Daredevil is back, but Matt Murdock is still missing in a city that has been taken over by Wilson Fisk and his Anti-Vigilante Task Force (AVTF), a specialized NYPD unit created by Wilson Fisk in season one to combat vigilantes like Muse and Daredevil in New York City, overseen by Powell. But to everyone’s surprise, it’s working, the streets are cleaner, crime is down, and New Yorkers are enjoying themselves again. Or is that what Fisk wants everyone to believe? As Dr. Heather Glenn says, “we’re all wearing a mask.”
In the middle of the night, there is an explosion. A ship full of weapons and guns, 30 tons of military products destroyed as a boat sinks, in hopes of washing a way it’s crimes and Kingpin’s sins. Is something sinister on the rise, or is the vigilante Daredevil determined to destroy the city in hopes of getting Fisk’s attention? The people Bebe interviews call him an “animal,” and in a world where truth is controlled by master manipulators, it’s hard to tell what is fact.
What we do know is that Matt Murdock lost. The one person who has dedicated years to preventing Fisk from gaining power is now forced back into the shadows, defeated along with a city that is breaking at the seams. Karen, who is still broken by Foggy’s death, is barely hanging on as well. Back in Matt’s arms, she too hides, considered a fugitive for aiding and abetting Daredevil and his crimes. But she and that wig refuse to let that stop her.
If you look closely, beyond Fisk’s lies and the interviews, you’ll see a city under the rule of Kingpin, the man behind Fisk’s mask. People are missing, pulled out of their homes, out of the arms of loved ones, and shoved into the back of an AVTF van to drive them underground. What better way to stop people from talking negatively about Fisk than by making their protests and accusations silent? This is where we find The Swordsman, a man who had the audacity to say no to funding Fisk’s illegal Red Hook operation. Instead of killing him on-site, he lets him live as an example to other people who dare cross him. Making Fisk’s enemy the enemy of New Yorkers could result in more government officials backing the mayor. What is power if a mayor has to answer to oversight and a governor?
While Fisk has a tight leash on the city with Buck and Daniel by his side, he still has to deal with the mysterious Mr. Charles from Langley (played by Matthew Lillard), who suddenly appears in Fisk’s office to make sure no one and no office stands in the Mayor’s way.
Meanwhile, Kristen and Cherry refuse to fold, as they work alongside Karen and Bebe to help uncover the truth. But with Fisk’s task force run by Powell and Buck, things quickly turn dark when agents show up to Cherry’s apartment ready to kill him before his heart attack does. Just when we think Daredevil is ready to save the day, he is quickly distracted by the sounds of Cherry’s declining heart rate and thoughts of Foggy’s final moments. But in the shadows, an old threat arises…or maybe it’s hope…as Bullseye saves the day. But what is he saving Cherry and Daredevil for?
Meanwhile, Daniel (Michael Gandolfini) has worked his way to the top from a basic intern determined to get Fisk enough votes to win to being part of the team. But will his blind faith lead him down a path he’s not ready for? His friendship with Bebe is already tricky, as she reveals herself as a mole, wanting revenge for her uncle’s death at the hands of Fisk. Both are hiding secrets from each other that can have serious consequences.
Dr. Heather Glenn is also facing a dilemma, haunted by her near-death experience at the hand of Muse, she finds herself doing questionable and morally wrong actions at the bidding of Fisk. Knowing that Swordsman doesn’t show any sign of being a danger to others, she decides to lie and say otherwise. Is this all to ensure Fisk’s Safer Streets initiative works, or is she operating for her own selfish gain? A vigilante wants to bring those to justice, but is she willing to put on her own mask of deception to tip the scales of justice?
Daredevil season 2 episode 1’s The Northern Star is a stunning entry into the season. Keeping its same grounded realism, it preys on people’s fears of the unknown and a government turning on its own people. Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio are in their element as two opposite forces willing to do everything and anything to stop each other, even if it tears the city apart. Just like Kingpin’s and Daredevil’s hatred for each other, it reaches into every pocket, seeps into the city, forcing people to take sides. As Karen told Bebe, they are the manipulators, and the only way to honor those who fought for justice is not to join them.
To learn more about The Northern Star, check out the full review above.
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