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When the news broke that all the Marvel shows were leaving Netflix on March 1, I found myself in a bind. I hadn’t watched them, any of them, and there were only two weeks to try to binge what I could. Now, I was pretty sure that Disney would put them on Disney+ or Hulu, so that I could still get to them somewhere. However, since Disney wasn’t making any announcements, I did a deep dive. Since the shows are an hour long and 13-episode seasons, this was a heavy-lift binge.
Of course, Disney announced they will all be coming to Disney+ on March 16, so I don’t have to mourn what I wasn’t able to cram in. Working my way through the shows, my main question is: Why didn’t I watch them sooner?
DAREDEVIL – Season One
I admit I watched the first few episodes of DAREDEVIL when it came out, and it didn’t grab me. However, I don’t think I gave it the chance it deserved, because, as I worked my way through Season One, I really fell in love with the show. The acting is solid. The writing is strong. The characters are compelling. While not without some flaws, the strengths of the show outweighed the weaknesses.
Some favorite bits:
Vincent D’Ofrino’s performance as Wilson Fisk and Fisk's arc over the season.
The "Rabbit in a Snowstorm" symbolism.
Fisk’s Good Samaritan monologue – "I am the ill intent who set upon the traveler on the road he should not have been on." Just DELICIOUS.
Madame Gao – "What languages do you speak?" "All of them." Her snake eating the elephant story about ambition/greed. Choosing between the shadow and light or the choice will be made for you.
Vladamir’s last speech/stand in the tunnels.
Mrs. Cardenas
Fisk’s and Vanessa’s date where they watch the city burn from his explosions from the penthouse restaurant.
Wet bits – The bowling alley sequence and murderer who kills himself on the spike. Fisk’s murder of Anatoly.
Training with Stick – You want a father. I need a warrior.
Matt and Foggy’s friendship.
Some problematic bits:
Ben and his wife – I’m guessing she has cancer, though it’s not spelled out. While it makes him sympathetic, it also feels more like a set-up, a plot device needed later in the show to get Karen and Ben to the elder-care home.
Karen – She’s smart/capable at some points but does really unwise things at others.
Matt waiting so long to get proper armor.
DAREDEVIL - Season Two
I didn’t think the second season of DAREDEVIL was as strong as the first, but it did bring the supernatural arc hinted at in the first season to the forefront of the second half of the season. The first half unleashed the Punisher on Hell's Kitchen.
Some favorite bits:
The Stick/Elektra/Matt fucked-up family dynamic.
The Castle/Karen relationship.
The impossible choice Castle sets up for Matt to test his resolve not to kill.
Wounded Castle and Matt at the cemetery scene.
The scene at the Irish Mafia funeral.
The creepy children being bled for The Hand.
The Elektra reveal and moments at the end.
“Does it always hurt this much?”
Carrie Ann Moss as Jeri Hogarth
Some problematic bits:
Perhaps too many plot threads – Punisher arc, Elektra arc, Fisk arc, Madame Gao arc.
A bit too much explicit discussion at the struggle between shadow and light, killing/violence and justice, in Matt in his relationships with Castle and Elektra.
Not as many high-note, memorable moments as Season One.
Of course, Disney announced they will all be coming to Disney+ on March 16, so I don’t have to mourn what I wasn’t able to cram in. Working my way through the shows, my main question is: Why didn’t I watch them sooner?
DAREDEVIL – Season One
I admit I watched the first few episodes of DAREDEVIL when it came out, and it didn’t grab me. However, I don’t think I gave it the chance it deserved, because, as I worked my way through Season One, I really fell in love with the show. The acting is solid. The writing is strong. The characters are compelling. While not without some flaws, the strengths of the show outweighed the weaknesses.
Some favorite bits:
Vincent D’Ofrino’s performance as Wilson Fisk and Fisk's arc over the season.
The "Rabbit in a Snowstorm" symbolism.
Fisk’s Good Samaritan monologue – "I am the ill intent who set upon the traveler on the road he should not have been on." Just DELICIOUS.
Madame Gao – "What languages do you speak?" "All of them." Her snake eating the elephant story about ambition/greed. Choosing between the shadow and light or the choice will be made for you.
Vladamir’s last speech/stand in the tunnels.
Mrs. Cardenas
Fisk’s and Vanessa’s date where they watch the city burn from his explosions from the penthouse restaurant.
Wet bits – The bowling alley sequence and murderer who kills himself on the spike. Fisk’s murder of Anatoly.
Training with Stick – You want a father. I need a warrior.
Matt and Foggy’s friendship.
Some problematic bits:
Ben and his wife – I’m guessing she has cancer, though it’s not spelled out. While it makes him sympathetic, it also feels more like a set-up, a plot device needed later in the show to get Karen and Ben to the elder-care home.
Karen – She’s smart/capable at some points but does really unwise things at others.
Matt waiting so long to get proper armor.
DAREDEVIL - Season Two
I didn’t think the second season of DAREDEVIL was as strong as the first, but it did bring the supernatural arc hinted at in the first season to the forefront of the second half of the season. The first half unleashed the Punisher on Hell's Kitchen.
Some favorite bits:
The Stick/Elektra/Matt fucked-up family dynamic.
The Castle/Karen relationship.
The impossible choice Castle sets up for Matt to test his resolve not to kill.
Wounded Castle and Matt at the cemetery scene.
The scene at the Irish Mafia funeral.
The creepy children being bled for The Hand.
The Elektra reveal and moments at the end.
“Does it always hurt this much?”
Carrie Ann Moss as Jeri Hogarth
Some problematic bits:
Perhaps too many plot threads – Punisher arc, Elektra arc, Fisk arc, Madame Gao arc.
A bit too much explicit discussion at the struggle between shadow and light, killing/violence and justice, in Matt in his relationships with Castle and Elektra.
Not as many high-note, memorable moments as Season One.
From:
no subject
I adored the first season, agree that the second was weaker (but it had Frank, and I forgave it a lot for Frank). But I lovedlovedloved Charlie Cox as Matt.
I also concur on Carrie Ann Moss being amazing. But she mostly always is for me
From:
no subject
I adore Carrie Ann Moss. She was one of the points of light in IRON FIST. After the Netflix shows hit Disney+, I'm going to start filling in the blanks at a more reasonable pace. My sis is urging me to JESSICA JONES for a good Moss fix.
From:
no subject
I liked Jessica Jones a lot overall (but it's dark as hell, and that's absolutely my bag of beans). Sis is right though, because Moss is excellent in it.