DAREDEVIL Season 3: 7 Things That Worked And 3 Things That Didn't - SPOILERS
With Daredevil season three now on Netflix, we take a look at everything in the action-packed thirteen episodes which did and didn't work. Was Marvel able to get Bullseye and "Born Again" right? Well...
Daredevil season three has definitely delivered and while you may have already finished or only just begun the Marvel series, most fans agree that it's one of the best comic book adaptations we've seen to date (the same was said about the first season but not quite as regularly about the second given how much of the spotlight was devoted to The Punisher and Elektra).
Now, we're taking a closer look at season three to evaluate what did and didn't work in the Man Without Fear's latest return to Netflix. From character arcs to creative decisions and some incredible action sequences, we've broken down the good and the bad to bring you a spoiler-filled guide to the season. Needless to say, we think you'll be surprised by what we've singled out here.
So, to take a look at this feature in its entirety, simply hit the "View List" button down below.
Did Work: Bullseye Hits The Mark
Giving Bullseye (sorry, Ben Poindexter) a new origin story was definitely a smart move but what really impressed me here was how the character's powers were handled. Based on Marvel track record of grounding characters (just look at the Inhumans), I'm sure they must have been tempted to dial things back here so that his abilities were very realistic.
Thankfully, Daredevil season three doesn't waste too much time addressing how he became an expert marksman beyond the fact that he's just incredibly gifted. The way his powers are shown is exactly like in the comic books because he uses any manner of objects as a weapon, hitting his target without fail and coming up with some inventive ways to slow down Daredevil.
The character has been adapted perfectly and now we just need to see him suit up...
Didn't Work: An Overused Plot Device
During the first half of the season, we see Wilson Fisk taunting Matt Murdock on a number of occasions but it turns out that it's all just in his head and, honestly, it works well for the most part. However, this becomes a recurring theme in the show this year and the same thing happens again when the hero talks to his dead father (the dialogue is frustratingly hard to understand at this point).
While the show deserves props for trying something new, portraying Bullseye's origin story in this way and then having Wilson Fisk also see his younger self makes this particular plot device feel somewhat overused and there are probably better ways these story beats could have been handled.
Did Work: *That* Hallway Sequence
Daredevil has become known for its incredible hallway-set fight scenes and season three definitely delivers. After Matt Murdock finds himself under attack in the prison where he's trying to get some information about Wilson Fisk's plans, we get to see a lengthy one-shot sequence in which the Man Without Fear battles off inmates and crooked prison guards.
It's a brutal and nasty series of fights which sees Daredevil at a serious disadvantage and it makes for compelling viewing, especially as the stakes keep getting higher and it quickly becomes apparent that the hero could be taken out by a new threat at any moment. His eventual escape is probably the first time you'll let out a breath during this epic sequence.
Did Work: Daredevil's Path To Redemption
Daredevil season three doesn't quite delve fully into Matt Murdock's mental health problems but it's clear from the start that he's a broken man and getting to watch him rebound from that is every bit as satisfying as it was during Ed Brubaker and Mark Waid's respective runs.
Over the course of these thirteen episodes, we see Matt seriously contemplate murdering The Kingpin and, for a while, it seems like that may well and truly be the only way he can be stopped.
By the time we get to the finale, though, Daredevil has made things right with his friends and took Wilson Fisk down in a way he knows is, well, also right. It's a great character arc and the stage has definitely been set for Marvel and Netflix to take the character to some exciting new places during season four if and when it eventually happens.
Didn't Work: No Costumes
Well, it did work from a story perspective to be fair but I can't help but feel that there were a number of ways Marvel could have put Daredevil back in his red costume by the time the finale rolled around. Bullseye, meanwhile, could have also donned a suit of his own after he was done impersonating the Man Without Fear and it really wouldn't have been that hard to explain!
Ultimately, this is a fairly minor niggle but one which is bound to get under the skin of fans; after all, taking Matt back to his old black costume for part of the season is one thing but to do it for thirteen episodes is just infuriating, especially when we had to wait so long during that first run of episodes to finally see him suit up in something resembling the comic books.
Did Work: Paying Homage To The Comic Books
Daredevilseason three is inspired by a number of comics, including Brian Michael Bendis' run, Frank Miller's "Born Again," and Kevin Smith's "Guardian Devil." The show has always stuck fairly closely to how things have played out in the source material but getting to see moments like Matt being trapped in the back of a cab as he's plunged into the river is bound to satisfy comic book fans.
While a lot of fans were hoping for a direct adaptation of "Born Again" moving into this season, the fact the show borrows from a variety of sources is ultimately no bad thing and we'll be sure to bring you a full breakdown of Easter Eggs in the coming days.
Did Work: Karen Page...Finally!
I've never been a huge fan of Karen Page. She's too often been used as someone who only exists to move the plot along and like Claire Temple, it's hard to escape the feeling that she's given too many skills (her rise from receptionist to star reporter was rushed to say the least).
Thankfully, things take a step in the right direction during season three because even though Karen is still a huge part of this story, she fits in a little more naturally and isn't shoehorned into proceedings the way she was with Frank Castle when she became his ally for reasons which were never really made that clear. Even the flashbacks to her past are welcomed here!
Did Work: The Action
I mentioned that amazing hallway sequence a little earlier in this post (not to mention Bullseye's impressive skillset) but the action from start to finish this year is nothing short of incredible.
Daredevil has always excelled in terms of action but it really singles itself out this time with fight scenes which you cannot look away from. With no more Hand ninjas in Hell's Kitchen (thank God), the martial arts have been put on the backburner for a slightly more brutal fighting style which works well for Daredevil and the characters he comes across during the course of this adventure.
Didn't Work: Putting Daredevil On The Backburner
The problem with these thirteen episode seasons is that they tend to drag. Daredevil season three actually benefits from having such a long run of episodes for the most part but it wouldn't have hurt to cut one or two off, especially as the Man Without Fear starts taking too much of a backseat during one stretch in this otherwise stellar season of television.
I really enjoyed Karen Page's origin story but did we really need to devote two-thirds of an episode to that when we could have been spending more time with Daredevil? After all, her history could have just as easily been explored in a brief conversation with another character. Next time, it would be interesting to see Matt Murdock's story only get ten episodes instead.
Did Work: The Rise Of The Kingpin
From day one, Marvel and Netflix have handled Wilson Fisk's story pretty much perfectly and that continues here. Explaining how Wilson Fisk got out of prison was never going to be a particularly easy task but the show found a clever way to handle that and seeing him get straight back to work on becoming New York City's Kingpin of Crime proves to be immensely satisfying.
While it's now hard to imagine how Fisk can return unless he's in prison, here's hoping we haven't seen the last of him because it definitely feels like there's more that can be done with them.
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