In the end – or at least in its second last part – “Daredevil: Born Again” kept things pretty simple. For weeks we have noted the contrasts and parallels between Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and Wilson Fisk (Vincent d’Ontrio) when they revolved each other before an inevitable showdown.
But it was also always about a man who saddened his best friend and fights against the less salty feelings that come with it. Justice served in the murder of Foggy Nelson (the fire Henson), but would it ever be enough for Matt? Will something?
Twain converges in section 108, “Isle of Joy”, directed Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead and written by Jesse Wigutow & Dario Scardapane. After being hosted and shooting his catcher in section 7Heather (Margarita Levieva) is invited to a black and white ball by mayor Fisk himself – an invitation that Matt rightly sees as a threat. The only mention of the fish’s name is sufficient for catapult Mat’s relationship to rocky territory; Despite confidence and comfort in his life with Heather, the past and the truth are closed in the worst possible time. With fish in the periphery – or in her office, or in the same ballroom – every second is an opportunity to reveal Matts true identity and drive Heather from her life for good.
The second wrench comes in the form of Foggy’s murderer Benjamin Poindexter (Wilson Bethel), who requests a meeting with Matt who plants the idea that he works as a rented gun. Their short scene together illustrates how close to the surface Matt Aggression lives. He may have dressed the mask and suit and look up opponents in the last eight episodes, but Poindexs evoke a special type of annoyance. When Matt crushes his head in the table and blames the victim, it certainly feels like the type of tactics more common on Say, Fisk’s Anti-Vigilante Task Force.
Marvel Performances and films are known for fighting sets, but “Isle of Joy” makes a case to mix it with extravagance (even James Bond is necessary to dress out and go to parties). The mayor’s ball is an absolute party for the senses; The black and white costumes, the huge number of artists, the layout and the possibility of space. In this attitude, the section between secret conversations, furtive appearance, confrontations behind doors and everything in between. It is both spectacular theatrical and extremely realistic.
Benson and Moorhead find opportunities to play within it, especially with lighting and color. Most of the background players are in black, with only heather and fish completely in white and vanessa that give a potent pop of red (she just killed a man, recently tried to kill another and is responsible for killing foggy. It is not subtle and it is not meant to be!) That pairs with Matts glasses – and eventually his blood. The lighting around Poindexter goes a chilly shade of blue both at the prison hospital and as he prepares to push his gun into the party. When fish talks privately to Jack (Tony Dalton), the cameras flirt with mirrors around the room and the idea of his many personalities.
Vanessa’s power has not been exactly hidden all season, so it is not a shock that she ordered the hit on Foggy – and obviously the one who misses fish at the end of this section. Matt by mistake, but undeniably, takes a bullet for their enemy and confuses them even longer.
Meanwhile, Matt makes less meaning the longer he hides his past from Heather; When they are on the dance floor, he might as well speak another language. At what time does he tell her so that everything clicks in place? He does ever? Between the danger of her life and her own anti-Vigilante values, it seems that the truth in the mask is a hard line that they can never cross.
IW on the street
- I can’t help but admire the irony at sitcom level in Matt and Heather who argue about Vigilantes and Muse Fallout. “Not sure you can put Muse and Daredevil in the same category …” “You weren’t there, Matt!” Laugh!
- Fish at Adam: “I hear his voice, I see his hands, it’s unbearable” – for Vanessa loved hands! This shit is funny !!
- The shot of Adam’s dead body through the gap between fish and vanessa, which embraces in the midst of their reclined love? Yikes (free).
- J’Adore a strategically placed “fuck you!” Watch out, Deadpool!
- Respectively, how is Daniel and BB friends radicalized, like this guy is radicalized before our eyes?
Rating: B.
New episodes of “Daredevil: Born Again” is starting to stream Tuesday nights at Disney+. Season 1 ends Tuesday, April 15.
