"The Hollow of His Hand" is further proof that Daredevil’s still got it
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Sorry, I was just absorbing the fact that I’m writing about a new Daredevil show. Last week’s two-episode premiere for Daredevil: Born Again was a much-anticipated event for me, but it hasn’t quite sunk in yet that this show is going to be a constant in my life for the next few weeks (and with a second season on the way, maybe the next few years…)
It’s still somewhat dizzying to simply see Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock in new scenes on my television. Something that’s maybe not getting enough discussion is how good he is in Daredevil: Born Again. He’s lost none of the sheer aura he possessed back in the original Daredevil show, and I find myself on the edge of my seat just listening to him speak.
I’m getting ahead of myself. Last week’s episodes left off with Matt taking a brutal stance against a pair of corrupt cops who were looking to ensure that Matt’s star witness in the Ayala/White Tiger case wouldn’t be able to testify. Most interestingly, he did this as himself—not Daredevil—revealing to these cops that he isn’t quite as disabled as he lets on.
The Trial of The White Tiger
This week, Hector Ayala’s case in its entirety is almost the sole focus of the episode. I initially thought that the show would stretch this storyline out for maximum suspense, but I’m not complaining that it took the fast-paced approach instead.
Everything about this storyline works because under the surface, it’s all about Matt. The stakes aren’t just Hector Ayala’s safety and freedom, they’re also Matt’s future safety and freedom because the more emotionally involved he gets in this case, the more we see him struggling with his decision to leave Daredevil behind.
When he tells Hector (Kamar de los Reyes. R.I.P.) that he might be surprised by how much he won’t miss being the vigilante White Tiger in the future, we get the distinct impression that he’s lying to himself. It’s up for debate, I suppose, but Matt has always seemed to like being Daredevil—maybe a little too much at times. The extra layer of subtext to almost every facet of this episode really makes it shine, even if I am missing the input of some secondary characters.
While the episode didn’t feel rushed exactly, I think there were some missed opportunities to slow down and get personal with Cherry (Clark Johnson), Kirsten (Nikki M. James), or Heather (Margarita Levieva). Matt’s current cast of supporting characters simply isn’t a patch on his old team, and while I can accept the shake-up, I need a lot more from these characters if the show is ever to reach the heights of the original Daredevil.
That said, it’s not like I had a bad time focusing only on Matt. The writers are handling him well and—as mentioned—giving him thematically resonant problems that overall made for a great, compelling episode.
It was also nice to see Matt acknowledge Foggy and how hard it is for him to discuss his once-partner. I was a little worried that what happened in episode one wouldn't be addressed properly, but it looks like Matt's taking some steps down the road to properly processing his grief.
Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) takes a backseat for most of this episode, which is fine. I love that his character is genuinely looking to leave his criminal past behind him. Same with the decision to make Vanessa (Ayelet Zurer) the one who keeps trying to pull him back into things. She’s come a long way from the early days of season one of Daredevil, but her position as de facto leader of Kingpin’s empire feels so right.
The push and pull between Wilson and Vanessa is so interesting for the same reason that Matt’s troubles with the White Tiger case is interesting—we know that at any moment, either could simply snap and return to their old, violent selves. Of course, none of this means that Wilson is a good man; his methods of staying in power are simply less illegal than they were before.
Spoilers and speculation ahead!
One of my favourite aspects of Daredevil: Born Again is how the writers are wordlessly conveying how The Punisher is perceived in modern-day New York City. His logo pops up as graffiti and—most often—tattooed on cops. I’m greatly looking forward to Frank Castle’s inevitable appearance on the show and his likely denouncement of cops who wear his symbol.
I think we can all agree that that wasn’t Frank at the end of the episode, though. Apart from Frank Castle not being the ‘execute vigilantes with a gun to the back of the head’ type, the fact that this “Punisher” had his face obscured means that this has to be a fake-out.
If I had to bet on who this really is, my money’s on Officer Powell (Hamish Allan-Headley), one of the two cops who knows that Matt Murdock isn’t all he seems to be, and who also had a Punisher tattoo on his wrist.
Seriously, more possible spoilers ahead.
I’d even go as far as to say that Powell could play a major role in Matt’s future, if my instincts are correct. As previously established, the show is taking elements from Brian Michael Bendis’ run on the Daredevil comics—specifically the trial of the White Tiger. But later in Bendis’ run, Matt has his identity revealed to the press by an FBI agent with a grudge.
This is pure speculation, but I can totally see Powell playing the role of this FBI agent. He’s already got some of the pieces of the puzzle after all, and if Matt ever winds up facing off against him in his Daredevil persona… Let’s just say that Matt’s secret identity is often referred to as one of superhero-dom’s worst-kept secret, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Daredevil: Born Again decided to work this into things.
Even more possible spoilers ahead, okay?
In the comics, the fallout of Matt’s identity being leaked to the press results in him denying everything, going so far as to hire ‘bodyguards’ to protect him from any villainous elements that might try to hurt poor blind Matt Murdock. These bodyguards are none other than Luke Cage and Jessica Jones… and you can see what I’m thinking here.
Overall, I’m delighted with the quality the show. It feels somewhat unfair to compare Daredevil: Born Again to other live-action Marvel Television shows, but—as much as I enjoyed some of them—this is simply the best series that they’ve put out to date. I certainly can’t remember the last time I was looking forward to a weekly T.V. show, anyway.
Of course, I might—might—be a teeny bit biased.
Thanks for reading my review of Daredevil: Born Again episode three, "The Hollow of His Hand". If you liked it, consider checking out my wishlist or buying me a cup of coffee at https://ko-fi.com/kieranobrien or below.