Daredevil Season 3: An amalgamation of 2 fantastic comic book story arcs

• Release Date: 19/10/2018
• Cast: Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Jay Ali, Wilson Bethel, Vincent D’Onofrio
• Creator: Drew Goddard

Hell’s Kitchen Heats Up with Daredevil’s Blood-Soaked Return to Grit, Glory, and His Darkest Hour

Daredevil Season 3 is an amalgamation of two fantastic comic book story arcs—Daredevil: Born Again (by Frank Miller) and Guardian Devil. It ties into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the films and other television series in the franchise. The season was produced by Marvel Television in association with ABC Studios, with Erik Oleson serving as the showrunner and series creator Drew Goddard acting as a consultant. The 13-episode season was released on October 19, 2018.

Shockingly, Netflix cancelled the series on November 29, 2018, resulting in large-scale fan outrage and a mass petition to save the beloved character. The petition received 300,000 signatures, ultimately catching Marvel’s attention and highlighting the character’s popularity. As a result, Daredevil: Born Again, a revival series produced by Marvel Studios for Disney+, was announced in July 2022 and is slated for release in 2025.

The Story:

Season 3 of Daredevil begins right after the events of Marvel’s The Defenders, where we saw Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage team up to save New York from catastrophic destruction. The season ended with an entire building collapsing on Daredevil, leading most of his friends and fans to believe that he was dead.

Season 3 picks up from this point. We learn that Daredevil has survived the ordeal but is seriously injured. His hearing is severely disrupted due to his injuries, rendering him effectively blind. As he gradually heals under the care of Sister Maggie at the church where he was raised, he is forced to question his future as both Daredevil and Matt Murdock. He contemplates whether he should ever return to his previous life or spend the rest of his days in anonymity, enjoying whatever little time remains. His faith in his mission and the power of the law to eliminate crime and incarcerate criminals is deeply shaken.

Wilson Fisk, who was imprisoned after the events of Daredevil Season 2, sets into motion a chain of events that he believes will not only make him the king of New York once again but also exonerate him from all charges levelled against him. He also aims to safeguard his girlfriend Vanessa and marry her eventually. However, none of this would work if he cannot incapacitate Daredevil and his allies. So, he hatches a plan to not only discredit and vilify the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen but also to destroy the lives and reputations of Matt, Foggy, and Karen. As Fisk, now referred to as the Kingpin, moves ahead with his plans, he finds a key piece in the form of FBI agent Benjamin Poindexter. This agent, haunted by his own violent past and destructive nature could either be Kingpin’s Dark knight or the reason for his downfall in this deadly game of chess.

Fascinating Story and Characters Are Built on The Backbone of Frank Miller’s Exceptional Storyline for The Comics: 

This has been a recurring trend for Marvel series like Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and The Punisher. It is apparent that the writers and creators are extremely well-versed with the comics, capturing the gritty feel of the story and the dark themes associated with the characters and the lore.

While the story of this season derives its inspiration and skeletal structure from the comic’s plot, it is reimagined and infused with different characters and their stories to such an extent that it feels like an entirely new story that at every juncture tips its hat to the best aspects of the comic book storyline. The story is dense and populated with a gamut of colorful characters, each with different motives and histories, either with each other or in the larger scheme of things. The dialogues between these characters are intense, captivating and so intriguing and endlessly entertaining that I wouldn’t have minded if the series focused solely on their interactions without any action scenes.

The story has many different facets and tracks that are each beautifully handled and presented. The creators also had to ensure that these various plotlines seamlessly integrated into the thrilling finale the series was building toward, and they achieved this with clinical ease and precision. This has been another recurring quality of the Daredevil series and it becomes more pronounced here than ever before. Even though the story is dense and filled with numerous characters and their respective stories, the proceedings remain organic and simple to follow. This quality made the series even more watchable and enjoyable.

Exceptionally well-written characters, dialogues, and an equally great portrayal by the ensemble cast:

There are few series today that manage to realize comic book stories and characters from the 1980s or 1990s in a manner that feels respectful to the original creators and characters, especially in the current context of wokeism and the LGBTQ+ agenda. It is also a major surprise when characters are not race or gender-swapped and are kept as close to their comic book versions as possible. That’s exactly what the characters in Daredevil are like. There are at least four characters in this series who are absolutely crucial to the entire plot, and they are rendered with the kind of reverence, importance, creativity, and realism that is rare in Marvel films, let alone a web series.

Vincent D’Onofrio, as the behemoth of a man Wilson Fisk, is once again at the centre of things. His every effort to hide his brutality behind the polished exterior, pristine white or black clothes, and a soothing, calm voice and demeanor makes him feel even more ominous. It is important to remember that no matter how good the writing of the story and the character beats are, it is the actor who must bring these written words to life and make the character real and effective. That is exactly what D’Onofrio accomplishes with Fisk. He embodies everything written about him in the comics and the script. The way he emotes in certain circumstances not only makes the character and the moments more worthwhile and exceptional but also key to how the story progresses.

Charlie Cox as Daredevil feels like someone who has jumped out of the comic book pages and is standing right in front of you. I say this with the highest respect for his performance. He beautifully brings to life the conflict within the character between continuing his vigilante activities and stopping altogether to reclaim what remains of his life. This season marks the first time Daredevil appears physically vulnerable, even struggling against minor thugs due to the physical toll he endured. He gradually regains his strength, but he still often gets beaten. Cox portrays these moments with honesty, leaving a significant impact.

Matt’s internal struggle, questioning his faith and the need to continue his mission, as well as contemplating whether he should kill Fisk to end it once and for all, adds depth to his character. All these aspects are portrayed beautifully by Cox, making his overall performance one of the main attractions of the series.

Wilson Bethel as Poindexter was a revelation for me. His effort to control his rage and insanity while trying his best to maintain a sane and poised exterior was rewarding to watch. He is a character who leaves viewers uncertain about which side he will ultimately take. By the end, it becomes questionable who or what he is fighting for. However, Poindexter is someone who revels in violence and finds peace only through expressing it.

The writers did something with the character that initially didn’t make much sense to me. Still, when I think of the story in the context of the comics, it makes perfect sense and justifies replacing a key character from the comics with Poindexter, who we all know as Bullseye, Daredevil’s nemesis. But do not expect the madness we saw from Colin Farrell’s portrayal of the same character in the 2003 Daredevil film. This is a much more poignant and fractured man who gradually falls into the abyss of ultraviolence. There are moments when you will genuinely feel for the character and others when you will want him dead. That’s how well Bethel is able to play with our perception and point of view of the character, showcasing the greatness of his performance.

Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page is one of the most important and unpredictable characters in this series. For the first time, we get to see her background and understand where she comes from and what she has endured. This also justifies some of the things she was shown doing in the previous two seasons and even this season that might have felt out of character, explaining how she was able to do them. She delivers a captivating performance. Without any overt glamorization, she makes the character gorgeous with her expressions, dialogue delivery, dramatic portrayal of certain moments, and the way she looks and reacts to situations. I felt every emotion her character was experiencing.

There are moments when she has prolonged exchanges with different characters, sometimes even under extreme duress. She is able to convey the essence of the character’s feelings and predicaments through her performance to the audience. During close-up shots in different scenes she shares with Matt, I could almost feel her breath on my face—that’s how good she is. The flashback portion and the episode where she goes face to face with Fisk are some of my favorite Karen Page moments. I want her to continue in the Disney Plus show and see how this character can be developed into something even more worthwhile.

Exceptional Action Sequences:

This season of the series has comparatively less action than seasons 1 and 2, and I did miss the Punisher from season 2. His performance was not only brilliant but also brought an oddball charm and explosive energy to the action sequences. Who could forget the jail fight sequence where all the convicts in his block went up against him, and he still made it out alive? Nothing quite like that can be found here, even though the action remains strong and consistent with what we have come to expect from the series.

The only explosive action sequence involving multiple characters and their unique fighting styles is in the climax of the series. There are many more action sequences peppered throughout the narrative that push the bar for what can be choreographed and put on a smaller screen. They align with the trademark style of the series, where the camera doesn’t cut too often, allowing the audience to grasp the extent of danger and threats faced by the characters, where anything can come at them from any angle. One of the best examples is a fight inside a jail involving Charlie Cox and others. I was impressed by the action and would go so far as to say that if Marvel films had similar action, they would feel a lot more real, brutal, and impactful.

Final Words:

Daredevil Season 3 is a thought provoking and intense continuation of the series that brilliantly blends intense action, compelling character development, and rich storytelling. The season stays true to the gritty, dark tone of the source comics while exploring deeper themes of morality, redemption, and identity. The performances, particularly those of Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll and Wilson Bethel, elevate the material and create a captivating viewing experience. Despite the reduced action compared to previous seasons, the sequences we do get are meticulously crafted and impactful, adding to the series’ overall quality. For fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and well-crafted television, Daredevil Season 3 is a must-watch. It leaves us eagerly anticipating the future of these beloved characters, especially with the promise of more to come in the Disney+ revival.

Rating: 4/5 (4 out of 5 Stars)

The views expressed in this article are that of the reviewer and do not reflect EastMojo’s position.

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