Daredevil Episode Five Review: World on Fire

[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]

 

  

"World on Fire" Daredevil's fifth episode, is far more literal than it sounds. By the end of the episode, there will be fire, both figurative and literal, burning down Hell's Kitchen, while endangering Matt and his friends along the way. Through it all, "World on Fire" continues the show's hot streak. You won't remember this episode as much as the last four (other than the ending and an excellent scene in the first act), but blame that on the quality of the episodes that came before. And seriously, how are you supposed to top an episode where the main villain kills a character by decapitating him via car door? Only Heroes would foolishly repeat something like that in the next episode.

Wilson Fisk is having problems; a man in black (Matt's vigilante name thus far), a bad first date and killing one of the Russian brothers (Gideon Emery) will do that. So what does Fisk do? Start a war between Murdock and the Russians (who already hated each other anyway) by blaming Matt for the death Fisk caused. He also gives it another go with Vanessa, and you'll be surprised to see how she reacts to Fisk's day job. Elsewhere, Matt and Foggy take on the case of an elderly woman (Judith Delgado) who is being forced out her home by a slumlord connected to Fisk. Claire, while staying at Matt as she recovers from last episode's kidnapping, sees sparks fly between her and our distant protagonist. And the remaining Russian brother Vladimir (Nikolai Nikolaeff) sets out to avenge his brother's death, unaware that he is targeting the wrong man.

"World on Fire", if nothing else, introduces two aspects into Daredevil we haven't yet seen. The first is introducing Delgado's character, an arc that surprisingly has legs throughout the rest of the season. It also allows Foggy and Karen to have something to do for the next few episodes, as the characters fade out a bit as the action picks up. Secondly, the show makes Vanessa aware of Fisk's criminal activities, and also makes her okay with them. This is a big, BIG change from the comics, where Vanessa is at first unaware of Fisk's ways and ultimately is repulsed when she learns them. The change is welcome, as it helps humanize Fisk even more, and also gives him something that is both a strength and weakness for him going forward. And who can complain really? Each time Vincent D'Onofrio and Ayelet Zurer share the screen is a delight, a contrast to the potential romance between Claire and Matt that's introduced here. Whether it's the writing or the acting by Charlie Cox and Rosario Dawson, that development just doesn't feel right, though that could be the comic book fan in me.

Still a better love story than Twilight

Much like it's predacessors, "World on Fire" contains some absolutely dynamite scenes, though most are at the beginning. One that continues to stick out to me is a scene where one of Madam Gao's (Wai Ching Ho) drug runners waits in a car, singing a song in Mandarin. It's merely used to build up to Matt coming in to take out the Russian gangsters that are there, but the scene is surprisingly chilling, the kind of throwaway shot that sticks with you. There's a nice scene soon after where Matt's senses pick up a large amount of police corruption going on in the interrogation room ("World on Fire" is the first episode to give us a greater glimpse of how Matt's abilities through his eyes, although is sonar vision scene is more ordinary than you might expect). The money scene however...well, you'll just have to wait for the next review to find out. Let's just say the ending represents the more literal part of the title.

Not much to report on the cast here. All the regulars perform to their normal standards, though the focus here is more towards Matt, Fisk, Vanessa and Vladimir than anyone else. Notable highlights include any scene between Fisk and Vanessa (as already mentioned), the scenes between Fisk and Wesley (quietly, Daredevil has done an excellent job at establishing those two as not just associates, but great friends) and anything involving Vladimir. I'll have more to say about Nikolai Nikolaeff in the next review, but it's worth pointing out that he has been excellent up to this point. Vladimir could've easily been lost in the shuffle in the hands of another actor, but Nikolaeff turns him into someone memorable. Yet another win for the Daredevil casting team. 

Nikolai Nikolaeff as Vladimir

Bottom Line: After four strong episodes, "World on Fire" represents the least of what Daredevil has to offer thus far, coming across more as a breather episode than a major one. Still, everyone from the cast to crew (writer Luke Kalteux and director Farren Blackburn among others) is game, some interesting elements are introduced, and the episode's great ending sets us up for the excellent follow up episode, "Condemned".

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The Year of Tebow: Take Two

I hate the National Football League. I know, I might be the only person left in America who cannot stand it's most popular sport. And yet I do; after having been a fan all of my life, the diminishing quality of the on field product (in my opinion), the lack of caring towards players and fans and Roger Goodell leading the league the same way Leonardo DiCaprio ran France in Man in the Iron Mask drove me to the point where I watched only five games this past year. Hell, even before I stopped watching regularly, I can't say I enjoyed football the same I did as a kid. The last time the sport really had me invested the same way baseball, hockey and basketball have me invested now was the 2011-12 season. Or as I like to call it, the Year of Tebow.

Ah yes, Tim Tebow. For those who have either forgotten or not watched ESPN First Take recently, 2011 was the year the former Heisman Trophy winner took the NFL by storm and became the most polarizing sports figure since Mike Tyson. Taking over a 1-4 Denver Broncos team, Tebow inexplicably led the team to the playoffs, and even more inexplicably led them to a playoff victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers (if football had a Miracle on Ice moment, this was it). That wouldn't normally be that polarizing, except that Tebow's statistics were Wilson Fisk levels of bad, leading to weeks and weeks on end of analysts' either staunchly supporting his leadership and intangibles (Skip Bayless, Skip Bayless, and Skip Bayless again) or crying out about his poor mechanics and throwing motion, while calling his victories flukes (basically every analyst not named Skip Bayless). Add that to Tebow openly professing his religious beliefs (him kneeling down in prayer became a phenomenon known as Tebowing), and the dude suddenly became the hottest topic in sports. For some, it was annoying. For some, it was entertaining. For me, it was epic.

I'll make no bones about it; I was a Tebow supporter. His greatness and his flaws that year made for as captivating a story as sports has ever seen, and I am always one to gravitate towards such stories. The highs of Tebow's run were legendary, the kind of improbable victories that some of his vastly superior peers have never come close to achieving. The lows were equally legendary, a sort of record setting exposure that sent Tebow's supporters into free fall and his detractors cackling with glee. In a way, Tebow during that year always resembled a baseball player that year more than an NFL quarterback. As much as football has come to dominate sports in America, there is still a mythical quality about baseball and the feats of the players in that sport that separate it from everything else. In baseball, the best player in the game can become a pariah with one bad decision, while the last man on the roster can become a hero with one pitch, one swing of the bat. Those qualities lived in Tim Tebow that year, as if he were the Roy Hobbs of football. Hell, even years later, the closest comparison I can find to Tebow would be last years Kansas City Royals squad that came within one Madison Bumgardner masterpiece away from a World Series. Both the Royals and Tebow weren't supposed to ever achieve great things, but through hard work, belief, grit and glory, success came their way against all odds. Perhaps Tebow chose the wrong sport.

Sadly, the Yankees probably would sign Tebow right now

Of course, the Royals had a chance to follow up on their success, a chance to prove they weren't a one year wonder (for those who don't know, they're off to a good start). Tebow never got that chance; his miracle run ended after the first act when the Broncos signed Peyton Manning during the offseason (and rightfully so may I add. It's Peyton Manning). He was then shipped off to the Jets, who in a typical Jets move screwed up. I don't know whether Rex Ryan and company had no idea how to use Tebow, whether they never wanted Tebow to begin with (which begs the question of why they traded for him in the first place) or if it was a combination of the two, but Tebow never got a chance with the Jets and was quietly canned in the offseason. The New England Patriots gave him a shot that offseason, but would release Tebow before the season. He soon settled into an analyst job for ESPN (covering college football), and, like many, I assumed his football career was over, another victim to the NFL's blackball list (which is sadly pretty large. I'm not the only one who finds it odd that the NFL excludes anything that's different from their bizarro world norm, right?).

Well, it's not over. Yesterday, the NFL's most bizarre (and according to Stephen A. Smith, racist) team, the Philadelphia Eagles, signed Tebow to a one year deal. Why? Like Christopher Walken, "I DON'T KNOW!". Every move Chip Kelly has made this offseason has ranged from strange to ludicrous to "you did what?!"; frankly, Tebow's signing is likely one of the more tame moves the former Oregon head coach has made. Never the less, he's made it, and now Tebow will get one more chance for that second act, battling for a job in the QB rotation that includes Sam "Mr. Glass" Bradford, Tebow's old buddy from the Jets Mark Sanchez (who at this point has to think Tebow is haunting him), G.J. Kinne (WHO?!) and former USC star Matt Barkley. Already, Tebow's return has caused an uproar; Skip Bayless looks like a kid in a candy store on the First Take set, message boards are being filled up with debates on Tebow's religious beliefs, and ESPN analysts from Mark Schlereth to Merril Hoge are likely burning pictures of Tebow while on their way to dissecting his game for the 9,000th time. You'd think the circus was back in town, which for all intents and purposes, it is. And I couldn't be more excited. Well I could I guess, if I was Skip Bayless.

Bayless' reaction to Tebow signing

 That's not to say I'm not a realist. The chance of Tebow making the Eagles roster are iffy at best, borderline insane at worst. Even with physically (and emotionally) fragile QB's like Bradford and Sanchez ahead of him, Tebow's baggage and his limitations will make it difficult for him to latch on, unless he has improved drastically as his QB coach Tom House keeps claiming (and as much as I'd like to buy that, I'll believe it when I see it). That said, there's at least a chance, as the old Dumb and Dumber saying goes. And really, what else does there need to be? Fans, detractors, and the annoyed people in the middle know what they're getting from Tim Tebow; a flawed performer with incredible leadership intangibles and a will to just keep going. It's the reason he's even getting this opportunity in the first place and the reason the media and fans like myself are still drawn to him. Can he keep going here? I have no idea, but I'm happy that we all have the chance to find out. Because like a sequel to Blade Runner, I didn't think we were going to get that.

So let the over the top media coverage, overrated/underrated talk, religious debates, Skip Bayless orgasms and Chip Kelly conspiracy theories begin! Tim Tebow is back. And for the first time in what feels like forever, this sports fan is interested in what the NFL does with it.

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Daredevil Episode 4 Review: In the Blood

[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.

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Daredevil Episode 3 Review: Rabbit in a Snow Storm

[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]

While not as epic as the first two episodes, "Rabbit in a Snow Storm" continues the trend of settling Daredevil into a nice groove. Plot is moved forward, heads are bashed in by bowling balls, a courtroom is seen for the first (and only) time in season one, and most importantly, we finally get a glimpse of Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio). So what if it's literally just a glimpse? That's more than Guns N Roses has given us in the past two decades!

When it goes, it goes

The most unique aspect of "Rabbit in a Snow Storm" is the fact that we finally get to see Matt and Foggy in action, and not in the way you expect. The best friends team up here to defend John Healy (Alex Morf), a low life thug who is on trial for murder a mobster. What makes it unique? The guy is definitely guilty, the type of defendant Matt and Foggy generally do not take on as a client. The further the case goes though, the closer Matt comes to finding out who is behind Healy's motives and the man who hired them to defend him (Toby Leonard Moore's Wesley). Elsewhere, Karen Page continues to cope with the events of episode one, and must decide whether or not she can accept an offer to keep quiet about what's happened to her. Oh, and long time Daredevil character Ben Urich (Vondie-Curtis Hall) finally appears, talking to former mobsters on the docks and wondering what the hell has happened to the newspaper business. What, you thought Fisk was the only character that could debut here?

With Drew Goddard tenure having ended after episode two, "Rabbit in a Snow Storm" marks the beginning of Steven DeKnight's tenure as showrunner. For the most part, the transition is seamless, although writer Marco Ramirez and director Adam Kane don't pack the same punch Goddard and Phil Abraham did in the first two episodes. What they and DeKnight do however is keep the ship steady, introduce some new players to the table and give us something we haven't seen yet in watching Matt and Foggy in action during trial. The court scenes aren't revolutionary, but they are well done, and Matt's closing argument is a grade A piece of writing. That scene and a gruesome headbutt to a wooden stake serve as the non Fisk highlights of the episode. 

Murdock and Foggy in action

More than anything, this episode serves as the point where Matt and Foggy revert to the background a tad while other characters take center stage. There's nothing wrong with that however, and Charlie Cox and Elden Hensen continue to hit all the right beats and deliver whenever they are on screen. Those two taking backseat allows Deborah Ann Woll to continue her strong work as Karen Page. After spending two episodes presenting her as a victim, Daredevil uses that to turn Karen into a crusader come the end of this episode, and Woll flawlessly handles the transition. You get the sense that she's a potential star in the making. I'd be remissed too if I didn't mention Toby Leonard Moore, who's creepy, unnerving Wesley steals scenes throughout the episode (much like he did in "Into the Ring"), all while continuing to reinvent a character that appears to be nothing more than a meek assistant in the comics.

As for the newcomers, Ben Urich is given the most screen time. Presented as a man whose place in news is no longer relevant (the struggle of the newspaper journalist), Urich is a man who has both seen better days professionally and personally, and veteran actor Hall captures that brilliantly with a face that seems like it's seen a lot. Yet another gem in regards to the shows casting. As for Fisk, the long awaited appearance doesn't give us much to go on, as D'Onofrio has less than two minutes onscreen. The only thing we can critique is the appearance, and admittedly, D'Onofrio definitely looks the part of Daredevil's greatest enemy. He comes off as a cross between King Kong Bundy and an older, bulkier Brock Lesnar.

A young Wilson Fisk

Bottom Line: A transition episode that begins the DeKnight era, "Rabbit in a Snow Storm" continues Daredevil's excellent run, even if it doesn't pack the same punch as episodes one and two. It moves characters forward, gives a glimpse at Matt and Foggy's skill at their job, and introduces two characters who will have a major impact going forward. Overall, another hit.

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