First and foremost, the cast is fantastic. Charlie Cox's Daredevil is the corner-stone of this show. Stoic, focused, ruthless and passionate, Cox's portrayal of Matt Murdock helps to illustrate both the character's calm nature and his rage-inducing internal conflict. In costume and out of it, there isn't much more to say about Cox's performance as the Devil of Hell's Kitchen except for one thing: it is bang on the money. Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Scott Glenn and Rosario Dawson (fresh off her guest-role on sister series Jessica Jones) are all also welcome returns to the ensemble cast, with Henson in particular bringing a new found likability to the role that was missing in parts of the first season. However, it is the new additions to the show that manage to shine the brightest. Élodie Yung is extremely entertaining as Daredevil's most famous associate Elektra, putting in a performance that makes Jennifer Garner's look like horse-manure. While her character traits can be inconsistent at times (we'll get the writing in a minute), Yung uses this to her advantage, playing the character with an underlying air of unpredictability that complements her actions. Yung's greatest strength is in when she plays to the characters insecurities, and it's Elektra's more tender moments that make her stand-out amongst an already stacked cast. The same could be said for the seasons MVP: Jon Bernthal in his role as Frank Castle AKA The Punisher. His turn as the brutality violent vigilant has to been seen to be truly appreciated. Bernthal is cast perfectly in the role, effectively portraying a man who sees the world in black and white, and will do anything to seek revenge for his deceased wife and children. The former Walking Dead star is forced to wear many hats in this season, much like Yung, however he pulls off everything that is required of him without a hitch. Equally as compelling as a pained widower and a sadistic seeker of sweet revenge, Bernthal is the glue that holds this season together. I don't want to delve into his arc too deeply to avoid spoilers, but Jon Bernthal's performance is as good a reason as any to watch Season 2 of Daredevil.
Its stellar ensemble aside, what Daredevil has come to become renowned for is its amazing set-pieces and extremely well-choreographed fight sequences. As in Season 1, the action is Daredevil is realistic, gritty and mostly close-combat, a far-cry away from what the MCU is doing on the big screen where the action lacks any real pathos (with the possible exception being Captain America: The Winter Soldier). Each fight sequence involving Daredevil tells a story and is almost like poetry in motion, as was the case in the debut year. In the third episode of this season, we are treated to an exceptionally choreographed stairwell action scene. It is a four-minute continuous shot of Daredevil making his way down an apartment complex and beating up the Irish mob. Apart from just being badass, it is a true cinematic achievement, topping the hallway fight scene that set the standard the previous season in my opinion.
The only thing that really lets season 2 of Daredevil down a bit is its lack of an over-arching story. The writing for the most part in good episode-by-epidode, in terms of the dialogue all round and as self-contained stories in their own right. However, the plot as a whole just feels a bit aimless. At the start, it appears as though the main story of the season was going to be Daredevil versus The Punisher yet, by the time the finale swings around, Daredevil finds himself fighting upwards of 100 ninjas alongside Elektra. Season 1's story was so good because it was simple; it was Daredevil (fighting corruption in Hell's Kitchen) against the Kingpin (who was that corruption personified). With Season 2, it all gets a bit convoluted and messy and this does have a somewhat negative impact on the season, despite it still being very much enjoyable and entertaining.
All things considered, Season 2 of Daredevil is well worth a watch. Despite the story not being as clearly defined as in Season 1, the individual elements are so strong with this show that you will find enjoyment in it if you take it episode-by-episode rather than a collective whole. The performances are great, the action is stunning, and the Marvel/Netflix coalition continues to reap results.
Watch or Avoid: Watch
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