Netflix's Daredevil has been receiving extra attention over the past few weeks, as Marvel Studios appears to have finally adopted its characters and stories into the larger MCU. As a result, the show and its sister series have been experiencing a new surge of popularity among Marvel fans.
With its newfound cultural relevance, Daredevil is finally getting some of the recognition it always deserved, including praise for its compelling story and action. Additionally, one of the show's greatest assets continues to be its writing, which manifests itself in some great lines spoken by its many iconic characters.
Ben Urich
"My Experience: There Are No Heroes, No Villains. Just People With Different Agendas."
Ben Urich (Vondie Curtis-Hall) is a reporter for the New York Bulletin, whose fascination with crime stories often gets him into sticky situations. He takes Karen Page under his wing after she approaches him seeking help in unraveling a mystery, and eventually loses his life in the pursuit of justice.
After years of crime reporting, Ben has grown somewhat jaded by the many sights he has seen on the job. The rising conflict between the Kingpin and the Daredevil doesn't seem to faze him, purely because he doesn't believe in the ideologies of either of them. His words are a sobering reminder of how quickly a mission can become a bottom line.
Frank Castle
"You Know, You're One Bad Day Away From Being Me."
Frank Castle, the Punisher, is played by Jon Bernthal, whom many fans want to return to the role in the larger MCU. He made his debut in Daredevil's 2nd season, where he clashes with the titular Man Without Fear over vigilante ideologies, believing that fatal means are the only way to solve the city's problems.
Many heroes both in the Netflix series and the comic source material are quick to condemn Castle for his bloody deeds, but this line reminds viewers of the tragic backstory that caused him to go so far off the deep end. Frank never wanted to be the Punisher, but one bad day brought him to his knees and never let him move on, creating New York's most lethal defender.
Bullseye
"I'm Drowning In Deep Water And I Don't Know Whether I'm Swimming Through The Surface Or The Bottom."
Wilson Bethel appears in the third season of the series, playing the role of Benjamin Poindexter, who gradually descends into madness on his journey into becoming one of Daredevil's most powerful villains, Bullseye. The character becomes an ally of Kingpin, working to frame Daredevil for heinous crimes he did not commit.
While Bullseye was the character that fans were excited to see, Daredevil spent plenty of time building up the personality of Benjamin Poindexter, making viewers sympathize with him even despite his heinous actions. The depths of his mental illness are explored in detail, earning the villain an element of compassion.
Vanessa Fisk
"Don't You Understand We're All Broken? The Point Is To Find The Person Whose Broken Piece Fits With Yours."
Played by Ayelet Zurer, Vanessa Marianna is the token of Wilson Fisk's affections, eventually marrying the New York crime boss in the show's third season. She worked as an art curator until meeting Fisk, eventually becoming privy to his secret life, and, rather than being horrified, she approves of his dealings.
Vanessa is initially presented as a relatively "normal" figure in Wilson Fisk's life, someone that is untouched by his often dirty work. However, she gradually reveals herself to be just as ruthless as he is, proving to be the perfect match to Fisk's broken pieces.
Elektra Natchios
"You Don't Get What You Want By Day. You Take It By Force At Night."
Elodie Yung joins the cast of Daredevil in season 2 as Elektra Natchios, a Marvel comics character from the '80s that seems perfect to join the larger MCU. She acts both as a love interest and verbal sparring partner to Matt Murdock, exemplifying his more violent tendencies in her own exploits as a vigilante.
Elektra is a perfect foil to Matt Murdock's Daredevil, mirroring his ideologies in almost every way, choosing to use stealth and force to get what she wants. In the end, Elektra and Daredevil's paths were meant to split, causing the character to fall into the villainous designs of the Hand.
Claire Temple
"You Know The Problem With Martyrs? The Good Ones End Up Dead."
Rosario Dawson's Claire Temple quickly became a central character to Netflix's universe of Marvel characters, appearing on each series related to The Defenders, with the exception of The Punisher. Claire is a nurse who patches up Matt after a scuffle gone awry, later briefly dating the vigilante.
Despite having no superpowers of any kind, Claire manages to be an important figure in the stories of each Defender. This is in part due to her worldly wisdom and clear-headedness. As someone who fights the city's battles as a citizen rather than a vigilante, Claire lends a vitally important perspective to the journey of Matt Murdock and the other Defenders.
Karen Page
"What Is It To Be A Hero? Look In The Mirror And You'll Know."
One of the Netflix characters whom Daredevil fans desperately want to see join the MCU is Karen Page, as portrayed by Deborah Ann Woll. Karen is a central figure over the course of the series, finding herself roped into the sprawling plots of both heroes and villains. She comes into her own quite quickly, however, learning to fight for herself when the going gets tough.
Karen has a unique perspective on the exploits of Daredevil, looking at the masked vigilante through the eyes of the city as a whole, putting into words what its citizens must be feeling as they watch his war against crime. In an article she writes for the New York Bulletin, Karen reveals the truth about heroism.
Foggy Nelson
"Somebody Knows Something. It's Just A Matter Of Asking The Right People The Right Questions In The Right Tone Of Voice."
Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) is Matt Murdock's partner and best friend, who often must draw him back from the brink. Foggy is the everyman who happens to be caught up in the battle between Daredevil and the city's crime bosses. Nevertheless, Foggy never compromises his conscience, keeping himself unspotted from the world.
Though Foggy often acts as the comedic relief in the series, he is also a character capable of getting things done. This is never more tangible than when he is working as a lawyer. Foggy's dedication to his craft and pursuit of justice make him a character worth emulating.
Wilson Fisk
"A City Crumbles And Fades. It Needs To Die Before It Can Be Reborn."
Wilson Fisk, as played by Vincent D'Onofrio, is a stand-out character on Netflix's Daredevil, acting as the main antagonist of the first and third seasons. For a long time, he was among fans' top picks for an MCU crossover, before finally appearing in Hawkeye in a brief but exciting role that left fans wondering where the Kingpin will show up next.
Fisk sees the city as his kingdom, but one that is in dire need of restoration. He believes that the only way to accomplish this task is to bring its institutions burning to the ground so that he can build the city anew the way he believes it should be. Unfortunately for Fisk, a certain red-suited vigilante has a problem with his methods.
Matt Murdock
"Thing About Red, They Can't Tell How Much You're Bleeding."
Charlie Cox brilliantly portrays the classic character of Matt Murdock, also known as the Daredevil. Murdock spends 3 seasons of his series struggling with the morality of being a hero, especially with the question of whether or not killing is the most effective way to fight his crusade against crime.
Matt's vigilante ideology can often get complicated, as he questions the merits of lethal action to protect his city. Nevertheless, some of his simplest realizations remain the most sturdy in the midst of his moral ponderings--including one about the color of his suit, which hides any injuries he may sustain in his crusade.