Parents' Guide to

Daredevil

By Polly Conway, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Stellar superhero story is ultraviolent, dark, riveting.

TV Netflix Action 2015
Daredevil Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 44 parent reviews

NonDairyWolf
NonDairyWolf Adult
March 20, 2017
age 15+

You know your child

I watch this show with my dad, and let me just say straight off the bat, I'm an absolute Marvel nerd! I think that this a great show with great, believable characters. Common Sense's review is pretty accurate for the first season, although for the second, it's a bit off. One problem is its characters drink in response to nearly every problem that pops up. Someone just died? Drink. You're having financial trouble? Drink. You killed someone for the first time? Drink. You're a bit sad? Drink. I understand that this quite realistic to modern life, but you don't want your kids to be thinking that drinking is the answer to every problem in life. In season two, I have one complaint quality-wise. There seems to be no real goal that the characters are working towards until about halfway through, when (Medium Spoilers) the Hand properly enter and Wilson Fisk returns (Okay, no more spoilers). There are a couple of flashbacks that can be quite sexual, and the eventual sex scene itself is incredibly awkward if you're a teen watching with your parent(s), and seems to drag on a bit. There is an extremely violent prison fight scene, although you'll know it's coming because the episode it's in is rated 18. To summarise, I think It's a great series with some minor flaws (also, I only gave it a 15 because it seemed liked a good in between point, it's really up to how mature you think your child is). So, thanks for reading if anyone did, and I hope this helped! P.S My account has me as an adult, but at the time of writing this I am 14, so this should be in the kids section.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
4 people found this helpful.
HelloThere9085
HelloThere9085 Adult
July 16, 2021
age 16+

Good, but very Violent.

The first Season was pretty Violent and I could see why it was TV-MA. Then Season 2 really gave me a reason why it was TV-MA. I haven’t seen Season 3 yet, but Season 2 is the most violent so far. I think if you look away on some violent scenes, I’d say 14+ or 13+.

This title has:

Too much violence
2 people found this helpful.
See all 44 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Newly minted laywer Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and his partner, Foggy Nelson (Eldon Henson), are just starting their law practice, and there's a problem: no clients. Somewhat unscrupulous Foggy is not above ambulance-chasing, which is how they discover Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll), framed for murder and in danger. Meanwhile, the altruistic Murdock, who happens to be a person who's blind, has a side job: fighting crime as his alter ego, DAREDEVIL, by using his incredible hand-to-hand combat skills and ultraheightened senses. There's a crime syndicate that runs deep through the city's underbelly; its orders come from the mysterious, ruthless kingpin Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio). As Murdock discovers the nefarious ties between city crime and local construction company Union Allied -- and later, between an ancient evil and the fellow heroes and villains who pop up in the city -- he uncovers even more mysteries that require all his skills as an empathetic lawyer and as the justice-seeking Daredevil.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (44):
Kids say (120):

Daredevil's origin story is told in limited flashbacks, but it's all that's necessary to understand how the son of a struggling boxer became the honest but brutal lawyer/superhero he is today. Viewers will warm to the quiet, charming Murdock immediately, and Cox does a lovely job of reconciling his two personas; when he unleashes his pent-up rage on various criminals, it feels warranted. That said, the show is incredibly violent; it doesn't shy away from showing stranglings, eye gougings, and bloody stabbings, and its intense nature is probably way too much for many younger viewers.

Stylistically, Daredevil is perfection. Shot in yellows, greens, and blues, the shadowy world Murdock inhabits also is filled with light, streaming in through apartment windows and alleys. As a comic book crossover, it's not too cartoonish or over the top, and Henson as Foggy brings just the right amount of comic relief to lighten what could become a dour tone. The show's few flaws come when it adheres too tightly to old-school comic tropes, including a damsel in distress and the presence of stereotypical Russian and Asian gangsters. But overall, Daredevil is a wonderfully executed, very welcome addition to the Marvel television universe.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about disabilities. How does Murdock deal with being blind? How does it affect his work as a lawyer (and his experience as a crime fighter)?

  • Families also can talk about violence on television. Do you think the show would be as effective if it were less violent? Why, or why not?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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