Daredevil successfully sticks to it’s crime noir roots, and the winning dynamic between the titular hero and his nemesis the Kingpin rears it’s head, getting uglier by the episode. It doesn’t accomplish all the highs it sets out for, but the MCU original gangsta easily clears the first two bars it set previously. Better yet, Daredevil shows its mastery over what makes for a good Superhero story and it’s contrast reveals where it’s cohorts like Iron Fist and Luke Cage has lacked.

Season Three finds Matt Murdock significantly under powered, a building dropped on him at the end of Defenders doing a little more damage than leaving him deaf in an ear. But it’s that deafness that actually leaves Matt Murdock momentarily blind, his other super senses cut off leaves him incapable of taking care of himself, leading to an existential crises of doubt and purpose that dulls his offensive ability. It’s hard to see Matt, portrayed by Charlie Cox whose come a long way from choking people on the Boardwalk, it’s hard to see MCU Matt Murdock fall so far in the dumps and disassociate like this from a loss of faith. It’s the most awkward part of the loosely based upon comic story Born Again for the series, which is skillfully executed with only a handful of missteps. I welcome the vulnerability, but he seems weaker overall, Daredevil in his prime fighting 30 bikers, struggles to take on two guys at once on occasion, and his sometimes psychic echolocation seeming to fail him the most in random instances. Having waited two years for a season dedicated to the Man Without Fear, I was disappointed to see his character unable to reattain a certain degree of strength, and struggle harder than he ever has, unnecessarily so . Even an imposter seems to be way stronger than he ever was, which i’ll address soon enough. He doesn’t have his armor or escrima sticks, with nothing to give him the much needed edge. And all he needed to get better was a sinus drain, the equivalent of walking around mad cause you have a rock in your shoe.

This version of the Kingpin has a special place in my heart for being such an intimidating yet gentle figure, devoid of mercy but experiencing true human connection that makes him sensitive. Bringing back Vincent D’Onofrio and putting him on the forefront as the villain is a loving stroke of brilliance, Wilson Fisk second only to Thanos when it comes to properly utilized evil doers, compels the story forward even when all we can see is his bald head staring at a vacant wall. A true godfather, he sees and knows all, and maintains control with his invisible hand at all times. Where MCU Matt Murdock seems to be constrained by his his muddled motivations, which benefits the story but not the characterization, Fisk is devoted in thinking his cause to be the righteous one. I was so convinced that I began to be convinced of his turning a new leaf. I have a whimsy about me when it comes to television where I absorb objectively instead of speculate wildly, so sue me for my innocence!

I’d like to touch on the character Benjamin Poindexter, a case where his characterization as a villain was expertly done but his performance was lacking, opposite Matt Murdock. The secondary but equally fearful bad guy who will go on to become the villain Bullseye. His abilities are incredible to watch and fits right into the fight choreography, his back story is built out painstakingly with his mental illness laid to bare. Marvel knows how to create a straight white man, I tell ya. But the actor, Wilson Bethel, while convincingly falling apart refuses to make me believe there was ever a man there to begin with, one with a personality that was more than a psychopath before he devolved. Physically, Bethel matches Cox in every way, but the caliber between actors is clear.

The cinematography blesses us when it’s trying, but I swear some episodes have the noticeably worst screen cuts of the series. Obviously a single scene has up to ten takes in it, but I crave continuity and small errors glare to me. Fight scenes however don’t suffer from as many errors, consistently strong and never unnecessary, Cox always convincingly beating his opponents into submission, and D’Onofrio always convincingly beating them to death on camera.

Known for having a one shot fight scene every season, Season Three manages to finally throw ole Blind Matt Murdock into the fray for his unmasked seven minute straight fight, innovating it as Matt’s unending scene throws in a lengthy conversation in the middle that I found to be a creative surprise. The scene however lamenting how Matt has been struggling to fight as well as he use to.

Standout Episodes:

S3E3 “No Good Deed”: Matthew struggles wit Fisk being free, and is literally haunted by his enemy, it’s the good stuff.

S3E4 “Blindsided”: Barehanded Blind Lawyer Brawls!

S3E6 “The Devil You Know”: Devil of Hells Kitchen makes an actual appearance, everyone wishes he stayed home.

S3E9 “Revelations”: Fisk has always been the GOAT, the man is buck nasty.

Daredevil treats itself for what it is, which delivers the true quality, playing out like an allegorical story with interwoven threads. Making best use of its source material and available characters, wasting not and properly making use of all 13 episodes. Besides Murdock’s questionable frame of mind and weak performance for Bullseye, I hated Karen this year, and though Foggy was a big cheeseball in the end, he’s shown the most growth with the least appearances in the MCU.

Diversity win! They could have had a basic white man bend to Fisk’s will, Agent Nadeem instead brings a picturesque Asian family life that is rotted from the inside out, it’s a step in the right direction for a mainly white cast.

With a slew of cancellations for Marvel and Netflix, Daredevil has made sure to earn his keep this year, and i’ll be personally outraged if it’s cancelled after such an exemplary showing.