Sheka: Week 4

 The Man Without Fear

Like most of you, I’m sure, I am a big fan of superhero movies and TV shows. What’s not to like? Most superhero movies are full of snarky humor, good fight scenes, and an incredible set design, all of which make them so fun to watch. Superhero fiction is largely defined by larger than life characters and oodles of fantastical elements, but by far, my favourite superhero stories are the ones that are more grounded in reality, with flawed and human main characters, such as the Netflix series Daredevil. 

For those of you that are not familiar with the series, Daredevil follows Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer practicing out of Hell’s Kitchen, New York. By day, he’s a defense attorney who looks out for the little guy. By night, he’s a vigilante who takes on the mob and defends his city. One of his defining characteristics is that he’s more ‘grounded’ than other superheroes. He can’t leap tall buildings in a single bound, or lift a car over his head; all he has are four enhanced senses and echolocation. In addition to taking on the mob and hordes of ninjas, he worries about keeping his law practice afloat and maintaining his personal relationships. He also struggles to reconcile his behaviour with his religious beliefs and his faith in the law, which is a really interesting take we don't see too often in superhero fiction, or even in action movies where the protagonist has to break the law. 

All the other characters surrounding him are no less developed and interesting, which in it of itself is uncommon in a lot of superhero stories. Usually, their friends and family are only there to add to the hero’s emotional journey, but the supporting characters in Daredevil don’t. The villains have it even worse; they tend to be one-note, with weak motivations and rarely make it past one season or one movie. Meanwhile, Daredevil has some of the best, most complex antagonists I’ve ever seen in a superhero story. I can’t really give specific examples, because this is definitely a show that can be spoiled, but trust me: this show is worth it. 

Unfortunately, the show was canceled in 2018, but all three seasons are still on Netflix. If you like action but think that superhero stories are too derivative or not complex enough, Daredevil is the perfect show for you to watch.