9 Years Later, I Still Can't Believe Marvel Introduced One Of Their Scariest Show Villains By Showing Them Going On Dates

Daredevil introduced one of Marvel’s most intimidating villains in a surprising way. Wilson Fisk debuted in season one of the series as a powerful businessman and crime lord. His conflict with Matt Murdock stemmed from his dealings with the underworld and he became the main enemy of Daredevil throughout the show’s three-season run. Considering that Kingpin is a normal human in a universe where superpowered individuals exist, it’s all the more impressive that he never shies away from violence.

Fisk is as intimidating of a character as he is complex from just his physical presence alone. However, it didn’t start like that. When Fisk was first introduced in the early season 1 storyline, most of the focus was on his relationship with the art curator Vanessa Marianna. She became one of the only people that Fisk would come to care about, and although having his Marvel introduction start with romance seemed like a random decision, it was actually crucial in shaping him to be an incredibly intimidating villain.

Kingpin’s Daredevil Season 1 Story Focuses A Lot On His Romance

The early Daredevil season 1 storyline focused on how Fisk and Vanessa fell in love, which some may have felt was a strange choice. We’re aware of what he’s capable of and expect violence from him, so having to sit through several episodes of him semi-awkwardly trying to woo Vanessa may have felt like a drag to some fans. Fisk and Vanessa go on two dates in the early Daredevil episodes and spend plenty of time together, with the focus being on their evolving relationship.

Before meeting Vanessa, Fisk was an introverted person who kept to himself. Though he was capable of stepping up as a charismatic leader when needed, he had social anxiety and remained rather shy. He became more comfortable around people with Vanessa’s encouragement, and she remained loyal to him even after he revealed his true identity. The two were madly in love, which was the outcome that fans likely wanted after following their romance for the majority of season 1.

Why Focusing On Kingpin’s Romance Was The Right Choice For Daredevil Season 1

Even though the decision to focus on Kingpin’s love life seems like an odd choice for the intimidating villain, it was ultimately the right direction for Daredevil season 1 to go in. Fisk’s time with Vanessa showed him on his best behavior. He is most civilized and human when he’s talking to her, making him more of a three-dimensional character beyond an aggressive crime lord. Their romance showed that Fisk was complex and that he was in fact capable of caring for others despite his violent tendencies.

10 Biggest Kingpin Differences Between Netflix & Disney+

Vincent D’Onofrio has returned as Wilson Fisk in the MCU, but Marvel Studios’ version of Kingpin is different from his Defenders Saga counterpart.

Seeing Kingpin’s soft side while with Vanessa also makes for great contrast and surprise moments. The two shared a tender moment on their first death, and it was followed up by a scene of him decapitating Anatoly Ranskahov with a car door. Throwing in soft moments with Fisk and Vanessa reminds the viewers that he can be a compassionate person at heart, which is perhaps what makes his otherwise indifference to killing throughout Daredevil season 1 feel so much more intimidating.