4 reasons to watch ‘Daredevil’
The best comic book adaptation to date comes at a time when Marvel’s other shows like ‘Luke Cage’ and ‘Iron Fist’ are getting cancelled
Having binged through season three of Marvel’s
Daredevil, streaming now on Netflix, we can safely establish that a more perfect comic book TV adaptation is yet to be made. With enough thrills to bait even the most sceptical non-superhero audience,
Daredevil’s latest season is a masterclass in sublime screenwriting and groundbreaking action. The fact that this is coming at a time when Netflix and Disney-Marvel seem to be going their separate ways, what with Iron Fist and
Luke Cage both getting cancelled, is ironic and quite sad. So, if you’re still on the fence, here are four reasons why you should be clicking play on the show as soon as possible:
1 THE EXCELLENT CAST
The first few episodes see Matthew Cox’s Matt Murdock/Daredevil recovering from the events of season two (aka a literal building falling on him) and battling a crisis in faith at the old church where he was raised when his father died.
Giving him company is Joanne Whally’s Sister Grace, a new character, who takes it upon herself to nurse the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen back to health. The banter between the two as they discuss religion, faith and morality is pretty much what lights up the screen until Daredevil begins to feel like himself again.
Jay Ali’s FBI special agent Rahul ‘Ray’ Nadeem is another great addition to the cast.
Regulars Elden Henson and Deborah Ann Woll as Matt’s best friends Foggy Nelson and Karen Page deliver elevated performances, especially since they get to grow beyond their sidekick roles.
2 DAREDEVIL’S AT HIS MISERABLE BEST
If there was a contest for the most brooding superhero in comic book history, Daredevil would win hands down. The man’s so miserable, even Batman looks like a single-man fiesta next to him.
Season three, loosely based on Frank Miller’s superlative Daredevil run Born Again, digs deep into the desolation well to put Murdock/Daredevil through the wringer. If you remember, season two ended with the death of his on-again-off-again lover Elektra (Elodie Young) and the aforementioned building falling on him, which means our superhero can’t super- hero too well at this point. But Daredevil hitting rock bottom was exactly what the show needed to bring back some of the emotional gravitas that was lost in season two’s more clinical The Hand arc.
3 THE VILLAINS
Wilson Fisk (played by the incomparable Vincent D’Onfrio) returns after season one to show us why the character is so beloved and feared in equal turns. Having moved out of prison after making a deal with the FBI, Fisk is nearly invincible. For the first time, audiences get a peek into how the nefarious mob boss manages to always stay two steps ahead of his competition and his nemesis Daredevil.
But Fisk doesn’t hoard all the limelight in this season, giving way to another classic character from Daredevil’s rogues’ gallery — Bullseye. A beautiful almost-flashback-like episode sees the evolution of Benjamin Pointdexter (Wilson Bethel) from a troubled juvenile to FBI sniper to the famed villain who never misses a target.
While Bethel himself is not as memorable in the role, the character comes to life with the excellent writing and the importance they give to shining a light on his mental health.
Some of Bullseye’s most unhinged moments lead to the best fight scenes in the show.
4 SPEAKING OF FIGHT SCENES...
For those of you who are coming to Daredevil for the action, you won’t be disappointed. The season packs some of the best fight sequences that seem to leap off the pages of your favourite comic books onto your screen. The now traditional oneshot “hallway” take makes its appearance in episode four when Murdock has to fight his way out of a prison. The 11-minute-long sequence exceeds in its frenetic energy of season one’s iconic three-minute hallway sequence and season two’s five-minute stairwell shot.