Coming after the really solid first season, Daredevil's second outing is a bit more uneven. It's definitely an improvement, with both higher high points and lower low points.
The first four episodes of Daredevil's second season is some of the best stuff the series has to offer. The season starts with the introduction of Frank Castle (also known as the iconic anti-villain Punisher), and he is just amazing. He works as both a fascinating and morally complex character on his own right, and as an antagonist that shows what Matt could have been like if he did slaughter criminals. The conflict between Daredevil and the Punisher is gripping, juggling both fantastic action that tops most of the stuff from Season 1 as well as compelling moral dilemma. There's an episode that's almost entirely the two having a mature conversation, and it is some of the most gripping material in the entire series. Jon Bernthal's performance is also one of the show's best, he embodies Punisher so well. Even more, since the arc is only four episodes long, it's also incredibly well-paced. Daredevil's second season actually has three arcs, which makes for the most brisk pacing out of any Marvel Netflix show, let alone just Daredevil.
However, once the Punisher arc ends, the season can't quit reach that same high point. The second arc revolves around Elektra, and the third revolves around The Hand, both of which are antagonists that aren't nearly as interesting or charismatic as Kingpin or Punisher. Elektra is an iconic villain, but she lacks the chemistry with Charlie Cox that makes her plot essential. And while The Hand sounds cool in theory, a simple gang of ninjas just seems a bit too lacking in depth for a show built on these grounded and complex conflicts. It leads to a pretty average rest of the season, at least if it weren't for the fact that the characters remain incredibly gripping. Frank Castle is still a major player in the rest of Season 2, as he gets put on trial, sent to prison, and comes face to face with Kingpin. Additionally, Karen gets a lot more focus this season as she plays a pretty proactive role throughout, and the finale where she learns about Daredevil's true identity. As a whole, I think the finale does a good job at bringing the three arcs together to end the season on a satisfying note, which helps make the season feel a bit less disjointed.
At its best, this season has a ton of absolutely fantastic episodes:
New York's Finest: This was the aforementioned "conversation episode" and it really is as great as I hyped it up to be. New York's Finest is impeccably written and acted, and makes me kinda want more superhero stories where the hero and villain just discuss morality for a bit. It's not all talk though, the episode also ends with the season's big long take as Daredevil escapes the building where the Punisher imprisoned him. It's not as good as the Cut Man fight, but still easily one of the best in the series.
Penny And Dime: This is a nearly perfect end to the Punisher arc that starts off Season 2. The scene where Castle reveals his backstory to Matt is phenomenal, easily the best showcase of Jon Bernthal's acting in the whole season. But even outside of that, Penny And Dime boasts some great fight scenes, brutal sequences, and the first appearance of Elektra.
Seven Minutes In Heaven: In the middle of the Elektra/Hand arcs, we get this fantastic gem of an episode that finally brings back Kingpin. It's great to see Fisk back, and his scene with Punisher is absolutely electric, but the true highlight of the episode is the brutal prison fight that manages to usurp the season's long take fight as my favorite of the season.
A Cold Day In Hell's Kitchen: While the final battle with the Hand isn't quite as satisfying as the one with Fisk last season, this is still a great finale that does a lot more to change the status quo than the previous one did. If you take Daredevil as a trilogy, this is very much the "Empire Strikes Back" ending. Elektra dies, Castle fully becomes the Punisher, The Hand is still around, and biggest of all, we get that amazing cliffhanger where Karen learns Matt is Daredevil
Overall, I'm a bit stuck on the general quality of Daredevil's second season. Its first third is nearly flawless, the final two episodes are great too, and there are some really solid episodes around the middle, but when the Elektra and The Hand stuff is as bland as it is, can I really say that this season is better for the first? Personally, I think it's better than the sum of its parts, and the first four episodes alone make the season more than worth watching.
4/5 Stars
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