Martin Carr reviews the eighth episode of Daredevil season 3…
Rage, anger and fear represent three of the most powerful emotions either to mobilise, paralyze or isolate. Episode 8 not only dissects them, balances the deck for everyone and gives the ensemble something substantial to work with, but more importantly foreshadows a twist that will break your heart. There are no innocent parties left, no excuses or secrets off limits and some major players will come unstuck before the end.
Poindexter is unravelling haunted by his dead psychologist, scarred by moments of heinous over reaction and free falling without discipline or structure. Nadeem has isolated himself from family, friends and work colleagues as the truth of what he has set in motion becomes apparent. Franklin is empowered while Karen goes from scared and isolated straight for the lion’s den in a confrontation which proves pivotal. Bouncing between these two is Matt Murdock still channelling Catholic guilt, an ever present sense of self-doubt and his one man army ethos which is slowly crumbling.
Then there is Fisk who suffers a psychological breach of his opulence forcing emotion, repressed rage and vulnerability to surface. Between himself and Karen we get a scene of immense importance played out through glances, silences and moments of tangible threat. Meanwhile Franklin gets his time to shine before we enter that penthouse. It is reminiscent of the face off in season two when Murdock and Fisk first met. Such anger behind the eyes, caged strength beneath the good manners combined with those prison cell surroundings caught us off guard last time. Next to this Poindexter is an infant at play after reassurance and validation from a surrogate with ulterior motives and no emotional compass.
Left in free fall and with only Kingpin as his North Star Poindexter is mere days away from losing his identity and succumbing to the will of a tyrant. Murdock may have unwittingly put the final nail in his coffin but Fisk now holds all the cards. He may be mildly exposed but there are others with more to lose through making that happen. Amongst the fear and hatred, anger and recrimination which is coming to define season three of Daredevil, there seems little room for positive emotions. Only one person really stands in the face of all this pain and suffering but she is slowly losing that battle, as there are things to confess to for which there must be a reckoning.
Martin Carr
Originally published October 26, 2018. Updated January 8, 2019.
