sasha_feather (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sasha_feather) wrote2015-05-02 10:17 am
sasha_feather) wrote2015-05-02 10:17 am
Entry tags:
Matt and Foggy
Daredevil on Netflix has many problems but one thing I love are the characters. They are flawed people who care about each other in flawed ways, and they grow and change.
When Foggy finds out about Matt's secret identity, he is rightfully angry. Prior to this moment, Foggy looks up to Matt: Matt is highly intelligent and studious, good looking and composed, charming: many things that Foggy aspires to be. He doesn't imagine that Matt is a liar. When Matt tries to explain, Foggy asks angrily, "Are you even really blind?" Matt must admit that it's more complicated than a simple yes or no, and that he's been lying the whole time they've been friends. Foggy has higher ethical standards than Matt: when Foggy realizes that Matt listens to people's heartbeats to determine if they are lying, he gets upset and sees it as a violation of privacy.
But what's more: Matt's not just been lying to Foggy. He didn't even tell his dad. The only people who know are Claire, the nurse, who found out accidentally while saving Matt, and possibly Matt's priest, who put the pieces together on his own (and who is sworn to secrecy). Matt is a closed off, secretive person, and his mentor, a man called Stick, reinforced Matt's natural tendencies by telling him not to form personal connections. I get the feeling that friendship is a new and uncertain thing for Matt. He doesn't keep girlfriends long; he can't, because he doesn't know how to be honest with them.
In talking and drinking with Karen, Foggy describes the fight that he and Matt had as "we're going through a rough patch.... A very rough patch." The understanding being that they will get through it, even though Foggy threw their business sign in the trash. They have the kind of friendship that can survive even this sort of damage, because Foggy is loyal, and because Matt needs him.
I like that part of Matt's journey is about slowly, carefully learning to trust a few people. Matt keeps everyone at arm's length, emotionally. Foggy finally busts though his secrets and is able to remake their friendship in a deeper way.
When Foggy finds out about Matt's secret identity, he is rightfully angry. Prior to this moment, Foggy looks up to Matt: Matt is highly intelligent and studious, good looking and composed, charming: many things that Foggy aspires to be. He doesn't imagine that Matt is a liar. When Matt tries to explain, Foggy asks angrily, "Are you even really blind?" Matt must admit that it's more complicated than a simple yes or no, and that he's been lying the whole time they've been friends. Foggy has higher ethical standards than Matt: when Foggy realizes that Matt listens to people's heartbeats to determine if they are lying, he gets upset and sees it as a violation of privacy.
But what's more: Matt's not just been lying to Foggy. He didn't even tell his dad. The only people who know are Claire, the nurse, who found out accidentally while saving Matt, and possibly Matt's priest, who put the pieces together on his own (and who is sworn to secrecy). Matt is a closed off, secretive person, and his mentor, a man called Stick, reinforced Matt's natural tendencies by telling him not to form personal connections. I get the feeling that friendship is a new and uncertain thing for Matt. He doesn't keep girlfriends long; he can't, because he doesn't know how to be honest with them.
In talking and drinking with Karen, Foggy describes the fight that he and Matt had as "we're going through a rough patch.... A very rough patch." The understanding being that they will get through it, even though Foggy threw their business sign in the trash. They have the kind of friendship that can survive even this sort of damage, because Foggy is loyal, and because Matt needs him.
I like that part of Matt's journey is about slowly, carefully learning to trust a few people. Matt keeps everyone at arm's length, emotionally. Foggy finally busts though his secrets and is able to remake their friendship in a deeper way.