[note: This review attempts to contain as little spoilers
as possible. However, potential spoilers and plot points may come up. If you
haven't seen Daredevil yet, read at your own risk]
Get ready to be
happy Kingpin fans! After a three episode wait, Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio)
finally takes center stage in "In the Blood", Daredevil's fourth
episode and second best overall behind "Cut Man." Packed with yet
another awesome third act fight scene and the most violent conclusion the show
has seen yet, "In the Blood" may be Daredevil's most brutal episode
in the early stages. It's also the most thoughtful, finally giving us a glimpse
into the soul of our protagonists' ultimate enemy, and the results are not what
you'd expect. And you thought Fisk picking out art at the end of the last
episode was a surprise!
Like "Cut
Man", "In the Blood" has a lot going on. Karen Page, having
decided to fight against the people who tried to silence here, approaches Ben
Urich for help, though he's skeptical of her story. There's a renewed (and
welcome) focus on the Russian brothers from the first episode (Nikolai
Nikolaeff and Gideon Emery), as we see how they went from a Siberian
prison to crime lords who kidnap Claire Temple to draw out our hero. And
finally and most importantly, there's Fisk, who spends his first lengthy
appearance on the show trying to control the Russians, all while trying to
romance an art gallery director named Vanessa (Man of Steel's Ayelet Zurer). Who
says crime bosses can't have a private, sensitive side?
 |
| Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk |
Many TV shows have done episodes where the focus has been
more on the antagonist than the hero. In fact, The X-Files (one of my favorite
shows of all time) has one of the best villain focused episodes ever in "Musings
of a Cigarette Smoking Man", which basically forgot Fox Mulder and Dana
Scully existed in favor of following the supposed life of the villainous Smoking
Man (I still can't believe how much he hated the Buffalo Bills!). "In the
Blood" isn't quite on the level of that episode (one of the most unique of
its time), but it's still an excellent piece of work from writer Joe Pakaski
and director Ken Girotti. It would've been really easy to go the traditional
route and make Wilson Fisk a typical mad man villain. Instead, they present him
as a man of culture, ideals, and dare I say kindness. Deep down, Wilson Fisk
may in fact not be a bad guy in this Marvel Universe, though he's certainly not
the avenging angel he seems to believe he is. Look no further than the end of
the episode, involving a head and a car door, as proof.
This isn't just a strictly Fisk related episode however. Those
who have enjoyed Matt Murdock's gritty, balls to the wall fights the first
three episodes will get more of that here in a one sided parking lot brawl. There's
more of Rosario Dawson's Claire Temple, and the veteran actress has improved
greatly since "Cut Man", her chemistry with Charlie Cox lighting up
their scenes together. Most crucial of
the non Fisk/Russian plots however is the developing Karen/Ben alliance. The
two make a good, albeit uneasy team, and comic book fans will love Ben bringing
up Karen's past early in the episode. While Karen, both in the show and comics,
has the look of a kind, innocent girl, it's becoming clear there is a darkness
beneath the surface that we've yet to see. Woll, as usual, excels at bringing
out these layers.
So what of D'Onofrio as Fisk? Simply put, the always
underrated actor delivers what he hoped for; the defining portrayal of the
Wilson Fisk character. D'Onofrio strikes all the right notes; he is at times an
imposing brute, a thoughtful crusader and, believe it or not, a shy romantic. With
the exception of the parking lot brawl, every major highlight from this episode
comes from D'Onofrio, whether it's his innocent dinner scene with Zurer
(equally up to the task as Vanessa) or the brutal final scene that shows the
monster within. I've often lauded the casting of this show in the first few
reviews, especially the choices to have Charlie Cox and Deborah Ann Woll as
Matt and Karen respectively. D'Onofrio was by far the best casting choice made
however, and the show from this point is better because of his involvement.
Hopefully, Daredevil gets him more work going forward.
 |
| Ayelet Zurer is excellent as Vanessa, Wilson Fisk's love interst |
Bottom Line: "In the Blood" serves as both the official
arrival of Wilson Fisk and the first home run for Daredevil during Steven
DeKnight's tenure as showrunner. It's a brutal, thoughtful and romantic episode,
providing us with evidence that our hero and villain may not be as different as
we're to believe. The stakes have been raised.
Please change disks to
continue...
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