Picking up right after The Defenders’ final episode left off, Matt Murdock wakes up in an orphanage recovering from his injuries in battle. Worst offender of all, his enhanced senses aren’t working properly. As he slowly progresses both mentally and physically, Kingpin/Wilson Fisk relocates to a penthouse legally rises in an attempt to frame Matt by hiring an assassin posing as Daredevil. It’s up to Matt to retrace his steps before it’s too late.
Daredevil’s third and final season officially streamed in 2018 (same year Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man came out) on Netflix. It received praise from critics, fans and streamers alike. Seven Years Later, a revival follow-up series, “Daredevil: Born Again” continues the character’s adventures. Seasons 1-2 are now steaming on Disney Plus. Before I watch the aforementioned revival starring one of my favorite Marvel superheroes, I wanna share my opinion on Season 3.
Today’s review contains no SPOILERS.
Good & Evil Aspects
Good: Charlie Cox, Elson Henson, Deborah Ann Woll & Vincent D’Onofrio reprise their roles and they did an excellent job for their respective performances.
Erik Oleson mapped out all thirteen episodes.
Action Sequences are realistic and brutal.
John Paesano (Invincible, Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) orchestrated the soundtrack.
Cinematography’s shot normally lacking technical issues throughout.
Season 3 borrows elements from Frank Miller’s highly acclaimed storyline, “Born Again.”
We’re introduced to new characters named, Dex & Nadeem. Plus, an assassin who’s equally matched as Daredevil.
Callbacks to previous seasons and The Defenders.
Character Development involving Matt. As the season progresses, he comes to terms with his crisis of faith recovering from his physical and mental wounds.
As a result of his suit damaged at the end of The Defenders, Matt wears his black suit from Season 1. It originated in Frank Miller’s five-issue mini-series, “The Man Without Fear.” As they say, back to basics.
Primary Themes are Identity, Faith, Trauma, Manipulation & Redemption. Each one’s handled maturely.
Series Finale ended on a high note. Luckily, Daredevil: Born Again resumes The Man Without Fear’s adventures.
Evil: I couldn’t find nothing wrong. I’m giving the cast and crew and Extra Point for making a flawless season as possible.
Episode 27 – Resurrection
Matt trains to regain his abilities.
One scene with Daredevil pays homage to “Guardian Devil” a panel with him perching on a cross on top of a church.
We get a flashback of Matt saying goodbye to Karen before he embarks on his mission to stop The Hand.
Episode 28 – Please
As he struggles to regain his abilities, Matt has a crisis of faith.
Fisk makes a deal with the Feds.
Foggy & Karen deal with the aftermath of Matt’s disappearance.
An ambush ensues.
Episode 29 – No Good Deed
Free from bars, Fisk moves to a Class A penthouse.
Still a broken man, Matt takes his Daredevil persona too seriously.
Episode 30 – Blindsided
Matt embarks on a stealth mission sneaking his way inside a prison for info regarding Fisk.
A lengthy, yet awesome prison fight scene.
A cab scene mimics a similar moment from the Born Again storyline
Episode 31 – The Perfect Game
We learn about Dex’s background.
Fisk formulates a plan.
A big reveal of a familiar Daredevil villain from the comics.
Episode 32 – The Devil You Know
Dex goes bananas.
Matt asks Karen for assistance.
Matt engages in combat with a new opponent. An enemy he’s never faced before is deadlier than Kingpin.
Episode 33 – Aftermath
After a brutal battle with The Assassin, Matt recuperates. Learns about the foe’s background. he also confronts the man who made his suit of The Assassin wearing his Daredevil suit.
Daredevil has yet another fight scene.
Outside his villainous scheme, Fisk plans something personal to his loved one.
Daredevil forms an alliance.
Episode 34 – Upstairs/Downstairs
Daredevil investigates clues tied to Fisk.
Fisk proceeds to twist an individual’s evil tendencies.
A Plot Twist changes everything.
Episode 35 – Revelations
Matt deals with the fact about a secret from his personal life.
A flashback provides more context.
Fisk orders The Assassin to eliminate a target.
Episode 36 – Karen
This episode centers on Karen’s troubled past. Unlike Frank Miller’s storyline, she wasn’t done dirty becoming a porn star. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the acclaimed story arc. I think this episode was done carefully without going too far.
A fight in the church mirrors a similar fight from Kevin Smith’s storyline, Guardian Devil.
Episode 37 – Reunion
The Assassin goes on a hunt.
Fisk delivers a pivotal speech. He’s also obsessed with retrieving a priceless item.
Karen brings up her troubled past.
Episode 38 – One Last Shot
Tensions rise when Matt gets caught in an ambush.
Fisk further takes his villainous scheme to another level.
Somebody’s annihilated.
Episode 39 – A New Napkin
After twelve episodes of buildup, Daredevil battles Fisk. A point of no return.
Daredevil’s fight scene with Kingpin & The Assassin is awesome.
Matt delivers an epic speech. It’s a tragedy Charlie Cox didn’t get an Emmy, SAG and Golden Globe nomination for “Best Actor.” He earns Bonus Points for pulling off one hell of a performance. Marvel was on a roll coordinating well written storylines. What did they write afterwards? She-Hulk twerking, a floating head in “Thor: Love and Thunder” & M.O.D.O.K.’s ugly appearance in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.”
The Final Verdict: A, FOR APEX!
Daredevil’s third and final season ended on a high note. I’m glad he’s back on Disney Plus. I’m so thrilled to watch Seasons 1-2. If you haven’t seen Season 3, watch it immediately. Then, stream Born Again.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 