Here is an episode-by-episode breakdown with highlights from Season 2 of Marvel’s Daredevil. Warning, spoilers ahead…
EPISODE 1: BANG
Season 2 saw the exciting return of Hell Kitchen’s savior, Daredevil. After bringing down Kingpin, the streets of Hell’s Kitchen has gotten worse instead of better. And vigilante justice is on the rise. I know for some fans, The Punisher is a great character. He is quite popular. For me personally, I’m not a huge fan. I am however a huge fan of Jon Bernthal. His portrayal of Frank Castle is probably the best I’ve seen. He is a tragic character with a tragic backstory.
EPISODE 2: DOGS TO A GUN FIGHT
At some point during this episode, I felt like this was more of a Punisher series than a Daredevil one. That’s not a bad thing because Jon Bernthal is outstanding. Here, Frank Castle gets his Punisher name and we learn more about his history.
EPISODE 3: NEW YORK’S FINEST
Some of the greatest choreographed fight scenes of any show that’s on TV today. Daredevil and Punisher go all out mano a mano and neither give an inch. The production values are so good on this show that it rivals many big screen films.
EPISODE 4: PENNY AND DIME
This was one of the more violent episodes Daredevil has had to date. It’s brutal and bloody and it works beautifully. Bernthal’s performance continues to shine and his conversation with Matt at the cemetery prior to his arrest was both moving and sad. What I like about this Frank Castle as oppose to past depictions, is the human side to the character. Punisher is known more for his violence that we tend to forget what put him in this vengeful state of mind. The episode concludes with the surprise appearance of Elektra at Matt’s apartment.
EPISODE 5: KINBAKU
Here we meet Elektra played by Elodie Yung. Right off the bat, Elodie’s portrayal is far more sensual both in appearance and style than the Jennifer Garner film version of a decade ago. Her look is also more faithful to the source material. Through the use of flashbacks we learn just how influential Elektra was in shaping the man Matt Murdoch becomes as Daredevil and not necessarily in a good way.
EPISODE 6: REGRETS ONLY
Nelson and Murdock take on Frank Castle reluctantly as their client mainly through the urging Karen who believes there’s more to Frank than what they already know. Karen’s persistence to learn the truth, uncovers a potential cover up from DA Reyes.
EPISODE 7: SEMPER FIDELIS
The action that was hot and heavy through the majority of the first six episodes was contained here. Things did get heated however between Karen and Matt when she expresses her thoughts on the similarities between Daredevil and Punisher. She feels that both albeit have different approaches, take the law into their own hands in the name of justice.
EPISODE 8: GUILTY AS SIN
This was a turning point episode of sorts. First we learn more about Elektra’s true feelings for Matt and the connection they share with Matt’s mentor, Stick. Stick too helped a young and scared Elektra before sending her live with the wealthy family who would raise her. Then, during the trial of Frank Castle, Matt decides to put Castle on the stand in hopes of showing the jury the true Frank Castle and not the one the media calls the Punisher. He hopes to show them the man who served his country with honor and loved his family who was murdered in front of him. But just as he was being put on the stand an officer whispers something into Castle’s ear that catches the Murdock’s attention but he was unable to decipher. During Murdock’s examination, Castle tells everyone in the court that if he could do it all again, all the killings, he would. This sudden outburst and admission that he’s not crazy pretty much damages all potential hope of freedom. Later we see Castle in prison and the same officer from the court leads him to the recreation area where he comes face to face with none other than Wilson Fisk.
EPISODE 9: SEVEN MINUTES IN HEAVEN
Another savagely brutal episode that reminds us just how evil and manipulative Fisk really is. He was the one who advised the court officer to give Frank a message as he took the stand. It turns out; Fisk has information about who orchestrated the meeting of the rival gangs at the park that cost the lives of Frank’s family. He’ll have a seven-minute window to delivery his brand of justice. Fisk never does anything out of the kindness of his heart. By eliminating his competition a man named Dutton (William Forsythe), he will become the new Kingpin of the prison. After Frank gets his revenge, Fisk and the officers who run the prison then betray him. They trap him in the cellblock where they’ve unlocked the other prisoners who attack him. Frank systematically disposes of each and everyone. After a bloody exchange between Fisk and Frank, Fish makes arrangements for Frank to escape. One would think these two would once again cross paths. This was a tremendous episode and perhaps the best of the season.
EPISODE 10: THE MAN IN THE BOX
After such an exciting episode that showcased Fisk, episode 10 was relatively quiet action wise but not without its own share of highlights and questions. As a new wave of murders occur and while all signs point to the Punisher, his sights on the mysterious Blacksmith. Matt, Foggy and Karen are summoned to DA Reyes’ office to discuss Punisher’s escape and we learn that the true nature of the incident that led to his family’s murder. It turns out that it was a failed sting operation and that the District Attorney’s office covered it up. During this briefing, DA Reyes was assassinated by an unknown sniper. Perhaps it’s someone we’ve already seen. Another discovery is the attempt on Elektra’s life as ordered by Stick but why remains a mystery. Then there is The Hand and their use of humans as living guinea pigs for some chemical experiment that could bring the dead back to life as was the case with Nobu. Remember Nobu was thought to have died in a fire by Daredevil. Like I said, lots of questions here.
This 10th episode will be remembered for the confrontation between Matt and Fisk at the prison. Fisk gives Matt a less than subtle way of reminding him just how dangerous and ruthless he still is no matter where he currently calls home.
EPISODE 11: .380
Punisher and Daredevil come face to face again as The Blacksmith is their mutual target. Their investigation leads them to a boat and a man who Punisher believes to be The Blacksmith and the one responsible for framing him for the assassination of DA Reyes. Daredevil disagrees and urges him to reconsider killing someone who might be innocent. Of course Punisher does his own thing and before you it, the boat explodes with Punisher presumably still onboard.
EPISODE 12: THE DARK END OF THE TUNNEL
There was no rest for the weary in this second to last episode of the season. Instead, we get full blown action and the big reveal of whom The Blacksmith really was. It ends up being someone we were briefly introduced to earlier in the season, Frank Castle’s former commanding officer, Colonel Ray Schoonover (Clancy Brown). It’s actually Karen who puts the pieces together after seeing some old photos at Ray’s home and recognizing one of the men as someone who was on the boat that Punisher blew up in the previous episode. Ray takes Karen hostage by gunpoint and the two of them drive away only to be sideswiped by another car driven by, you guessed it, Punisher. Much like Daredevil in the previous episode, Karen urges Punisher to not take the law into his own hands. But the man who was Frank Castle did die just not on the boat. He died the day his family was savagely taken from him. He ends up killing Ray much to Karen’s disappointment.
EPISODE 13: A COLD DAY IN HELL’S KITCHEN
There was so much contained in this finale. We saw the further demise of Nelson and Murdock as Foggy takes a job with Jeri Hogarth’s firm (another nice nod to Jessica Jones). And Karen finds a new home at the Bulletin as a research reporter. With everyone going his or her separate ways, Matt finds solace in being with Elektra. His devotion to her was rekindled by her reappearance Working side by side only solidified those repressed feelings.
It was great seeing Matt take Elektra to see Melvin who not only fashioned Elektra with new duds, but supplied Matt with his signature billy club. All this setup a final stand between Daredevil and Elektra against The Hand. In the end, they defeated The Hand with some assistance from Punisher wearing his trademark skull on his chest. That scene alone was epic in every way. There was a price however, Elektra sacrificed herself to save Matt against Nobu and was killed. Her death although expected, still had a sadness to it that impacted not only Matt but also us as viewers. Matt thinks he disposes of Nobu once and for all by tossing him off the roof. As it turns out, Nobu survives but only for a moment as Stick reappears out of the shadows and decapitates him. Now I think it’s safe to say he’s dead.
Back to Elektra, is this the last we’ll see of her? If the final shot of her body placed in some tomb and that we’ve already seen people like Nobu come back to life, something tells me, her death is only the beginning.
The season ended with Matt showing Karen Daredevil’s mask and confessing that he is Daredevil. Whew… now to wait another year. This finale laid the groundwork for not only next season but future seasons and hopefully some crossovers as well.
Overall this was a great return to what I believe may not only be Marvel’s best show but it may arguably be the best comic book series on TV. Marvel’s Daredevil is great addition to the Marvel Universe and I hope to see a crossover between both the TV properties but the cinematic ones sooner than later.
FYI… make sure you stay till the ending credits of season finale to catch the teaser trailer of Marvel’s Luke Cage that premieres on Netflix September 30.
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
