Daredevil Review

I’m sure all the Marvel fans that watched Spiderman: No Way Home are aware of the cameo of Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock (AKA Daredevil… AKA a really good lawyer). However, not many people know about the Marvel TV shows — originally on Netflix — which will be on Disney+ on March 16. There are about six different shows set in the Marvel universe, which follow the lives of New York’s vigilantes and anti-heroes.

Daredevil is the story of the man considered the first NYC vigilante. Matthew Michael Murdock (they really love alliteration in the MCU) was raised by his father “Battlin’ Jack” Murdock, a street boxer. At nine years old, Matt was blinded by a chemical spill, and soon after his father was killed and Matt had to stay in a Catholic orphanage. There he will meet an older blind man named ‘Stick’, who helps Matt train his newly heightened senses and teaches him how to fight. 

Matt turns to his faith and becomes a devout Catholic, which is an important part of his identity and his internal moral conflict. After going to law school, he opens a pro-bono practice with his best friend from college, Nelson and Murdock. Matt lives a double life as a lawyer by day and violent vigilante by night. Originally called “The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen,” he is eventually dubbed “Daredevil” by the media. 

Anyways, enough backstory. This show is one of the most beautiful pieces of media I have ever consumed and I can confidently say, in my opinion, that it is the best piece of Marvel media in all of the MCU. Not only is the acting brilliant, but the lighting, cinematography, costumes, and overall artistic attention to detail is breathtaking. The show is dark and gritty, with a lot of religious imagery (mainly the devil, because, y’know, Daredevil) and the attention to detail is extremely meticulous. For example, while Matt/Daredevil is shadowed/dressed in darker colors (mostly red), the main antagonist (played by Vincent D’Onofrio), Wilson Fisk, is constantly shadowed/dressed in white. 

Additionally, the characterization of the antagonists in this show is incredibly complex and questions the idea of “morality” to an extent that is rarely seen in modern media. Wilson Fisk, the overall Big Bad of the show, is the top crime lord in NYC and is ruthless when it comes to gaining and keeping power. However, it is shown that he loves his girlfriend Vanessa very much and is shown to have a close bond with his personal assistant James Wesley. He is polite and has a passion for art, music, and food. Fisk is the perfect example of a complex villain with depth and relatability, making him seem much more realistic.

(I would talk about Frank Castle (the Punisher) who appears in Season 2 of Daredevil and his moral complexity, but he has his own show so I recommend you watch it if you want to know more. I promise it is very very good and worth a watch, but be aware it is pretty gory).

A personal favorite Daredevil antagonist of mine is Benjamin Poindexter. He is an FBI agent with psychopathic tendencies and the way they explore his mental instability and his relation to other characters is super interesting. 

Another character in the season featuring Poindexter that shows complex morality is Agent Nadeem, an underpaid FBI agent trying to support his large family. In order to make enough money to take care of them, he has to abandon his morals. And yes, what he does to make money is immoral, but it is for unselfish reasons — wanting to support his family — which shows the depth and compassion to his character.

Overall, I love the way Daredevil explores morality, ethics, religion/faith, corruption, and life as a disabled person. Not only is the acting and writing exquisite, but the attention to detail and the effort you can tell they put into the show is amazing as well.