Marvel’s alliance with Netflix proves to even more fruitful as Daredevil returned with a season which could, perhaps, be the best thing to have ever happened to the superhero genre on TV. Almost a year after its debut, the complete second season of Daredevil was made available to viewers on Netflix on March 18th. In this second season, the duty of the show-runner passed from Steven DeKnight to Doug Petrie and Marco Ramirez. Safe to say, DeKnight passed the torch to safe hands who improved upon what he had built last year.
The plot picks up about a year after the events of the first season. Matt Murdock is keeping the streets of Hell’s Kitchen clean as Daredevil. However, things go south when a man named Frank Castle a.k.a The Punisher declares an all-out war on three different crime organizations operating in Hell’s Kitchen. Matt starts investigating into The Punisher only to discover there is more to him than a killer and things get complicated as Matt and his friends are drawn into an even bigger conspiracy threatening Hell’s Kitchen and its people.
Though the basic plot may seem generic at first, Daredevil delves deep into the story, drawing several elements from the character’s comic roots, and the result is a fast-paced thriller/drama that never fails to score, reading into the idea of vigilantism from multiple perspectives through its characters. Each one of the thirteen episodes comprises at least one scene or plot-point which could be considered as the “wow factor” that elevates the episode into a different plane than it could have been confined to. Daredevil’s plot finds its drive in the first ten or twenty minutes and never loses it. Instead, it charges up through the show’s many amazing twists, dramatic moments, and a roster of well-developed characters portrayed by a fantastic cast and ultimately culminates into a memorable season finale which provides closure to all of the plot points while setting the stage for the future of the show as well as the rest of the Netflix corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
An important factor that makes Daredevil unique is the attention given to building the characters in the show. In the previous season, much of that attention went to Matt Murdock himself and the antagonist, Wilson Fisk and it paid off. This time around, Matt is already a completely developed character when the season begins who gets further refined with the context of the plot. Charlie Cox’s performance as Matt Murdock is even better than what he did in the first season. The writers managed to make a clear distinction between Matt Murdock and his alter ego and Cox’s performance reflected the contrast between these two personas and Murdock’s internal struggle.
The writers have given sufficient details towards progressing the show’s various supporting characters and the new additions to the roster. Elden Henson’s Foggy Nelson and Deborah Ann Woll’s Karen Page each get a more fleshed out character arc than they did in season one. Among the two, it is Henson who delivers a stunning, more convincing performance as his character portraying Foggy Nelson’s professional and personal lives and increasing tension in his relationship between Matt and Karen. There are at least a few moments where Henson shines better than his co-stars with the courtroom scenes being prime examples. In contrast, Karen Page got a more interesting story arc closely tied to the Punisher’s arc with allusions to Page’s mysterious past. Combined with Deborah Ann Woll’s acting, Karen Page is a terrific addition to the MCU’s list of strong female characters.
However, it’s Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle that stole the entire show, which may not be a surprise to people who are familiar with Bernthal’s other works. The show does an impressive job of building up the character before finally revealing him and further develops him by providing insights into the character’s past and psyche through his many interactions with the rest of the characters. While he may be no Vincent D’Onofrio, Bernthal is brutally excellent as The Punisher brings a massive energy to the show every time he appears on screen. In fact, the rest of the cast pales a great deal in comparison to Bernthal. At this point, it is probably only a matter of weeks before a solo Punisher series starring Jon Bernthal is announced. Élodie Yung gives a stellar performance as Elektra Natchios, a face from Matt’s past who becomes a significant part of the plot as it progresses.
Vigilantism is the main the theme discussed all throughout the season. Matt reflects on his own acts and as a masked man and their position on the moral spectrum when The Punisher and Elektra bring their own valid arguments to justify what they do whereas Foggy and Karen are made to question the entire of idea people taking the law into their own hands. This theme is further explored through the interactions between the show’s different characters. In fact, the many interactions between Daredevil and The Punisher, backed by Cox and Bernthal’s act, are amongst the highlights of the show as they bring a more human touch to these characters.
The action sequences in the show are exceptionally amazing. Yet again, the attention given to detail is obvious from the kind of stunts performed by each character as it complies with their personality and background. Every action sequence is awe-inspiring with the stairwell fight scene, which is the spiritual successor to the hallway scene from season 1, and the final showdown between the characters being the most breathtaking ones. The cinematography deserves special mention as the frames do a great job of painting Hell’s Kitchen as a sort of gothic war zone instead of the glossy metropolitan New York viewers normally see in pop-culture. The soundtrack used in this season is a modified version of the haunting music from the first season composed by John Paesano and Braden Kimball. It does a great job of capturing the feel of this version of Hell’s Kitchen as well as adding the necessary punch to the show’s many dramatic moments and action sequences.
Taking into consideration all the above mentioned factors, it is right to say that Daredevil delivered a near-perfect season in its second run. However, it does raise the concern that the show has set the bar too high for itself and will suffer the fate of many other shows and decline in quality in the next season. Nonetheless, whether you are a long-term fan of the comics, the MCU, or just a casual viewer, Daredevil has got it all. An immersive setting, thrilling plot, astonishing action sequences, and a roster of characters played by some excellent actors, all make the second season of Daredevil a compelling watch.
Score – 9/10
– By Nisanth Suresh
Tags: daredevil season 2 Marvel Marvel daredevil Netflix
