The first season of this drama introduced a new ensemble surrounding Matt Murdoch and Wilson Fisk. Yet the most engaging moments occurred with the characters from the original Netflix series. The creative team wanted to do a reboot. It just didn't work. That resulted in a season without much consistency. It culminated in Mayor Fisk declaring martial law over New York City. All vigilantes are deemed illegal. Matt had to rely on allies in order to expose Fisk for who he truly is. It was a statement that the second season would be much more focused. It takes a big creative swing right away with Matt and Karen Page in a relationship while in hiding. They are being hunted by Fisk's anti-vigilante task force. They still find ways to oppose him. They will forever be connected due to Foggy's murder. They are still traumatized by that loss. Karen admits she thinks about her friend and the bond they had every day. Matt obviously does as well. He struggles to express himself. He's more comfortable getting into fights and creating new complications for Fisk's operation. Nevertheless, Fisk possesses a powerful outlet to shape the public narrative. He deems a capsized cargo ship as a terrorist attack. Daredevil was responsible. He's the city's most wanted criminal. He won't stop until Daredevil has been eliminated.
Matt and Fisk have gone back and forth for a decade. They are constantly trading blows. It still resulted in Fisk being elected mayor of the city. He wields so much power now. He doesn't even have to worry about oversight from the New York Attorney General. A mysterious newcomer, Mr. Charles, comes in and immediately flexes his own power. He handles logistics. He comes to an understanding with Fisk and Vanessa. They can mutually benefit from this arrangement. It all hinges on why Fisk was smuggling weapons into the city. The season opens with an average citizen declaring the city is back. It's all propaganda to uplift Fisk's Safer Streets Initiative. BB endears herself to the mayor and his city officials. She wants to expose him for killing her uncle. Karen knows the truth. When they meet up, it's not as emotionally resonate as it should be. Karen remains haunted by what happened to Ben. He died protecting her. She doesn't want BB to meet the same fate. They have to be careful with their actions. Their meeting mostly shows that they are aligned. It lacks the power of paying off what previously occurred. The show needs to remember its history. It's still too caught up in tangling with the various developments that occurred under the previous creative team.
Cherry seemingly dies from a heart attack after being assaulted by the AVTF. Matt arrives to save him. Hearing his heart slow down only triggers memories of Foggy. Matt's identity is protected because Bullseye was apparently watching as well. Matt and Fisk aren't nearly as powerful and indestructible as they are frequently positioned as. They make mistakes. They always find a way to survive. That's been their central story. This conflict will always continue. Matt refuses to kill. He needs to believe the system will punish Fisk for his crimes. He has to believe that. It's the only way he can make sense of the world. Yet he would have been killed if not for Bullseye's actions. He's saved by someone who has no qualms about killing. Matt may not have even been able to save his friend. All of this will obviously weigh heavily on Matt. His position shows how powerless he can still be. Heather and Hochberg are willing to twist the respectability of their professions to deliver what Fisk wants. Of course, their involvement - plus so many others - highlights how the ensemble remains overstuffed. It never has the adequate time to focus on what truly matters. An attempt at streamlining only really occurs if Cherry dies. That provides stakes while trimming some of the more extraneous elements. The show is still a work in progress with this premiere. It serves as commentary for how brutal this kind of limitless power can be. That's pretty transparent. It also must be a spotlight on the forces willing to stand up and restore a true sense of honor no matter what.
