Daredevil

[kerravonsen]

I'm gradually catching up on some tv/movie things. This time I thought I'd tackle Daredevil, the TV series.

(yes, actually, I think that random icon is fitting)

Daredevil has proven me wrong. I used to say that if one likes the characters, everything else doesn't matter. In Daredevil, I like the characters. I love Matt and Foggy and their friendship, that is so key. I like Karen Paige. I find the relationship between Wilson Fisk and Vanessa to be fascinatingly disturbing. BUT...

I watched the first five episodes of Season 1. And then I skipped to the last episode of Season 1, and I felt as if I hadn't missed much. Or, at least, what I'd missed was not something I missed.

Because I love the characters, but it is too grimdark for me. Relentless in its brutality, heartache and loss after loss after loss. Where all the victories on either side are too close to pyrrhic victories, to make one wonder again and again if the price is worth it.

But at least now I've seen enough to be able to appreciate Daredevil much more when he makes an appearance elsewhere. (Including in Avengers fanfic!) So it wasn't a waste of time. But I'm not going to watch more of it, not when I feel I have to brace myself before watching; that's not something I find desirable in my entertainment.

(Note: there is something really wierd going on with the date-time on Dreamwidth. When I do "update date" it gives a time which is UTC, not the time in my timezone.)

Comments

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

I found Fisk/Vanessa to be a very accurate example of a fucked-up relationship. Though nowhere near as adorable as Fox/Thanatos in Gargoyles.

Re: Thoughts

[kerravonsen]

I don't think it would be possible for Fisk to have a relationship that wasn't fucked-up.

(Edit: Actually, now that I think of it, he reminds me a lot of Thanos.)

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>I don't think it would be possible for Fisk to have a relationship that wasn't fucked-up.<<

True. But the poor sod tried so hard.

>> (Edit: Actually, now that I think of it, he reminds me a lot of Thanos.) <<

Well, you're not wrong.

Re: Thoughts

[kerravonsen]

It's the whole "I must destroy the world in order to save it" vibe. Plus -- at least what I saw in Hawkeye -- the abusive dynamic of "you are my family, I hate to punish you, but it is for your own good".

[tptigger]

Those are my feelings about Daredevil exactly :)

[kerravonsen]

♥

Yeah, it would so not be your thing. Except, y'know, the friendship stuff. Because I know you like teamy goodness.

[vilakins]

I haven't seen it, but I'm with you on wanting to be actually entertained, not depressed or repelled. I've given up on Orville and the Star Trek series because they're all so dark these days (Strange New Worlds isn't what the title says, but more horror at times) and a while back stopped watching an old comedy because of the casual bigotry. I've enjoyed the Star Wars series, but am pacing myself on the latest, Andor, because of the institutionalised cruelty of the Empire. At least B7 had humour to lighten it. Life has humour - why leave that aspect right out?

Have you seen She-Hulk: Attorney at Law? I've heard good things, but would I be disadvantaged by not having seen a lot of Marvel and not knowing the complicated universe? I've sometimes tried to watch films online but know I'm missing too much backstory, but am not willing to brave all the violence to get it. I gave up on the Iron Man films because of that, but have enjoyed the Thor ones I've seen.

How about Loki - would I need to have seen everything to watch that?

[kerravonsen]

It's taken me years to overcome the completist in me, the feeling that I have to watch everything or I'm missing out. But it is entertainment, therefore I am not required to watch it.

I've always been pretty erratic in watching anything other than Classic Trek, I admit. Depending on the series, I'd watch a season or three (DS9) or watch a few episodes, or not even bother at all.

In regard to Star Wars, I started watching the Mandalorian but got distracted by something else, I can't remember what. I should get back to it. Not intending to watch Andor until after I've caught up with the Mandalorian. How does the "institutionalised cruelty" of the Empire compare to the institutionalised cruelty of the B7 Federation?

Yeah, humour helps. And there was actually humour in Daredevil, probably one reason why I did keep going as long as I did.

I haven't seen She-Hulk yet, it is probably next on my list. As for the complicated Marvel universe, eh, I came to watching Marvel stuff late, and I knew I'd never be able to catch up, so unlike every other universe I've ever been interested in, I'm not trying to avoid Marvel spoilers.

I loved the Iron Man movies -- Tony Stark is my favourite character. But I guess the first movie could have been a bit much, considering what the terrorists did. I didn't find it a problem, but then I can cope with movie-violence reasonably okay, so long as there is hope. And I love the way Tony Stark is so inventive.

In Daredevil, they were barely clinging onto hope by their fingertips, and that was what got me down. The huge contrast with B7 I think was that even though Our Heroes in B7 didn't have a hope of winning against the Federation, they knew that, and kept on fighting anyway. Because it wasn't about winning, it was about sticking it to the Federation any way they could.

In regard to the Loki series, I think the absolute minimum you would need to have seen is the first Avengers movie. If you were up for watching more, I'd suggest the first Thor movie, then the Avengers, then the second Thor movie (which follows on closely after the Avengers). But you don't need to have seen anything else.

[vilakins]

You see more of the Empire's sheer nastiness from the POV of its bureaucrats and a prison no one can leave. I suppose it's therefore much the same as B7, but you see more and it's so matter-of-fact and entrenched.

I've seen three Thor films IIRC, the first Avengers, and two of the Captain America ones, also some standalones like Guardians of the Galaxy 1 and 2 (loved them!). I tried to watch a Spiderman I thought might be standalone but it right away referred to half the population having been disappeared and brought back, so I gave up. So anyway, it seems I can indeed watch Loki, which is good because he's rather fun.

I suppose Tony Stark just never appealed, and I think it was the third one I bailed on because it was non-stop explosions and destruction.

I may give She-Hulk a go too.