Daredevil Series Review (Season 2)

Released: March 16th 2016 (All episodes at once)

Created by: Drew Goddard

Number of episodes: 13

Where to watch: Netflix (All regions)

Starring: Charlie Cox, Elden Henson, Deborah Ann Woll, Jon Bernthal, Elodie Yung, Stephen Rider, Rosario Dawson and Scott Glenn

The Kingpin may be behind bars, but the fight for Hell’s Kitchen continues in season 2 of Daredevil, an outstanding second offering that goes deeper, darker and more deadly.

With his recent success both in and out of the courtroom, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) along with his closest friends “Foggy” Nelson (Elden Henson) and Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) are continuing to serve New York with their law firm. While the company appears to be doing well, things are thrown into disarray with the arrival of new would-be vigilantes; The Punisher (played by Jon Bernthal) and Elektra (Elodie Yung). With this comes a new breed of crime twice as difficult to stamp out. Between the Punisher’s ruthless take on killing and Elektra’s often manipulative demeanor, Daredevil must carve his way through a collection of shadowy assailants and hidden corruption as his personal relationships are pushed to the breaking point. But with such heavy adversaries, can the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen stay true to himself and his morals? This is one of the primary themes dealt with in Season 2 and the ways in which Daredevil plays off of these new characters and their own agendas makes it a treat to take in; you feel a real sense of strain being put on the characters this time around and this envelopes both sides of Matt’s persona. The season features far more manoeuvring around the law as well as time in the courtroom with a snide district attorney (Michelle Hurd) out to get Nelson and Murdoch as a company; this relays a sense of tension into a place that was previously calm and subdued. Like any great action successor, Daredevil ups the grittiness of its world exponentially, keeping the interest levels high as a result.

The new actors for Daredevil Season 2 are all incredibly memorable, often serving to get across a bleak tone that hangs over the personal struggles of their characters. Jon Bernthal has a real knack for playing gruff, renegade types and his rendition of the Punisher is easily one of his best portrayals yet. Frank Castle is a damaged individual but once again the series prides itself on peeling back the layers to create deep characterisation; the specifics of which are best left to discover on your own. On the other Elektra is a seductive show-off, with a personal past that creeps into play as the thirteen episodes roll on. Backstories are interwoven to a greater degree than before, binding many of the characters together in a web of intrigue that enhances the plot even more. Having grown into their respective roles, Cox, Henson and Woll are all excellent once again; with so much pressure placed on their characters, you’ll end up caring for them far more than in the original season, particularly as events go sideways and control spirals away from them.

Season 2 is incredibly unflinching in that its often brutal violence gets across the sheer viciousness of Daredevil’s adversaries. The makeup team deserves massive praise for this season in the way they have delivered often sadistic injuries that will no doubt make you cringe. It emphasises the towering stakes just as well as the narrative does.  The fight scenes are just as impactful as they were before, only this time there’s more variety in their execution. The Punisher brings an immensely impactful set of gun fights to Hell’s Kitchen, highlighting his unrelenting efficiency as a marksman. Daredevil and Elektra get their own tag team battles, incorporating a range of hand-to-hand combat styles.  Then there’s the stairway fight, a fantastic single take sequence that blows the first season’s fights out of the water from the get-go. Upping the ante from Daredevil’s first season was no easy task, but the second outing has managed to exceed it brilliantly.

Daredevil Season 2 undoubtedly maintains and continues what the original so enticing, but it’s the thunderous arrival of the Punisher, Elektra and other figures that raise it to another level entirely. Be prepared for high stakes, tension and drama like nothing you’ve ever seen from Marvel.

Rating: 5/5 Stars