Thank you to Netflix and Drew Goddard for bringing Daredevil to the masses! This show is freaking amazing and literally glued me to the tube like it was sponsored by Elmer's. (Also Drew Goddard gets points for having his name make me think of Jimmy Neutron.)
(WARNING: SPOILERS MAY COME AT ANY TIME. I WRITE IT AS I GO ALONG)
Daredevil the character first appeared in his self-titled comic in 1964. Since that time the character has become a staple in the Marvel Universe and even had his own movie in 2003 starring Ben Afleck. While I personally didn't care for the movie, the new original series on Netflix has put a fresh spin on the character and it's certainly for the better.
Charlie Cox brings to life Matt Murdock, lawyer by day, and masked vigilante by night. Cox is really able to capture the essence of Murdock, a character that's been hardened by life, but yet still has a caring/vulnerable side. Murdock uses the power of his other senses to help himself defeat the thugs/criminals/bad guys that plague Hells Kitchen, a city that Murdock will do anything to help restore order to.
(Charlie Cox brings the blind vigilante to life on screen. The above photo was snapped as he told Jimmy Fallon about how tight the suit actually is.)
Cox is joined in the series by an amazing cast of characters and actors alike:
Deborah Ann Woll plays Karen Page. A strong and determined young woman who ends up snooping into a company's files while working as a secretary. When she stumbles across some secret company files, that is when she finds herself in hot water. After a few attempted murders, Karen finds safe-haven with Murdock & Nelson, her lawyers, then begins working at their firm. She's inquisitive and still wants to bring down the company bullies and figure out who the man in the mask is that saved her life. Woll, before know for her stint on True Blood, does a great job of playing the "inquisitive girl" that has pretty much become a staple for any superhero franchise.
Eldon Henson brings to life Matt Murdock's best friend and law partner, Foggy Nelson. Foggy is a full on definition of adorkable. The thing I find the most endearing about Foggy is that time and time again in the series you get to see him play the lawyer that has a heart. (And he's really frakkin good at it) Foggy is constantly struggling to prove himself, in law and in life. The thing I like about Foggy is he's so much more than just a loveable sidekick or the funny punchline. Foggy actually brings something to the plot and he and Karen need to get together...like now.
Well hey there Rosario Dawson! I have to admit that I was a little taken back when I saw Rosario pop up as Claire Temple. Claire came out of nowhere in the series, she was good samaritan that helped patch up Murdock the masked man after he was found in a dumpster. She ends up finding a budding relationship with the man that she constantly revives and stitches, but in one episode in particular, Claire finds out that she might not want to be mixed up in this craziness after all.
Vincent D'Onofrio is pictured above. Watch the series and it's entirely possible not to recognize him as Wilson Fisk. (He's Kingpin, can we just call him Kingpin already?!) (Also, did you know he plays the guy that gets turned into the creepy alien in Men In Black?) Wilson Fisk is the ultimate crime boss, he controls the police, the media, the mob, the drug lords, even the senator; you name them, Fisk as ties with them. Fisk is attempting to do the same thing Murdock is, he wants to make the city better. Fisk's idea of a better city though is tearing it down and rebuilding it from scratch into what can basically be called his ideal crime paradise. D'Onofrio captures every bit of rage that comes from Fisk's mouth and mind. Honestly, I'm terrified of them both!
Overall this series is a goldmine of entertainment. It's got the superhero element, but it's also pretty dang violent, it's definitely cornered the niche of an adult comic book drama. The first season is also an amazing origin piece and actually goes deep down into showing you what drives this characters and what makes their brain tick. It's full on brilliant! There's a reason the show is now the highest rated show on Netflix!
In addition to Daredevil, Marvel has announced three other shows that are to come from the partnership with Netflix. I'm stoked to hear about this as a comic fan because it's bringing in characters from all over the Marvel Universe and attaching them to the cinematic universe. With shows like this on Netflix and shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and Agent Carter on ABC, we're now getting flooded with different shows that all push one giants storyline! It's amazing and I can't get enough! Keep it coming!
