*Spoilers Ahead*
Things begin to heat up, literally, on Daredevil as Wilson Fisk’s plans start to unfold and Matt isn’t at all ready for what is coming.
The main story this week deals with the aftermath of Fisk’s murder of Anatoly and his plan to take out both Daredevil and Vladimir, the remaining Russian brother. Fisk gets to show off his knack for scheming as he manages to keep both our hero and the Russians off his trail until it’s too late. Vladimir is led to believe that Daredevil is the one who brutalized his brother and begins the hunt for him while Matt is busy tracking down Vladimir. Russians aren’t the only thing Matt has to deal with this week though as he overhears a couple of cops, on Fisk’s payroll, murder one of Vladimir’s men when he tries to give up Fisk’s name. Matt eventually beats up one of the cops later to try and get some info and when the cop mentions him being the one who killed Anatoly Matt doesn’t do anything to prove that rumor false. Fisk isn’t the only one building a myth around himself.
Elsewhere in Matt’s life, he and Claire finally kiss this week. “I was wondering if we were going to do that,” Claire says, taking the words right out of everyone watching’s mouth. The scene does a great job of building up to that kiss by having Matt give Claire an explanation on how his powers let him see. We haven’t been given much clarification on the extent of Matt’s powers so letting him tell Claire makes it feel special. Their budding relationship might already be on the rocks by episode’s end however as Matt doesn’t seem to take too kindly to Claire suggesting that he might be going too far after roughing up the police officer. Matt wants to change this city and he’s willing to go to some dark places to get it done. I imagine this theme will be expounded on in the future.
Meanwhile, as Fisk’s plans unfold he attempts to win back Vanessa’s affections after their botched first date. The writing makes it clear what attracts Vanessa to this clearly dangerous man, he’s honest. Vanessa explains that she’s dealt with her fair share of liars and a man willing to tell her the truth, no matter how horrible it might be, is alluring to her. It helps that Fisk makes his plan sound good. He wishes to change the city but he needs the criminal element in order to gain the power to really change it.
Finally, romance also seems to be blooming between Karen and Foggy after they have a makeshift date when attempting to repair an elderly Guatemalan woman’s home. The woman comes to Murdock & Nelson as a client after her home is taken apart by men sent by the apartment owners but when Foggy can’t accomplish much in the legal realm he decides to do some fixing himself. It’s a nice little story that shows us that Matt isn’t the only one with a few heroic qualities about him. The date between the two gets a little weird when Karen asks about how Matt can see people and then, asks Foggy to touch her face. It’s suppose to feel romantic, I guess, but it comes off as odd. Regardless, before they can do anything more than touch faces they’re thrown backwards due to an explosion.
It’s a sudden jolt but one that has purpose. Fisk has sent some of Madame Gao’s drug runners as human bombs to take care of the Russians and eliminate them as a threat. When he looks out of a window showcasing the carnage Vanessa is horrified but Wilson assuages those fears by telling her the men were kidnapping children. She doesn’t need to know that Fisk was working with them and only killed them because they had served their purpose to him. After all, you can’t be honest about everything.
Both Matt and Vladimir manage to survive the explosion but it isn’t long until Daredevil is surrounded by the police, who have gotten tipped off by Fisk no doubt. Things are looking bleak, not just for Matt but for all of Hell’s Kitchen. Thankfully, the bleakness tends to be where Daredevil shines.
Bits ‘n Pieces
- I really dug the effect used to show how Matt sees. It’s a very cool look into his powers.
- Leland Owlsley steals the show this week in his scene with Fisk and the rest of his associates. He’s the only one willing to comment on the bloody car door.
- “They’re gonna shark attack me, Matt. Look at me. I’m delicious.”
- “He’s like a sexual Rain Man.”
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