Let me put it out there that I absolutely love Daredevil. I love that he represents those of us who have disabilities and want to help others despite those disabilities and that he’s a man of the people: helping those who can’t help themselves. I was devastated when the show was cancelled on Netflix back in 2018 but was thrilled to see it revived again in 2022. Of course like with any Marvel show premiering on Disney, it’s often met with some uncertainty and criticism. But after watching both episodes, I can say with full confidence that while the uncertainty is warranted, the actual end product will blow your mind once you give it a chance.
Daredevil: Born Again takes place six years after the events of the Netflix finale. Matt (Charlie Cox), Foggy (Elden Henson) and Karen (Deborah Ann Woll) are still working together at Nelson, Murdock and Page where things are seemingly doing well. Tragedy soon strikes and it causes a fallout between them. A year later, we see the return of Wilson Fisk as he runs for Mayor of New York City and how his mayoral campaign affects those who have had run-ins with him and know who he is as a person. With the promise to change the city and protect its people, eyebrows raise as to what his actual goal really is. Or maybe he genuinely is a changed man.
I have nothing but praise for this show. Normally when it comes to Marvel shows on Disney, I’m one of those people who have doubts about the production and have been burned in the past due to poor results and low standards. But I was pleasantly surprised to see how legitimately good this was. It was gritty. It was dark. It was bloody. Everything a fan could want in a show about Daredevil was represented beautifully in this rendition of the character. From the stunt work to the acting to the cinematography, it was very obvious that everything was handled with love, care and consideration for the finished product. One thing I particularly enjoyed was a shot at the end of the first episode where Fisk is standing on a rooftop with a white light shining on him whereas Matt was standing in the street below, basked in darkness with a red light passing over him. Hands down it was a gorgeous and symbolic shot that I can’t stop thinking about. I need more shots like this please.
With only two episodes out so far, I’m blown away with what I’ve seen so far. If this was only two episodes, I can’t wait to see what the remainder of the season brings (and can we please get a Spider-Man name drop? It bugs me so much that he’s just out there doing spider things and no one has brought it up once). Hopefully it goes as dark as it possibly can or as much as what Disney allows. Who’s to say what direction it’ll actually take.
The first two episodes of Daredevil: Born Again are available to stream now on Disney+ and will roll out episodes weekly.
Fandom Lair 