The Screen Scribe

Since 2019 Marvel Studios has had a rocky relationship with its fans as the decade long bank of goodwill earned through multiple billion-dollar critical hits quickly eroded as the once unstoppable studio churned out a conveyor belt of hit and miss projects, with the onus mostly on the misses. As not only an MCU fan but a lifelong Marvel fanatic, it was and remains disappointing to see them drop the ball so dramatically. But there was one hope. One possible saving grace in the downturn of the MCU and that was the return of Daredevil following its cancellation from Netflix. Originally airing in 2015 as part of Netflix’s run of street level Marvel heroes set, albeit loosely, in the MCU, it earned critical acclaim during its three-season run and is highly regarded as one of, if not the best, superhero show ever made. Hell, it’s arguably one of the best shows period that I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. So, to say I was excited over its return is an understatement, though it was shaded with apprehension given Marvel’s use of ol’hornhead in the lamentable and laughable She-Hulk and Echo shows. In saying that, did they stick the landing? Let’s find out.

Following a life altering tragedy, Matt Murdock has hung up his horns as Daredevil and fully devoted himself to achieving social and personal justice through his skills as a lawyer in the city he loves, New York. Thinking his violent past behind him, his new life is turned on its head with the return of his archnemesis Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin. With aspirations of becoming the Mayor of NYC, Fisk and Murdock begin a dangerous dance as both try to bury their violent alter egos in the hopes of fully embracing their new roles but this proves more difficult than they imagined as legal dramas, fraught relationships and a sadistic serial killer put both men on a collision course, with the Kingpin and Daredevil fighting to emerge once more from the shadows in which they have been buried.

It’s difficult to judge this return season of Daredevil given the well documented difficulties endured during its production. Following a creative overhaul, where the lead writers Chris Ord and Matt Corman were fired, new showrunner Dario Scardapane was installed and more creative control given to its lead actors Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio. This overhaul, which included the reshooting of some episodes and the filming of entirely new material, is clearly evident throughout its nine-episode run. Its strongest episodes are by far the first and last with two solid episodes in the middle. These are quite clearly the reshot and newly shot episodes following the overhaul, as the others tend to meander and feel slightly out of place in both tone and pacing. The CGI is sketchy at best and blatantly terrible at worst which in this day and age, especially for a studio with Marvels resources, is simply no longer an acceptable standard. A personal gripe of mine, as I’ve not seen much chatter about it elsewhere, is the reduced level of religious iconography and its importance in Matt’s life. It does become more evident later as the story progresses but is sparse in comparison to the original. The glaring issue of course is the plot twist in the opening episode that left a bitter taste in the mouths of many fans and begged the question, could they make it worth the risk? I’m still not sure they did.

The positives on the other hand do inspire confidence that under the guiding hand of the new creative circle season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again will see a more consistent and even show. Cox and D’Onofrio again ground the show with masterful performances that showcase just how much they both enjoy portraying these characters, but also how much they care about the show itself, having pushed for the overhaul. The distinctive parallels drawn between Murdock and Wilson as they attempt to suppress their alter egos is fascinating and a joy to watch, especially when the shackles begin to loosen on each character as the plot progresses. While it does tread familiar territory from its predecessor, it’s done so well I have little complaint. There is interesting social and political commentary that grows more evident as the season progresses and feels relevant given the current political and social landscape America finds itself in. The action choreography is good, brutal and fluid but not on par with the original series, though the violence is far more graphic than expected, not that I’m complaining. The presence of the Punisher hangs heavy over the show and his return is a joy. Jon Bernthal was born to play Frank Castle, and he delivers an intense, rageful and unapologetic performance that promises a blood-soaked future for the character.

It’s an uneven but promising return for Daredevil and provides a shot of confidence that under the current creative team season two will be a far stronger show than this opening act of Born Again. That being said, season one of Daredevil: Born Again is an enjoyable exploration of the dichotomy between the differing personas of Murdock and Wilson as well as the nature of vigilantism in the MCU and sets up what could be a spectacular second season. It is by far the best thing Marvel has released in quite some time, and most definitely its best tv show.

3 / 5 ✨ from the Screen Scribe.

Daredevil: Born Again is now available to watch on Disney +

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