*Spoilers Ahead*
We’ve learned quite a bit about Matt Murdock in these past few episodes from his relationship with his deceased father to his Catholic upbringing but there’s been one thing left unexplored. How did he become such a badass? The answer lies in the title of this week’s episode.
We first meet Stick in the opening as he hunts down and brutally murders a man who is working for one of Wilson Fisk’s associates, Nobu. The scene is terrifying as Stick makes quick work of the man and looks downright fearsome doing it, which isn’t easy when the character is in his eighties. We learn a little later that Stick is actually the former mentor of Matt, after he distracts him and causes Leland Owlsley to escape. Scott Glenn plays Stick as an abrasive and abusive teacher who is never too shy to tell you what he really thinks. The character is something of a breath of fresh air to the show as someone who Matt has previous history with who is also very aware of his vigilante work. It helps that Stick is an outright asshole who has no qualms with killing immediately putting him at odds with Matt.
Stick may not enjoy Daredevil, he trained Matt to be a warrior and this wasn’t what he expected, but he needs his help. Nobu and his men have acquired Black Sky, a powerful weapon that Stick wishes to destroy. Matt agrees to help him, mainly because Nobu works with Fisk, but when the weapon is revealed to be a child things go south. Matt attempts to stop his mentor from killing the boy but when Nobu’s men attack him Stick manages to kill the kid.
When Stick reveals this to Matt back at his apartment it leads to a fun and beautifully shot battle between the two. Eventually, Matt is able to take down Stick and tells him to leave his city. Whatever bond remained between the two being officially broken.
In between the present day action we get to see the past history between Stick and Matt. Stick, looking just as old then as he does now, finds Matt in a Catholic orphanage struggling to cope with not only his powers but the loss of his father. Stick manages to train Matt but abruptly decides to leave when the young boy starts to become attached. Matt wants someone to fill the hole his father left but Stick can’t be bothered with that, he wants a solider. The reveal later when present day Matt finds the bracelet he made for Stick in the rubble of their battle feels a little like a backpedal to make Stick seem less cruel but it creates a nice dynamic for when he inevitably returns.
Elsewhere, Karen gets a little closer in her search into Union Allied. Leading to her assault by some thugs. Thankfully, Foggy is there to fend them off. The Union Allied story seems to have stalled for the time being so hopefully Foggy getting involved will give it some gas to move along a bit more.
Overall, this episode is a welcome introduction to Stick and does a fine job explaining one of the final missing pieces in Matt Murdock’s journey to becoming Daredevil.
Bits ‘n Pieces
- Stick is so cool that when he flips the cap off his beer he manages to bounce it off the wall and into the trash.
- In the lovey-dovey department: Karen clearly does not have the same feelings for Foggy that he does for her, which always leads to great things.
- Also lovey-dovey related, Claire is absent from this episode and it is implied that in the aftermath of last episode she and Matt have broken it off.
- Just imagine the repair bill for Matt’s apartment after that fight.
- “I know a lot of shit. This beer, for example, sucks.”
- “Meditate.” “You mean that thing where you pretend to be asleep?”
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