The new Daredevil series begins with a gorgeous, grounded coverage of the city bursting with busy-ness and life. A montage of the characters we’ve come to know from the 3-season Netflix series it follows – Matt Murdock, Foggy Nelson, and Karen Page – showing us that they’ve returned to working together and, for the first time, it seems our titular character Matt Murdock looks happy. The shots bring out the flavor and textures of New York; that of ordinary people, outside the usual hustle-and-bustle of the MCU. This is meant to bring us closer to real people and real lives. Probably a way to remind us that Murdock is unlike Tony Stark or Thor. He’s a lawyer, first, as well as a superpowered costume vigilante. His battle against injustice is at two fronts.
But when a battle ensues with someone from his past, Murdock is forced to don the mask and fight crime as Daredevil. People are hurt, tragedy strikes, and Murdock is pushed over the edge. As he later states in the pilot episode, “A line was crossed…”—and from that moment, the show takes an unexpected turn.
The prologue’s promise of a continuation of the series storylines is an illusion. ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ is exactly that: a rebirth. That tragedy changes Matt Murdock and the story continues a year after that monumental event, and he has not been Daredevil of that period of time. He starts a new firm and surrounds himself with new people, including an investigator, Cherry, who is aware of his former identity. Murdock is more cynical now, a bit jaded. So much so that his partner tries to set him up with someone new, a doctor, Dr. Heather Glenn.
Things are looking different, quieter and peaceful until Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin, runs for Mayor. And Murdock struggles whether he would return to his vigilante ways or has Wilson Fisk really turned a new leaf? Matt Murdock doesn’t think so. And the nine-episode season tells us, at some point, he will find a reason to put the mask on again.
There’s still a darkness to the series, with showrunner Dario Scardapane at the helm, but off the bat the cinematography is already a bit brighter, even during the dark. The flash of humor is a very Marvel + Disney thing and doesn’t hold the same bite that it did in the old Netflix series. The show is trying its best to hold on to its foundations – the old show – but also trying to present it in a new way. There’s a bit more CGI than I’m comfortable with; especially because it’s not clean and can get very distracting. There’s even a fight scene in episode one that is reminiscent to the famous first season fight scene of ‘Daredevil,’ the one shot that was a tribute to ‘Oldboy.’ Unfortunately, the fight scene in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ doesn’t have that same energy and is muddled by weird choreography and blocking and some unflattering CGI movements that makes it feel manufactured. It doesn’t have that grit and power that the originals have.
But once you’ve shaken that initial feeling of having to compare the two (because let’s face it, the Netflix Daredevil series is so loved) and acclimate to the Disney-fied version of ‘Daredevil: Born Again,’ there’s quite a lot to enjoy from the new show. Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio are always a joy playing these two characters and with the premise of ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ there’s an unsteady truce between them. It gives opportunities to meet and talk and their acting prowess just makes the screen sizzle with energy. From the first two episodes, we can feel the push and pull inside Murdock and Fisk, the way they are trying to hold on to a change they have committed to; but we can see them breaking. We can see the cracks. It’s wonderful and I can’t wait to see it unfold over the season.
Ayelet Zurer returns as Vanessa Fisk, Wilson Fisk’s wife, who has taken over his crime business while the Kingpin was recovering from a gunshot to the face (as implied in the last episode of ‘Hawkeye’ and possibly in ‘Echo,’ which I have not seen). Zurer had always made Vanessa such an interesting character and it’s nice to see her add a new layer to the role. Margarita Levieva plays Dr. Heather Glenn, who serves as an interesting romantic interest for the Daredevil, but we’ll get to see her flex her acting chops as her story seems to intersect into the rest of the plot beyond just as a love interest by the second episode. As previewed in press materials and on social media, the White Tiger will make an appearance by the second episode while the Punisher is nowhere yet to be seen.
Shot during 2023, there’s a lot of subtexts within the show’s premise that is mirroring America after its most recent election. The Kingpin running for office and the way the show tries to explore and navigate the social aspect of such a move directly articulates a lot of present-day feelings. The fact that the show began filming before the election will shield it from any political notions, though it could still reflect the current U.S. president’s first term. But the groundedness I mentioned at the beginning of this review makes ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ more than just a superhero TV show. The fact that Matt Murdock is struggling whether he will be more effective as a lawyer or as a vigilante in a political and social landscape in the show that is very similar to that in real life – it makes it something even more interesting to watch.
We’ve been waiting for this! Despite a few fumbles, it’s looking good. ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ is looking really good.
My Rating:
Daredevil: Born Again is now streaming on Disney+.
