Arguably this is the pinnacle season, with the conclusion of the Defenders all the principle characters have continued a three season arc that have left them no where even remotely to the resembled characters they once where in the first season. All are much more self aware of who they are , the environment in which they live and the conflict they find growing from within and around them. Most importantly its the show's star Charlie Cox who shines the brightest here having to portray and deliver scenes with sometimes no dialogue or just an off-sided glare to convey the most subtle current of emotion or a tide of the story. The bases of Daredevil has been about justice, a lawyer by day, vigilante by night, all to protect the people's of hells kitchen, in a bid to do god's work. The rule is simple thou shall not murder, while preventing others to covet illegal criminal actions.
Daredevil himself as said by Wilson Fisk in Season One, over a walkie talkie conversation, and echoed more profoundly by Punisher over the rooftops in Season Two. Daredevil is seen has a half measure, his crusade lacks the conviction to do what is really necessary to affect real and lasting change. Matt himself battles with his faith over what can be done; the straight line is not always the easiest path, to paraphrase a statement Matt gave in an opening arguments is an earlier season court case. The events of Defenders has left Matt Murdock the loss of hearing in one ear and a tremendous build up of blood and sot in his sinuses, to render all his unique sensory gifts null and void. Matt no longer serves God, unlike the biblical character of Job, who as a loyal follower went above and beyond in his devotion and love for god, and in return god tested his faithful servant to unspeakable depths. Matt a soldier of god feels abandoned, and now who only serves Daredevil as he removes all contact and association to those he has loved, and plans to die as the Devil of Hell's kitchen than live another day in the life of Matthew Murdock.
Season three introduces us to Sister Maggie and re-establishes Matt's ties to Father Lantom; we see Matt's return to his black outfit. Conversely we met a new Daredevil of hell's kitchen in the red suit, but this devil is devoid of Catholicism, the rule of law, and remorse. We see how daredevil would be if he was released by the very things that kept him in check. Matt who is back in black, which is also a state of mind, fights that duality both metaphorically and physically. His sanity comes into question as the devil on his shoulder comes in the form of Wilson Fisk dressed in white to remind him of his failures. Karen faces the sins of her family's past, and Foggy goes back home to save the family business and carve out his future as dignified lawyer.
The spectre of Ben Urich still exists at the New York Bulletin surrounding Ellison and Karen as the power of will to seek the truth and tell the story. Karen and Foggy now know the truth about Daredevil going into the start of the third season, and how they've continued down the righteous path though beset on all side by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. A good man like Agent Nadeem can be corrupted, a troubled man like Agent Pointdexter can be coerced into a dark reality, an upstanding citizen like Vanessa Marianna can be seduced by the Power of Fisk, A lawyer like Benjamin Donovan can protect the morally reprehensible at the right price, a simple man like Melvin Potter will destroy his own life from betrayal, and a lawyer Marci Stahl will walk away from hers at a crisis of faith.
Its a strong recommend to read Frank Miller's " Man without Fear" followed by "Born Again", after watching all three seasons of Daredevil to fill in some blanks not necessarily realized in the telling of these stories and providing more insight into characters like Sister Maggie who offer a pivotal revelation in Matt's life.
A good compelling hero will need an equally compelling villain, a classic example would be Batman vs Joker. Danny Rand has the Hand a sworn enemy of the Iron Fist. The second season wisely left the hand behind and focused on the conflict more closely related to Danny Rand.
What did we learn about these villains known as the Hand, They are 5 clans of Ninjas all original descendants of K'un-Lun, Obsessed with maintaining there secrets of immortality through a blood ritual. Immortality is in fact finite without the bones of a dragon, the same dragon that gave Danny his Chi power. Their blades and arrow tips are laced with poison and yet it is not consistent on all their weapons. Their leader was dying and the last elixir was given to Elektra over herself, because her body was ravaged with ailments that no blood ritual could save after all these centuries ? ?
Season 2 went back to the conflict of Davos and Danny, Similarly to a Jedi who are not allowed to have emotional interests, Davos and Danny are mentally unstable because of their training to remove emotions, Anakin massacred an entire race in his confession to Padme as his bottled emotions got the best of him, Davos exhibits bizarre tantrums, he demands what is owed to him, an earned privileged through his faith and dedications. Joy Meachum was lied too by every person she thought was family both living and dead.
So the plot of season 2 is steal the power of the Iron fist and syphon the wealth from both Danny Rand and Ward Meachum.
There is no Joker here, but we have Mary Walker, a woman with 2 separate personalities one is more aware over the other and brings an arsenal of pain and problems for Danny and his friends. The character is Typhoid Mary in the comic books; a very well documented character within the Daredevil comics, and recently a loyal servant to kingpin in the king in black crossover event within the comic books.
Mary played by British actress Alice Eve brings a welcome change to the current cast, and with a level of uncertainty as the character is unpredictable, as she is caught between being either victim or perpetrator. The character's exit from the season is unfulfilling and has no lasting marks on the story, but her presence gives us the viewer an added investment, from the trivial bickering between siblings and an out of place monk. As the show concludes with Danny now wielding two Chi revolvers that fire Chi bullets, both he and Ward Meachum walk the earth - away from their life in New York in search of an Indiana Jones adventure.
If Jessica Jones season 2 is about fighting the monsters within, then the second season of Luke Cage is about the monsters that live in your neighborhood. Luke once again needs to contend with gang factions looming around Harlem, while putting out the many fires that come this season. Including coming to grip with the union of Mariah Dillard & Shades, his personal life, and the threat of Bushmaster.
After the events of the first Season, Mariah Dillard and Shades have remained at Harlem's Paradise thriving in Luke's absence in prison and abroad with the Defenders. Mariah is seen as a public servant and looks to solidify her name with a foundation in her family's name with her estrange daughter to run it. Shades and his right hand Comanche have been rebuilding in the absence of Cottonmouth with Mariah as their new queen. The attempts made by Luke with or without the law to remove Mariah has proven to be radically difficult, with gangs and mob organizations looking to increase crime and corruption at any sign of a power vacuum.
After defeating his half brother Willis Stryker aka Diamondback; reconciling with his father in light of his infidelity, and absences in Carl Lucas's life seems to be a bitter pill for Luke Cage. His current girlfriend Claire Temple, going behind his back to connect with his father, and pushing on to him the moniker of Hero of Harlem, and finding his purpose puts an unnecessary strain in their relationship. DW an entrepreneur who created an App, and financially making gains on Luke's heroics is also profiting from Luke's fall from grace as he is defeated by bushmaster on their first encounter which has gone viral.
Bushmaster who harbors a deep history with Mariah and her family's lineage, and who only want to see her burn, along with her family home. Has put Luke torn between protecting the enemy he absolutely despise from a more powerful and dangerous threat in Bushmaster who has acquired and heads rival gangs to move onto Mariah and Shades' territory.
To save Harlem, Luke most assume the role of sheriff to keep all the gang factions at bay and in check, but to paraphrase a Christopher Nolan movie. Luke Cage now runs the risk of living long enough as the Hero of Harlem only to see himself to become it's villain.
Jessica Jones Season 2 is a metaphoric example of going two steps forward and one step back. After taking control of her life and facing her fear by defeating Kilgrave. Jessica Jones, became an unwilling member of the Defenders, and is now seeing dividends on the positive press. The season centers around the origin of her powers, uncovering her biological family, and shaping the projected destiny of her closest friends.
With Kilgrave gone and the Defenders defeating 'The Hand', Alias Investigations has been seeing a slight increase of phone calls looking for Jones' services. Right out of the gate, the season opens up with her adopted sister, child star Trish Walker, uncovering some medical documents leading to the mysterious day of Jessica's Family Car accident. Trish's aggressive nature to uncover the truth risks reconnecting with Dorothy her toxic showbiz mom to learn the name of the corporation behind Jessica's powers. The mysterious IGH, a company that also has ties with the origin of Luke Cage's powers.
The show answers the question of how; her miraculous recovery from the car accident unharmed happened, who were the Physician and nurses behind Jessica's recovery. Then the shocking reveal that she was not the only one who survived the accident and the terrible toll it has taken. While this serves as the primary storyline, Jones' co-stars get very meaty storyline journeys, Jeri Hogarth, one of the founding partners of a large legal firm, and Jessica's main client for a revenue stream. Has been diagnosed with ALS, The diagnosis slowly creeps into Jeri's sense of control and dealings as she tries move forward without change. Malcolm Ducasse, Jessica's only employee gets enticed to join a rival detective agency and begins to straddle the line between ethics for himself on both personal and professional level.
Trish Walker's ex-boyfriend former NYPD officer Will Simpson has been shadowing Trish, and inadvertently re-exposed Trish to an experimental performance drug. Trish who was a recovering addict, comes to a crossroads, to work in the framework of how she sees Jessica Jones, being a person destined to become a hero; who wants to make a difference while subconsciously seeking recognition. Or continue down a dark path that sees her righteous convictions upending her established life, and causing physical harm to those around her.
The second season does not introduced a new super villain, but explores the trauma of what created Jessica Jones, by both personally shaping the woman she unknowingly becomes, and providing a truth of her physically powered gifts. We take a step back and learn how it all began, and then head towards a darker journey with no certain guarantee of a real happy ending.
