(This is my first time watching the series and my perspective from six episodes in)
This episode was fantastic.
Everybody loves Cut Man - it is the second highest rated episode up to this point, and it is no doubt an incredible episode. However, I only really remember the final fight scene: an amazing fight scene, truly, but the whole episode isn't the most memorable. To be Frank, I had to read a summary for the episode to remember what happened aside from the last five minutes. I found this episode better than Cut Man.
Immediately following the cliffhanger of the previous episode, Condemned is a thrill ride. Matt escapes an impossible situation in a way that is believable, and his interactions with Vladimir is really compelling; the transition from spiteful enemies to mutual respect is terrific. The whole time, we are continuously swapping between perspectives of all who are affected, and so there is never a dull moment. Everything is clear and concise, and overall enthralling.
This episode is entirely about characters, some who had been absent for at least the last episode, which lends to a better paced episode that explores each character's immediate reactions to a pretty important moment. The characters take a front-seat here, with dynamics being key: Matt and Vladimir, Foggy and Karen, and Urich and the police. There's also a heavy focus on Fisk, and this relationship not only with Matt, but with the city in general - where A World on Fire showed Fisk's ruthlessness with good intentions, Condemned shows the lengths he will go to get what he wants. His conversation with Matt is also extremely telling of his insecurities and fear he hides under his power.
The violence in the show can get pretty strong sometimes, so it is nicer to have an episode where the violence is mainly just blood. Even then, the violence that does occur on-screen is tasteful. The fact that the big shootout at the end is entirely offscreen plays more into the fact that this episode was not action - there's no crazy karate outside of the first scuffle, just mind games between Fisk and Matt. There's a shootout that we see very briefly, and although graphic is barely shown. It's intentional, rather than gratuitous as it appears in In The Blood.
The limited locations garners a claustrophobic feeling: the warehouse becoming an aching echo of Fisk's desire to fix the crumbling city, the hospital a pleasant reprieve from the explosions where people make up assumptions about the attacks, and Fisk's SUV that surrounds the Kingpin in a void that accentuates his dominance. It's all so tight and precise, increasing the immersion.
This episode is the reason I don't call this show an action series. It's a drama-thriller about corruption, allegiance, ideology, and morality. It has deep characters and dynamics, with incredible performances from all actors, an impeccable script, and great pacing. This episode was truly a delight.
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