When I saw the title for this episode of Daredevil, I knew it would easily become a top two or three favorite of mine. The show has been fantastic thus far, but the past string of episodes have pretty much abandoned the flashbacks we had been seeing of Matt’s childhood. In fact, the flashback storyline actually last left us when Matt’s father, Jack, dies. Well, having a decent bit of familiarity with the comics, I know that Stick is the name of Matt’s teacher, which is why I had such high expectations for this episode.
We instantly open up with an amazing scene showing just how intense, if that’s even the right word, Stick really is. It’s immediately revealed that he will be the main focus of this episode. He first meets up with Matt by interrupting the meeting with Leland in the parking lot. They reunite, and there is no time wasted by throwing us right into a flashback. Matt is in an orphanage struggling to deal with his heightened senses. The nuns have brought Stick in to help Matt. The scenes of them in the park are amazing; Stick is real with Matt, which seems harsh, but is what he needs. He teaches Matt that he has been given a gift and how to properly use it. His breakdown of the ice cream and having Matt do the same with the passing people in the park was great.
Stick is the new father figure that Matt needs. However, Stick isn’t a nice guy; he’s a trainer. When Matt made his feelings too clear, Stick left. We discover it’s been 20 years and clearly see Matt is still upset over being abandoned. We even get the direct line from Stick, “I needed a soldier, you wanted a father,” which is pretty harsh but not untrue.
We discover that Stick has returned seeking out Matt’s help. The Japanese have something arriving on the docks that Stick wants to destroy. It turns out to be a young boy, who Matt refuses to kill. Stick claims it wasn’t a boy, but something else that is far more dangerous. He admits to Matt that he went and killed the child, which causes them to fight. Matt wins and tells Stick to get out of the city because he doesn’t feel that the old man deserves to come back after two decades. I thought that their relationship was displayed really well,and it’s clear we will see him again in the future.
I’ve come to appreciate the Karen and Ben plot much more. It’s been a good contrast to Matt’s plot. It comes off as being boring most of the time, but that comes with me forgetting Matt is the superhero and they are not. Ben and Karen’s meeting in this episode was interesting because they discuss pushing and digging deeper into the story around Union Allied. Ben has been trying to keep Karen away from pursuing this, but she is all in on outing the truth. I’m hoping that this means their story is about to get much more intense.
While there was very little of Foggy in this episode, I thought his few scenes were solid. I like that he cares about Karen so much. It definitely comes off as a little stalkerish when he turns out to be following her, but we all know he means well. Mrs. Cardenas pointing out that Foggy loves Karen was an interesting plot point. I’m not surprised but am more interested to see how their relationship develops and moves forward with six episodes still left.
This has definitely been my favorite episode yet in the series. I am so happy we finally got to see Stick join the show and have an entire episode dedicated to him. His overall inclusion into the entire Marvel Netflix Universe was teased at when meeting with the mysterious man at the end of the episode. He asks Stick if Matt will be ready, “when the doors open,” which seems like it is a big reference to the Immortal Iron Fist, which will be coming after A.K.A. Jessica Jones and Luke Cage. There have been many Iron Fist references throughout Daredevil already, and this just adds another.
The gates opening could be a reference to K’un-Lun, the mystical city where Danny Rand (a.k.a. The Iron Fist) is taken when orphaned and trained into a hero. Madame Gao is also from this place, and it turns out the gates to K’un-Lun only open once a decade. Aside from these, the Steel Serpent logo is branded on the heroin packs we see pop up. Stick could have been talking to Stone, his second in command, but only time will tell.
Favorite Moments:
– They name Matt “The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen.” We’re closer to him getting called Daredevil! (I think it clearly has to happen in the last episode, if at all.)
– Finally, getting more inclusion of Nobu! Another important character that should get some more screen time soon!
– “Meditate; you mean that thing where you pretend not to sleep?” I think this is every child’s understanding of meditation.
– What was the boy that Stick was so afraid of?
[Photo via Netflix]
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