Ryan Shoots First: Daredevil (S3 Ep1) “Resurrection”
The Demon of Hells Kitchen is back in Marvel and Netflix’s flagship drama Daredevil season 3. In the new season premiere, it really feels like the show has hit the reset button in a good way. Daredevil season 2 was strong but it felt weighed down by its job to set up so many things. It was responsible for introducing Frank Castle’s Punisher character to set up his series and also did some setup work for the other Netflix shows in preparation for the big Defenders team up series last year. With all of this heavy lifting, the drama showed its excellent character work and subtle plot elements of season 1 kinda fell apart. All of that feels to be coming back and it seems to be deliberate from the showrunners and Netflix as well. Last week it was announced that Netflix would be canceling Iron Fist season 3, Iron Fist was seen as the weakest link in the chain since it’s first season and for whatever reason, he was at the center of the disappointing plot of Defenders. One series that was arguably not that great being canceled is one thing but just yesterday it was announced the Luke Cage would be canceled as well. It seemed Marvel and Netflix are taking it back to square one and focusing on what works and episode 1 of this season of Daredevil aptly titled “Resurrection” hits the reset button on our main characters and feels very much like season 1.
The episode begins with Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) laid up in the orphanage he grew up in following the devastating results of the end of season 2. He is beaten, near death and has been out for months now. His close friends Karen and Foggy struggle with the reality that Matt must be dead. Matt is also dealing with the idea that he has no purpose now, he is broken, can barely walk and now is deaf in one ear. Thanks to the diligent work and tough love of his childhood orphanage leadership especially Sister Maggie played perfectly by Joanne Whalley, Matt slowly comes to terms with his place in life and in his ever-turbulent faith. There is a terrific scene between Matt and Sister Maggie where Matt compares himself to the old testament figure Job. Famous for withstanding all of the sufferings God inflicted on him and not losing his faith. After some time and healing, Matt regains his gifts to a degree and starts from square one. Back on the street and taking out thugs. It feels a lot like a sequel to a video game whereby some way your character loses all of the awesome abilities you had built in the previous game and now have to start all over again. Matt not too long ago was fighting mythical beings and assassins and now struggles with some thugs mugging people in the streets. Again, this is the show hitting the reset button in hopes of rekindling the magic of season 1 and I am all for it.
Of course, there is one great element of season 1 that was missing in season 2, the flip side of Matt and that is Wilson Fisk played by Vincent D’Onofrio. The duality of him and Matt in season 1 was magic, the beaten down bloody, dirty Matt and the squeaky clean larger than life King Pin living in luxury refusing to get his hands dirty. This was one of the biggest strengths of season 1 and I am happy to see it returning. We know based on the trailers that Fisk will get out of prison but in this episode we see him struggling to cope with life in prison and the notion that his wife is now under attack on the outside and being investigated by the FBI. There is an excellent scene where we see food carefully being prepared only to see the reality of what Fisk now has to deal with. We pan out to see him eating alone in prison with the raucous noise of other inmates in the background. Fisk erupts with a resounding “quiet!” and the prison goes completely silent. Even here in prison, he is the Kingpin.
The episode is not just the Resurrection of Matt as Daredevil but that of Fisk as well, both men are shown at rock bottom and as the episode closes both are on the comeback trail. The episode isn’t loaded with action as other season premieres strive for that big bang but it sets the table to a proven formula and puts the players on a collision course I cannot wait to see. Season 1 of Daredevil was near flawless and I get the feeling this season will be a return to form. Be sure to stay tuned to Bulletproof Action as we make our way through the third season and finale. Daredevil is back and it is appealing to all my senses!
