Disclaimer: I live my work-life at a music company surrounded by composers, musicians, and sound designers. I get to hang with some seriously sonically-gifted folks. I am not one of them. So if you are looking for a technical sound review of “Daredevil”, this will not be it.
I am however, a listener, and this is arguably my most important role at Made Music Studio. After all, most people aren’t experts in music or sound, but we do love it, live through it, and have a visceral emotional response when the sound is perfect for the experience. I am the audience for sonic experiences in entertainment and for brands.
I am also a comic nerd. So, between the two, I could not wait to see what Netflix would do with “Daredevil” – the series about a man blinded by chemicals, relying on his heightened other senses to fight evil. If they played it right, the sound would be key to getting into Daredevil’s head – you have to experience the world through his ears instead of his eyes.
As many a Reddit reviewer has noted – watch “Daredevil” in surround sound or through headphones or you will miss out on the detailed sound design that is key to the viewing experience. Sound is one of the primary, if not the premiere, storyteller in “Daredevil”. The world as heard through the main character is immersive, powerful, and at times gruesome. This sonically-attuned-fan-girl was not disappointed.
Three specific executions of sonic storytelling in “Daredevil” Episode 1, I really enjoyed as a viewer…
The rich sonic storytelling was present throughout the entire episode, but the most visceral moment arrived in the last 30 seconds of the pilot episode. Daredevil stands on a rooftop in Hell’s Kitchen, sifting through a sonic barrage. The sounds of the city are laid out below him. Finally, he hones in on a single sound – the cries of a little boy come rushing at you the viewer, or in this case, the listener. Onto the next episode…
Thank you Netflix. Let the binge listening begin.
Lauren McGuire is SVP, Client Services and Brand Development at Made Music Studio. Talk to her on Twitter @McGL212.