This is such a lovely in-depth consideration of his character, thank you. Yes, it's said Wilson was originally a bodyguard/thug working for one of the heads of the mob until he killed him and took his place, so there's a bloody body count in Fisk's background before we even meet him. And then he comes off like he's too high class or it's beneath him or he doesn't want to dirty his hands, except he does? Like he has no chill when he finally has a reason to break someone with his hamfists, it gives him life, it's right there on his face. Rambling, sorry.
FWIW I agree with you, especially regarding the vague, nebulous discontent Fisk likely feels when people are hurt. This reminds me very much of when he's talking to Vanessa in the hospital about faith, how he went through the motions because it was expected, but he didn't feel anything, it was just rote nothing, mimicry. This reminds me of a Psychology Today article re: the difference between sociopaths and psychopaths, and Fisk weighs pretty heavily on the psychopath side of the scale. He's actually kind of textbook:
The show goes to great lengths to give us these parallels between all the characters, a Venn diagram would be fabulous to show where the overlaps are, but the one place Matt and Wilson don't overlap at all? Guilt and faith. The show brought in religion to highlight Matt's moral side of things, what happens to his stability when it decays, and just how great his empathy is for his people, the guilt he has when he fails his 'family.' And Fisk just doesn't have that and the show uses his monologue in ep13 to highlight it with a bible story of all things. And it's perfect (if cliched). The self-delusion. The ill intent. The self-acceptance. It's not pretty, but he's finally being true to himself. I wonder what Vanessa will say.
I do wonder about Wesley, too, because Wesley loved Fisk, loved and respected and was loyal to him, and the only times he couldn't watch his employer with hearteyes? Was when Wilson was beating someone to death with his two massive hands. Even when Wilson is beating the crap out of Matt, the masked guy they've been trying to catch and kill and have failed how many times already, and Wilson is in the background just staring at anything else. What a bunch of fascinating characters.
Re: Fisk says he takes no pleasure in giving pain
FWIW I agree with you, especially regarding the vague, nebulous discontent Fisk likely feels when people are hurt. This reminds me very much of when he's talking to Vanessa in the hospital about faith, how he went through the motions because it was expected, but he didn't feel anything, it was just rote nothing, mimicry. This reminds me of a Psychology Today article re: the difference between sociopaths and psychopaths, and Fisk weighs pretty heavily on the psychopath side of the scale. He's actually kind of textbook:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wicked-deeds/201401/how-tell-sociopath-psychopath
The show goes to great lengths to give us these parallels between all the characters, a Venn diagram would be fabulous to show where the overlaps are, but the one place Matt and Wilson don't overlap at all? Guilt and faith. The show brought in religion to highlight Matt's moral side of things, what happens to his stability when it decays, and just how great his empathy is for his people, the guilt he has when he fails his 'family.' And Fisk just doesn't have that and the show uses his monologue in ep13 to highlight it with a bible story of all things. And it's perfect (if cliched). The self-delusion. The ill intent. The self-acceptance. It's not pretty, but he's finally being true to himself. I wonder what Vanessa will say.
I do wonder about Wesley, too, because Wesley loved Fisk, loved and respected and was loyal to him, and the only times he couldn't watch his employer with hearteyes? Was when Wilson was beating someone to death with his two massive hands. Even when Wilson is beating the crap out of Matt, the masked guy they've been trying to catch and kill and have failed how many times already, and Wilson is in the background just staring at anything else. What a bunch of fascinating characters.