When Marvel’s Daredevil first hit Netflix, it set the tone for how these shows were going to play out: Overly long, but with enough action (even if predominantly hallway-based) and occasional flickers of great character work that audiences stayed along for the sometimes tedious ride. It was a formula that, in my nerd-ass opinion, briefly found a stride in season one of Jessica Jones, but was almost damn-near perfected in the third season of Daredevil.

After The Defenders turned into a wet fart that still couldn’t escape the treading water feeling, despite being a scant eight episodes, I could barely bring myself to watch these things anymore. I literally passed on four whole seasons, but the allure of Bullseye was too much. And, Christ, did they nail it. There’s a reason Wilson Bethel was almost Captain America.

By the time season three ended, I was ready to eat the children of anyone who tried to cancel Daredevil. Bethel’s Bullseye was a much-needed jolt thanks to an intricate plot that didn’t involve Karen and Foggy frowning about Matt for an entire season, and the word of mouth online was practically glowing with a singular thought:

Is Daredevil actually awesome now?

So of course, the show was cancelled, which was both shocking and not-shocking as it became clear that Disney absolutely wants its toys back for its own streaming service. Prior to last night’s news, there was still a glimmer of hope that Netflix just didn’t put up a fight to keep the lesser-loved Iron Fist and Luke Cage, but surely, Daredevil would be safe.

Nope.

Although, oddly Jessica Jones and The Punisher will be sticking around for a while, but the real salt in the wound came when co-executive producer Sam Ernst revealed that season four of Daredevil was entirely laid out when the show got axed. Which means there was more of Bethel’s Bullseye ready to go, and we were definitely not getting that sweet shit.

Man, so weird to be in the Daredevil writers room today, getting the news that we're cancelled. On the walls were an entire season 4 laid out - and it was so f***g cool. So many moments we wanted the fans to see… Sigh, this business.

— Sam Ernst (@havensam) November 30, 2018

But, hey, maybe there’s a chance these characters will return on Disney+ in their current forms.

Nope, not happening either. Goddammit.

Nah - this is all business stuff that's way above my pay grade. Sorry to not be able work with the great writers on this show. Sorry to not be able to help @erikoleson see his vision through. But TV writers are gypsies, and I'll work with all these folks again. Onward! https://t.co/m3otY9RPex

— Sam Ernst (@havensam) November 30, 2018

So here’s what we’re probably looking at: There’s going to be a new Daredevil and Bullseye who Marvel will actually give a crap about and let gleefully hop between the movies and Disney+. Which on the one hand is great if you’re a fan of the characters, but it really is some bullshit for Charlie Cox, who was essentially a guinea pig for 47 long episodes and got broomed to the side for it.

As for Bethel, talk about a punch in the perfect teeth. The dude finally gets into the Marvel Universe and delivers easily one of the top villain performances in a franchise that has a long history of dropping the ball when it comes to antagonists, and he gets canned right as his character is about to get fully unleashed.

And, yet, how many of us will subscribe to Disney+ on day one despite all of this? *slowly raises soft, pale, delicate hand*

Yup, I’m why we can’t have nice things like Wade Kinsella doing sick karate. I’m sorry!

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Mike is a Staff Contributor living in Pennsyltucky. You can follow him on Twitter.

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