Really, what this all boils down to and the reason people are praising the show so much is that Daredevil breaks the mould that Marvel didn't exactly set, but has been followed by all superhero films and the like since 2000's first X-Men film. They all have a very similar plot structure (the generic action film beats of setting it up, having people fight, the goodies think they've lost, but then it all works out in the end), characters, conflicts, visual style, costumes, etc. Daredevil shirks all of that in favour of doing things it own way, and in a way suitable to the material. There is a way to do the bright, colourful superhero Matt Murdock in fact Mark Waid and Chris Samnee's current run does that very well but the best of the best Daredevil stories are the ones marinated in Catholic guilt, organised crime, and angst that is earned. In doing so, the Daredevil series has produced characters that are more rounded, interesting and human than anything else the MCU has thrown up so far. It has tackled more adult, grounded themes than any of it has, showing what life is like for the non-superpowered (or non-privileged) people. It has created its own look distinct from the Hollywood movie. So, in all? A unique, surprisingly mature, well-written, expertly performed, brutal, bloody and brilliant entry into a Cinematic Universe which has been sorely lacking all of those things. Sort the costume out, though.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
