Daredevil finds himself trapped in the fallout of Fisk’s plan to take control of Hell’s Kitchen. Ben Ulrich digs closer to the truth.

Another fascinating episode as far as Marvel and Netflix‘s Daredevil. The sixth episode mostly takes place in one room as Hell’s Kitchen burns. The events within show the different levels that Wilson Fisk and Daredevil play at. For most of the episode it’s Daredevil and one of the Russians with a crumbling room as Daredevil attempts to gain more information as to what’s going on. There’s some gamesmanship again that we’ve seen in the comics, but to see it played out in the television show is very cool. Also, to see how far Fisk will go, and how deep the corruption is as far as his influence is very nice as well. You really have no idea who to trust through it all.

While the city is literally burning Foggy and Karen have their experiences having been caught in the blast. To see their reactions and what’s going on in the hospital is a nice reminder of a world beyond the masks. They also serve to remind us that though he dons a mask, Murdock is still a blind man.

The end of the episode is particularly interesting, especially since it toes the line of doing good and evil as debated about in an earlier episode. The foreshadowing of the line Matt/Daredevil will have to walk plays out well here.

Another solid episode that transitions us nicely into the latter half of the first season.

Overall rating: 8.5

Fisk moves forward with plans that threaten to rip Hell’s Kitchen apart. Murdock and Foggy take on a case helping tenants victimized by a slumlord.

The fifth episode of Netflix and Marvel‘s Daredevil is an interesting one. The pieces on the chess board are moved around as Wilson Fisk’s plan comes more to light and forces began to move against him. Sadly Fisk’s plan reminds me a bit too much out of the first season of Arrow. In fact Fisk’s plan and logic is all too similar to Malcom Merlyn. That’s a bad thing, but as long as episodes don’t drag on and on about the plan, things won’t be that bad. And it doesn’t involve an earthquake, so there’s that too.

The episode again really builds on the characters themselves. Foggy and Karen band together to help the tenants of an apartment building where we learn more about the two, their past and what they bring to the series. It’s a solid reprieve for what can easily just devolve into a series about a vigilante and that’s it.

Wilson out of everyone is the most interesting character. He’s a cold calculating character and D’Onofrio’s performance is all that with some vulnerability too. It’s a scary good performance.

The episode ends with a bang, as things really ramp up in what’s so far a fantastic first season. And the cliffhanger the episode ends on is expected, but still exciting nonetheless.

Overall rating: 8.25

Two vicious Russian brothers working for Fisk strike back against Daredevil. Fisk moves to further consolidate his power in the criminal underworld.

Marvel‘s and Netflix‘s Daredevil in its fourth episode again mixes things up a bit, this time focusing on the villains for the first season. The episode gives much more depth as to the characters we’ve only been briefly introduced to. We don’t really get their overall plan, but instead it’s their personalities that we get to see on display.

The episode really centers around Vincent D’Onofrio‘s Wilson Fisk, the big bad behind it all. Up to this point we’ve only seen him briefly in the previous episode, and haven’t gotten much as far as his personality. D’Onofrio brings his amazing acting abilities to the role. It’s not just what he says, or how he says it, but like many of the characters he’s played in the past, there’s subtle gestures, tics and moves that really bring him to life.

What’s also great is through all of those gestures, D’Onofrio also gives us a villain who’s a bit deeper than we’ve seen before in Marvel’s live action releases. There’s a sense of being wounded that comes from him an almost feeling of loss. Throughout the episode, even though he may be this powerful underworld Kingpin, he’s also a bit awkward and shy when pursuing a woman he’s interested in. How he acts just creates greater depth to the character. One wonders if these small gestures were written in for the character, or this is something D’Onofrio brought to the role.

The acting in this episode was amazing, showing how solid the live action Marvel offerings can be. We’ve finally got a villain we can feel for, as much as we fear.

Overall rating: 9.25

Murdock and Foggy take on a mysterious wealthy client, but Murdock’s convinced there’s more to the case than just the facts.

Marvel‘s first Netflix series Daredevil in its third episode explores the morality of the world the series takes place in. Foggy and Matt are hired by a mysterious benefactor to depend a man for murder. Did he defend himself? Was he hired to kill? All of that’s up in the air, but both Foggy and Matt know something is up. They also need to money.

The episode also introduces us to an important character in the Daredevil comic world, Ben Urich, who also has ties with Spider-Man. He’s a journalist looking for a good story. And he might find it in the ongoing story that involves Karen Page and this mysterious corporation.

The episode is interesting for quite a few reasons. Although there’s use of his powers throughout, it’s mostly a Daredevil-less episode. Instead it focuses more on Murdock and Foggy as lawyers. It’s pretty gutsy to do that in only the the third episode. Through that, we also get a morality tale. Is it right to defend someone you know is guilty? Can justice be sought in other ways? It’s a very interesting episode because though there’s not much action, it sets up a lot as far as the tone of the series.

The episode also has two other things, the murder of someone by Daredevil, and our first glimpse of Wilson Fisk. Even with just a 30 second glimpse, we can tell Fisk is an imposing character, perfectly translating the classic comic character the the small screen.

The third episode is slower than the first two, and just as fantastic. With Daredevil, we get a superhero series set in the real world.

Overall rating: 8.5

Murdock makes a near fatal error while trying to save a kidnapped boy, and finds an unlikely ally when he needs saving himself.

The second episode of Netflix and Marvel‘s Daredevil begins with more of Murdock’s life as a child with his father who made a living as a boxer… and clearly more. Comic fans will know more of Murdock’s father’s history, but how far things go with Jack Murdock will be interesting.

The second episode also introduces us to Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple, a character who also has ties to another character who will debut on Netflix Luke Cage. We don’t know if that comic nugget will also make its way into the Netflix part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The second episode does an interesting thing in that it not only really lays out have “human” Daredevil is (the episode starts with him clearly beat up), how new to this all is, but through flashbacks his history and how he’s been honed into who he is at this point. The episode also continues some things set up in the first episode, like the fact Jack Murdock boxed Crusher Creel, a character who made an appearance in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Also, Foggy and Karen have a night on the town really showing off the characters and giving us an idea who who they are and what they’re about.

The show also really sets itself apart from what’s come before in the Marvel Cinematic universe. It’s dark, the whole episode takes place at night, that’s stark contrast to the brightness of other shows. There’s also the fact, they freaking torture a guy! Yeah, this isn’t for kids, this is the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the adults.

There’s also something else that’s generally missing in all the other releases, a solid emotional punch. I found myself with ten minutes to go in the episode being a bit emotionally choked up involving a scene with Jack Murdock. We know what’s going to happen, we know where it’s going. But the way it’s shot, the vibe that oozes out of the scene, it’s beyond fantastic.

The episode ends with a claustrophobic fight scene that actually shows a raw vulnerability for Daredevil, something we haven’t seen in Marvel’s live-action heroes yet. The fight is coordinated well, but also very unpolished and not smooth. It feels like it might be in real life, someone going all out and taking as hard as he gives, heavy breathing and all.

Up until now, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been characters larger than life. We might have for the first time, a hero we can all truly relate to, and not just look up at.

Overall rating: 9

Matt Murdock opens his law practice, while fighting crime at night as a masked vigilante. In both he finds equally dangerous challenges in a murder case tied into a corporate crime syndicate.

Marvel‘s first Netflix series Daredevil debuts with a brutal look at the dark side of the Marvel cinematic universe. If they labelled the series like their comics, this would be Marvel Knights done on television. Ever since the audacious plan to bring numerous Marvel properties to the small screen, spanning four series leading into a larger team focused event, I felt both excitement and nervousness as time drew nearer. Lets face it, Marvel’s track record with Daredevil as far as live action translations is mixed, and as far as Marvel and television, things also have been mixed. About fifteen minutes into the first episode, any nervousness was long gone as this isn’t a sugar-coated version of the classic character.

We have a brutal translation where you can feel the punches, and every blood drop is carefully filmed in a stylistic celebration of dirt and brutal comic violence. This first episode makes other Marvel live action properties look like a happy Disney ride.

Gone are campy villains with superpowers or aliens, instead drug dealers, kidnappers, and evil corporations are the nemesis of this “street hero” focused series and the debut episode has no problem showing the dirty side of things. People are killed, possible witnesses mysteriously die, drugs are shown being packed away. And a mysterious villain waiting in the wings, who we all know is Wilson Fisk aka The Kingpin. This show isn’t for kids.

Throughout it all, we’re reminded that Daredevil has superpowers and this is the Marvel Cinematic Universe as constant references to the events of the first Avengers is made, and throughout subtle hints as to Daredevil’s abilities are shown. And those abilities are subtle, and amazingly done.

Finally, the casting is well done with Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock/Daredevil shining. The show revolves around him, and this should make him a star. Elden Henson, who’s an actor you know you’ve seen elsewhere, does fantastic in Murdock’s law partner Foggy Nelson. The only iffy actor is Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page. I wasn’t a big fan of Woll in True Blood, but maybe she’ll grow on me like she did on that show.

Overall, the first episode knocks it out of the park delivering what might be some of Marvel’s best live work yet.

Overall rating: 9