Marvel: All 3 Daredevil seasons ranked from worst to best
3. Daredevil Season 2
While it’s true that Daredevil season 1 was a hard act to follow, season 2 had everything it needed to become something epic. It had a solid foundation to build upon and also introduced heavy-hitter characters like The Punisher and Elektra Natchios.
As if it wasn’t enough, the villainous organization known as the Hand also made an appearance, becoming the main antagonist of the season. While it isn’t a secret that no other villain would be able to top Wilson Fisk and what he achieved in season 1, the Hand did seem like a logical next step for the series to tackle.
Unfortunately, season 2 of Daredevil had a hard time balancing all of its elements and themes. This resulted in an underwhelming experience that was far away from being bad but that didn’t reach the highs of its predecessor either.
Let’s start by talking about the best thing in Daredevil season 2: The Punisher. The Punisher was, without a doubt, a highlight of the entire series as a whole. Frank Castle was introduced as an unhinged one-man army that represented everything Matt Murdok stood against. Watching the two of them clash was the source of fantastic action sequences, and, most importantly, it also generated a thought-provoking moral conflict.
Daredevil and The Punisher are the two sides of the same coin. They are both fighting for the same cause but have different methods and approaches when doing so. While Matt believes in second chances, Frank argues it’s best to end the bad guys once and for all to prevent them from causing more violence. It’s then that audiences are presented with a difficult question that’s constantly brought up in the first half of the season: “Is it ever justifiable to take a life?”
Episode 3 saw Matt and Frank heavily debate this idea, showing how different their perception of justice is. It’s at that point where season 2 hits its high, and it does so without resorting to action sequences or jaw-dropping visual effects.
Unfortunately, about halfway through the season, the Punisher takes a step back and Elektra and The Hand are introduced, becoming the main focus until the final episode. From that point onwards, the series loses one of its main driving forces and its biggest emotional dilemma.
The grounded realism that characterized Daredevil is tossed aside in favor of a supernatural theme that is never properly developed or even justifiable. The Hand is introduced only to become a faceless organization that falls short of becoming as iconic as the Kingpin or the Punisher ever where. And while there was certain enjoyment to be found in the mindless action that the group of ninjas caused, it is the lowest point of the series as a whole.
Was season 2 of Daredevil bad? No, of course not. But was it the worst season of the series? Yes, which is a shame considering the Punisher and Matt Murdock storyline alone could’ve made for something greater.