Daredevil (Season 1) — Birthed on the rough and ready streets of Hell’s Kitchen, Matt Murdock is a blind lawyer by day and then a masked vigilante by night. Blinded as a child in an accident with toxic chemicals, Matt’s other senses function at superhuman levels, enabling him to “see” with sound, smell and touch. Resolute to cleanse his city of corruption, he partners with fellow lawyer Foggy Nelson to help him—while simultaneously donning the mantle of crime-fighter as the masked Man in Black.
The Rise of a Hero
As Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) set up a small law practice, Nelson & Murdock, that represents innocent people. Their first client is Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll), a secretary at a construction company who is framed for murder after she unwittingly uncovers an enormous money-laundering scheme at Union Allied Construction. Matt and Foggy defend her in court, and Matt, as Daredevil, works behind the scenes to keep her safe from a hitman sent to kill her.
Karen, now thankful for their help, becomes an assistant at Nelson & Murdock. Meanwhile, the journalist Ben Urich (Vondie Curtis-Hall) is undertaking his own investigation into the city’s soaring crime rate and its ties to a mysterious underworld figure called only The Kingpin.
Wilson Fisk and the Criminal Underworld
Vividly rendered behind that swelling criminal enterprise is Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio), a brutal but cunning crime lord who operates under the veneer of a legitimate businessman. Working with his trusty right-hand man, James Wesley (Toby Leonard Moore), Fisk has his fingers in several crime syndicates:
- The Russian Mob (Anatoly and Vladimir Ranskahov)
- The Yakuza (aided by the mysterious Nobu Yoshioka)
- The Chinese Mob (led by the enigmatic Madame Gao)
Fisk rules Hell’s Kitchen with an iron hand, disposing of any perceived threats to his plans. When Anatoly, one of his Russian friends, interrupts his romantic dinner with Vanessa Marianna (Ayelet Zurer) the televised killing of kick starts a gang war
The Man in Black Fights Crime
In his guise as Daredevil, Matt starts to dismantle Fisk’s criminal network. He earns the nickname The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen man with his vigilantism. But his crusade comes with a price — he’s badly wounded after a failed rescue of a kidnap victim. One of his key allies is a kind-hearted nurse, Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson), who discovers him injured and treats his wounds.
When Matt discovers Fisk’s corruption runs deep, he goes to extreme lengths:
- He interrogates dirty cops connected to Fisk’s operations.
- He takes out drug dealers working for Madame Gao.
- He takes on the Yakuza and in the process stumbles into a far greater conspiracy.
Fisk is also getting public sympathy by selling himself as a philanthropist trying to "rescue" Hell's Kitchen, even though he's clearly a violent monster who only cares about himself as he exploits everything and everyone around him to get what he wants. His influence expands, making Matt’s mission much tougher.
Major Conflicts and Betrayals
- Karen’s Investigation: Karen is slowly piecing together Fisk’s past, including that he murdered his abusive father when he was a child. But when Karen wants more information, she is in trouble.
- Foggy’s Discovery: Foggy eventually learns Matt’s secret identity, which causes a rift between them. He finds it hard to believe that his best friend has been lying to him all these years.
- The Death of Wesley: Wesley kidnaps Karen and tries to silence her, but doesn’t realize how determined she is. In a shocking twist, Karen wrenches Wesley’s gun from his hand and kills him.
- The Fate of Ben Urich: As Urich is about to take down Fisk’s criminal empire, personally Fisk takes him out in his own apartment, taking off the one few people who could take him down.
With the evidence against Fisk mounting, the FBI takes him into custody. But his mercenaries spring him from custody, and it’s on with a state-level pursuit through the city.
When we finally jump to the finale, Matt faces off against Fisk in his home with his new red armor, which was designed by Melvin Potter. Matt uses his enhanced senses and fighting tactics to subdue Fisk and leave him for the authorities.
Fisk is led away, swearing this is not the end. Meanwhile, Matt, who’s in full protector mode in Hell’s Kitchen, gets dubbed Daredevil by the media.
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Character Details
Heroes & Allies:
Matt Murdock / Daredevil (Charlie Cox) – A blind attorney with superhuman senses who fights crime as a masked vigilante.
Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) – Matt’s best friend and law partner who has trouble dealing with the truth about Matt’s double life.
Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) – A woman who does not let herself be silenced, or stopped; she fights for justice, often placing herself in dangerous circumstances.
Ben Urich (Vondie Curtis-Hall) – A grizzled reporter attempting to get to the bottom of Fisk’s empire.
Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson) – Caring nurse who assists Matt in recovery from his injuries.
Melvin Potter (Matt Gerald) – Fisk’s skilled craftsman who is not willing to help him.
Villains & Criminals:
Wilson Fisk / Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio) – A brutal crime lord controlling Hell’s Kitchen while posing as a philanthropist.
James Wesley (Toby Leonard Moore) – The right hand of Fisk, and who carries out his orders with cold efficiency.
Madame Gao (Wai Ching Ho) – The head of a Chinese crime syndicate with enigmatic connections to a greater organization.
Nobu Yoshioka (Peter Shinkoda) – An influential Yakuza crime lord with ties to a shadowy ninja society called The Hand.
Leland Owlsley (Bob Gunton) – Fisk’s accountant, who ultimately betrays Fisk but pays for it with a grisly death.
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