Marvel continues to have the Midas touch when it comes to adapting characters from their vast comic book library into cinematic properties. Daredevil is the latest of these adaptations and after binge watching it’s first season on Netflix, it appears that Marvel and Netflix at this point can do no wrong.
Daredevil’s 13 episodes will completely (well, maybe not completely) wipe the 2003 Ben Affleck feature film from most fan’s minds. For those of us who don’t hold grudges, all is forgiven. The first season is dark and gritty – a nod to Frank Miller’s take on the character in the early 80’s – and is definitely not for kids. It’s as if creator Drew Goddard and the producers were heavily influenced by perhaps the best show ever on television, HBO’s The Wire, shifted the action from Baltimore to New York’s Hell’s Kitchen and added a blind, vigilante ninja to spice things up even more. The cast is excellent with Charlie Cox (Matt Murdock/Daredevil) and Vincent D’Onofrio (Wilson Fisk/Kingpin) leading the way.
Even though Daredevil is on the small screen, its tone and production values work well within the Marvel Cinematic Universe – something Marvel’s Agent’s of S.H.I.E.L.D. sometimes struggles to do. The series also extends Netflix’s current winning streak after another solid season of original programming with House of Cards. The shift to well written, highly produced shows that have short runs has been a hit for Netflix and with the critical and artistic success of Daredevil, the future looks bright for the remaining Marvel/Netflix collaborations.
