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| The man without fear. |
It was only with the far superior Director's Cut of the film that I actually saw something that resembled the bold, blind, brawler Daredevil was always meant to be, but for myself and many others, it was too little too late. The damage had been done, and we all lined the chalk around the Devil of Hell's Kitchen. Fox studios had managed to kill one of the best street level superheroes in comic book history (outside of Batman) and there was no sign of him ever getting the routinely expected celluloid resurrection anytime soon.
Twelve whole years would go by in the intermediary since that initial disaster, and I will admit that I approached this new Netflix series with skepticism and hesitation. From my point of view the last time Daredevil was in front of a camera, I was left feeling those creators should have payed me to watch that wreck, so what inclination did I have this would be any different? Thankfully I can say that not only was my inherent skepticism completely proven to be wrong, but this new effort has been perhaps one of the best products the Marvel Cinematic Universe has produced since its very inception. While it isn't perfect in all regards, I will be so bold as to say that this series skirts pretty close to it.
In the aftermath of the Chitauri's invasion of New York City, an unknown/unnamed crime lord has risen to untold amounts of power behind the scenes. Conducting most of his business out of the shadows of Hell's Kitchen, he appears to have all of the local mobs, the cops, the press, and even politicians in his pocket. Wielding so much influence, it seems like nothing or no one can stand in the way of him gaining absolute control of the city. That is until a man wearing a black mask takes to the streets, breaking up the drug and weapons traffic. This man in the mask strikes hard, seemingly without fear, and is apparently dead-set on stopping crimes before they even have a chance to start. Can this vigilante thwart the kingpin of crime, setting right the wrongs, before the soul of Hell's Kitchen is bought and sold?
I almost can't even begin to articulate how happy I am this new Daredevil series doesn't suck. As much as I could simply have faith that Marvel Studios wouldn't screw up this deep into franchising their universe, I do live with a lingering suspicion that there's always the possibility for a flub to happen. Regardless of my own paranoia though, from practically the outset of the first episode, it's obvious that the creators of this show love the characters, and the stories of Daredevil immensely. Fundamentally everything that I could ask for out of a Daredevil series is accounted for, and fully intact. This may very well be the best adaptation the Marvel cinematic universe has at this very moment, and it actually has me wishing that some of Marvel's other characters (Thor) would have gotten the same treatment
Allow me a moment, if you will, to expound upon what I mean when I say that the creators of this show care deeply for all that is Daredevil. Aspects of the comic (that made the comic so damn awesome to read) have been faithfully recreated, and given new-found life here with the Netflix show. Seeing things like Matt Murdock's both physical, and mental struggle of being "The Devil of Hell's Kitchen" is incredibly gratifying as a character arc, that rarely lets up on the intensity. How they incorporate his religious background, his daytime job as a lawyer, and his own anger issues into the dynamic all ring true to the source material. For those who are longtime fans of the Daredevil character, and who may still be on the fence about this show, rest assured when I say that this is the Daredevil we've been craving for the last decade. And Matt Murdock is just the tip of the iceberg here folks. No one (major or side) character ever feels wasted, or underutilized. Everyone here is given more than adequate space to convincingly grow and develop over the course of the show's run-time.
It's actually because of that extended length (each episode being an hour long) that Daredevil has one the best paced stories in the Marvel franchise. Nothing ever feels like it takes too long, or goes by too quickly. Major moments throughout the plot feel earned, with no one scene ever feeling out of place or out of nowhere for that matter. Every sequence builds either the characters or the world, so the viewer never feels like the show is wasting time. Once the final credits rolled on the last episode of season one, I felt like I had gone on a night-raid across town that ran me ragged, but in the best way possible. I didn't even binge watch the show either. I paced out the episodes and still felt the drain. This show is intense in all the right places, and every hour invested into the narrative comes back ten fold as it progresses. A gratifying story should always leave you content, but also wanting more.
This holds doubly true in regards to the follow-up second season. Picking up right where the story left off, we're thrown head-first directly back into the fray that is Matt Murdock's insane life. Be it the introduction of the comic series iconic Elektra, or the major cross-over character in The Punisher, season two only builds on the already rock-solid foundation that season one established stupendously. With two phenomenal seasons now firmly planted, I can't even begin to imagine how crazy awesome season three is going to get.
Of course none of this wouldn't mean a damn thing if the actors they got for the show were awful. Thankfully that's a problem we don't have to worry about any more. The days of Ben Affleck caliber castings are far behind us now, and I can joyously exclaim Daredeivl's casting here is pitch perfect. Charlie Cox unarguably now stands as the face of the Red Devil as far as I'm concerned, as Cox displays a huge range of emotions, and completely nails the silent fury that bubbles underneath Murdock's usually quiet demeanor. Unlike the original Fox film, the character here possess depth, nuance, and complexity. From practically jump street, Mr. Cox wastes no time in making sure that the audience knows exactly who his character is as a person, and his performance had me truly caring about all of the struggles.
Special mention though must go to none other than Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk a.k.a. The King Pin. I honestly feel like words fail me to describe how awesome this man's performance is. D'Onofrio brings the character of Fisk to life in a such a way that I personally feel this may be the best take on the character ever. Much like how Charlie Cox portrays a silent fury with Murdock, D'Onofrio plays Fisk with a boiling rage that's constantly wrestling to the surface. I think a friend of mine may have actually put it best when he jokingly described Fisk to "being like a Tyrannosaurus Rex in a three piece suit!" It feels like at any moment Fisk could go on the attack, and whoever he gets his hands on is unquestionably dead meat. You can hear the subtle quavering in his voice that some would interpret as being shy or having social anxiety. What they're really hearing is him choking down his unrepentant rage. A rage that makes him a danger to anyone within a hundred yards. It's a fine balance to strike, but D'Onofrio does it with aplomb. He makes Fisk believable, and in a lot of cases throughout the series, likable. That's impressive considering Fisk is supposed to be the villain of the show.
The supporting cast is nothing short of flawless. Daredevil clearly sports one of the best supporting casts to ever be featured in a television show. Even with the two stellar performances of both the show's leading actors, every character who ultimately plays a role within this story (along with the comics) feels like an integral part of plot. From the heavy hitters like Elektra and Punisher, to the more grounded Foggy Nelson and Karen Paige, everyone brings their A-game in front of the camera. I'm sure some would even argue that in some episodes the secondary roles actually outshine the leads by leaps and bounds. Even exceptionally minor characters, like Ben Urich's wife feels like a natural addition to the show that I honestly feel couldn't be removed. Despite some of the actors having comparatively small roles within the overall narrative, it's these character actors that create a palpable sense of motivation and extreme amounts of emotional gravitas.
Cinematography in Daredevil is topnotch, with nary a dip in quality. It's only on the odd occasion that the practical in-camera effects don't quite match up with some of the CGI (mostly due to a limited effects budget during season one) and even then these gaffs are far from some of the more egregious examples I could list in other shows. The inky black shadows of Hell's Kitchen feel rife with tension and suspense, with the borderline painterly four color cacophony of reds, greens, blues, and yellows permeating every shot to give Daredevil a distinct visual style all its own. The modern noir aesthetic the Daredevil comic has utilized for decades has successfully been recreated here. Add to that some (mostly) excellent camera work, and you've got a flat-out trophy winner fans will gush over for ages.
One of the biggest attractions for Daredevil is easily its action scenes. While the Marvel movies may be saddled with a PG-13 rating, on Netflix Daredevil has no such problem. Fights get brutal (with tons of bones being broken) and they get bloody (we're talking blades slicing flesh, gunshots, and one particularly notable incident with a car door) so the squeamish need not apply. Daredevil is unapologetically graphic with its violence, and that's exactly how it should be. Without the restrictions of a definitive rating the show is not only allowed to get creative with it's fight sequences, it never has to hold back from displaying to the audience the hellish underworld the cast inhabits. The long takes on the choreography mark some truly impressive fights, with one battle in a hallway (season one) and a stairwell (season two) standing out a testaments to what Daredevil is capable of. There are modern high-budget action movies that don't hit this hard.
Some of the seams only start to make themselves evident in a few scant moments during two or three of season one's earlier fight scenes. Unfortunately the camera is not always at the best angle to display the action, because there will be times I'm sure you'll be able to clearly tell (just as I did) there is too much distance between the actors for their "hits" to connect. It does break the immersion ever so slightly, but as I said a moment ago, this only happens a small handful of times, and this issue is thankfully entirely gone come season two.
Ironically enough, sound may actually be where Daredevil is at its weakest. While the sound effects are crisp and provide plenty of impact during fights, it's the music that's actually somewhat lackluster to me. Don't get me wrong, it's not that the score is horrible by any extent, it's just somewhat disappointingly forgettable. Composer John Paesano (with help from Braden Kimball) does a serviceable job in creating a score that fundamentally fits the vibe of the show, but falls just short of being truly exceptional. I honestly can't think of one track outside of the opening credits/main theme that left an impression on me. I almost think that if they would've gone for a more film-noir vibe in the music (like having slow jazzy saxophones) there would've been that much more of a punctuation to all of the episodes. Regardless of my personal tastes, it still is a decent enough composition. I just wish there would've been more meat on the bone.
Overall the Daredevil Netflix series delivers where it counts, and judging from its critical reception across the net, everyone agrees with me. Barring a few hiccups in the production, I would honestly claim it currently features some of Marvel Studios best efforts to date. Considering how much this show had going against it (as it had to make up for the sins of the atrocious Fox film in the eyes of fans) this is unequivocally not just better than the Fox film, but one of the best distillations of a super hero mythology available. I think the series creators knew they couldn't just make an okay/decent Daredevil show. They had to make one of the greatest television shows of the last decade in order to make good with the fans. Daredevil currently stands tall as a testament to Marvel's seemingly unending commitment to making faithful adaptations of their comics. Marvel Studios could have so easily slouched on their current success with the cinematic universe, but instead brought the heat when bringing Daredevil back into the fold. Hopefully we can look forward to many more great seasons in the future.
In the aftermath of the Chitauri's invasion of New York City, an unknown/unnamed crime lord has risen to untold amounts of power behind the scenes. Conducting most of his business out of the shadows of Hell's Kitchen, he appears to have all of the local mobs, the cops, the press, and even politicians in his pocket. Wielding so much influence, it seems like nothing or no one can stand in the way of him gaining absolute control of the city. That is until a man wearing a black mask takes to the streets, breaking up the drug and weapons traffic. This man in the mask strikes hard, seemingly without fear, and is apparently dead-set on stopping crimes before they even have a chance to start. Can this vigilante thwart the kingpin of crime, setting right the wrongs, before the soul of Hell's Kitchen is bought and sold?
I almost can't even begin to articulate how happy I am this new Daredevil series doesn't suck. As much as I could simply have faith that Marvel Studios wouldn't screw up this deep into franchising their universe, I do live with a lingering suspicion that there's always the possibility for a flub to happen. Regardless of my own paranoia though, from practically the outset of the first episode, it's obvious that the creators of this show love the characters, and the stories of Daredevil immensely. Fundamentally everything that I could ask for out of a Daredevil series is accounted for, and fully intact. This may very well be the best adaptation the Marvel cinematic universe has at this very moment, and it actually has me wishing that some of Marvel's other characters (Thor) would have gotten the same treatment
Allow me a moment, if you will, to expound upon what I mean when I say that the creators of this show care deeply for all that is Daredevil. Aspects of the comic (that made the comic so damn awesome to read) have been faithfully recreated, and given new-found life here with the Netflix show. Seeing things like Matt Murdock's both physical, and mental struggle of being "The Devil of Hell's Kitchen" is incredibly gratifying as a character arc, that rarely lets up on the intensity. How they incorporate his religious background, his daytime job as a lawyer, and his own anger issues into the dynamic all ring true to the source material. For those who are longtime fans of the Daredevil character, and who may still be on the fence about this show, rest assured when I say that this is the Daredevil we've been craving for the last decade. And Matt Murdock is just the tip of the iceberg here folks. No one (major or side) character ever feels wasted, or underutilized. Everyone here is given more than adequate space to convincingly grow and develop over the course of the show's run-time.
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| The Daredevil we've all been waiting for is finally here! |
It's actually because of that extended length (each episode being an hour long) that Daredevil has one the best paced stories in the Marvel franchise. Nothing ever feels like it takes too long, or goes by too quickly. Major moments throughout the plot feel earned, with no one scene ever feeling out of place or out of nowhere for that matter. Every sequence builds either the characters or the world, so the viewer never feels like the show is wasting time. Once the final credits rolled on the last episode of season one, I felt like I had gone on a night-raid across town that ran me ragged, but in the best way possible. I didn't even binge watch the show either. I paced out the episodes and still felt the drain. This show is intense in all the right places, and every hour invested into the narrative comes back ten fold as it progresses. A gratifying story should always leave you content, but also wanting more.
This holds doubly true in regards to the follow-up second season. Picking up right where the story left off, we're thrown head-first directly back into the fray that is Matt Murdock's insane life. Be it the introduction of the comic series iconic Elektra, or the major cross-over character in The Punisher, season two only builds on the already rock-solid foundation that season one established stupendously. With two phenomenal seasons now firmly planted, I can't even begin to imagine how crazy awesome season three is going to get.
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| For some, he's the reason we're all here. |
Special mention though must go to none other than Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk a.k.a. The King Pin. I honestly feel like words fail me to describe how awesome this man's performance is. D'Onofrio brings the character of Fisk to life in a such a way that I personally feel this may be the best take on the character ever. Much like how Charlie Cox portrays a silent fury with Murdock, D'Onofrio plays Fisk with a boiling rage that's constantly wrestling to the surface. I think a friend of mine may have actually put it best when he jokingly described Fisk to "being like a Tyrannosaurus Rex in a three piece suit!" It feels like at any moment Fisk could go on the attack, and whoever he gets his hands on is unquestionably dead meat. You can hear the subtle quavering in his voice that some would interpret as being shy or having social anxiety. What they're really hearing is him choking down his unrepentant rage. A rage that makes him a danger to anyone within a hundred yards. It's a fine balance to strike, but D'Onofrio does it with aplomb. He makes Fisk believable, and in a lot of cases throughout the series, likable. That's impressive considering Fisk is supposed to be the villain of the show.
The supporting cast is nothing short of flawless. Daredevil clearly sports one of the best supporting casts to ever be featured in a television show. Even with the two stellar performances of both the show's leading actors, every character who ultimately plays a role within this story (along with the comics) feels like an integral part of plot. From the heavy hitters like Elektra and Punisher, to the more grounded Foggy Nelson and Karen Paige, everyone brings their A-game in front of the camera. I'm sure some would even argue that in some episodes the secondary roles actually outshine the leads by leaps and bounds. Even exceptionally minor characters, like Ben Urich's wife feels like a natural addition to the show that I honestly feel couldn't be removed. Despite some of the actors having comparatively small roles within the overall narrative, it's these character actors that create a palpable sense of motivation and extreme amounts of emotional gravitas.
Cinematography in Daredevil is topnotch, with nary a dip in quality. It's only on the odd occasion that the practical in-camera effects don't quite match up with some of the CGI (mostly due to a limited effects budget during season one) and even then these gaffs are far from some of the more egregious examples I could list in other shows. The inky black shadows of Hell's Kitchen feel rife with tension and suspense, with the borderline painterly four color cacophony of reds, greens, blues, and yellows permeating every shot to give Daredevil a distinct visual style all its own. The modern noir aesthetic the Daredevil comic has utilized for decades has successfully been recreated here. Add to that some (mostly) excellent camera work, and you've got a flat-out trophy winner fans will gush over for ages.
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| Rock-solid casting all around! |
One of the biggest attractions for Daredevil is easily its action scenes. While the Marvel movies may be saddled with a PG-13 rating, on Netflix Daredevil has no such problem. Fights get brutal (with tons of bones being broken) and they get bloody (we're talking blades slicing flesh, gunshots, and one particularly notable incident with a car door) so the squeamish need not apply. Daredevil is unapologetically graphic with its violence, and that's exactly how it should be. Without the restrictions of a definitive rating the show is not only allowed to get creative with it's fight sequences, it never has to hold back from displaying to the audience the hellish underworld the cast inhabits. The long takes on the choreography mark some truly impressive fights, with one battle in a hallway (season one) and a stairwell (season two) standing out a testaments to what Daredevil is capable of. There are modern high-budget action movies that don't hit this hard.
Some of the seams only start to make themselves evident in a few scant moments during two or three of season one's earlier fight scenes. Unfortunately the camera is not always at the best angle to display the action, because there will be times I'm sure you'll be able to clearly tell (just as I did) there is too much distance between the actors for their "hits" to connect. It does break the immersion ever so slightly, but as I said a moment ago, this only happens a small handful of times, and this issue is thankfully entirely gone come season two.
Ironically enough, sound may actually be where Daredevil is at its weakest. While the sound effects are crisp and provide plenty of impact during fights, it's the music that's actually somewhat lackluster to me. Don't get me wrong, it's not that the score is horrible by any extent, it's just somewhat disappointingly forgettable. Composer John Paesano (with help from Braden Kimball) does a serviceable job in creating a score that fundamentally fits the vibe of the show, but falls just short of being truly exceptional. I honestly can't think of one track outside of the opening credits/main theme that left an impression on me. I almost think that if they would've gone for a more film-noir vibe in the music (like having slow jazzy saxophones) there would've been that much more of a punctuation to all of the episodes. Regardless of my personal tastes, it still is a decent enough composition. I just wish there would've been more meat on the bone.
Overall the Daredevil Netflix series delivers where it counts, and judging from its critical reception across the net, everyone agrees with me. Barring a few hiccups in the production, I would honestly claim it currently features some of Marvel Studios best efforts to date. Considering how much this show had going against it (as it had to make up for the sins of the atrocious Fox film in the eyes of fans) this is unequivocally not just better than the Fox film, but one of the best distillations of a super hero mythology available. I think the series creators knew they couldn't just make an okay/decent Daredevil show. They had to make one of the greatest television shows of the last decade in order to make good with the fans. Daredevil currently stands tall as a testament to Marvel's seemingly unending commitment to making faithful adaptations of their comics. Marvel Studios could have so easily slouched on their current success with the cinematic universe, but instead brought the heat when bringing Daredevil back into the fold. Hopefully we can look forward to many more great seasons in the future.
Positive Factors
- This series makes you forget that the abysmal Fox film even exists.
- Faithful recreation of the Daredevil characters and mythology. One of the best adaptations of a super hero to date.
- Amazing casting on the whole. No one feels miscast or useless for that matter.
- Vincent D'Onofrio's portrayal of Wilson Fisk is reason enough to watch this show.
- Beautifully rendered cinematography encapsulates the grit and grime of Hell's Kitchen.
- Unapologetically violent action scenes that are as awesome to watch as they are brutal.
Negative Factors
- A few times the practical effects don't blend well with the CGI.
- At only a few points does the camera angles show gaps in the choreography.
- The score is somewhat forgettable barring the main theme.
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