Blasting
into Netflix on March 18th Daredevil season 2 ramps up the
intensity with two additional main characters Punisher and Elektra.
My odd method of watching,: a total binge all 13 at once, however I
actually started with episode 5 because that is the real moment
Elektra is in play. Thus I watched 1-4 after 5-13. The review
contains minor spoilers but will not reveal any major plot points.
Developing
two new major characters in a series in one season can often prove
tricky. Especially when furthering the development of the existing
characters in a series. The best part of the Elektra development,
is a (Minor spoiler) we see a young Elektra training. The
development of character is not linear; but organic, a bit like a
cause and effect. Going further into Elektra, she is given
vulnerability, but we also see her cold assassin side, she actually is
the most brutal character. Here is how I see it. Daredevil, aims to
not kill, Wilson Fist AKA Kingpin kills for power and money, Punisher
Kills for revenge for those who killed his family and sweet Elektra
kills and had her first kill at 12 because she enjoys it! Any questions talk to THE HAND hahaahah!
Above Pic: It is the dark end of the street if you cross paths with Elektra! (C) 2016 Netflix!
Elektra
is portrayed with dichotomous emotional diversity by Elodie Yung.
There is
a
bunch of meat to chew on in her story arc and trust me, if she wants you dead, you
will be. My favorite scene is when she meets with a perspective
french assassin, of course the dialogue is in her native French, and
he tries to seduce her and she figures out he is sent to kill her and
smiles “let's get on with it”. She has copious fight scenes, and
credit given to her and her stunt double Lauren Mary Kim, for putting
on an expert display of action in a wide variety of Martial Art styles. Watch for a future interview with
Lauren on Dan's Movie Report! Because Elodie has a martial arts
background in karate, and extensive training from 'G.I. Joe:
retaliation' she is well suited for the action. Elodie's dramatic
skills are put to full use when in romantic interludes with Matt
Murdock, and when she is injured she shows almost a childlike face
when being carried to bed. Elodie was one of the 3 finalists for the
Wonder Woman job, but this role suits her to a T, and allows her to
delve deeper into a complex character.
The
Punisher is also a nice addition, throughout most season two the
writers keep the Punisher and Elektra stories separate. Obviously the
creators set up characters to grow and do not look for comic book
style costumes at the outset.
The
audience gets an extensive background look inside the Punisher. Jon Bernthal really has nailed all of the conflicted iterations of the Punisher character in his performance far surpassing anyone else tackling the role. The Punisher needs depth and Bernthal respect for the source material
Another
improvement is the furthering development of the Foggy character, He
is forced to work alone on the Punisher trial because Daredevil is
pre occupied with the sultry and mentally unstable Elektra. Add a sprinkling of Rosario Dawson's soul full (Claire Temple) again, not as promanent as season one.
Check out this shot of The Kingpin!
(C) 2016 Netflix! Now that is how to go BIG in character!
Check out this shot of The Kingpin!
With
regards to the fighting the actors and stunt doubles follow a brutal
fight path layed out expertly by stunt and fight coordinator Philip
J Silvera The action is
virtually seamless from transition stunt double to actor and back
again. One of my favorite fights is Elecktra vs one of Stitch's
assassins in an airplane hanger, at the end of episode 10. check out
this Capoeira inspired bad assery! Like I said am an not going to
spoil the outcome but will point my readers to some highlights.
Complaints
aside from people that feel that the story is setting up the next
series, but of course it is DUH! People are complaining on IMDB that
Elektra is interrupting the Punisher story arc, this is Daredevil, in
fact Elektra is more intertwined in his past than Punisher is! If you
want simple, watch Supergirl, basic network fluff.
This
is a series not for kids under 15, to be honest, the concepts and
violence are very dark, and intellectually Daredevil forces the
viewer to be engaged in the minute details of the characters.
The
entire season feels like one long 13 hour film, as one episode ends
in a cliff hanger and the next one begins exactly where they left off
no recap needed as the entire series drops at once. As a viewer in my
this is the best way to see if you are going to like a show, you do
not have to wait 3 or four weeks, you watch a few episodes over the
weekend or anytime, if you do not like it on to the next. Networks
rely on ratings, but they put their shows online so you can just wait
till the season ends and binge watch. Watch for: some cool prison
scenes with Kingpin, crazy ninjas, and general mayhem throughout
season 2.
This
is probably the most violent original program on Netflix at the
moment, blood and guts wise, as The Hand is a violent subversive
organization, obviously when the rest of the marvel series ties in we
will see. Prob a stand alone Punisher series in 2018, perhaps a 2
Elektra Movie rather than 13 hours of a series, so many
possibilities, just have to watch. I enjoyed season 2 far more than
the first season, characters grew, we meet some new ones, and a
strong female character like Elektra is in Daredevil's life and she
is there to torment and delight.
Above Photo: Elektra exacts some wicked ass kickary on a French assassin! (C) 2016 Netflix
Before
I close this review I will make a statement and a commitment to offer
firm support to the entire stunt community, as this is a category
that is NOT represented in the Academy Awards in any way. Please
point your browsers to the Stand Up For Stunts community on FB
https://www.facebook.com/Stand-Up-For-Stunts-714286178593690/ and
support these fine performers. Here at Dan's Movie Report I feel that
this is an under appreciated area of the press, thus in the coming
weeks look for interviews with Elektra's Stunt double and all around
awesome ass kicker Lauren Mary Kim https://twitter.com/LaurenMaryKim
, and Stunt and Fight Coordinator Philip J Silvera!
I rate
season 2 of Daredevil a must watch, 10 out of 10. Elektra I rate
lovely dangerous, and fun, and she does not have to break into my
house to find me, I will leave the door open haha!! Elodie and Lauren
kill it!
All of the main stars of the cast kick ass and are very active on social media.
https://twitter.com/DeborahAnnWoll Deborah Woll
https://twitter.com/vincentdonofrio Vincent Donofrio
Rosario Dawson
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