Episode 13: “A Cold Day in Hell’s Kitchen”
So many things to wrap up. What does Elektra being “the” Black Sky mean? What does that have to do with the human farms or the hole the Hand dug? And when will Frank say “shitbag” again?
The opening reminds me we also don’t know what’s in the Hand’s magic container with the Japanese lettering. A vessel? A coffin? A . . . womb?
Would you look at that? Carrie-Anne Moss walks in from Jessica Jones as Jeri Hogarth, the ruthless top attorney. She’s courting Foggy to handle the increasing vigilante (ahem, “people with complexities”) caseload. Karen is now working full-time for the NY Bulletin in Urich’s old office and only now do I realize that shattering the core trio was the best thing to happen to this show. The challenge now is not making this the Daredevil Plus Two Other People’s Stories Show. Perhaps the ending, where Matt finally reveals he is Daredevil to Karen will solve that problem.
One of the things I think the season did well was push the boundaries of both Daredevil and the Punisher without betraying their characters’ cores. Daredevil didn’t start killing, the Punisher didn’t have a come-to-Jesus moment. But each were humanized and changed by the other in dramatically compelling ways. Their dynamic and Bernthal’s performance are by far the highlights of the season. In a moment as badass as they come, The Punisher pulls a total Han Solo during the climatic fight against Nobu and the Hand, letting Daredevil get the upper hand on Nobu.
Unfortunately, like in every iteration, Elektra dies, in this case by Nobu, after she and Matt declare their undying love. Fortunately, like in every iteration, death is merely an inconvenience and the last shots are of the Hand’s Magic Container, with Elektra’s body placed inside. Do they fill that thing will the blood they drained? And what, exactly, is Black Sky, other than a lame MacGuffin phrase? It’s all frustratingly vague.
It’s hard to say whether this season was better than the last or not. It would be like comparing Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Like the latter, this season is defined by its antagonist who, as it turns out, is equally-if-not more compelling than the hero. For Marvel fans like me, there was a lot of fan service, some cool crossovers and surprises like D’Onofrio’s return. I appreciate that Ramirez & Petrie were able to continue the show as it was while expanding its horizons and remaining consistent. While the Elektra/Hand half of the season was noticeably weaker than the other and the show still struggles with Foggy and Karen, the ambition is awesome to see.
And for God’s sake, fire your lighting guy.
Looking ahead at a possible third season, I’ll simply leave this tweet of mine here for your predictive pleasure.
PREDICTION: @Daredevil S3 will be the long-awaited adaptation of Born Again, feat. return of @vincentdonofrio as Fisk. Print the money.
— Sam Flynn – MYSTERY OF THE PALE KING (OUT NOW!) (@Samflynn1992) March 13, 2016
Share your own thoughts and/or reviews of Daredevil‘s second season and predictions for a third season in the comments section below!
