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The titular hero of Marvel’s Daredevil may prefer to ‘die as the devil than live as Matt Murdock,’ but this season he is going to need all the support he can get in both guises as he faces off against his greatest foe.
The question on everyone’s lips, after witnessing a building collapse on Matt Murdock during The Defenders finale, was ‘just how exactly is Daredevil going to come back from this one?’ Well, from the season premiere we learn that thanks to a conveniently placed sewage pipe and a little TLC from Sister Maggie (Joanne Whalley), the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen is able to rise again, more vengeful than ever.
Matt is in an understandably rough state at the beginning of the season. Once a devout Catholic, his faith had been his only guiding force preventing him from killing. Now he feels as though he’s lost everything, and has become disillusioned with God. The severity of the trauma he has suffered has led to the delayed emergence of his mopey teen-angst phase. He laments about God as if he were a deadbeat dad. His strained relationship with ‘the man upstairs’, as well as his damaged moral compass, are arguably his greatest personal challenges of this season. Charlie Cox perfectly captures the character’s inner turmoil as he tries to leave Matt Murdock behind in favour of embracing ‘the devil within’.
Despite Matt’s efforts to bury his ‘true self’, his loyal friends Foggy (Elden Henson) and Karen (Deborah Ann Woll) aren’t ready to give up on him. They try desperately to cling to his humanity, no matter how hard he pushes them away. The chemistry between the trio is heart-warming. It is the true source of Matt’s salvation, whether he realises it or not. Karen and Foggy are given much more to do this season than in previous years; they both have to grind the axe with a familiar foe, showing that there are other ways to fight back besides using your fists.
The series returns to its roots with the revival of the black ninja-style Daredevil suit, and also in the resurgence of Wilson Fisk (Vincent d’Onofrio), better known as the powerful villain The Kingpin. The disgraced crime boss has spent long enough in jail and is back to his manipulative ways once again in an effort to take over the city. D’Onofrio embodies the character completely and his air of menacing calmness is enough to fill every one of his scenes with tension. Like all good villains, he is given some humanity, which manifests here in the character’s shy, stunted mannerisms towards the love of his life, Vanessa. Whether facing off against Daredevil, or Matt Murdock himself, Fisk is a well-matched antagonist for the titular character. This season their battle for Hell’s Kitchen has finally reached its climax and, when the two characters are finally face to face, the raw hatred both actors embody adds emotional weight to the encounter, making high stakes feel all the more important.
This season also sees the arrival of a second antagonist, FBI agent Benjamin “Dex” Poindexter (Wilson Bethel), known better by his comic-book moniker Bullseye. With an array of psychopathic tendencies stemming from a troubling and tragic past, he is in desperate need of a role model to keep him on the straight and narrow. Once Fisk steps into that role, Dex quickly goes off the rails, and becomes yet another thorn in Daredevil’s side. As another complicated villain, viewers will be torn between feeling sorry for him, and wanting Daredevil to kick his ass. The latter proves to be difficult, as Dex is a formidable match with impeccable aim, making for some intense action.
As a series, Daredevil is arguably best renowned for its expertly choreographed fight scenes, and season three doesn’t disappoint. Raising the bar from season one’s iconic hallway fight, and season two’s slightly less notable stairway fight, we are presented with an eleven minute long, one-take prison riot, with more drama and tension than ever before. The authentic stunt coordination allows you to feel the impact of every punch. This sense of gritty realism, combined with the ominous light and sound design, makes for a panic-inducing watch.
In a show which openly explores themes of right and wrong, and the blurred line in between, newcomer special agent Rahul “Ray” Nadeem (Jay Ali), serves as the moral heart of the season. In the midst of all the characters being swept under by the pressure of moral corruption, Nadeem puts up the strongest fight. He serves as an example for both viewers and other characters about taking responsibility and doing the right thing.
However, many characters do not follow suit. The show deals, through the diverging paths of each character, with the different ways in which the adversity a person faces shapes the person that they become. This is made most obvious through the parallels between Dex and protagonist Matt, who contrast, as one is consumed by darkness, while the other uses it as fuel to fight for justice. As Karen Page once said, “awful things happen to people every day and they don’t murder people because of it.” This season of Daredevil proved that redemption is possible for us all – even for ‘The Man Without Fear’.
