It's been said that Marvel rules over cinema and DC rules over TV series. While Marvel has a couple lighthearted series of their own, Daredevil is their first appropriate contender and he is significantly different than any before him. This series is equally a noir thriller as it's a superhero story. Daredevil is exceptionally dark on all aspects, both story and action. While it is debatable whether it can dethrone DC, one thing for sure; Daredevil has the best action choreography of any series.
Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) is a lawyer at day and vigilante at night, he's pretty much full time blind servant of justice. Story focuses on his early days when Murdock isn't exactly the Daredevil yet, a good indication of this is the makeshift outfit. I guess when Murdock is just starting his law firm, he can't afford glass casing for his hood, although he already has several superhuman attributes.
Comparison could be make with Ben Affleck's performance more than a decade ago, but Charlie Cox looks pretty menacingly formidable as Daredevil. Casting is suitable for first episode, the actors might need time to settle in, and the audience to be familiar with them, but Charlie Cox might just handle the role admirably.
Visual is in constant bleakness with occasional gleam of slightly more vibrant color, it almost resembles a stylish comic book portrayal of Murdock's sense. The use of shadow is overwhelming, creating contrast in just about any room the characters are in. The screenplay has slow yet intense pace, it focuses on a few characters and develops them nicely with clever script.
Surprisingly, the bulk of the episode is investigation. This creates a deeper connection between the characters. I must admit after watching DC series the change of pace is bizarre at first, but I find it very fascinating. When the action starts, Daredevil is leagues above the rest. It offers high level of fighting sequences, brutal flesh collision with each punches and kicks and the camera takes every visual advantage of it. It's worth checking Daredevil solely for the action scenes.
This is not your ordinary superhero series. It's unapologetically gritty and bloody, while that might not be as accessible as previous Marvel series, Daredevil is a legitimate powerhouse and the best masked man Marvel has to offer yet.
