If you're a fan of the comics like I am Daredevil actually has 3-5 story arcs that on their own could become amazing TV shows. Especially the story arcs that would connect, Cage, Iron Fist, and the Devil. Obviously We don't know if they will make a season 2, or 3 so saying "This story arc, then this story arc" Is pointless. Though I have heard if the mini series Defenders is successful enough the next seasons would be mixes of all the characters, like a Defenders show not seperate shows. Or a if only Luke and Fist are successful a Heroes for Hire show.
Here are my Rankings with things that would need to be changed for it to work as a TV show.
5. Man Without Fear (Frank Miller Volume 1)
This story arc is the one that was butchered in the now infamous Daredevil film. This story arc introduced Kingpin as the major villain and through flashbacks shows Jack the Devil Murdock (DD's dad) as an abusive drunk that worked for the Kingpin as a hired thug before getting killed for not throwing a fight. This arc also de "magics" DD. He didn't get magic powers from a chemical spill it's more that he's a blind ninja. it introduces the Hand, and Elektra as Murdock's dangerous college girlfriend and eventual villain. As well as reintroducing Bullseye as a psychopathic murderer for hire that also murders Elektra. Many of the shots from the film (the only good ones) we direct cuts from the volume.
Pros: It introduces Daredevil and if done correctly could introduce every single character in the DD world. By sticking closer to the source material they might have a chance at solid introductory story arc.
Cons: The film really spoiled it. It would basically be a better retelling of a story we'd already seen. The other con is, as I will point out later, is that Daredevil will bne the first of the street level heroes that get their own show if it's a boring retelling of the same story it's not going to capture casual fans. The other issue is this story arc because it's an origin story doesn't carry the same weight. You need to feel like Murdock is going to die at the end. Or that he should already be dead and is lucky to be alive.
4. Guardian Devil. (Kevin Smith)
This story arc has the Daredevil protecting a child from his old nemesis Bullseye because this child might the messiah or the anti-christ. And the Daredevil needs to protect or destroy her. There are character reveals through out in the form of letters from Karen Page to Daredevil. Eventually Karen returns to let Matt know that she has AIDs and he needs to get tested. He asks her to help Care for the child , he goes to get answers from Doctor Strange, and when he returns Bullseye kills Page and steals the baby. Matt almost kills himself but changes his mind. Eventually it is revealed this awesome arc was all created by Mysterio and it explains Mysterios death, and the Kingpin is sort of involved.
Pros: The break up letters from Karen can explain the origin in a non-hokey way. Then her being murdered, and the HIV reveal would make for some climactic scenes at the end of episodes. If Marvel wants to tie it into the greater Marvel universe they can have a Doctor Strange as well as a Black Widow cameo without changing the story really at all.
Con: The main villain and the entire ending would have to change. They would have to involve more characters and really stretch the story for it to be a 16 episode arc. Really the ending of this arc ruined it for me. It starts out as a very Daredevil comic that has him questioning his life choices and everything, leading to the very Daredevil ideas of depression and sadness, but the ending is a Spiderman comic. You'd also have to already explain who Sister Maggie is for the arc to make any sense. This could be a solid episode ina 16 episode series. The arc itself wouldn't be condusive for an entire season
3. Wake Up (the Bendis Run)
Using all of the Bendis stuff would be impossible to really wrap up in a bried synopsis. But in general Bendis has DD still hung up on a dead Karen Page (you know the one with Aids that he cheated on) writing her letters, explaining the origins of the character and changing some stuff from the distant past. Eventually leading to the Daredevil being outed as Matt Murdock and framed for a crime he didn't commit. He's arrested and Foggy is killed. All of this manipulated by the Kingpin. DD eventually is freed and Foggy's not dead he's been in FBI protective custody and the Iron Fist has been posing as the DD to keep Hell's Kitchen safe.
Pros: It's a long great story arc that has things pre built into it so explain, Page, Elektra, Bullseye, and every other important character in the DD world. As well as a great arc of him falling from grace. There are a ton of one off and one shots but culminating at the end of the season with Daredevil discovering Iron Fist as the Daredevil would be a great way of connecting the 2 shows.
Cons: The best part of it is basically a retelling of the same story from the late 80s. If this story and another story (Born Again) are linked or smashed into one story it could be great and could connect Daredevil to Iron Fist really well. Also there's no big villain fight at the end just a good fight every issue or so. You're also condensing a run of about 3-4 years into 1 season which might be difficult
2. Inferno (Nocenti)
This story arc involves alot more of the magical aspects of the marvel universe, So it depends on where they want to go. The main villain is Kingpin and Typhoid Mary. Basically Daredevil is trying to get his life back together with Karen Page when he basically cheats on her with Typhoid Mary. This all happens as Hell's Kitchen is taken over by Demons. Daredevil basically loses everything his life completely falls apart and Karen leaves him. (If you read DD you know this happens often.) At the end he is escaping his life living in Upstate New York.
Pros: it's gritty and exposes more of the magical world that DD exists in. It shows the flawed nature of the hero.
Con: it's wierd it's a good arc if you just love theheroes. The reason I put it at number 2 is that you have tie ins with other street level heroes and can make a tie in with Doctor Strange if that's what they want to do. Also this could combine with the Shadowlands arc really well which would involve several of Marvel's current and future heroes as tie ins to Phase 3. But you'd have to make a lot of changes to make it stick.
1. Born Again (Frank Miller)
This story arc involves Daredevil's secret identity exposed by possible aids having, junky, porn star, prostitute and love of DD's life Karen Page for a hit of smack. This info gets to the Kingpin who systemattically destroys Daredevil's life. There are amazing climactic endings to comics like DD being beat up drugged, doused with whiskey and put in a car going into the river, Daredevil's house getting firebombed, Daredevil getting disbarred from practicing law.
Pros: it's very very Daredevil. For most this is your favorite arc and it's retold in so many different ways. Through flashbacks from Karen Page you can tell entire episodes and the love triangle between Foggy and DD. You can even do flashback about the Hand and Stick and Elektra if done properly as well.
Cons: Elektra, Bullseye, and most of Daredevil's origins aren't described so flashbacks to them would be necessary. It's really adult which I like but some won't. You'd have to probably change the character Nuke, to Bullseye because i doubt Chris Evans will make an appearance on a Netflix show. It would also make more sense. And a personal thing. DD wanting to stay with Karen and start a life with her and the whole Karen page thing is stupid in my opinion. I get that Murdock is a very damaged person but why would he take back a heroin addicted prostitute after she sold him out for smack? It never really made sense to me.
Let me know what your rankings are . In my opinion ideally they would tie origin stuff into a few earlier episodes and then use the full Born Again arc, with an ending closer to the ending of the Bendis arc with Murdock going to prison because I feel like the blind lawyer being locked up with a bunch of inmates that he put there would be a great episode. And then the big reveal, battle with Bulleye, foggy is alive, FBI agent comic characters can be introduced, and then Iron Fist protecting Hells Kitchen as the DD.