The Man in the Box (2016) User Reviews (9)

Targeted

[ThomasDrufke · 8/10 · 7 April 2016]

We have come to a point in this season in which Hell's Kitchen is in the midst of absolute chaos. The Hand is taking over, Frank is out of prison, Foggy is hospitalized, the law firm is in shambles, and really nobody knows who to trust. This section of New York City has earned its Devilish name for the wrong reasons and at this point in time, there doesn't seem to be much hope.

In large part, this was an action-less episode, but it didn't feel any less eventful. Matt, Karen, and Foggy attended Reyes' mandatory meeting to talk about Frank's escape, which ended in some serious bloodshed. Of course, we don't really see who's behind the shooting, but I think we are supposed to infer that it's the Blacksmith? Especially since Frank gave himself up to Karen and saved her from the later shooting. If there was a positive that came from the shooting, it was Reyes admitting to her mistake at the "Sting" and confirming that the Blacksmith is still a lingering threat.

Speaking of threats, how fun was it seeing Matt go visit Fisk in jail and them share various threats back and forth? Despite Fisk not having a physical presence for most of the season, you got the sense that the ramifications of last year were still weighing on Matt and everyone else involved, so it was nice seeing that come to a forefront this week. It also seemed to foreshadow potential story lines next season with all of the dialogue between them.

The other major arc from this episode came by the victims of the Hand's experiments and their "recovery" in the hospital. Rosario Dawson reprised her role once again as she took care of the patients before they went crazy and killed people as they looked expressionless during the final moments of the episode. Quite the grim ending to a very ominous episode to begin with.

+Fisk/Murdock meeting

+Ominous tone

+Reyes takes the heat

8.3/10

Amazing

[amindostiari · 10/10 · 12 April 2021]

It can only be said about this series that it is a masterpiece. The design of this series is excellent. This episode was also one of the best episodes.

It's what we want

[Leofwine_draca · 8/10 · 7 November 2021]

Not quite as good as the previous episode - it lacks any truly ferocious action sequences - but still very good. The world is chaotic, the sub-plots are numerous, the actors all putting in good work here. Just what we want to see...

Caos in Hell's Kitchen

[martinleonel-55554 · 9/10 · 10 June 2021]

The people against the punisher, Fisk close to taking command again and the hospital in danger. Everything is out of control and only one person can stop this. Daredevil. Lets gooooo.

Non-Stop Thrills [9.2/10]

[panagiotis1993 · 9/10 · 22 May 2023]

Live Reaction / Review for Daredevil Season 2 Episode 10: Episode 9 was really good but I hope that Elektra will just leave Matt alone, she has ruined much of season 2 for me. ''The Punisher, he just escaped'', here we go. They got attacked, Reyes is dead, was that Frank? That was brutal. What is going on? Sweet absolute chaos. Matt goes to visit Fisk in prison, that will be interesting. Fisk is smart. Oh boy he gives Matt a beating, absolute brutality. Even in prison Fisk finds ways to torture Matt, I love it. Elektra again? Oh no.

She says she is going far away, yes please. Where is Frank, I wanna see Frank. Like to see Claire because unlike Elektra she is a likeable character. It seems like Matt is isolating himself, that's not good. Here comes Frank, nice. Someone wants people to believe that Frank is out there killing anyone in his way but it seems like that's not what's happening, interesting, who could this be? Fisk enjoying the prison life is priceless. Stick sent this guy to kill Elektra, what? It's ninja time. What is going on, are the people that the Hand had as prisoners mind controlled or something?

So many things happening at once, it's crazy. These ninjas are so many. What a crazy cliffhanger, wow. Amazing episode, non stop thrills, my rating is 9.2/10.

The people vs Frank Castle, again

[quincytheodore · 7/10 · 29 March 2016]

With the horror opening, this episode veers back and forth between crime thriller and sci-fi. The intensity level doesn't change however, it gives more drama element and it spreads the spotlight neatly. Both old characters, Fisk and Claire, show more aspect of the titular character, although a couple of others characters seem to be slightly underused.

Reyes eventually warms up, sadly it's on her last day on the office. It's awkward that the timing of her departure is too convenient, almost theatrical. It's a sudden change for the character and it may pay off in early part, but it's nearing end of season and she just dies, which is a surreal way to tie lose end from plot perspective. Furthermore, no one seems to realize Murdock's reaction to bullet is oddly fast.

The better parts come with reunion with Fisk. In a discouraging way Murdock finds out that the battle with this nemesis might not be over, not to mention he is tied to him in both lives. The exchange is filled with threats and mockeries, a far cry from his meeting with Claire. She's reluctant but still helpful, a more understanding anchor for Murdock.

Perhaps, it's better for characters to share the screen time. While Foggy is someone to humanize Murdock, he is trapped in disgruntled stance for the majority of the season, which should be resolved soon considering death threat from Fisk. Elektra as the sultry assassin has the same issue, her angle is a bit foreseeable and the exotic charm won't last forever. However, the main draw from Murdock and Frank is still strong and the little minor flaws don't hamper the show's momentum much.

Poorly Directed / Written Episode of a Heretofore Great Series

[asrexproductions · 4/10 · 11 February 2018]

If you were going to jump off this train, I think this is the place to do it.

"Man in the Box" opens with the city on a manhunt for the Punisher (Jon Bernthal), who we last saw escaped from maximum security and a near execution orchestrated by the Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio). Now it seems like he's out for revenge, although Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) doesn't buy it, as the random and seemingly indiscriminate violence throughout the episode isn't really his M.O. In the B story, Dardevil (Charlie Cox) attempts to figure out what weird plans the Hand or whoever has in store for a series of individuals it seemed to have been bleeding last episode - literally. He gets him to his former would-be paramour Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson) at the hospital where she works, but that only heightens the mystery - and worse. Will Daredevil figure out what's going on in Hell's Kitchen? And will Karen save the Punisher from a city that's against him? That's the episode.

And for me it was a disappointing one, because besides copious uses of the word "shit" (which sticks out like a sore thumb for me when there's no other profanity), I thought the action sequences - particularly in the battle at the end between Elektra (Elodie Yung) and a mysterious opponent played by Gilles Marini - were poorly shot, and thus clearly choreographed and boring. I found this particularly noticeable when compared to the exceptional directing of the previous episode, and the science fiction-esque ending put the stamp on my feeling that this series may have run its course. I think it's worth watching because it moves the story along, but between all these and a somewhat embarrassing scene between Daredevil and the Kingpin early on, it makes me nervous for Daredevil's television future. Hoping it pulls back together before this season is done, because any more of this will have me wishing it was me that was blind.

An audacious ending

[guilhermejunior · 7/10 · 31 March 2016]

The true goal of "The Hand" organization gets finally revealed, although it's not that satisfactory after all. Daredevil was, since the beginning, a superhero series, that instead of the cliché unrealistic action, contains a strong plot line starring everyday problems that might happen in real life in court of law. Despite the villains and epic, but unrealistic fights (that are essential to the series (that is not the point)), Daredevil always managed to mix the "hero-element" with law tricks and real life "problem-solving". This episode was a disappointment in that matter, because the viewers find out, that "The Hand" is using its victims, to drain their bloods, and transform them into killer "zombies". I don't dislike that idea 100%, since I personally watch (and enjoy very much doing so) the AMC's series "The Walking Dead", which features zombies dominating the world. The problem of this episode, and with it the heading of this season, is not the fact that there start existing supernatural creatures like zombies, but the context in which they're introduced. I enjoyed the episode, and will continue watching the show, but the idea that "undead people" start walking around, and that there is now the possibility of reviving people, makes me fear what the once outstanding Daredevil-Show might become. However, I still mark this episode with a "7", due to the spectacular developing of the plot and Daredevil's darker character. It is also to praise the twist, that has been brought to the Punisher's storyline, because it slowly leads the audience back to the "Frank of earlier this season", and pushes him away from the assassin we met the last few episodes.

What is happening?

[kingsx_64 · 7/10 · 3 September 2019]

I've been noticing this entire year how the fight scenes haven't been on par with the first season. As another reviewer mentioned, it doesn't look seamless like it did in season 1. What happened? How amazing the fights looked, and how different from any other show I've seen, just went away. Different directors? I don't know. But this and many other season 2 episodes look amateurish compared to last season. What a bummer. The story still has me excited to see where it's going, but for me this whole season is a let down from the previous one.