We are back. After a long wait and confusion about what will happen to Daredevil in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fans of the now ten-year-old Netflix series are reunited with their beloved versions of these classic characters, now on Disney+.
After appearances in other MCU projects such as She-Hulk and Echo, Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk return to face off again in their MCU-connected show. However, despite the immense hype and attention and the continual incredible performances from the returning cast, Daredevil: Born Again is a significant step down from the original Netflix version.
Born Again picks up after the events of season three of Daredevil, throwing the audience directly back into the world without an inch of hand-holding or clever exposition. This brings audiences back into the underworld of Hell’s Kitchen, which is always filled with new dangers and chaos ready to erupt. Matt’s alter ego confronts the dangers head-on, which is always exciting as a Daredevil fan. The first episode is intense, with the setup giving us great action, standout moments, and that feeling of familiarty that Daredevil fans surely need in an opening.
Though the beginning feels like an upgrade, shades of a drop in quality become increasingly noticeable in each episode with underwhelming plot points and a few moments that felt out of character from the versions audiences became accustomed to. The filmmaking is the first thing that starts to fall apart as the season progresses. That tangible surge in quality filmmaking that was seen in the Netflix version dissipates in Born Again.
The character direction feels unfocused, going from episodes where Matt is caught up in dire situations and a profound emotional spiral to episodes where he’s cracking jokes and giving one-liners to criminals, only to return to that incredibly depressed Matt. It’s a jarring turn that only scratches the surface of the drop in quality in the overall narrative. The convenience in plot points is too strong, with moments that feel excessively choreographed and unnatural to Daredevil’s supposed “grounded” world.
The show falls into the trap of using soap opera-ish sensibilities in scenes to increase dramatic tension. This includes excessive and loud music cues, aimless cuts to facial reactions, and unnatural dialogue. This is all-encompassed by a plot that feels rudimentary and simplistic as if it were written for audiences who have never seen a sophisticated superhero show like Daredevil.
This is all despite the charming and engaging performance of Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock. The character remains layered and complex, with nuances that are not easily categorized. Matt is not a cookie-cutter superhero protagonist, which is why so many fans fell in love with him in the first place. Charlie Cox perfectly portrays that complexity and intricacy. He expertly expresses Matt’s battle with faith, forgiveness, trauma, and ultimately himself.
This carries the show out of the lumbering plot and gives it the spark it desperately needs. Matt is, at his core, a good human being who’s had a tough life. The path he chooses is always what he believes to be the right one, and that sincerity is portrayed impeccably by Charlie Cox.
The rest of the returning cast are also great and do their best with some pretty lacklustre material. The Kingpin’s storyline is most notably the most meandering and lifeless, yet it takes up much of the season’s runtime. It’s a complete drag and offers nothing exciting or enthralling. Vincent D’Onofrio fits back into the villainous role effortlessly yet is severely held back by the script. Regardless, the show’s standout continues to be the cast, specifically Cox, who gives us one of the best characters in the Marvel universe.
The action in Daredevil has always been a high point that fans embraced. Martial arts became integrated into not only the character but the story itself. Decisions taken by fisticuffs were a trademark of the Netflix Daredevil show. Born Again attempts to replicate this magic and, for the most part, does a good job, yet it never quite reaches the heights of the original.
The filmmaking behind the action is more expansive and bold, and commendable shows off the new Disney budget, yet that was never what made the original’s action special. The intensity, creativity, and emotion made those fight scenes so memorable. Matt still kicks ass and is never afraid to humble a bully, so that’s something I’m glad this new season took on and respected.
While the action gets by, the story simply does not, unfortunately. It is all over the place. Attempting to balance so many plot points while giving them little effort. The plot feels rudimentary and returns to when superhero shows/movies were meant to be “straightforward.” It’s a massive detriment to a character like Daredevil, hampered by a direction that feels against the character. Netflix’s Daredevil was made to be refreshingly complex.
This throwback mentality is a quality drop that feels stronger if attached to another character. The Mayor’s plotline, in particular, is tired and uninteresting, dragging the show down. Born Again lacks energy, which is increasingly felt with each episode. Even the vigilante angle feels overplayed and mundane in a world where superhero shows and movies have explored “vigilante justice” and “Is it good?” ad nauseam, and this new series doesn’t seem interested in pushing harder.
Daredevil: Born Again is a throwback, but not in a good way. The story is simplistic, unchallenging, and trite. The filmmaking goes hand in hand with that feeling, with mindless editing, an overuse of an overly dramatic score, and overly explanatory dialogue. This all felt significantly worse, considering the previous version of the show.
Born Again wants to have its cake and eat it too by being a direct sequel to the more grounded Netflix series and having the tongue-in-cheek winks at the camera that the MCU is known for. It feels out of place and distracting, ultimately detrimental to the show’s quality. The direction and script hold back the incredible return of Charlie Cox, who does his best to hold the show together.
Regrettably, despite Cox’s excellent returning performance, Daredevil: Born Again is a massive step down from the previous version and not enough of a good show to stand on its own. Hopefully, Marvel will give this character better material because they deserve it.
Rating: 6/10