents of SHIELD. And by the way, I don’t by an argument that they can’t cross over. Although SHIELD may be a bit more kid friendly, it still features things like human sacrifice, murder, and all sorts of other oddities that you might expect from a black ops drama.
In addition, I wonder why Matt Murdock is supposed to be a Catholic in this universe, considering that it is no secret that people like Thor (and therefore much of the Norse stories) are based on some kind of factual event. It is a little bit confusing in terms of narrative, especially since it pops up sometimes when his character undergoes some kind of stress or trauma. One would think that the religions of the world would drastically change or die out in the face of aliens, other gods, and so on, but that does not seem to be the case here.
Conclusion.
Why are you still here?!
All you need to know is this. Daredevil continues the adventure that Marvel has set before us in an extremely compelling way. The only thing that really bothers me is that it is now over and Season 3 is a little under a year away. For those of you that have not witnessed this masterful story yet, go get a Netflix account and watch it!
Sound the spoiler alarm!
Spoiler Section.
I’m still not sure if I should be turned on or scared of her.
A story can soar or die on its’ new additions, and Daredevil pulls off one of the biggest introductions with the arrival of Jon Bernthal’s The Punisher and Elodie Young’s Elektra Natchios. These two characters are such strong additions to the mythology of this universe that they made my give-a-damn-o-meter rocket into outer space. Not only are they perfectly cast, but they also fit perfectly into a story about seeking redemption and trying to exercise the demons of the past.
Jon Bernthal establishes himself first in the story, compelling us to feel for Frank Castle even though he does things that would be considered horrific by the standards of a hero in this universe. He ruthlessly kills criminals in the name of vengeance, but is really just trying to work through the loss of his wife and children. It is a testament to his power as an actor when he remarks about how tired he is of everything, barely holding back the pain that came from witnessing the murder of his family. It is a dark and saddening portrayal that may earn this guy an Emmy or Golden Globe nomination in the near future because he is just that good.
Elodie Young plays into the duality of what it means to be a vigilante with her appearance, particularly since she has had a previous relationship with Matt Murdock that is explored near the middle of the season. Whereas Karen Page represents the hope that Matt might have for his life, Elektra has a great deal of range that stretches from the tragic to the disturbing. I could truly feel the struggle as she tries to deal with the torture of being an assassin, only to find that she slips in and out of her dark side almost at will.
Speaking of relationships, I kind of liked that this season has a little bit more romance than usual, especially since Matt feels something for both Elektra and Karen. Of course, it wouldn’t be a story if our hero did not get with his main squeeze from the comics (Karen), but their stories are a little bit similar in some ways. Elektra lies to Matt quite a bit about herself, but Matt also does that to Karen in a way that sets up a hint of drama and the reveal of his alter ego at the end of the season. I loved it.
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