The second season of “Daredevil” is nothing short of a whirlwind of action and emotion. From the start there is an immediate shift in focus away from local crime bosses to larger crime organizations that span generations and have mystical practices. While “Daredevil” has always been on the darker side, this season takes an even darker turn.
Finished with the backstory, “Daredevil” is now able to delve deeper into the complexities of being a vigilante. Taking a page out of a typical superhero storyline, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) begins to tackle the problem of balancing his personal and vigilante life. Elektra’s (Elodie Yung) introduction to the storyline sparks tensions with his best friend, Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson), and contributes to the start and quick downfall of his relationship with Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll). Also, by expanding the main cast to include the Punisher (Jon Bernthal) and Elektra, who both blur the lines of right and wrong, the show provokes moral self-reflection from both Matt Murdock and the audience.
Season two of “Daredevil” feels a bit more refined than season one. Highly stylized, highly choreographed martial arts scenes with dynamic shots and cinematography add to the show’s darkness and heightens the overall tension. Additionally, the use of mostly dark or neutral colors in backgrounds and Murdock’s clothing conveys his deepening journey into vigilante life and moral ambiguity.
“Daredevil” largely meets expectations, though it could have explored the pasts of the supporting cast more. It would have been better to have a thorough understanding of Elektra’s character beyond a few short flashbacks. Her story is intriguing and cryptic, and the writers should have expanded on that. The Punisher has a similar murky past that would have been interesting to see. His crusade of revenge and honesty creates the anti-hero the show needs to balance the neatly drawn sides of Daredevil and Fisk.
A refreshing change in the story is the development of Karen from scared client to confident reporter. It wasn’t until this season that her past, like those of many other characters on the show, is made into a plotline. There’s a definite sense that the show holds back certain information because it’s assumed that you’ve read the original comic, which is kind of frustrating to the less-informed viewer.
Overall, “Daredevil’s” acting and casting are superb — especially Bernthal’s performance of the Punisher, Frank Castle. Bernthal brilliantly portrays a character who is both tough and vulnerable. Yung also does a great job portraying Elektra’s seductive and mysterious aura that immediately captures the audience’s attention.
In short, “Daredevil” delivered a solid season with fairly few flaws. It did exactly what a second season should do — answer many questions but still leave the viewer hungry for more.
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