NetFlix’s latest foray into series television which dropped last week, Marvel’s Daredevil, is not your typical comic book adaptation. Not only is it head and shoulders above most television comic book adaptations, it is better than average television, owing more to The Wire or Breaking Bad than Marvel’s Agents of Shield or Agent Carter (although I liked Agent Carter, too).
The show consists of 13 episodes, roughly 12 hours in all. It is not episodic but a single continuous storyline or arc continuing for all 13 episodes. The acting is solid and the direction is tight—a cut above typical TV fare. In particular, it doesn’t have all of the mugging and voguing usually associated with young casts.
In all likelihood the only cast members you’ll recognize are Vincent D’Onofrio (from Law and Order: Criminal Intent), Rosario Dawson, Scott Glenn, and Vondie Curtis-Hall. With the exception of D’Onofrio, who plays the tremendously menacing but oddly sympathetic Wilson Fisk, they are all supporting characters.
It is an international cast with American, Canadian, Australian, English, Israeli, and Chinese actors. It is multi-lingual, with substantial passages in English, Russian, Spanish, and Chinese, all spoken (or dubbed) by native speakers. Matt Murdock (Daredevil) is played by young English actor Charlie Cox in an understated, measured performance. As played by Mr. Cox, Matt Murdock is more like Ethan in The Searcher, little better than the criminals he’s fighting.
It is grim, gritty, and dark. What glamor it has is provided by accomplished Israeli actress Ayalet Zurer in a wonderfully nuanced portrayal. When was the last time you saw a comic book adaptation in which the villain’s romance received significantly more attention than the hero’s?
Daredevil‘s world is a completely corrupt one, reminiscent of Sin City. Everyone with even a scintilla of power is on the take, conniving, in it for themselves, criminal, and disturbed. Most of those without power are beaten down. This may ring a chord with you. Or not, depending on your outlook.
I recommend this show highly.
If you watched True Blood, you’ll recognize Deborah Ann Woll as Ann Page.
Just to clarify sam’s comment Deborah Ann Woll plays Karen, the female lead and spiritual center of Daredevil. I think she gives a strong, convincing performance.
Right, Karen.
She’s a good example of the points I was making in the post. Her portrayal of Karen is understated and affecting and although she glams up well that’s not something they do in the show.
Something I probably should have mentioned in the post is that there are a lot of seasoned stage actors involved in Daredevil including Ms. Woll.