DAREDEVIL Season 1 Episode 1
Episode Title: “Into The Ring”
Writer: Drew Goddard
Director: Phil Abraham
For the last few years, DC Comics’ TV shows have overshadowed the output of Marvel Studios’ television adaptations. For every Arrow or The Flash, Marvel answered with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter. Both of those Marvel shows have their merits (and S.H.I.E.L.D. has been greatly improved this season), but neither series was the superhero show I wanted to see. Both Agent Carter and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. still feel like they are pulling their punches.
Which is why I’m happy to say that Daredevil delivers on every level. Not only is this the first Marvel Studios live action series to fully live up to its potential, it’s also populated by well written characters as portrayed by a very talented cast that seems up for the challenge. There isn’t a weak link in the pilot episode.
Because Netflix released the entire 13 episode season of Daredevil today, it’s going to take some time to work through every episode. But I’m going to be adding reviews throughout the weekend and into next week until the season has been fully chronicled here..
From this point on, there are full spoilers ahead for Daredevil episode 1!
One of the things that really impressed me about this pilot was the way that the screenwriter (Drew Goddard) tied the series into the events of The Avengers. Basically, The Battle of New York was this world’s 9/11 and the rebuilding process has given the criminal underworld a lot of room to expand.
It’s a very simple and clever set up. Goddard’s script is also masterfully efficient with its scenes. Even the small, seemingly insignificant moments add up and get meaningful payoffs before the end of the episode. For example, a very short introduction to Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) gives a little comic relief and lays the groundwork for the newly formed Nelson and Murdock law firm’s first case.
More surprisingly, Daredevil is only in costume twice in this episode. But he’s Matt Murdock all of the time, even while wearing the black costume. Charlie Cox just nails the title role, both physically and emotionally. I loved the moments when Matt was confrontational with the cops and when he essentially cross examined Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) in his apartment while trying to keep her safe.
This Daredevil is so early in his career that he doesn’t even really have a heroic alter ego yet. It’s just Matt as a “maniac in a mask.” Not only does the criminal underworld not take him seriously, one of their number is actually happy that another “hero” has popped up because the collateral damage that they leave behind is good for business.
To be fair, Matt gets his ass kicked in this episode. Matt barely overpowers the thugs in his first outing, and he only narrowly overcomes his second opponent later in the episode. It’s clear that Matt is an exceptionally gifted athlete, but he’s not superhuman and he can be hurt. He might even be a little bit insane.
I didn’t expect Henson’s take on Foggy to be so enjoyable, but I was laughing at his banter with Matt more than once. Woll was also very entertaining as Karen, who may not be quite as innocent as she claims. By the end, Karen is brought into the fold, but I suspect that she may be keeping more secrets from her new friends.
On a side note, I was kind of shocked that Karen took off her shirt in front of Matt and we saw pretty much everything except her nipples. That’s the raciest thing that Marvel Studios has ever put into their productions. You wouldn’t see a moment like that in Captain America or Thor. But it’s good to know that Daredevil won’t be held back by the more kid friendly take on the Marvel movie heroes. This series probably won’t have any hard “R-rated” moments, but the action was particularly brutal. And I loved that.
This episode also showed a great deal of patience by keeping Vincent D’Onofrio offscreen. We’ll get to the Kingpin at some point, but for now, his righthand man, Wesley (Toby Leonard Moore) is the nerdy face of evil. Moore is actually quite good in the role, with just the right amount of sinister qualities in his performance.
If I was going to offer a quote for the inevitable DVD and Blu-ray release of Daredevil (which will definitely happen at some point in the future), I’d go with this: “Now that’s how you fucking do a superhero show!”
Now on to episode 2….
Click here to read CraveOnline’s review of Daredevil Episode 2!
