Warning: This recap contains spoilers for the Daredevil episode “Seven Minutes in Heaven.” Leave the ring and find a fight away from this page if you haven’t seen the episode yet.

The second season of Marvel’s Daredevil has been solid so far. There have been some lows to be sure, but overall, the story has been engaging. That started changing in the eighth episode as things got turned up a notch, and “Seven Minutes in Heaven” continued to swing into greatness. Actually, something much better than greatness happened in this episode that brought Fisk and Punisher together, and featured Karen investigating the conspiracy and Matt making progress with learning what the Hand has planned.

The Frank and Fisk aspects were the MVP of the episode. I’ve missed Vincent D’Onofrio’s Fisk. He made the Kingpin into such a memorable, unexpected character. Fisk’s lawyer advised him to keep his head down in prison, but come on—there was no way Fisk was going to be content living among the bottom-feeders. We saw he wasted no time making allies and doing what Fisk does. Like Dutton stood a chance! One reason I believe Fisk is remarkable is because of his patience; he waited and waited and Punisher fell into his lap like a perfectly wrapped present.

Fisk of course didn’t put Dutton on the table to help Frank (I’m not positive Fisk was certain Dutton had any involvement with the murder of Frank’s family). Which actually brings me to the only nitpick I had about the episode: Is Punisher so desperate for revenge he didn’t feel the need to question Fisk about the source of his information? I know the answer is yes, but I still think Frank is too smart to leap without more to go on. Of course, Fisk is an expert manipulator and said just enough of the right words about the cartels, etc. that he was convincing.

I could watch D’Onofrio and Jon Bernthal talk as Fisk and Frank all damn day, every day. They played such a great brains/brawn (and still some brains) dynamic. And incidentally, Fisk’s deal is about the only thing I would have bought Frank wrecking his trial over.

Punisher went after Dutton for Fisk (and for himself), and he didn’t quite get the sweet revenge he was looking for, but he did get more clues. He learned the events on the day of his family’s murder were part of an undercover sting—the feds were actually after a man known as the Blacksmith. Armed with new information, Punisher tried to leave, but Fisk had other plans. He wanted Punisher to die. Fisk of all people should know about the dangers of underestimating, but he didn’t think Frank would survive an assault from several prisoners. He was wrong.

The resulting battle was bloody, brutal, raw, and a about a million other adjectives. It’s so fascinating to watch Punisher’s fighting style vs. Daredevil’s. Daredevil maims or injures, but Punisher goes straight for the kill. He’s about efficiency and taking every opportunity. I can’t help but marvel at Frank’s conviction and how it motivates his actions. (Also, look at these side by sides comparing the fight to the comics).

Surprised by Frank being alive, Fisk took things further, demonstrating how much he has the guards in his pocket. He complimented Frank’s talents and said he wanted to put those gifts to work, and of course, he’ll help/allow Frank to continue to seek answers and vengeance along the way. In other words, Fisk chose the exact right play and then used his leverage to get Frank a walk out of prison.

Frank and Fisk would have been more than enough for an episode, but there was still more to be had here. Let’s hit upon some other highlights. Like how the budding reunion between Matt and Elektra fell apart faster than you could blink. Elektra killed the youthful ninja who showed up at Matt’s, and Matt realized Elektra took joy in killing. It seemed so abrupt for him to be all, “stay, it will be great” to “nope, we’re corrupting each other,” but the situation was so weird that drastic measures didn’t feel so drastic. Elsewhere in the episode, Matt also pushed Foggy away. And as much as I appreciate Foggy calling Matt out, I agree with Matt telling Foggy he’s tired of apologizing for who he is. They can’t keep having the same argument when it’s never going to end in Matt putting away the mask.

Matt went off on his own and started to unravel truth about the Hand. He also got beat up by Nobu again—well, Nobu 2.0.

Karen forged her own path, too. Frustrated with Foggy closing the file on Frank and the conspiracy, she went to Ellison. I adore when Karen rolls up her sleeves. She dug her heels in and her and Ellison learned about the John Doe report the medical examiner falsified. Her gumption got her the use of Ben’s old office. Awww. I don’t know how we’d have time to get to anything else in what’s left of the season, but a file hinted at something extreme about Karen’s past.

Given the way Karen does not let things go, it’s only a matter of time before she turns that attention to Matt, right? Maybe. The possibilities are numerous and strong.

Favorite quotes:

• “You ain’t ever seen a throne you didn’t want to sit on.” – Dutton
• “You don’t get to create danger and then protect us from that danger.” – Foggy
• “This place is not where your story ends.” – Karen

What do you think about a Frank and Fisk partnership? Were you excited to see Fisk acquire the Kingpin moniker? Do you agree this is the best episode of the season so far? Share all the thoughts in the comments. All of them.

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IMAGES: Netflix, Malisses Icons