Marvel’s Daredevil was dark, brutal, and, fantastic. But which of its three seasons can claim its spot as the best of them all?
When Marvel’s Daredevil premiered back in 2015 on Netflix, it took the world by storm. The series was far beyond different from anything Marvel had done in a live-action project, and it was for the better.
Daredevil was dark, violent, and grounded throughout every season of its run. Its mature tone perfectly captured the horrors that occurred in Matt Murdock’s neighborhood on a daily basis. Hell’s Kitchen was so troubled that it became easy for audiences to see why there was a need for a street-level hero like Daredevil to protect it. But with the birth of an iconic savior also came the rise of a menacing foe.
Marvel has a reputation for creating bland and uninspired villains for its movies and series. However, Daredevil became a big exception to that rule, further elevating it above other superhero projects.
Vincent D’Onofrio perfectly embodied a vulnerable yet despicable kingpin of crime who would go to extreme lengths to control the city and everyone in it. Wilson Fisk’s character was so well developed that he considered himself the hero of the story for most of the first season. The Kingpin even appeared as an antagonist in the MCU’s Hawkeye series long after Daredevil was canceled, proving how beloved his character was.
Fortunately, Vincent D’Onofrio won’t be the only one reprising his role, as Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock will also portray the Man Without Fear in the MCU’s Daredevil: Born Again Disney+ series. But while we wait for that project to come out and see if the MCU can do justice to the character, we should look back at what Netflix achieved back in 2015.
Even though Marvel’s Daredevil was fantastic overall, some of its seasons were better than others, so it’s time to rank them and decide which one was near-perfect and which fell short of expectations.
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.
2. Daredevil season 1
Daredevil season 1 premiered in April 2015, seven years after Iron Man kickstarted an interconnected universe of superhero movies and series known as the MCU.
By that time, Marvel had found success in unconventional projects such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor, both of which featured a lot of cosmic elements in their stories. Doctor Strange was also about to expand on the mystical side of the MCU with its mind-bending use of magic. And while there was room for a lot of crazier stories to be told, Marvel found great success in the least expected place: A dark and grounded series featuring a street-level hero.
Daredevil became one of the best superhero projects to ever be released. While the series did reference the events of The Avengers, and its main protagonist is a blind man who’s able to fight ninjas, Daredevil took a realistic approach when crafting its story.
Supernatural elements were tossed aside in favor of a story about corruption and abuse of power. Big action sequences were replaced by beautifully choreographed fight scenes that were brutal and visceral. Its 13 episodes allowed for a lot of character development, resulting in one of the best Marvel villains to date in a live-action project.
Daredevil is as good as superhero shows get.
The first season of the series perfectly captured Matt’s conflict when trying to find justice in a world where the law isn’t enough. As a lawyer, Matt tries to help ordinary people who don’t have enough money to be represented by any firms in New York. But as a vigilante, he understands that sometimes a court of justice isn’t enough to keep the bad guys away. That leads him to pursue justice on his terms, even if that goes against his own morals and values.
One of the first scenes of the series shows Matt confessing at a Catholic Church for sins that he’s about to commit, and then he proceeds to beat down a group of human traffickers who tormented Hell’s Kitchen. Matt Murdock did feel remorse for his actions but needed to do them anyway. That resulted in a deep and conflicted character that made for an amazing protagonist from the get-go.
Wilson Fisk also made an appearance as the show’s main antagonist, and for the first time in seven years, Marvel crafted an iconic villain who was more than the evil version of its hero. The Kingpin came across as a vulnerable man deeply committed to building a better city. He even fell in love in one of his first scenes in the season, proving he was capable of being more than an evil stereotype. Wilson Fisk was a three-dimensional character constantly tormented by his father’s abuse. However, even when he had a soft side to him, the Kingpin could also be relentless, violent, and dark. This contrast made him one of Marvel’s greatest villains and a worthy opponent to Matt Murdock himself.
Sure, the Daredevil suit wasn’t all that good-looking, and the final face-off between Matt and Wilson Fisk wasn’t as climatic as many would have hoped. But aside from that, season one of Daredevil was mainly flawless. It had great supporting characters, amazing fight scenes, and a great story. It was one of the best seasons of the show, only to be surpassed by the final chapter in Matt’s adventure.
1. Daredevil season 3
It’s no secret that Daredevil: Born Again is one of the hero’s greatest comic book stories of all time. So when a series as good as Daredevil takes inspiration from that story and adapts it in a faithful yet unique way, you know the result is going to be something beyond amazing.
Daredevil season 3 took everything away from its titular hero. Matt Murdock lost his costume, his faith, and his hearing at the beginning of the first episode (even if the latter was just momentarily and sporadically).
The Man Without Fear went through a traumatic experience that changed his perception of life and his definition of justice. While Matt once firmly believed in second chances and that every life was valuable, that wasn’t the case anymore. He became a broken man whose integrity was about to be tested by the return of his greatest foe.
After a disappointing main antagonist in season 2, the Kingpin made a triumphant return for season 3. Wilson Fisk’s comeback represented a great danger for New York, and it also brought to light Daredevil’s inner demons and struggles. Watching the devil of Hell’s Kitchen consider killing the Kingpin for most of the season was heartbreaking. Still, it made for a well-thought-out arc that allowed him to find a new purpose in life once the season ended. Superhero stories that take everything away from their main characters only for them to come back stronger are always a joy to see.
Daredevil season 3 also had the introduction of an amazing new antagonist in the form of Benjamin Pointdexter. He was a psychologically damaged veteran that was turned into the villainous Bullseye thanks to the Kingpin’s manipulation. Watching his downfall at the hands of Wilson Fisk was the most nerve-wracking plot line of the season, and his eventual clash with Matt Murdock allowed for one of the greatest action sequences in a superhero live-action project.
Speaking of which, the fight scenes in Daredevil season 3 were absolutely brilliant. The prison escape sequence was a highlight of the series as a whole, with its stunning photography and choreography. If you’ve watched Daredevil, you know each season has a one-shot action sequence that’s sure to take the audience’s breath away. However, season 3 is by far the better in that regard without a doubt.
Other new characters such as Sister Maggie (who turned out to be Matt’s mother) and Rahul Nadeem were a welcome addition to the show. Besides, Karen and Foggy had more to do this time around compared to season 2. Overall, Daredevil season 3 was the best season of the show, and probably one of the greatest superhero stories in a live-action project. The only downside to it is that you have to watch The Defenders series to know how Matt almost lost his life. But, I promise, it is worth it.