Shows That You Should Have Watched Yesterday - Marvel's Daredevil (2015)

                         Faith and Second Chances: The Return of the Guardian Devil 

          Ask somebody who would come to mind first when the words Marvel or superhero are spoken, heard or flowing like the wind in their imaginations and he or she will most likely state Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk and maybe even Batman or Superman, particularly if they are self-confessed casual fans. Rarely will one hear of Daredevil emerging from both the turbulent and the calmer tides of conversation that seek to relate the struggles of these fictional icons to their own real life adversities. One common thread that has to date propelled all of the aforementioned comic book characters into the collective psyche, a universe in which the significance of the inhabitants is known but sparingly understood, is a commercially successful film or television adaptation. The last attempt to share Daredevil with as wide an audience as possible was a tragedy, not because of a box office flop, since the 2003 movie adaptation earned more than double its production budget of seventy-eight million US dollars, but rather due to a failure to connect on the more critical, long-lasting emotional level with both hardcore and casual viewers alike. A few gritty, exciting action sequences and a poignant, albeit familiar falling in love under the rain to a sweet, soothing, tender slow dance of the piano and the guitar were not enough to save the waning rose from losing the already tenuous gaze of the audience, which ceased long before the credits, courtesy of a predominantly metal soundtrack that nobody would dare admit in public to listening to, shallow dialogue that failed to penetrate those hardened hearts that dismissed superheroes as little more than the sexual fantasies of the socially inept and a leading actor who at the time was frequently abused as a star in desperate need of acting school. Indeed, Ben Affleck, after winning a second Oscar and being cast as the new Batman, was able to be very honest, ostensibly without any fear of potential disastrous repercussions for his career, about the guilt that lingers with him to this day over his role in what he and many others might gladly concede was a laughable and forgettable interpretation of the Marvel character.

Daredevil (2003) Film Poster - At best "[n]ot woeful, not wonderful, merely watchable" according to The Gland and Mail of Toronto and, at worst, "one of the biggest misfires of its genre," at least in the eyes of The San Francisco Chronicle. 

          Over ten years later, with a new cast, a new production team and love for superheroes among the masses of casual fans that was inspired by a more consistently successful string superhero films, which are at present happily here to stay and fight on, Marvel's Daredevil was aired on Netflix. A television show that would feel like a thirteen-hour film was promised. One that learned from all of the mistakes that many were convinced would be repeated. Fortunately though, bursting through wave after wave of scepticism, the show became one of the most successful productions of the year. Daredevil had returned, with all of the integrity and the realism that he and his world of Hell's Kitchen in New York City deserved. People would understand why this character, often nicknamed The Man Without Fear or The Guardian Devil, deserved a place in their hearts that demanded no less than equal appreciation to any Avenger or X-Man who had enjoyed the luxury of an accurate translation from their comic book homes to the sliver screen.

          Marvel's Daredevil will endure long after its critical acclaim and its remarkably strong position upon statistical charts alongside formidable competition as the best comic book television series because of a greater appreciation of the source material that stays true to the core values of its hero and his story. Moreover, the original tale is cleverly adapted in such a way that makes it more appropriate for the present century rather than the nineteen sixties, taking into account the duty and the privilege of recognising the more modern realities of strong female characters, appropriate but never forced ethnic diversity and the advances in technology, all of which in combination emphasize that the origin story of Daredevil is a timeless one. The show's greatest achievement, principally achieved by superb writing that seamlessly navigates between past and present, is successfully presenting a superhero with a disability in a manner that does not go out of its way to force the concept to the forefront of the story. Consequently, the fact that the protagonist is blind becomes all the more poignant, particularly for viewers who may relate to having or working with a disability under any guise, since they see a man fighting for justice, friendship, a career, romantic love and so much more. Fighting on in spite of his traumatic childhood and the disability that at glance appears to horrifically scar him both within and without. With every loss audiences mourn for his additional burdens and ponder over how they might be at least in part responsible but with every victory they are inspired by the hope that they, like the defiant hero they observe as a lawyer by day and a vigilante by night, can achieve anything they want to, regardless of their hardships. A disability in particular is not shown to be a source of weakness for Matthew Murdock but rather a source of strength. Daredevil's character development that ultimately maintains the core qualities of a good man is expertly juxtaposed alongside the anger, hatred and suffering that the antagonist, Wilson Fisk, embraces in order to cope and deal with his own bitterly unfair arrangment of circumstances present from birth right into adulthood.                                 

From left to right - Peter McRobbie as Father Lanton and Charlie Cox as Matthew Murdock -

Disability is the least of the concerns for the show's protagonist, the crew behind the scenes and the audience once the hero is seen to endure a crisis of faith. One of a great number of  conflicts common to all people, regardless of their personal circumstances.   

          The outstanding quality of Marvel's Daredevil is the acting, particularly by Charlie Cox in the leading role. Yet another British actor masterfully portrays an icon of American origin in a way that comes as close to perfect as human beings could possibly manage. Cox employs a totally flawless American accent and a breathtaking control of the tone of his voice that is ceaselessly accurate in hitting all of the desired emotional targets for the entire series and remains distinct whenever he wears the "work in progress" of superhero a costume. Never has an actor portrayed a comic book character with such precision since Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight. Watching Cox out of character in an interview for the show will highlight that, while he is at least physically recognisable, his voice and movements are certainly not. The supporting cast are not far behind in their own acting prowess and each actor plays their part as if it were written just for him or her. While not quite as terrifying as Ledger's Joker, Vincent D'Onofrio commands enough presence on-screen, through a chillingly unpredictable pace in his vocal expression and mannerisms, to allow Wilson Fisk to be taken just as seriously as the aforementioned villain, as well as the immensely popular interpretation of Loki brought to life by Tom Hiddleston. Deborah Ann Woll stuns not just with sheer physical beauty but also a portrayal of a character that at one moment be admirably tender and strong for those close to her and then in the next become vulnerable, conveying unnerving fragility that serves to illustrate why a noteworthy tension of the heart is experienced between her, Matt Murdock and particularity Foggy Nelson. Elden Henson, playing the latter character, plays the key instrument of humour throughout the series, mixing sarcasm, comic timing and bold, energetic movements even in his character's darkest hour. Even the characters playing smaller parts are sorely missed once their time in each episode is up, suggesting that not one detail was forsaken in redeeming Daredevil as one of Marvel's finest creations.

          The love that Marvel's Daredevil received from fans and critics was not reciprocated by those who officially recognize the artists for such work with golden statues, being instead snubbed most notably by the Primetime Emmy Awards and the Golden Globes. Nonetheless, the series did touch the hearts of other reputable organizations that as a result felt compelled to make their appreciation official. One example is the 19th Annual Helen Keller Achievement Awards run by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) in June 2015, during which Charlie Cox was honoured for playing Daredevil so brilliantly. During his acceptance speech, Cox spoke of receiving emails and letters from the blind community around the world seeking to share their experiences with him, realizing or reminding themselves that they were not alone in their fears and struggles at all. Such an event was reminiscent of when the Daredevil creators Stan Lee and Bill Everett spoke of initially releasing the comic book way back in the sixties with a great fear that it might offend members of the blind community or the wider community of the disabled. For a while, there remained a chance that somebody would be heartbroken as they read a story that they perceived to be a sick mockery or parody and thought about how they couldn't hope to do what Daredevil did in their own lives. That fear was fortunately short-lived, for it was not long after the comic's release when Lee and Everett received numerous letters from charities for the blind, expressing their immeasurable gratitude for the creation of a blind superhero and begging for more. The Man Without Fear has since lasted for over forty years in the comic books. If that is what a comic book could achieve over fifty years ago, then a truthful television series adaptation on Netflix, a platform with over 69 million subscribers around the world, surely had potential to change lives for the better, even if only by turning mindsets more positive, which was too great to even attempt to reduce to a results table.

Charlie Cox at the American Foundation for the Blind's 19th Annual Helen Keller Achievement Awards in New York City  - June 2015

          In recent years there has been an enormous outcry for a greater representation of women and ethnic minorities in the world of superhero. Yet, in comparison, virtually no one is calling for a better representation of the disabled in that same universe. Thus, it was all the more vital for Marvel's Daredevil to be done right. There were and still are people out there around the world literally sobbing because they feel cursed by their disability and doomed to lose their independence, or that nobody understands them, or that they are treated differently when all that they wish is to be seen as an equal, as if their disabilities were no-existent. Daredevil is a reminder that all of these fears can ultimately be overcome. Disability or no disability, one is worthy of and able to achieve all of their dreams. Furthermore, the show is a must-watch for all since, beyond its explorations of disability, it remains an incredible story of the blurred lines between right and wrong, along with so many other questions and themes for which clear explanations are never found but still tirelessly sought.

          Marvel's Daredevil will be returning in 2016, seeking to introduce two additional major Marvel characters who have both previously been depicted in their own movies that turned out to be absolute jokes at the box office. Even before a second season was given the green light, Marvel had planned to unite Daredevil with a group of other less well-known superheroes to form a team known as The Defenders. Rumours were and are still rife across social media concerning the possibility of inviting Daredevil into the Marvel movie universe, hopefully in time for the upcoming civil war. In any case, the events of season one were truly just the beginning. However, while enjoying a successful second season would be a wonderful bonus for Daredevil, a first season that exceeded all expectations and brought the hero into casual conversation in the workplace, classrooms or on buses for instance is a great achievement that more than warrants sufficiently celebrating the present before focusing all efforts on the path ahead. A continued rise in the fan base would be welcomed but if the story of The Guardian Devil so far has helped to change just one life, then Daredevil has saved the day. If just one person has begun to believe in themselves after shaking with delight and becoming tearful when witnessing a child grow into a kind, strong-willed, selfless young adult who continues to rise after countless beatings against body, heart and soul, then the world is, as the protagonist so desperately hopes, a much, much better place indeed.