We got that amazing flashback to Stick and Elektra talking about Matt, and how instead of Elektra changing Matt, he changed her. What's not spoken of, what I love, is that Matt did this to Stick too. Something we never were sure about was Stick and Matt, whether he actually cared about him or was just using him, manipulating Matt. We got some points in DD2 where Stick is making it known by his actions and what he says to others that Matt is really important to him, and we know he thought of Elektra as his, but until Defenders I still questioned whether Stick loved Matty. And he does. He did. In his discussion with Luke, he actually points out Matt as family (the same word Foggy finally uses on Matt and that's when I should have known this would all go downhill), and then he adds Elektra's name to that, too. So it looks like Stick loved Matt. Yes, he treated Matt like shit, he lied and manipulated him for years, half of the fucked up emotional baggage and trust issues Matt has can be blamed squarely on Stick, but I'm comforted a little by knowing that Stick was probably just as fucked up because he loved Matty. He never intended to, never wanted to, but he did. So that flashback discussion with Elektra, that discussion with Luke, those things made me glad Stick was in the series.

Although I'm still angry Matt didn't even get to cry or mourn properly, he couldn't even have a full minute to breakdown before he had to get himself under control. :c