After an embarrassing attempt to bring the character to the silver screen in 2003 Marvel, with the help of Netflix, have crafted the most comic accurate portrayal of one of their characters to date. Daredevil is the first in a series of Netflix shows meant to further expand the studio executive coined, Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thus bringing the number of avenues for the MCU to three, the films, the ABC shows, and now Netflix. While the films clearly deal with the more important characters and world shattering doomsday plots, and the ABC programs handle the ramifications of those plots, the Netflix shows are an even smaller microcosm, the day to day lives of those ordinary people affected by those gods and monsters. The Netflix shows are tasked with exploring what are called the street-level heroes, those who choose to stand up and do something about corruption, injustice or just plain evil that plagues the streets Iron Man normally ignores and Hulk regularly smashes up.
Daredevil as brought to the screen by Netflix is a giant sigh of relief that these upcoming Marvel shows are in good hands. This series out Batman's every Batman film to date. Daredevil is an unflinching depiction of a crime infested neighborhood, Hell's Kitchen, and what one man is willing to do to save his city. This hero can't fly or shoot energy beams from his hands, in fact Daredevil or Matt Murdock is really only good at two things, taking a beating and always getting back up for more. Daredevil in the comics and thankfully as depicted here is a fascinating contradiction of a man. Lawyer by day, vigilante by night. A man who seemingly believes in the legal system yet when confronted with a verdict he disagrees with takes it upon himself to track down the acquitted suspect and beat them within an inch of their life. To make things more interesting Murdock is a devout Catholic who struggles with doing what he believes is right and just with those teachings of the church.
The show interestingly focuses on the lead villain almost as much as the titular hero. Wilson Fisk, later in his life known as Kingpin is one of Daredevils greatest villains but as portrayed here Fisk is a sympathetic man. Vincent D'Onofrio's portrayal is vulnerable and terrifying, an unstable man with a dark past but genuinely big dreams for the city he calls home. Charlie Cox also does a wonderful job playing the subtle conflict always brewing beneath the surface of Murdock, it is a stereotypical hero role but there is sadness to him that runs deep and lends itself well to this gritty crime drama. All the other big key characters are serviceable but not noteworthy.
I've mentioned Daredevil is connected to the larger MCU but you wouldn't know it with the amount of brutal violence and focus on dark character drama. The show is incredibly stylistic, shot entirely with natural light the show is dark, literally, every scene is drenched is shadows and stark lighting, it sets a mood that fits perfectly with the character and distinguishes itself from the absolute cavalcade of super hero movies and TV shows. The fight scenes are another distinguishing mark, well choreographed and brutal, these fights are not pretty and punctuated with hero shots. Daredevil and the criminals he fights often miss, fumble and reel back in pain. These fights are visceral and exciting and a few are stunningly well shot, in single shots or inventively edited. Overall the style and tone of the series are a real standout and mark my words, will be recognized come award season.
Daredevil is a fantastic first showing from Marvel on Netflix, a lowly street hero, a crime lord and the city they fight over are given time to develop and define themselves. 13 hour-long episodes makes this the longest we've spent with any single Marvel hero and it pays off huge. There are more layers to peripheral characters here than some main characters in the Marvel movies. If their are any faults with the series is that the show, like every Netflix show, doesn't know when to cut. With no advertisers or executives demanding arbitrary changes and time allotments the show tends to let scenes simmer too long. In some cases it's brilliant, like when Murdock seeks a priest for confession. Other times it's awkward and leads to pacing issues, but once again this is a problem with every Netflix show so it's hard to lay too much of the criticism at Daredevil's feet.
At times it felt like Daredevil was spinning its wheels, slowing down to fill time and less for building tension, but in the end Daredevil distinguishes itself with strong writing and a shockingly dark tone. The show builds towards a climatic showdown between two relatable yet diametrically opposed men. Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio are the real draws here giving captivating performances and carrying the weight of the entire season alone, a task it should be mentioned they accomplish handily. Daredevil is filled with thrilling fight sequences, taut drama, and a whole new much darker corner of the MCU to explore.
(4 out of 5)