Why We're Worried About The Daredevil Season 2 Trailer
Marvel Studios has released a 30-second teaser trailer for season two of its hit Netflix-exclusive Daredevil series. Don't get us wrong: there's certainly a lot to like in the new trailer. For one, it indicates that season two will recapture the dark, gritty setting, and thematic elements (specifically justice and faith) that made the first season so memorable. Also welcome is Rosario Dawson's return as Matt Murdock's love interest and consummate healer, Claire Temple, to the series. Nevertheless, the trailer hints at a few elements that still have us pretty concerned...
Too Many Subplots
Featuring too many subplots can lead to an unfocused main storyline. The first season of Daredevil certainly has its share of minor side stories. Some of these are interesting (the aforementioned Matt Murdock-Claire Temple romance), while others feel like filler (any subplot involving Foggy Nelson). Yet at its core, the show was about Matt Murdock and crime boss Wilson Fisk's (Vincent D'Onofrio) contrasting ideas for Hell's Kitchens renewal. A similar dynamic involving notions of justice, if handled correctly, can certainly work between Daredevil and The Punisher in the new season. But Marvel also has the Elektra storyline to set up. Also worth mentioning are the possible tie-ins that the show-runners will set up between the other Marvel series (Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, etc.). In short, season two could very become muddled with too many side stories that take away from the series' central character, Matt Murdock.
Too Many Romantic Interests
Fans of the Daredevil comic will know that Elektra is one of Matt Murdock's major love interests. Yet so is Karen Page. Also the series has Claire thrown into the romantic mix. Is it better to have all of these possible romances up for grabs for Murdock or to focus on one and really develop it?
The Punisher
The Punisher, a.k.a. Frank Castle, has never worked well on screen. Three attempts at adapting the character to film have stumbled (although Punisher: War Zone is a guilty pleasure for its campiness and excess). There is little doubt, given his performance in The Walking Dead, that Jon Bernthal can bring an appropriate intensity to Frank Castle. The character, however, is one-dimensional and somewhat cliché. We've seen revenge-hungry characters like him countless times in movies, television, literature, video games, etc. Hopefully the show-runners can do something interesting with his quest for vengeance.
Too Preachy
The idea that Matt Murdock is a devout Catholic who's heavily motivated by faith is an interesting one. Yet it is inadvisable to tout this character trait, and the accompanying themes, to excess. Many films and television shows feel the need to bludgeon its audience with their moral messages and motifs. The occasional visit with Father Lantom to touch on these themes is okay, but often the 'less is more' approach is welcome in storytelling. Lack of subtlety can often turn a story from compelling to annoying to cheesy.