After last week’s blockbuster episode, it should be no surprise that there would be a bit of a slower episode. “Speak of the Devil” ended on a HUGE cliffhanger and this episode has to pick up the pieces. Foggy has found Matt broken and battered from his conflict with Fisk and his men. A large part of this episode is a simple battle of wits between Nelson and Murdoch.
One of the highlights of this episode is that after being a secondary character, Foggy finally gets a little character development. He is rightfully upset as he feels his friend has lied to him for all this time. His reactions feel natural as he seems appropriately upset about a major bombshell being dropped, but is conflicted that it came from someone so near and dear to him. Foggy’s smart-alecky personality lends itself to featuring a little more comic relief in this episode – not exactly a laugh-a-minute riot, but the humor seems natural for how someone as sarcastic as Foggy would respond in this situation.
This episode reveals a lot of the backstory between the two. They were in law school together where Foggy was the joker and the girl chaser while Matt was the more serious student. They worked at a law firm but quit when Matt’s abilities gave him insight that their bosses were bilking people before starting their own firm. These scenes are effective on a few levels – Matt and Foggy have chemistry, plus showing them in this episode creates a great contrast between the friendship they used to have and how things have turned out.
B-plots include a story reveals a few more shades of Fisk’s personality as he actually shows a willingness to go legit… until something happens. Also, Karen and Urich are on the hunt for information about Fisk, eventually leading them to Fisk’s mother. The Karen Urich sideplot may be a side dish, but it’s welcome with the main entree.
Overall, this is a solid episode. It is one of the lightest on action – the only time we see the Devil in action is a quick flashback when he roughed a child abuser – but it is effective. Foggy becomes a little more fleshed out, as does his relationship with Matt. The B-plots are engaging enough while keeping the season’s story going.