âDaredevil: Season 2â review
By Adam Tatelman, Arts Editor
3/5
The first season of Daredevil was a welcome change from Marvel Studiosâ typical slate of chaotic CGI phantasmagoria, thanks to its neo-noir plot and searing fight choreography. Vincent DâOnofrioâs performance as Wilson Fisk was the standout, and his sheer presence was compelling enough to make up for the uneven script. Without that performance, season two must stand on its own merits. Although it has improved on everything that fans liked about season one, it has also managed to emphasize the showâs weaknesses as well.
About one year after Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) and Karen Page (Deborah Woll) exposed Fiskâs criminal empire, rival crime syndicates rush to claim his territory. Enter Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal), an ex-Marine with a personal vendetta against every crook in the underworld. Lacking Murdockâs moral code, heâs cool with blowing away anyone he deems evil, putting the vigilantes at odds with each other.
The conflict between these characters echoes the ongoing debate surrounding capital punishment: who is to decide who deserves the death penalty, and when does misguided justice become self-righteous vengeance? Itâs a great hook for a show about a hypocritical lawyer with an Irish-Catholic messiah complex, and the themes are especially faithful to Frank Millerâs violent, pulpy vision of the characters.
If the first few episodes outshine the rest, thatâs because of Jon Bernthal. His performance is by far the best thing about season two. Unlike other film depictions of the Punisher, he showcases a broad emotional range in a number of affecting character moments that contrast his frightening psychotic outbursts. He feels like a damaged, unpredictable everyman, and the screen trembles with tension whenever heâs around. His closing monologue in episode four tops the seriesâ dramatic moments so far.
The introduction of Elektra Natchios (Elodie Yung), the crazy ex-girlfriend Matt canât say ânoâ to, splits the showâs focus down the middle. Though sheâs every bit the seductive, thrill-seeking femme fatale Miller envisionedâleaps and bounds ahead of Jennifer Garnerâs girl-next-door portrayal in the 2003 filmâher B-plot only serves to distract Murdock and the audience from the deepening conspiracy surrounding Frank Castle.
Despite some bizarre plot-related liberties taken from the original character, season twoâs Elektra isnât the problem. Itâs the plot threads that hang about her every move. Predictably, Stick (Scott Glenn) returns to make good on season oneâs ominous ninja-war foreshadowing, and it is impossible to escape the feeling that this plot could have been better executed if it were a season of its own. Elektraâs plot, and by extension Frank Castleâs, deserved more care and attention, but theyâve been slapped together haphazardly.
The thing people seem to like most about Daredevil as a series is its unapologetically straight-faced mashup of somber crime drama and â70s martial arts flick ninja-flippery. If that didnât draw you in the first time around, then season twoâs inconsistent writing will do little change your mind, unless youâre a big Jon Bernthal fan. For the proud residents of Hellâs Kitchen, season two wonât quite match the tight plotting of season one, but there are enough surprises and standout moments to keep even the most jaded of fans entertained.
