**This review will contain some spoilers**
Season 2 of Daredevil features a great cast, well-choreographed action sequences and popular elements from the comic book. However, poor execution in the second half of the season mars the terrific start.
The three main returning cast members (Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Wolf and Eldon Henson) still have great chemistry together. The bond between them is strong and makes it that much more painful to watch their friendship begin to unravel. While newcomer Elodie Yung captures Elektra’s beauty, danger and fighting prowess, it’s Jon Bernthal that owns this season. His Frank Castle/Punisher is driven, ruthless and merciless, while still being portrayed as damaged and sympathetic.
This season is broken down into smaller arcs while still maintaining the overall story, similar to comic books. This works great and helps keep the story feel a bit more manageable. The opening Punisher chapter is fantastic, as is the trial of Frank Castle in the second chapter. This includes some good courtroom drama and the great payoff of Wilson Fisk meeting The Punisher. On the other hand, the Elektra portion starts off strong, but deteriorates rapidly with poorly executed mystical ninja storylines. While The Hand are quintessential Daredevil enemies, their intentionally vague motivations and a bland leader do not make a compelling enemy to carry the rest of the episodes. While it seemed as if The Punishers story would tie into Daredevil’s and bring them together against a common foe, we get only a random anticlimactic appearance by Castle at the end of the fight.
There are not as many standout fights scenes in this season compared to the first, but the best ones are Daredevil’s stairwell battle and the brutal Frank Castle prison fight. There are also some nice moments of Daredevil and Elektra teaming up, especially a nice sequence where they must use stealth, martial arts and their wits.
**1/2 out of *****