As we enter the second episode of the “season oneification” of Daredevil, the almost brutal attempts to return the series back to its stripped back roots have so far managed to be so effective that it’s succeeded in dumping poor old Matt Murdock in probably his darkest hole yet. Don’t get things mixed up, I loved the Punisher stuff from season 2, but in an concerted effort to counteract all those ninjas and resurrection machines, Daredevil’s third solo series is obviously dipping back into the comics for inspiration to really make Murdock’s life a steaming pile of crap.
Arguably one of the most famous Daredevil stories ever written, Frank Miller’s Born Again saw Matt Murdock watch his life fall apart after the Kingpin discovers his secret identity after a drug addicted, porn actress, Karen Page sold his secret identity for a shot of heroin (what can I say, it was 80s Frank Miller). While the show is only using the concept as a loose inspiration, watching our hero get torn down to such an intense level is proving to be perversely satisfying.
After his disastrous attempt to get back on the streets and fight crime, Matt Murdock has to have a serious think about how he wishes to proceed. Yes, he stopped a kidnapping, but his fighting prowess has been limited to his injuries affecting his super senses and he only survived the encounter because the thwarted kidnappers didn’t deem him enough of a threat to finish him off. Of course, what with Matt being the type of guy he is, that only inspires him to double down, renounce God and work even harder to remain in his Daredevil persona, much to the concern of the strict Sister Maggie who has taken it upon herself to watch over him.
Part of Matt’s new mantra of “Murdock no more” means that he has cut off all connections to his old life, but while the world at large still believes that he’s dead, Karen Page still believes he is somehow alive and after she reluctantly follows a story about the thwarted kidnapping of a moderately famous celebrity, the story of a man clad in black, fighting off thugs gives her a supercharged jolt of renewed hope. Unfortunately, Foggy doesn’t agree and even is considering leaving the legal profession for good despite all his success.
However, the only one seemingly trying to better their situation is Wilson Fisk; however, while the deposed Kingpin has taken to snitching on other criminal organisations to ensure his wife can return to America, it catches up with him when he’s shanked in the weight room. However, that gives him and the ambitious FBI Agent Nadeem all the leverage to get Fisk moved from prison to house arrest to allow him to keep feeding information to bring down other crime families. But during his transfer, some angry Albanians retaliate in order to get revenge for all the informing Wilson’s been doing – but as Matt hears that his hated enemy is out of jail after going back and bringing those wannabe kidnappers to justice, Fisk is saved by Special Agent Benjamin “Dex” Pointdexter, an incredibly accurate and cold-blooded marksman who always seems to hit a bullseye…
The absurdly dark and gritty tone the Netflix Marvel series employ has always worked best when used on the Man Without Fear and with Please, we get another cracking example of how turning the life of well meaning hero into complete and utter excrement equates to storytelling fireworks. You’ve always been able to tell that Charlie Cox has adored playing the blind, beleaguered lawyer since day one, but the complete destruction of his professional and personal life – not to mention his physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing – has seemingly lit a fire until the actor who is wringing out every bit of self loathing and bitterness he can out of the plot. Remember, watching the infamously Catholic Matt Murdock turn against God is like witnessing Batman confess that he doesn’t really care for orphans and there’s a real feeling that he really is a man (sometimes literally) lost in the dark as he’s turned his back all the things he would usually be fighting for. Yes, he may have done the whole detective thing by bringing in those kidnappers that almost killed him the first time, but there’s still a very real feeling that his outings as Daredevil have now become passive aggressive attempts at suicide. In other words, very Frank Miller.
However, while the influence of the famously hard-boiled writer is all over this season, it certainly hasn’t yet spread to Matt’s loved ones and that’s actually a good thing. While the previous season tended to sideline both Foggy and Karen in order to shift the bulk of the Punisher and Elektra storylines along, it’s good to see that it’s giving as much attention to them as it is Matt.
Thanks to her spot of moonlighting in The Punisher, Karen Page’s role as a reporter now feels nicely fleshed out and while her interview with the woman involved in the foiled kidnapping is her way in to discovering that Murdock may still be alive, but it’s also a neat and organic way of delivering some back story that’s relevant and revealing. Similarly, the subplot of Foggy getting ready to move on from the law and weighing up finally helping out with the family business of cured meats may seem like a nowhere story thread, but it sets up just how far the world has moved on after Murdock’s supposed death.
However, arguably the real reason that season 3 is feeling like such a powerful return to form is that Wilson Fisk is slowly begining to spread his wings once again. While I don’t think it’s a spoiler to predict that almost everything that happens to him is probably by his own design, it’s still a dark pleasure to watch him work and gradually cement his power base once again. In fact, while the addition of the professionally vulnerable Agent Nadeem and his life may feel a bit like an unnecessary distraction to the rekindled animosity between old enemies (the look on Matt’s face when he finds out Fisk is out is a fucking picture and no mistake), we’re doubtlessly going to get to watch him get manipulated, twisted and corrupted by Fisk’s will for our entertainment.
However, while both our hero and our villain shake off the rust and get back into the game, we are briefly introduced to a brand new player once some angry Albanians ambush the FBI detail transporting Wilson to his fancy new digs. It’s rare to see the Kingpin in such dire straits, but when things look extra grim for the crime lord, he’s saved by an agent who not only is a crack shot who kills two assailants by throwing his gun at them when he runs out of bullets. Even a blind man (sorry, Matt) knows that this dude will eventually go on to become Daredevil’s second most persistent foe, Bullseye, and watching him go from a guy working for the FBI to possibly the most sadistic assassin in Marvel history could be amazing.
Two episodes in and the promise season 3 shows is frankly intoxicating as all of our players – both new and familiar – have potential to grow and change all over the place in cool and interesting ways. But one thing is certain, everyone is going to go through a world of pain to get there.
I can’t fucking wait.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
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