Ever since Marvel canceled its TV shows on Netflix, fans have practically begged for the may popular heroes to return in the MCU. But what would that actually look like? It took a few years, but we finally saw it with the returns of Wilson Fisk aka Kingpin and Matt Murdock aka Daredevil. And what did it look like? Eh, Daredevil kinda seemed like a watered down version of himself, slotting in nicely into the largely homogenous Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yeah, it was great to see Charlie Cox back in the role, the same for Vincent D’Onofrio, but they didn’t quite seem to be playing the same people. The true test would be Daredevil: Born Again, the first such series to emerge on Disney+, with promises that it would be just as hard-edged and R-rated as you remember.
But is it, really? Daredevil: Born Again is, in many ways, a lot like the show you remember. The violence is definitely upped compared to others from Marvel Television. The characters you loved are there, too, and they are largely the same, but not quite. One could argue that’s the point of the first nine episodes that comprise season one. Both Murdock and Fisk are swearing up and down that they are no longer the men they once were. In the wake of a horrible tragedy and lethal retribution in episode one, Murdock has hung up his Daredevil suit with promises to never wear it again. Fisk, meanwhile, has picked up right where he left off from the series Echo and has turned his attention to politics.
Of course, we know this is a lot of bullshit coming from both men. They’re saying these things to convince themselves more than anyone else. But for much of season one of Daredevil: Born Again, they are playing at being different people. We’re watching and waiting for that moment when the mask slips and they revert back to who we know they are, vigilante superhero and brutal mob boss. It’s largely satisfying to see Murdock and Fisk grappling with the same problems they’ve had for years. Murdock struggles with his inherently violent nature but his desire to see justice done the right way, while also figuring out his Catholic faith. Fisk, for all of his power, will never be happy. He is always in need of more power, more wealth, more respect, and in the case of his beleaguered wife Vanessa (Ayelet Zurer, great to see her back), more love. The thing about Fisk is that he’ll destroy anyone he has to in order to get these things, regardless of the backlash.
Much of Daredevil: Born Again plays out in episodic, formulaic nature. Murdock takes on a legal case that hits him personally, such as one involving another masked vigilante, the White Tiger, who has divided the people of Hell’s Kitchen much the same way Daredevil does. Most of these cases are pretty forgettable, but at least once you get something truly fun that incorporates minor characters from other Marvel TV shows. It reminds you that there’s still so much joy to be mined by crossovers, they don’t all have to be grim, planet-destroying spectacles. Sometimes you can just have two characters meet during a simple bank robbery.
The other major plot involves Fisk’s run for mayor of New York City. There’s nothing subtle about the comparisons between Fisk and a certain orange-skinned occupant of the White House. With his massive fists clenched, he spews nonsense about law and order and cleaning up the city streets. He promises to “get things done” and goes through the performative steps to win over an easily impressionable voter base who are sick of the crime and the corruption. Of course, Fisk is as criminal and corrupt as they come. If anything, Daredevil: Born Again simplifies him too much. Fisk was always bad but there were shades of gray. You won’t find those here. The same goes for Murdock. For all of his issues, he’s not agonizing the way he used to. He’s clearly the good guy. It’s a little disappointing to not see either character given as much depth.
Showrunner Dario Scardapane (previously of The Punisher) knows what fans ultimately want, tries to deliver it in nostalgic fashion. Back are the dimly lit battles and bloody pummelings of random goons. It’s comforting to see Daredevil kicking ass again, like being wrapped in an old, familiar blanket. But it would also be a lie to say that anything compares to the epic hallway fights that defined Daredevil and much of the Netflix era. What’s great about Daredevil is that, despite his enhanced senses, he’s not indestructible like Deadpool or Wolverine. Underneath that mask he’s still just Matt Murdock and he gets seriously jacked up. Like the current Captain America, there’s something infinitely cooler about a hero who doesn’t have the benefit of super strength or rapid healing.
Supporting characters are a mixed bag. We do see Jon Bernthal’s return as Frank Castle aka The Punisher, but it’s clear he’s meant for bigger, more deadly things. Female characters each get their moment, but are largely given short shrift. Margarita Levieva plays Matt’s therapist love interest, Heather, and she starts off like a crucial factor but sort of fades as the season goes along. The introduction of young journalist BB Urich, played by Geneya Walton), is a plus for the “man on the street” social media interviews she conducts that flesh out the flavor and tone of Hell’s Kitchen. The city should always feel like another character in Daredevil’s life, and once again the show nails that aspect.
This is the Cox and D’Onofrio show, though, and we should never forget it. For both actors it’s like they never missed a beat, like no time has passed. Cox takes one of the most tortured, angry, and deeply somber characters in all of Marvel and plays into the side of him that is also one of the lightest, the funniest. There’s a reason the Daredevil/Spider-Man crossover comics are the best Marvel has ever done. D’Onofrio is as powerful and commanding as ever. His voice booms, demanding your attention. His every gesture means something more than it appears. A simple look at Vanessa speaks volumes. There’s menace in every silky word. He’s twice as scary when the quietest person in the room. That’s a scary skill to have and D’Onofrio has it.
So while Daredevil: Born Again is a lot like the Marvel Netflix show fans remember fondly, it’s a mix of the old Daredevil and the tropes of Marvel TV. Perhaps future episodes will lean fully into one or the other. The first season faced its share of creative challenges behind the scenes, and perhaps that factored into some of the scattershot tone and unclear character arcs. Regardless, the stuff that we like is still there. Matt Murdock is still fighting with himself to become the better man he’s always wanted to be. He’s still out there trying to find someone to love, and to settle down with. He’s still trying to keep the devil on his shoulder at bay. Of course, if that happened there’d be no Daredevil and we’ve already been through that for long enough. It’s good to have him back.
The first two episodes of Daredevil: Born Again are streaming now on Disney+.
