Review: Marvel’s “Daredevil: Born Again” Should Please New and Old Fans Alike
Much has been made of the creative reset that Daredevil: Born Again made during the recent Hollywood strikes that evolved it into a show that resembled the previous Netflix series. The show definitely feels like another chapter in the Netflix series, but with a storytelling reset that series new viewers to jump onboard.
Born Again begins with a shocking event which caused Matt Murdock to retire his Daredevil alter ego. Meanwhile, Wilson Fisk begins his campaign for mayor of New York City which will inevitably lead to conflict. Much like the original show, one of the best parts of the series is the chess match between Murdock and Fisk which is set against a backdrop of mutual respect and enmity. Following the prologue, we return to a world that has not seen Daredevil for a year. While many super hero movies and shows use this technique to reset their storytelling, Daredevil: Born Again pushed past it being a trope thanks to the fantastic performances that showcase the strain or relief Daredevil’s absence has caused.
This new iteration of the show includes the long action shots, violence, and foul language that earned the original its TV-MA rating. Just because Fisk appeared in Hawkeye and Murdock appeared in She-Hulk, it doesn’t mean that the show is appropriate for the same audiences. But for those who the show is made for, it provides an exciting return to the darker edges of the MCU. Although the action is exciting, the best parts are the character interactions which can be intense and emotional.
The performances in the series are phenomenal. Not just with the actors such as Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock and Vincent D’Onofrio Wilson Fisk, but also the stunt performers, cinematography, lighting, and musical score. In short, it is artfully created television which does not feel rushed in its crafting as some of the other Disney+ shows have often been criticized for. Marvel’s New York City is beautiful and gritty all at the same time thanks to the show’s amazing visual construction. Despite showing a flawed city, the visual aesthetic makes you fall in love with New York as both Fisk and Murdock do. Also, the “Rogers The Musical" easter eggs make me long for the return of the show at Disney California Adventure.
Daredevil: Born Again somehow also balances being in the MCU (referencing Spider-Man serving as one example) but also being its own thing that isn’t trying to move the overall storytelling of the MCU — or the Hulks — forward. It also plays some plots forward from the original series without making it required viewing. While I enjoyed the original series, I really loved Daredevil: Born Again. The show took everything that worked before but now executed at the highest level.