Today is a brand new-day in the Marvel Universe with the debut of Netflix’ Daredevil TV series; the first of four television shows set in the “Marvel Cinematic Universe” (MCU). The characters that will be having their own shows on Netflix are Marvel’s “street level” characters; Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. And just as with the Marvel big-screen counterparts, all four shows will culminate in a crossover TV series, The Defenders!
While this is not Marvel Studios’ first foray into the small-screen, as we’ve seen with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter, Daredevil brings Marvel Studios into new territory. Daredevil has a darker tone than the any film or show in thus far in the MCU. And it isn’t just because they say “shit” a few times every episode, or the fact that they showed a *gasp* side-boob! Daredevil displays the dark underbelly of the MCU, and it is TERRIFYING.
TV programs that release all their seasons at once are a different entity than serialized shows. In terms of comics, I like to think of serialized shows as periodicals and a TV show like Daredevil is more likened to an original graphic novel. Watching the first five episodes had given me a strong glimpse of what the show is going to be about, but it will be those eight extra episodes I haven’t yet seen that will define the show. So I will say this right now, Daredevil is a fun, pulpy show with characters that will mesmerize any fan and will have no trouble making converts to those not familiar with Daredevil’s world. But I will reserve my final judgment on the series until I see the full first season as a whole.
Let’s talk about the characters on the show. Daredevil is mostly influenced by the Frank Miller run of the comics; the dark-noir book that took Daredevil from a Spider-Man wannabe to a hero whose adventures were incomparable to any other comics coming out at the time. The main cast features Charlie Cox as Daredevil, Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson, Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple, a.k.a. The Night Nurse and Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk, The Kingpin. All actors portray their characters incredibly well, particularly Vincent D’Onofrio as The Kingpin.
Vincent D’Onofrio transformed himself physically so he looks like the comic incarnation as drawn by John Romita Sr., but his acting is subtle and frightening! In the first several episodes, viewers don’t see much of the character, and when people speak of him they do so as if he were some kind of boogeyman. But when he first shows his face, his intentions are vastly different than what’d you’d expect. Incidentally, since The Kingpin is also a Spider-Man villain, so I think it would be great if Vincent D’Onofrio played the character in the upcoming Spider-Man movie. Trust me when I say that he will make a realistic and formidable foe.
And while Vincent D’Onofrio is the show’s stand-out, a close-second is Charlie Cox as Daredevil. First, let me say kudos to the fine folks at Marvel Studios for casting an actor whose name is an alliteration just like Daredevil’s secret identity is Matt Murdock. I find the most interesting thing about Matt Murdock is the mystery surrounding his back-story. In the first two episodes, they tell the heart-warming tale of Battlin’ Jack Murdock in flashbacks, as well as how Matt Murdock gains his superpowers. But after five episodes, viewers still don’t know who trained him to fight, the moment he decided to fight crime, as well as why his costume is all black. “It’s a work in progress,” Daredevil later says about his costume.
As Daredevil, Charlie Cox is a delight. He’s often glib, never once showing any signs of weakness as Matt Murdock; even though to the world, he is “disabled”. He has strong chemistry with all of the other characters, particularly with Rosario Dawson’s character. In the start of the series, Matt and Foggy start their iconic lawfirm, “Nelson and Murdock”. They are supposed to be best-friends but Foggy is such a chatterbox, Matt hardly gets a word in edge-wise. Deborah Ann Woll is just okay so far as Karen Page. I’m curious to see where her shocking story takes her. Then there’s the ancillary characters. Ben Urich is in the show! And so is Vanessa Marianna, played by Superman’s Kryptonian mother from Man of Steel! Her character is fascinating, and for all Daredevil comic fans out there, we all know who her love interest is!
When I would read interviews about Daredevil from its show runner, he would often say that he is attempting to emulate The Wire with Daredevil. That’s a pretty brazen statement, comparing Daredevil to perhaps the greatest television show ever created. While I do not think Daredevil is as great as The Wire in quality, it certainly succeeds in tone. And that in itself is quite an achievement.
Review Score: 9.0
