Daredevil: Born Again perfectly captures the same feel of the original Netflix series while continuing Matt Murdock’s story brilliantly.
Daredevil: Born Again is here and it feels like we never left, even though Netflix wrapped up the series years ago. It is so good to be back in New York City with these characters that we have all loved for so long. Born Again season one is dark, brutal, and intense. It perfectly captures the feel of the original series, even upping the ante when it comes to certain aspects.
Daredevil: Born Again picks up with Foggy, Karen, and Matt exactly as we left them. They are thriving and happy and yes, it is extremely emotional to see. This episode is exposition heavy, but that is necessary in order to set the stage for what is to come and so that viewers will be caught up on what has occured over the last few years.
While the opening sequence may be absolutely devastating, it catapults Matt Murdock into a place that he needs to be in order for the rest of the events of the season to make sense. It sets him down a path in which he must truly look inside himself to see what he is capable of.
This season has heavy themes of revenge, redemption, and grief – and not just for Matt. Wilson Fisk is back and he has a plan for the city. Becoming Mayor is something that is ripped right out of the comic books, but it cannot help but feel more on brand because of the similarities of what is happening in the real world right now.
Fisk is charasmatic and that makes him dangerous. Half the citizens hate him and the other halff love him, which adds to the conflict of the season. Sometimes it becomes hard to watch and impossible to separate from real life.
There is so much to love about Daredevil: Born Again, but it truly shines when Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio are on screen together. This doesn’t happen a lot, but when it does, it is electric and something special. The diner scene is sure to go down in history as one of the best MCU scenes ever. Maybe even one of the best Disney+ scenes ever.
The back and forth between the two of them is a masterclass in acting. They are nice to one another, but also condescending and passive agressive. It sets the tone for their relationship in Born Again brilliantly.
The Daredevil Netflix series is known for its incredible action sequences and fight scenes – have no fear, those are back. Each one is epic in its own way and every single episode has one. While Matt does not suit up in every episode, he still does Daredevil-like things, making for great television.
If I was to have one small issue with this series, it is the CGI in some of these scenes and in scenes where Matt is exploring the city. Sometimes it looks a bit off but it is usually short-lived and honestly, doesn’t take much away from the show.
In an effort to keep this review spoiler free, I will simply note that some fan favorite characters are back and some never before seen comic book characters make an appearance. We know that Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle is back and boy is he better than ever in this. His performance has me begging Marvel for a Punisher series revival next.
Daredevil: Born Again is dark and gritty. It is exactly what fans have been wanting and it is well worth the wait. All nine episodes are incredible. This show is all that I wanted and more – even though I will never forgive Marvel for that opening sequence.
NEXT: 10 Most Interesting Daredevil: Born Again Facts Learned At The Press Conference (Plus Comic Book Suggestions From The EP!)
About Daredevil: Born Again
Matt Murdock finds himself on a collision course with Wilson Fisk when their past identities begin to emerge.
The first two episodes of Daredevil: Born Again are streaming on Disney+ now.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.