Marvel does it again
If you take a look at blockbusters right now, sequels and prequels oversaturate the market and unoriginality is the norm. It's quite obvious that studios are too afraid to take risks anymore. Amidst all this blandness and fear, Marvel Studios has been a force of creative decision-making, and with their first instalment of a 5-year Netflix deal, they've made it clear they can do no wrong.
"Daredevil" follows Matt Murdock, a young lawyer/crime-fighter who gained heightened senses when chemicals blinded him as a child. The first thing you notice about "Daredevil" is how different its tone is from other Marvel live-action material which was admittedly getting stuck in a formula. The fantastic opening sequence dissolves into a world drenched in dark browns and bilious greens: the seedy underbelly of the MCU.
The series is set in Hell's Kitchen, a derelict and crime-ridden part of New York City, still recovering from the events from "Avengers" (a smart move that links the series to MCU and also provides a pre-cursor to major plot points.)
The word "gritty" has basically become a parody of itself but there is no better way to describe this series. Netflix's leniency towards content adds a lot to the 'street level' vibe. When the characters drink and swear, kill and get killed in gruesome ways, they feel like real people. Also in classic Netflix-style, the plot is on point and never entertains fillers and needless family drama, something that plagued "Arrow" in its first season. Taking inspiration from Frank Miller's "The Man Without Fear", Matt spends the majority of the series wearing a black costume and taking down criminals working for a mysterious boss. In some ways it feels more like a thriller than a superhero show with some extremely tense moments and genuinely surprising deaths. The first episodes are also interlaced with really emotional flashbacks of Matt's childhood with his father Battlin' Jack Murdock.
The fight sequences are well-choreographed but some suffer from shoddy editing. A mandatory fight to point out is the 2nd episode's extended brawl reminiscent of "Oldboy". Apart from the fine camera-work, the sound-design is also exceptional. Every punch Matt takes has a weight to it and every usage of his enhanced hearing is intelligent and creative.
Despite having some pacing issues, the episodes are all well-written and varied, and have the best casting in a long time. Charlie Cox practically IS Matt Murdock. Never before has an actor embodied a comic book character this well (except maybe J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson). All this is complemented by Elden Henson, who plays Foggy Nelson, Matt's long-time friend and law partner. Providing comic relief in a series that can sometimes get relentlessly bleak, he's a perfect foil to Matt. In one particular episode you really get to see why Foggy and Matt's friendship is regarded as one of the best in the MU. Karen Page, played by Deborah Ann Woll, is one of the most fleshed-out female characters on TV, especially compared to the cardboard cut-out that was Laurel in season 1 of "Arrow". And lastly, Vincent D'Onofrio as the vulnerable yet terrifying Wilson Fisk, is a much needed addition to Marvel's rather lacklustre rogues gallery.
Overall, "Daredevil" is a breath of fresh of air for Marvel. But is it worth binge-watching in a day? Hell yeah!