Episode 5: “Kinbaku”
Ah, finally Elektra. For all my friends out there who prioritized the entire season above sleep, well, you’re a better man than me. And almost certainly more tired. But back to the sexy lady-ninja in front of us!
It was a smart move withholding her slightly and upping the Karen attraction prior; it gave us a nice little Punisher mini-arc to stoke drama without the show overwhelming itself with major additions. Visually, she has the same exoticism that Gal Gadot seems to be bringing to Wonder Woman but Yung’s playful portrayal has the edge to remind us that, unlike Diana Prince, Elektra doesn’t worry about the little things, like “morals” or “the lives of others.”
And Elektra’s presence may be exactly what I need to appreciate the outwardly-innocent, inwardly-troubled Karen. It hasn’t been Deborah Ann Woll’s fault; it’s the material. But giving her a romantic foil for Matt’s attention and having her investigate the Punisher’s past is a nice, organic way to involve her. It’s also a pleasant surprise to see Season 1 supporters keep popping up, like Turk Barrett, Melvin Potter, and, this episode, Foggy’s former fling Marci and the dearly-departed Ben Urich’s (Vondie Curtis-Hall) newspaper editor Ellison. The latter was obstructive and annoying last year but, when Ben was ultimately proven right, he underwent character development. That and the casual namedrop of Jessica Jones are the kind of touches that are appreciated to fill out the world and make Hell’s Kitchen live and breathe.
