Netflix's Daredevil was in a league of its own when it was released in 2015, and 10 years on, the show still stands out as one of the best of Marvel's offerings. While comic book movies have waned in popularity in the last few years, Marvel Studios has only recently begun to take a real interest in exploring the medium of episodic TV shows. But back when Marvel Television operated as a separate department, they got a lot right with Daredevil.

Daredevil follows Matt Murdock, an extremely gifted lawyer whose intelligence and presence in the courtroom make him a force to be reckoned with, even without the use of his eyes. However, Murdock also roams the streets at night as the Devil of Hell's Kitchen, a vigilante who seeks to throttle crime in the city and make his home a better and safer place for the innocent and feeble among those who live there. For three seasons, Murdock, alongside his dear friends, fought back powerful forces of evil such as The Hand, Wilson Fisk, and more.

Daredevil Set A High Benchmark For Marvel TV

Since 2008, Marvel and the MCU have dominated the movie space, accomplishing spectacular feats and building a mega-franchise unlike anything that came before. However, Daredevil stood apart from the MCU and still managed to do something magical in the space of a few years. Charlie Cox delivered an outstanding performance as Matt Murdock and his alter ego. Cox is strong and powerful, exuding confidence and resilience that reinforces the character in every scene.

Charlie Cox, who plays Matt Murdock, delivers an outstanding performance.

Cast like Vincent D'Onofrio, playing Kingpin, Deborah Ann Woll, and Elden Henson, round out the cast and provide rich, story-driven character moments. The series then expands on this with well-written dialogue that moves the character arcs forward in meaningful ways, accompanied by spectacular action scenes that often went viral for their incredible visuals and one-take stylings. Overall, the show managed to hit the right notes in so many ways, delivering something truly special and compelling from start to finish.

And in just three seasons, the flow of the series made every episode effective, carrying a weight that would affect the show at every turn and permanently alter the landscape of the series. In particular, the first and third seasons are incredibly strong, though the second season introduces one of the most interesting side characters, including Frank Castle/The Punisher. Tension continues to build with each new adventure, as the series follows the rise, fall, and rise again of Daredevil.

Daredevil Found A Way To Perfectly Balance Emotion & Action

Few action shows manage to truly explore the emotional state of their protagonists. Even in the superhero format, heroes tend to fall into the category of being either action-orientated or emotionally driven. Despite the challenge, Daredevil finds a solid balance, delivering plenty of both in each episode. Of course, some episodes lean more heavily one way or another, but as a whole, the series creates an excellent balance between both elements.

The fact that this show is now being brought back, and has fans extremely excited for Cox and D'Onofrio to make the leap to the larger MCU, is a testament to the quality and strength of the series.

While Netflix is quick to cut a series if it doesn't deliver, or the cost is too high, the only reason Daredevil was axed — along with the subsequent Daredevil: Born Again, and has fans excited for Cox and D'Onofrio to leap into the wider MCU, is a testament to the quality and strength of the series. More than that, it's evident that everyone involved was ionate and talented.

The writers understood the characters, the actors took ownership of their roles and brought them to life, and the cinematography was phenomenal. From intense action fights, tense courtroom scenes, and light moments among friends, Daredevil has it all. The series has already gotten plenty of praise, but it needs to be said that every bit is warranted for this exceptional foray into TV, which stood up to the competition and proved that it, along with the cast and crew, deserves a bigger stage to tell Daredevil's story.

All three seasons of Daredevil are available to stream on Disney+ now.