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[Heads up, true believers. As I am writing separate reviews for all 13 new Daredevil episodes as I watch them (at a semi-reasonable pace) I will attempt to be more concise. Meaning shorter reviews than usual. If I can help it...]

All of Marvel's Daredevil is great so far. And still though, as with most excellent shows, there are stand out episodes. Whatever my actual ratings/scores are, there's no denying that "Cut Man," "In the Blood," and "Condemned" worked to elevate the series to higher levels. "Speak of the Devil" however felt like the quintessential Daredevil episode. Taking into account the comics, the legacy, and all the work from artists and writers previously involved.

The spiritual angst. The David vs. Goliath tale. Matt and Kingpin meeting in Vanessa's gallery. Kingpin kicking Matt's ass. After Matt's harrowing, gutting battle with Nobu (dressed in red Hand gear!). A trap set, and sprung. Fisk using Matt's fist-clenching anger against him and almost wiping him off the map. This was an exceptional chapter.

"Speak of the Devil" used the time-honored TV tactic of letting us know what's coming. The deadly confrontation that awaited us. NBC's Hannibal had a lot of success with this format in its second season. Going for suspense over surprise. We knew Matt was heading into a trap. And we also knew that poor Mrs. Cardenas was a goner as soon as she agreed to go back to her building and try to convince her neighbors to refuse Fisk's offer. I even typed in my notes "NOOOOOOO." And then Matt specifically speaking out against the risk was a sure sign their one and only client was done for.

The special twist however, right at the end, was that Matt vs. Nobu wasn't the climax. And as bloody and horrendous as that fight was (a fight that actually earned Nobu's respect), Matt still had to face Fisk, who seemed totally unfazed by Matt's attacks. Remember, Matt's abilities don't include super-strength. And then Matt had to escape certain death. And then Matt had to... be discovered, and uncovered, by Foggy! His best friend, who's also held the strong opinion that the neighborhood's "devil" is a murdering nutjob.

Granted, Daredevil's not the first show to tease its audience with what's to come and then add an extra layer to it. But the Matt/Fisk fight was really unexpected given that the two of them had already met earlier in the episode. It was hard to predict that they'd cross paths again. And that art gallery scene was also phenomenal. First, Matt's moments with Vanessa (where she almost knew to show him a red painting - the color of anger and rage) were great. And then, of course, so were his sideways words with Fisk. When Vanessa said "You could always ask him yourself," I audibly gasped.