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Rating: 4 out of 5
The Marvel Cinematic Universe just got a little bit bigger.
Similar to acclaimed hits Avengers, Agent Carter, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Guardians of the Galaxy. Released mid-April on Netflix, Daredevil is the most thrilling, exciting and goriest show that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has produced.
It would be easy to assume this is a continuation of Marvel’s movie Daredevil starring Ben Affleck, but it’s not. The show is a brand-new development of the main character Attorney Matt Murdock. Daredevil stars Charlie Cox (Theory of Everything), Vincent D’Onofrio (The Judge), Karen Page (True Blood), Rosario Dawson (Trance) and Elden Henson (She’s All That). This cast of Daredevil works surprisingly well for one of diverse actors from very different backgrounds.
As a child, Matt Murdock was blinded by biowaste after saving an elderly man’s life. However, his accident changed him, and other senses not only compensated for his eyes but became hyper-developed.
Murdock and his friend Foggy Nelson start up their own firm to help those wrongly accused and rightly convicted. After being sickened by the crime in his community, Murdock vowed to protect his neighborhood of New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen.
Not only is this Marvel’s first Netflix show, but it’s one its darker programs visually. The franchise is known to use filters in their filming to help indicate tone, time, and mood, but Daredevil seems to have a significantly darker film filter. It is difficult to decipher if Daredevil is in the same universe with the Avengers, Guardians, Ant Man or any of the others, but it’s easily indicated with clear references and cameos of none other than Stan Lee. Considering this is the same universe, the same New York, it is often unclear they are connected in the same universe.
This is by far an enormous change for Marvel and Netflix. Netflix intentionally made Daredevil appeal to blind audiences, initially a confusing concept, but simpler than it seems. The main character is relatable to these audiences because of his disability, plus enhanced audio levels throughout all the episodes help the blind visualize the show. Each audio bite and piece of dialogue is so clear, everyone who can or cannot see will understand what’s going on throughout the entire episode. However, this makes certain scenes even more gruesome for people who have clear vision.
Fans of Marvel may assume it will be like previous Marvel shows, but this show will be a rude awakening. Daredevil is the goriest show on Netflix. The enhancement in audiobites make certain scenes sound as if they are right behind the viewer. The graphics tend to be unbearable. It isn’t really pleasant to see a person’s head get smashed in with a bowling ball, just one example of what kind of things are shown. Sadly, their greatest achievement — heightened sensory experience — may be their greatest downfall.
Aside from the morbid gore, Daredevil is basically Netflix’s next most binge-watched series next to other new hit shows Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Bloodline. Marvel and Netflix are working on another superhero project, hinting a TV show crossover, not too shocking after the popular release of Daredevil. Season one will consume viewers’ weekends and nights — provided they have tough stomachs.
Daredevil, 2015, unrated, Netflix
