This review covers all nine episodes of Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 and is spoiler-free.
Overview
- Daredevil: Born Again struggles with action and narrative pacing, despite commendable performances from its cast.
- The season centers around Wilson Fisk’s rise as mayor and Matt Murdock’s challenges within the judicial system.
- Though it touches on mature themes, the series grapples with inconsistent pacing and a convoluted narrative structure.
Anticipation for Daredevil: Born Again has been immense since its announcement, surpassing the excitement surrounding other Marvel TV ventures. This enthusiasm can be attributed to the lasting impact of the original Netflix series, which concluded in 2018 yet remained a topic of conversation among fans. Marvel has consistently kept Matt Murdock relevant by featuring him in projects like She-Hulk and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
However, Daredevil: Born Again faced significant behind-the-scenes changes during its development. Amid the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, Marvel executives reevaluated the project, ultimately replacing the original head writers. Dario Scardapane, known for his work on The Punisher, was brought in to steer the series in a new direction. Additionally, acclaimed directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead joined the team after their success with Moon Knight and Loki Season 2. With such a talented team, the question remains: Does Daredevil: Born Again live up to the expectations? Unfortunately, the answer is a resounding “no.”
Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 Falls Short of Expectations
As displayed in its promotions, Daredevil: Born Again primarily focuses on Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio) winning the mayoral election, while Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) steps back from his vigilante life after enduring a personal tragedy unveiled in the opening scene. Although this starting moment introduces a thrilling one-shot fight sequence directed by Benson and Moorhead, it ultimately sets a high bar that the subsequent six episodes fail to meet. Considering the season’s reduction to nine episodes from its initially intended eighteen, tighter storytelling was essential, but the pacing and fight sequences remain disappointing.
The performances, however, remain a highlight. Charlie Cox effectively channels Matt Murdock’s complex persona, balancing intensity with humor. Vincent D’Onofrio continues to portray Kingpin with formidable gravitas, demonstrating his capacity to instill dread even in minimal gestures.
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Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 |
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Directors |
Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead, Michael Cuesta, Jeffrey Nachmanoff, David Boyd |
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Writers |
Dario Scardapane, Matt Corman, Chris Ord, Jill Blankenship, Jesse Wigutow, Heather Bellson, David Feige, Grainne Godfree, Thomas Wong |
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Cast |
Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Margarita Levieva, Nikki James, Clark Johnson, Genneya Walton, Arty Froushan, Michael Gandolfini, Ayelet Zurer, Jon Bernthal |
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Episodes |
9 |
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Where and When to Watch |
Tuesdays at 9:00 PM Eastern on Disney+ |
The supporting cast also excels, with Margarita Levieva portraying Murdock’s new love interest, a therapist who unexpectedly finds herself entangled in his world, and Michael Gandolfini embodying Fisk’s eager new associate. The series sees a welcome return of Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/The Punisher, alongside Ayelet Zurer, whose role as Vanessa Fisk is both nuanced and affecting.
Regrettably, despite the commendable efforts of the cast, the initial season of Daredevil: Born Again falls short of expectations. Even with discussions of a “creative overhaul, ”the series still feels reminiscent of the very issues Marvel aimed to address. A significant portion of the early episodes emphasizes Fisk’s mayoral duties, including a humorous scene with children performing a notoriously terrible 80s song, overshadowing Matt Murdock’s actual storyline.
Conversely, Murdock’s narrative primarily showcases his struggles within a flawed legal system, intertwined with a police corruption subplot that intersects with Punisher’s arc, emerging as one of the more effective components of the plot.
Daredevil: Born Again’s Disjointed Storytelling and Aesthetic Issues
A significant flaw in Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 mirrors the issues seen in Captain America: Brave New World. Despite significant efforts to address its shortcomings, the overall product still feels hastily assembled. The initial interaction between Punisher and Matt Murdock seems inserted post-production to infuse thematic depth. The Muse storyline, similarly, progresses too swiftly, leaving key narrative components feeling absent.
While the series aims to adopt a more mature tone—evidenced by the occasional use of strong language and graphic violence—it often results in a visually flat and uninspired aesthetic, failing to capture the gritty essence of its predecessor. This dissatisfaction is exacerbated by transitions showcasing New York City, which feel more like stock footage than cohesive elements of the narrative.
YouTube Link
YouTube Link
Some of the local flavor is conveyed through BB Urich’s interstitial report segments, which adopt a gritty, boxed aspect ratio and feature interviews with New Yorkers discussing the unfolding events. These moments evoke the atmosphere found in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man but simply lack the depth to elevate Daredevil: Born Again to new heights.
As a second season is already being planned, fans may hope that the flaws of Season 1 are merely an anomaly—a compilation of older and newer content meant to salvage a project that could have been much worse. As it stands, audiences may experience disappointment while waiting for meaningful developments. Although the last act finally delivers some long-awaited action, the question remains whether it will be sufficient to restore viewers’ faith. Hints of a superior narrative exist, but are hindered by ongoing storytelling challenges that have afflicted Marvel productions in recent years. Viewers may find themselves drawn back to other platforms to revisit the original series they cherish.
Daredevil: Born Again is currently available for streaming on Disney+, with new episodes releasing each Tuesday at 9:00 PM Eastern.
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