- “Daredevil” fans were crushed when Netflix cancelled the show in 2018, but it is now returning to Disney+.
- “Daredevil: Born Again” is gory and violent: proving Marvel can change and adapt.
- The show has flaws, but is the best Marvel project in years.
“Daredevil: Born Again” starts with an unsubtle wink to fans who have waited seven years for the show to return.
As the lawyer Foggy Nelson wistfully recalls long-gone diners in New York City, his legal partner Karen Page replies: “This Hell’s Kitchen nostalgia is running pretty thin you guys, you realize that, right?”
“Not nostalgia. Reverence for the past, yet hope for the future… Too much?” he says.
The tongue-in-cheek line might be on the nose (or horns), but it’s a manifesto for the entire series.
“Daredevil: Born Again” has reverence for the eponymous 2015 Netflix show beloved by fans, who were crushed when it was canceled in 2018 after three seasons. But the symphony of violence when Bullseye attacks Josie’s Bar in the opening minutes makes it clear that Disney wants to take the franchise to new heights, by taking risks and pushing the boundaries of what the Marvel Cinematic Universe can be.
Yes, projects like “Werewolf By Night” and the “Echo” miniseries have gritty moments, but fist-fights actually carry weight in “Daredevil: Born Again.” They lead to oozing bruises, court cases, and questions from loved ones. They also enable characters to grow, especially after a tragedy in the first episode (which will likely annoy fans).
This is not the all-too-often vacuous family-friendly superheroics that Marvel typically relies on.
Sure, Daredevil doesn’t need violence to work as a character in the MCU, as proven by his recent cameos in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “She-Hulk.”
But grabbing fans by the scruff of the neck with a combination of substance and high-octane action is a particularly smart move following a string of lackluster Marvel offerings, on both big and small screens.
It seems there’s still fight left in Marvel, the studio just needs to figure out what makes each project special and lean into that, as it does with “Daredevil: Born Again.”
“Daredevil: Born Again” isn’t perfect, but it’s the best Marvel project in years
Having said that, while the series shines when creating raw tension and using violence in clever ways, the story feels flimsy in places. This may be symptomatic of the creative overhaul that took place in June 2023. Marvel Television went back to the drawing board after filming several episodes of “Born Again” and started afresh with a new showrunner and writers that October.
For instance, Muse — an artistic serial killer who roams the streets looking for victims — is an exciting new enemy for Daredevil, like something out of David Fincher’s “Seven” or the BBC’s “Luther.” But his storyline is cut disappointingly short.
There are some rough visuals in a CGI-enhanced fight, which is odd given some of the impressively choreographed stunts later in the series. And a few story beats are particularly rushed, including Murdock’s relationship with the psychiatrist Heather Glenn, which materializes almost instantly without feeling particularly earned.
There’s plenty of time spent exploring the hero’s defining dilemma (his duty as Daredevil or his life and career as Matt Murdock), but it takes much longer than expected to get to the meat of the season: Kingpin’s plan to ban superheroes from New York.
But there is still much for hungry “Daredevil” fans to unpick. The way Wilson Fisk weaponizes the general public will no doubt draw some real-world comparisons, but Vincent D’Onofrio’s quietly chilling performance never jumps the shark into parody. Kingpin remains as terrifying as ever, as he sets his sights on the mayor’s office, especially in the show’s most obscenely gory moment.
Ultimately, the series as a whole, particularly how Daredevil and Kingpin develop as characters, proves an important point. It is possible for Marvel to add depth to its core characters alongside bone-crunchingly excellent fight choreography.
Throw in a tantalizing cliffhanger ahead of season two, and “Born Again” is the best MCU project in recent years, flaws and all.
To be blunt as Daredevil’s billy clubs, Marvel has found a way to give audiences the hero they know and love, while having him exist in the same universe as the Avengers.
“Hope for the future,” indeed.
