2x02 Dogs to a Gunfight

7.5/10. In the end of Batman Begins, Commissioner Gordon talks to Batman about the idea of escalation. One costumed vigilante running around breeds more, and not all of them are likely to have the same temperament or trustworthiness of the first guy who starts defending the night. There's a lot of shared Frank Miller DNA between the modern incarnations of Batman and Daredevil, and it's nice to see Daredevil exploring the same ideas.

After all, couldn't someone like Punisher be the natural extension of "The Devil of Hell's Kitchen"? The episode seems to dance around whether or not Karen knows that Matt is Daredevil, but she's someone who carries the guilt of the chain of events she's been apart of, of how well-meaning actions can lead to lethal ends, and it makes sense that she would be particularly concerned about where such things can lead to.

Murdock, for his part, attempts to deflect the idea. He's dismissive of the thought that his actions might be encouraging people with his morality. Or maybe he just doesn't want to think about. It raises the old Crime and Punishment question of whether great men can cross the boundaries of a just society to right wrongs that the police and the justice system writ large cannot reach. Having Punisher be the embodiment of Daredevil's ideals taken too far makes him a very interesting foil for the titular hero, and I like the thematic territory they're breaking into with the character.

That said, the episode was full of several cliches. Having the seedy pawn shop owner transition from selling The Punisher purloined police equipment, and then transitioning into trying to sell him child pornography was an inorganic transition and forced attempt to show Punisher's harsh methods when dealing with the immoral. I appreciate that the scene was meant to convey how The Punisher has a moral code beyond just taking out mobsters, but it felt like a clunky way to get from Point A to Point B.

Similarly, the suit-maker's explanation that he could reinforce the cracks in Daredevil's mask, but that it would still be fragile and more liable to break until he could make a new one, with Daredevil opting for the half measure, was too much of a "hooray" for metaphors moment for my tastes. One of the things I liked about Daredevil's first season is how it should Matt Murdock taking his lumps, suffering damage, and having to lick his wounds before he could go back out there. I appreciate the show trying to communicate that he's not only not 100% percent when he goes after Punisher a second time, but that he's putting himself at further risk of injuring himself even more seriously in that regard, and that this signifies his commitment to the good fight in the same way that Punisher being unable to overlook the porn dealer's indiscretions signifies his, but with both characters, there are more subtle ways to do it.

To that end, I really appreciated the direction and sound design for the moments when Matt briefly went deaf. I often find I'm most impressed with these Marvel television shows when they manage to express what's happening without using words, and the scene where the water rushing from the tap screeches in Matt's ear, or he can't keep a handle on his glass as it slowly shatters on the floor did a great job at helping the viewer feel how disoriented Murdock is in the wake of his getting shot in the head. It's tempting to fault the show for brushing off Matt taking a bullet to the skull, even when protected by science-y armor, but scenes like that one, and the chilling image of Matt screaming and banging on the walls with no sound coming out, show the injuries he's suffered and the risks he's taken better than any obvious metaphors could.

Foggy is a risk-taker too, and I loved the way he stood up for Grotto despite the ways in which he seemed like he was in over his head in going against the D.A.'s office. Speaking of cliches, the tough-as-nails D.A. who treats the good guys like small-timers and has her own agenda is as stock as they come. I'm waiting for the show to give Reyes a twist of some sort, and I'm willing to go along for the ride, but finding out that she actually has a heart of gold would be a cliche all its own, and for the time being, the cardboard sense of the character isn't encouraging.

Still, she does give Foggy a solid adversary, which once again shows the way that he and Karen fight for their clients however they can and refuse to be intimidated or stymied by the various roadblocks that get in their way. The way the episode makes it seem like Foggy is going to fold in the face of Reyes's intimidation, and then shows her up by feinting toward going over her head to the U.S. Attorney was a delightful minor triumph, and a nice set up to the drug deal sting swerve/finale.

The actual lead into it was a little weak. It gave us a nice moment with Karen jokingly flipping Grotto the bird rather than giving him the kiss he asked for. And again, the nervous mobster-turned-informant finding himself in the line of fire is ripped out of 100 undifferentiated action movies. But the fight it leads to, and Foggy and Karen's concern for their friend and their client does a nice job of tying together the risks, the escalation, and the stakes of the moment.

Again, watching Daredevil and Punisher whale on one another is entertaining given their conflicting styles. Having them fight in the "rain" of the shot-up water tower is a bit convenient in terms of the aesthetics of the setting, but it's still a cool visual, and watching them circle each other like a pair of wild animals is a nice turn as well.

Something tells me this season is going to turn into more than just "Good Vigilante vs. Bad Vigilante." But for now, I like the contrast, and the way that Punisher is being introduced in small doses, that he's spoken of more than he's seen. Aside from the name recognition, it helps establish him as a legitimate threat to our hero, and everyone from Nelson & Murdock's friendly cop to Karen wondering whether he, or even Daredevil, are truly a force for good is not exactly breaking new ground, but provides some nice thematic propulsion behind the plot as it unspools in the early goings of Season 2.