Daredevil (Series)

Daredevil - copyright: Netflix (distributor) and Marvel Television / ABC Studios (publisher)

The adaptation of a work from its original media to another is always a difficult subject. On one hand, it is necessary to preserve the original work must, keeping most of its essence; on other hand, sometimes it is almost impossible to adapt a work to another media without some changes. Nowadays, this dual problem is found frequently in comics adaptations, as superheroes movies and series are becoming very popular.

One of the best examples of how to adapt a comic is the Netflix original series Daredevil. Released in April 10, 2015, Daredevil was a production of Marvel Television and ABC Studios, along with others companies. The Netflix series was capable of dealing with the originality/adaptation balance (almost) perfectly, being one of my favorite series.

Daredevil promotional poster

The comic main structure is as follows: Matthew Murdock, son of a former boxer, suffers an accident with radioactive chemicals, losing its vision in the process. However, as a compensation for his lost eyes, the other four senses were enhanced to great levels. He can hear and identify a heartbeat inside a big crowd. Or smell the sweat of people around him. His touch is so sensitive that Matt can even read a newspaper just feeling the ink with his fingers.

Daredevil comics by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli are really great!

In addition to his improved senses, Matt acquired a “radar sense”, just like a bat or a submarine. He is able to “hear” the reflection of sound waves when they hit objects, which allows him to create a mental reconstruction of everything around him. Using these extraordinary senses, Matt trained his body and mind in order to become the Daredevil, a superhero that protects the city of New York, mostly the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, where he always lived with his now deceased father.

The series was able to fully adapt the Daredevil action, full of intense acrobatics movements and great martial arts. Another potentially complicated point, the superhuman senses, was also well adapted during the story. The public can understand what Matt is feeling, without any unnecessary overreaction.

The fighting scenes are very intense and exciting

As a classic superhero, Matt Murdock (played by Charlie Cox) has two lives. Besides being the superhero Daredevil, he is also a lawyer alongside with his best friend Franklin “Foggy” Nelson (played by Elden Henson). Other important characters are: Karen Page (played by Deborah Ann Woll), Matt’s eternal love, the journalist Ben Urich (played by Vondie Curtis-Hall), the nurse Claire Temple (played by Rosario Dawson), and the main antagonist Wilson Fisk (played by Vincent D’Onofrio), a great business man and mafia boss also known as Kingpin.

From left to right: Fisk, Claire, Matt, Karen and Foggy

The cast selection was great, resulting in very believable interactions and conversations. Foggy and Matt really look like old friends (even if, in my opinion, Foggy is not very physically similar with its comics version), Matt and Karen make a lovely couple, and Fisk surely is a genuine egocentric mafia boss. Every character is played marvelously (as expected from Marvel…), which makes the plot advances very naturally along the 13 episodes.

Without telling any spoilers, Matt has to deal with some tough personal/professional problems during the story. This fact is another great adaptation from the comics, where the bad guys are not the only difficulties. A dark past, the conflict between acting as a vigilante and a lawyer, the danger in what of those around him are: Daredevil is much more than just a superhero series. Many social principles and complex feelings are questioned, but always in a very captivating way.

Behind the scenes: in the beginning, Matt does not use the classic Daredevil outfit

Daredevil is one of the best superheroes adaptations so far. For those who are used to read the comics, the characters and plot are pleasantly familiar. Even if you are not used, you will get along with them naturally, as the cast selection is great for both main and supporting characters. The plot is solid, being able to bring many comics references without losing any touch with reality. Moreover, the fighting scenes are all exciting and well performed. Never reading a comic and watching a series was so close and so funny.

Breaking Bad (Series)

Breaking Bad: property of Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.

There are different types of series, for all the different types of viewers. The comedy ones are very popular among the general public. Of course, this is natural when you think that watching series may be a relaxing moment for some people. Like a happy hour after a hard day, when you just sit in the couch, grab some food and drinks, and turn on the television/computer/tablet to have some fun with a comedy story.

Although comedy may be very popular, drama series are more capable of delivering an immersive experience. These stories offer an approach of the real life, showing situations that make you want to know what will happen to the characters, how they will deal with their problems and difficulties. In other words, drama stories work with empathy, making you hate or love the characters, cheering for they success, or failure.

One of the best series that represent this segment is Breaking Bad, aired from 2008 to 2013 on AMC. Although the beginning was just fine, the drama and the thriller increase during the five seasons. The author Vince Gilligan created a story that works as a well-planned mechanism, making you eager to know what comes next every episode.

The series tell the story of Walter White, a high school professor with a brilliant scientific mind, diagnosed with a fatal disease. The lung cancer will kill White soon (but may take years), and with no money even for the treatment, he ends to become a drug producer and seller. With the help of his former student, the junkie, but loyal, Jesse Pinkman, they start into the illegal methamphetamine market. The professor objective is to gain a lot of money, enough to sustain his family if he dies of cancer, besides paying for his treatment.

Remember: the series is extremely volatile, and will blow your mind some times

And when we remember the story, we need to remember the characters. Probably the best quality of Breaking Bad, the cast was certainly a mixture that worked very well. Walter White was played by Bryan Cranston, and Jesse Pinkman was played by Aaron Paul. Both actors worked marvelously, making their relationship as business partners and, why not, close friends, one of the best parts of the series. Aaron is the most empathic character of the series, even if you are not fan of junkies. And Walter has good and bad guy moments, being a complex and fascinating character.

Walter and Jesse in their drug making clothes

Besides these two main characters, Breaking Bad has a lot of other fascinating people. Skyler, Walter’s wife, played by Anna Gunn, is certainly the third pillar of the series. She is, at the same time, worried about his husband and family, but also with what will happen to her. This “noble/selfish” personality makes Skyler an unstable and critical part of the story. Her pregnancy, starting in the beginning of the series and going until the second season, when the baby comes, adds another important factor to the couple relation, mostly to Walter.

Of course, there are other important characters, as White’s son Walter Jr. (played by RJ Mitte), the baby Holly (“played” by Elanor Anne Wenrich), Skyler’s sister Marie (played by Betsy Brandt) and her husband Hank (played by Dean Norris). Hank is agent of DEA, or the Drug Enforcement Administration. Obviously, this detail is an important factor during the course of the story.

As Walter White develops his career in the drug business, he meets new people that play crucial roles in the story. One of them is the trickster, but very smart, lawyer Saul Goodman (funnily played by Bob Odenkirk), responsible for most of the legal stuff in the series. Saul presents White to Mike Ehrmantraut (played by Jonathan Banks), a mysterious man that works as private investigator and problem fixes. Finally, there is Gus Fring (played by Giancarlo Esposito), a drug kingpin that finds in Walter White a great opportunity for his business.

Breaking Bad cast

Thanks to the intelligence of Walter, there are many cool scientific experiments in the series (besides the revolutionary drug chemical processes created by him, of course). From deadly acids to automated robots, Breaking Bad has many memorable moments. Some cliffhangers are really smart, leading you to reflect what will happen next. Of course, there are some funny moments, where the tension of the series is somewhat relieved.

The classic pizza scene

The focus of the series is Walter White. It’s how his personality changes from the hopeless professor, with no money and a deadly cancer, to the drug dealer, capable of amazing and wicked things to save his life, and, above all, take care of those who he loves. There are bad mistakes and there are good accomplishments, and that’s why Breaking Bad is marvelous. The choices in the series are complex, and lead you to think: What would you do?

Walter obtained a lot of money, but also a lot of problems during the series

Breaking Bad won a lot of awards, including the Emmy for best drama series, lead and supporting actor, and the Golden Globe for best drama series. The series received both critical and public acclaim, entering the Guinness World Records as the most critically acclaimed show of all time. As a very well planned series, with an almost perfect structure and story, they really deserve most of the prizes.

Some people say that Breaking Bad is the best series of all time. Fanatical fans aside, and some minor problems, as the useless and boring “Fly” episode and the “never crying baby” Holly, it’s one of the best, and offers really great moments. There is fun, action, thriller, and, above everything, a perfect plotted drama, with remarking characters inside an addictive story. As can be read in one of the series last ads: "It's all in the chemistry. Thanks to everyone who made bad so good".