Daredevil: Born Again is a mixed bag of emotions that succeeds in its entire arc, but not as a series with weekly episode drops. Interestingly, there’s an argument to be made here about the pros and cons of streaming and how, for instance, a series like The Pitt excels at weekly episode drops, whereas the latest MCU adventure feels a bit disjointed.
Starting with a major character death in its first episode, the series appropriately sets the stage for where the caped vigilante of Hell’s Kitchen will end up throughout the narrative. There’s no doubt about the fact that it’s a compelling—albeit deeply heartbreaking—move that’ll focus on an entirely human character journey. In addition, it differs from the character’s death in Secret Invasion, which fully derails the series by misunderstanding both its audience and the characters as a whole. Thus, while unfortunate, it’s easy to understand why showrunners make the decision to kill off Foggy, and how they use grief as Matt Murdock’s driving point. Where the season fumbles, however, is in its pacing.
Since the Netflix series ended, fans got brief reunions with Charlie Cox’s character in both Spider-Man: No Way Home and She-Hulk, where his relationship with Tatiana Maslany’s Jen Walters was one of the gorgeous surprises that made the series fully soar. Yet, in Daredevil: Born Again, part of the problem is that Matt’s relationships feel underwhelming. With the news that Deborah Ann Woll’s Karen Page would be returning, many fans likely hoped that we’d maybe get to see more of their friendship, but that sadly isn’t the case either. In addition, the romance doesn’t hit either, and I almost would’ve rather watched Matt have more dalliances than attempt a relationship. (Bring back Jen Walters!)
Still, all of these issues are minuscule when we take the entire series as a whole. Viewers who choose to binge the show after all the episodes air will likely get more of a thrill ride from the narrative and overarching theme. This is especially the case with episodes two to seven, because eight and nine can and are fantastic arcs to feature with weekly releases. The wait between the episodes heightens the tension and elevates the storylines on our screen. Vincent D’Onofrio is somehow even more terrifying as Fisk in mayoral form, consistently making it so that we’re on the edge of our seats. However, it’s also hard not to feel the even more terrifying absence of Wilson Bethel’s Bullseye until he shows up again.
Catholicism and Matt’s faith are also matters that come into play with admirable nuances in Daredevil: Born Again Season 1, allowing the series to feature a unique sense of ache that works. Religion isn’t something the superhero genre explores often, but with Matt more grounded into a space that permits room for living beyond the mask, there’s something so riveting about the shots of him in church. Some of the show’s most haunting frames are the ones where we see Matt alone, grappling with his past, present, and future. There’s very little dialogue in many of these moments, yet they’re the moments that echo the loudest. The pain Matt holds is a literal cross hanging around his neck, and it’s engrossing to witness the layers of his faith and grief.
The finale does an especially great job of grounding the series in a place that feels both new and familiar. With the return of both Karen Page and Frank Castle, the last episode oozes with the type of scenes that put humanity at its center. It’s bloody, it’s brutal, but the message is unmistakable—this is a show about fighting the good fight, and it’s about fighting against the opposing forces that hide behind their crimes. It’s about exhaustion, frustration, and the drive to keep going. Ultimately, the best of the series comes through in the final few moments, making the overall season one that’s worth investing in. Nuanced, gripping, and well-executed, as a whole, Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 is a clear winner.
Daredevil: Born Again is now streaming on Disney+.