Finally, after months of waiting and anticipation, Daredevil: Born Again has arrived on Disney+ (JioHotstar for Indian viewers) and has premiered with a bang. If we ignore the latest series’ couple of tiny teeny shortcomings, the continuation of Netflix’s OG Daredevil series looks fine.
Back when Marvel Studios guaranteed that they had scaled up the action and violence in the newest continuation compared to the original Netflix series, all the fans (including us, obviously—duh) were not entirely sure about that. But it’s safe to say that Marvel has actually delivered in this department. The show’s opening scene alone is enough to tease the level and quality of action and violence we are going to get in Born Again.
Speaking of violence, some critics have already watched all episodes of Season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again, and most of them have confirmed that the new Disney+ entry has indeed upped the ante in terms of action, blood, and violence.
We are two episodes in, and luckily, we see plenty of good acting performances in these episodes. How about we start with the man of the hour? Charlie Cox. The actor preserves the elements that made his Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, such a memorable character in Netflix’s OG series while adding a bit more ferociousness in the latest Disney+ adaptation.
But Cox’s vulnerability and inner turmoil as his character’s “other half” are beautifully explored in the first two episodes. There is no one else who can play Daredevil better than Cox, period.
Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin, looks more restrained, but it is understandable, considering he has now become New York’s mayor. He manages to build a pretty positive and decent facade in front of a large portion of his supporters, who eventually elect him as their favourite choice for NYC mayor.
But you guys will be able to tell within a second that D’Onofrio’s Kingpin is planning something big, and his mayorship will certainly aid him in achieving his ambitious targets. Or we may be horribly wrong, and Kingpin could actually emerge as a changed man who wants to do something good for the people of New York. But something bad may happen in the later episodes that could snap him, bringing out the badder and meaner persona of Kingpin. Who knows?
Kingpin’s arc with Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer) has taken a dramatic twist, especially after how Daredevil Season 3 culminated. Their chemistry is tainted because of what happened in Season 3’s finale and Kingpin’s long absence.
Zurer looks in fine form in Daredevil: Born Again as well. Once again, we see her pulling off Vanessa with confidence and style, displaying just the right amount of emotional and moral conflict, courtesy of her love and complicated relationship with Fisk.
SPOILER ALERT! There is no Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, in the first two episodes. But don’t worry—Bernthal is badass, and so is the MCU character he portrays. He’ll be fine!
It was nice to see Deborah Ann Woll’s Karen Page and Elden Henson’s Franklin “Foggy” Nelson in Born Again’s pilot episode.
What happens to Foggy in Episode 1 will definitely not sit well with many of the OG show’s fans, as he is undoubtedly one of the best characters in Netflix’s version. But his departure certainly adds more depth, complexity, and darkness to Murdock’s psyche, eventually forcing him to hang up his Daredevil suit and stop being a vigilante.
The brief moment between Charlie Cox and Deborah Ann Woll at the courthouse beautifully brings out the grief they both feel for Foggy and the added intricacy of their relationship, as they both know that their lives have changed for good.
Moreover, Wilson Bethel looks as lethal and outstanding as Benjamin Poindexter, aka Bullseye, in Born Again. It looks like Dex has finally embraced the most horrifying character traits of Bullseye and has no remorse for his actions in Episode 1. This will certainly make things with Daredevil more complicated and exciting.
While Daredevil: Born Again leans into a more emotional and dark atmosphere than usual for the MCU, it skillfully avoids becoming overly depressing, and subtle, insightful moments provide welcome relief. The typical forced MCU humour is notably absent, which is a good thing.
A few CGI scenes might raise eyebrows, but they’re short-lived and easily overlooked. Although many may raise concerns about D’Onofrio’s restrained performance as Kingpin, but these are relatively small complaints.
Overall, Daredevil: Born Again is looking good. Let’s see how it shapes up by the time we get to Episode 9. The first two episodes are streaming on JioHotstar for Indian viewers. Stay tuned for more updates.
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