I was intensely curious about this series, given that it was made without as much hype as some other projects I’ve seen. I was, and am, a fan of Daredevil, how the character, which was yet another Batman knockoff originally, grew into its own, and how the comic intentionally ignored the “big” stories, focusing on Daredevil’s struggle to keep peace in Hell’s Kitchen, at least for the most part. The transformation of Daredevil from a Batman/Spiderman hybrid can be credited to comicbook icon Frank Miller, who introduced the idea that Matt Murdock was more than just his powers, but was also trained to use it by, bear with me here, ninjas. The idea worked, however, and gave room for Miller to explore the history of Murdock as well, deepening the story of Matt’s father, Battlin’ Jack, who becomes such an inspiration to Matt.

The show, thankfully, keeps that spirit alive. It’s a show that feels small, and rightfully so, since Murdock moves in such a small geographic space. It also allows the audience to get to know Matt and Foggy, since this version of them introduces them as newly minted lawyers, struggling to make a name for themselves. Charlie Cox and Elden Henson do an excellent job here as Murdock and Nelson respectively, with Henson in particular nailing the nuance that is required out of Foggy as Murdock’s foil. Cox is likewise charming as Murdock/Daredevil, pulling off the blindness while also always hinting that there is more to Murdock than just his disability. Deborah Ann Woll’s Karen Page was also an excellent character, showcasing vulnerability and strength from the get go. It will be interesting, given Karen’s fate in the comics, to see where she goes in the series.

Just as good are the villains of the piece, since they do highlight just how large a challenge Murdock faces. The story of the series is actually the story of both Daredevil and the Kingpin, the villain who would become Daredevil’s nemesis. Vincent D’ Onofrio is pitch perfect as the Kingpin, Wilson Fisk. His physical appearance is matched by a very well constructed performance, of a man who is always at the brink of exploding into bursts of incredibly brutal violence. Toby Leonard Moore’s James Weasley is particularly noteworthy, because of his position as Fisk’s right hand man, he often is as terrifying as Fisk himself.

There is plenty to say about the series. It’s clever, as it allows both Fisk and Murdock to evolve throughout the season; they aren’t the characters in the comics yet, but they will be. Murdock’s uniform evolves throughout the season, ending, of course, with the final costume. Fisk’s evolution is more emotional, as he struggles between who he is and who he thinks he is. The action scenes are well crafted, showcasing Daredevil’s skills and the fact that, in the end, it’s just a guy in a mask. Daredevil gets winded and hurt a lot; in fact, this becomes a major plot point later on. It also makes a point to say that it’s not just Daredevil alone who is fighting the good fight; he can’t do it alone, especially with the sheer resources Fisk has at his disposal.

If there is  a quibble I’d have about the series, it’s that they seem to be downplaying Daredevil’s abilities. It would be nice to have more shots where we see things from Matt Murdock’s point of view, the way it is done in the comics. Also, the dialogue can, at times, get long winded, especially when it’s Fisk doing the talking. I don’t mind, since D’ Onofrio is just such a good actor, but it slows the show down a bit too much.

Overall, however, this was an excellent beginning. I can’t wait for the second season.