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| Yeah, it's pretty fucking awesome |
Daredevil is a Netflix exclusive series based on the Marvel Comics character. The show is gritty and violent, but still has a lot of heart. The characters are well developed. Even the side characters and villains have back stories and interesting motivations. This is the interpretation of the character that fans wanted, but instead got the goofier 2004 movie. This series blows the movie out of the water.
Though the movie starring Ben Affleck had some of the moments from the comics, it also had a fight on a seesaw. The movie wasn't really that dark, but had some fun moments.
This new series is a fresh start for one of Marvel's lesser known heroes. Daredevil may be known as 'the poor man's Spider-Man or Batman', but the character has a rich history and a dedicated fan base. I personally saw DD for the first time in the animated Spider-Man series from the 1990's. I had no clue who the character was, but over time he popped up in more and more media.
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| 90's style, bitch! |
Netflix's original series takes place in the shared Cinematic Universe, same as The Avengers and Agents of Shield, but in a much darker and violent corner. A corner known as Hell's Kitchen. Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) is a lawyer starting a small practice with his friend Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson). Matt was exposed to a batch of chemicals as a child that took his sight, but gave his other senses a massive boost. He can't see, but he can hear, taste, smell and feel at hyper human levels.
As The Man in the Black Mask and later the hero, Daredevil. This version of Daredevil starts with a Trial of the Incredible Hulk outfit, much in the 'learning curve' vein of many super hero origins as of late. Matt is figuring out what kind of hero he wants to be, or if he is a hero at all. He is much more serious than his movie counterpart.
Matt fights against crime in his home turf, which eventually leads him into battle with his greatest rival, Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio) aka The Kingpin (though he isn't called The Kingpin, yet). Fisk is secretive at first, but is always unpredictable. He is calculating, but emotional. He is a puppet master, but also will get his hands dirty building his criminal empire. And his hand get really, really dirty... er... bloody. I can't help but see a little Frank Underwood in this version of the Kingpin.
Other characters like the ever resourceful reporter Ben Urich (Vondie Curtis-Hall) and secretary Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) are well acted and have pretty tragic character arcs. Rosario Dawson plays the nurse Claire Temple, who finds Matt in a dumpster after taking a beastly beating. Stick (Scott Glenn), who was absent from the Affleck movie, even makes an appearance as a 'take no shit' teacher and all around bad ass.
For 13 episodes you're going to enthralled, on the edge of your seat or shocked at not only some of the more violent moments, but how the story develops. Sometimes in pretty unexpected ways, which is a trick for a character that's been around for decades.
Netflix's Daredevil is great. From the fight scenes to the drama, the show has something for everyone. This is, without question, the best television series Marvel has developed, period. You are missing out on a lot if you skip this one... so don't.
Rating: Fucking Awesome
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