Earlier this year, Arrow and The Flash were the top superhero shows. Now, Daredevil has dethroned both of them as the best superhero show on television. I can’t help but view them more critically after seeing this fantastic show. This is a show that has conflicted characters, a concise plot, breathtaking action, and an exceptional villain. I took my time with this show (since Netflix released all 13 episodes at once), but the wait for a second season could not be longer.
I’m just a man with a dream
Before I get too much into my review for the show, I would like to comment on the timing if it’s release. I can’t help but feel that the release of this show hurt my enjoyment of the second Avengers film. While my thoughts remain constant towards it (it is a good film), this show is far better than most of the movies released by marvel. Why is that? Well, perhaps because it takes it’s time. There are 12 episodes, all an hour long, and each of them develop the shows’ characters and it’s plot. The show’s plot flowed nicely from episode to episode, and it is really what helped introduce new characters and develop current ones. The plot may not have been anything too substantial, but it was grounded in reality (which is a nice change of pace), and served it’s purpose for this first season. Among the engaging plot lies a whole cast of interesting characters, with some great actors to bring them to life. The three that I will focus on are Wilson Fisk, Ben Urich, and Matt Murdock himself. Starting off with Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock, he completely nails the character. He is dark, brooding, and vulnerable. Unlike the other heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Matt is just a normal guy. He’s not a billionaire, a super solider, nor a god. Just like he says in the show, he wants to make his city a better place. He is not perfect, and stumbles throughout the season, but eventually finds his way to become the hero his city deserves. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk. This may very well be the best villain Marvel has to offer. I even feel bad calling him merely a villain because he is so much more than that. He and Matt and two sides of the same coin. They are both doing what they think is best for their city, but go about it in two very different ways. There is a particular episode that sheds some light on Fisk’s childhood which does a great job highlighting his own motivations. D’Onofrio needs to be commended on his performance, because he presents Fisk in a much more relatable and vulnerable light than ever before. Finally, I have to mention Vondie Curtis-Hall as Ben Urich. He is my favorite character, and it is mainly because of his complexity. He is a shell of his former self, who has lost much of his former life. He lives in a time bound by corruption, and he finds himself incorruptible.
I’m just trying to make my city a better place
Another major strong point of the show is the action. Most people have already been talking about it, but the action scene at the end of the second episode is phenomenal. I will not spoil what makes it so amazing, but I have yet to see anything as impressive in a marvel film. This is precisely why I praise the show so much. It is very different from Marvel’s films, and takes many risks. Most of their films feel fairly safe, but this show takes so many risks in their tone and their action. Luckily, these risks pay off. Something else I really adore from the show is the music, and the opening. Most shows nowadays do not have memorable openings, but this one has one of the best openings I have ever seen. The music is extremely enjoyable, and the graphics are quite impressive. While the show gets many things right, it does have a few missteps. Occasionally, the pacing was a little off. Some episodes did not offer as much development as others, and the plot felt like it was dragging along. Another small complaint is the character of Claire. While I really enjoyed her character, she just disappears from the show. I do not know if she will come back next season, but I hope she does. The show did not give her character the closure she deserves.
Closing Remarks
This is not a flawless show, but it is a great one. It is the best superhero show on television right now, and that is due in part by it’s plot and characters. Along with some memorable music, well choreographed action scenes, and great acting, this show truly shines as one of Marvel’s finest products. The wait for a second season will be long and tiresome, but I hope they take their time and continue producing some of television’s finest episodes.