Grime, struggle and faith in Marvel’s “Daredevil”

Evan Burr / Contributing Writer
On the Tube

In today’s pop culture, you’d have a hard time finding anyone not pulled in by either Netflix or the Disney/Marvel superhero dynasty that has commanded movie theaters, television, comic books, and now, the Internet. “Daredevil” is another step taken by Marvel to cement the fact that it doesn’t matter how strange the concept, what the medium, or how bad the stigma towards a particular series might be (I’m sure I’m not the only one who remembers the 2003 Daredevil film starring Ben Affleck). If you put the Marvel name on something, two things are guaranteed: People will flock to it and it will be fantastic.

“Daredevil” tells the story of Matt Murdock, played by Charlie Cox, a lawyer who was blinded in his youth while saving an old man from a truck. Over time, he learned to hone his other senses to the point where he can hear a heartbeat across a room or smell the cologne of someone two stories up from him. Using this, he fights crime in the courtroom during the day and, at night, dons a mask and deals out his own form of justice on the streets.

Personally, I’ve dismissed Daredevil as a superhero for a long time; as far as I could tell he was just a blind ninja with the power to see. Essentially his power made him a regular guy. But this series shows a side of the character that those unfamiliar with comics would rarely see.

Murdock isn’t just a justice obsessed ninja with a cool mask. He’s a man torn apart by his own actions. For every criminal he takes down, two more seem to pop up, worse than before. Throughout the series, he walks the line of what he considers evil. Does he kill someone committing horrific acts and condemn his own soul, or does he allow them to live, let the law handle things, and risk them coming back for revenge against those he cares about? It all boils down to one of the most important aspects of the character: his Catholic guilt.

Murdock is a deeply religious man and he struggles over these decisions on a regular basis with a priest, discussing the specifics of good and evil, of the true meaning of the devil.

On the other side of things, Murdock is facing his ultimate threat in the form of Wilson Fisk, played by Vincent D’Onofrio, the large, ruthless kingpin of crime. As much as “Daredevil” is the origins of the hero, it is just as much the origin story of the Kingpin, one of Marvel’s most intimidating and dangerous villains. D’Onofrio plays Fisk with a childlike personality. He’s awkward, seems to force words out when speaking. He’s a romantic, he’s something of an artist, he’s lonely and conflicted. And when someone makes him angry, he will grab their head and bash it in until they’re nothing more than a bloody mess. As exceptional as Cox’s performance is, the series would be incomplete without D’Onofrio’s interpretation of Fisk as something more than just pure evil. By the end of the series, you know exactly why people are afraid to even mention his name at the beginning. The Kingpin is one of those few villains who is openly committing crimes and evil acts, yet no one lifts a finger against him. “Daredevil” shows you exactly why.

The supporting cast manages to really bring a level of quality and emotion to the show that you might not expect from a superhero series. From Deborah Ann Woll and Elden Henson, playing Murdock’s two associates Karen Page and Foggy Nelson, to Fisk’s inner circle of Leland Owlsley, Vannessa Marianna, and James Wesely, played by Bob Gunton, Ayelet Zurer, and Toby Leonard Moore, you truly get a feeling that there is more to the setting of the show than just the conflict between Murdock and Fisk. Each of these characters are unique, with their own lives and their own agendas.

The standout performance, in my opinion, comes from Vondie Curtis-Hall, who plays journalist Ben Urich, a character that comic fans should be familiar with. An aging reporter, struggling with his desire to tell important, groundbreaking stories with his need to care for his ailing wife and the safety of himself and his sources. He makes for such a compelling character that if the series was only following him, I would still enjoy every moment of it.

Of course, there is more to the series than just the acting. The use of color is particularly stunning, with frequent shades of yellow and red following Murdock and his associates, and black and white being near constant colors surrounding Fisk. The city is almost alive, with noises coming from all around, dirt and grime and violence is around every corner. You’re left wondering why these people care so much about the city, why they work so hard to save it from itself, yet through it all you can’t help but root for them in the hopes of seeing the outcome of all their efforts. And, of course, there’s the costumes. Every superhero changes their costume from time to time, from Iron Man and Spiderman, who go through new variations every few years, to even Moon Knight and The Punisher, who have had a change or two over the years. Daredevil however, with the exception of his early yellow costume and a brief stint in a black mask, he’s pretty iconic for his sleek red suit. And the Kingpin, more or less, hasn’t been outside of his white suit and cane throughout the years. However, for the majority of the series, Murdock stays as the man in the black mask and Fisk is seen wearing black or gray suits. For those costume aficionados out there, I can give a bit of good news: by the end of the series, you will see Murdock in red and Fisk in white.

The series poses one of the most interesting conflicts seen in a crime series. Two characters with the same goal of cleaning up Hell’s Kitchen. One is a man with such power and influence, he has nothing standing in his way, nothing to be afraid of. The other is a man with every reason to give up, struggling with adversity, no money, no influence, nothing but truth and justice, yet notoriously without fear. And although they share a goal and conviction, their journey to get there is completely opposed to each other. Only one can succeed, but neither are the type to quit.

Over the course of 13 hours, “Daredevil” makes you feel exactly what the characters are feeling, whether it’s their hope, their desperation, their hatred and admiration. You root for people who are pure evil, against those fighting for good, at times even wishing the heroes would give up for their own safety. And if you’re a fan of the comics, you’ll be in for a subtle reference or two and should assure yourself that just because a character is alive or important in the comics doesn’t mean they’ll survive on screen. But whether you’re a fan of comics, superheroes, or just enjoy a good crime show, “Daredevil” will be among your favorites of 2015.

“On the Tube” is a column that reviews and critiques different on-going series on television.