The original “Daredevil” (2015) is one of the best shows that Netflix has ever aired. Drew Goddard’s series received critical acclaim throughout the entirety of its three-season run, revealing the origins of blind lawyer Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and his alter ego Daredevil and channeling themes of Catholic guilt, brutal fight scenes and mature content. Despite widespread praise, Netflix canceled Daredevil and other original Marvel shows in 2018 and 2019 as the rights to the series reverted back to Disney following the launch of Disney+. After six years of cancellations, overhauls and uncertainty, a new Disney+ “Daredevil” season, “Daredevil: Born Again,” premiered with two episodes on March 4 and a third on March 11.
With new content in the past few years, Disney began to reintegrate the cast of “Daredevil” into the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe. Vincent D’Onofrio returned as Wilson Fisk, a New York crime boss also known as Kingpin in the miniseries “Hawkeye” (2021). Cox appeared in as Daredevil for surprise cameos in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021) and “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” (2022). Following the success of these appearances, Disney+ announced a “Daredevil” reboot series, reinvigorating the fandom of the “Man Without Fear.”
The first episode of this series, “Heaven’s Half Hour,” opens with the original trio of Murdock, Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) and Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) walking down the streets of Hell’s Kitchen. Tragedy strikes as the villain Bullseye (Wilson Bethel) tracks down the trio, who were enjoying drinks together, and attempts to kill them. Murdock, now in his Daredevil costume, chases Bullseye down and gives the beatdown of a lifetime to his foe. The opening fight scene is enjoyable, but its blocking is slightly off. The pacing is rushed and the action appears sloppy, worsened by the unpolished computer-generated imagery that has become so typical of recent Marvel projects.
These events culminate in Murdock retiring as Daredevil as he commits to his job as a full-time lawyer. A year later, the episode ends with Wilson Fisk being elected as the mayor of New York, leaving the cast to grapple with the implications of a former criminal leading the city. Despite the poor start, “Heaven’s Half Hour” is gripping television, dropping viewers new and old right into a masterclass of acting from the entire ensemble. Cox adds many small mannerisms to Murdock’s character, from how he slightly shakes with anger in a trial to the seriousness with which he purses his lips after quoting the Bible, adding incredible texture to an already complex portrait of the title character. D’Onofrio’s performance is as flawless as ever: His Kingpin is presented as a crime boss-turned-politician trying his best to hide a quiet anger that reveals itself in the worst of moments, like the murder of an investigative reporter.
New supporting characters, including friendly lawyer Kirsten McDuffie (Nikki M. James), retired police officer Cherry (Clark Johnson) and Daniel Blake (Michael Gandolfini) fill out the rest of the cast. The first two do not do much besides listen to Murdock, jumping about to follow up on witnesses or console him over his losses. Their interactions with Murdock fall flat, even if they achieve the job that the plot requires, such as investigating the location of a missing witness or speaking to a client’s ex-wife. Comparatively, Gandolfini steals every scene as Fisk’s political protégé, maintaining a facade of flattery and subservience while being just as ambitious as the Kingpin himself.
Murdock also receives a love interest in therapist Heather Glenn (Margarita Levieva). She only appears twice in the premiere, but the second episode, “Optics,” hints at villains such as the serial killer Muse potentially targeting her in order to hurt or taunt Murdock. Glenn does not add much flavor to the show, as Levieva is given little to work with in terms of dialogue or personality, though her chemistry with Cox is palpable. “Optics” also marks the appearance of Hector Ayala, also known as White Tiger (Kamar de los Reyes), a vigilante who picks up Daredevil’s slack. Ayala’s presence adds silliness to the show, as his superhero identity relies on a mystical amulet that Murdock mentions while in trial. Even if some characters aren’t as compelling as others, it’s wonderful to see more of the Daredevil comics appearing on screen, especially when they’re as faithful an adaptation as presented here.
“Optics” utilizes the Marvel landscape to its full extent, showcasing how heroes like Daredevil can jump between lighthearted and serious tones. It also helps that this episode is bookended by a bone-crunching fight scene where we once again see the grief and anger that Murdock tries to hide. Without the expectations of settling new viewers in, “Optics” can rush forward with tense plot development while expanding the Hell’s Kitchen of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Even with a rocky premiere, “Daredevil: Born Again” is consistent in succeeding the Netflix “Daredevil,” with the returning actors giving their all alongside the work of showrunner Dario Scardapane. There is not a single word or emotional moment that feels out of place. The performances and writing are complemented by an impressive soundtrack, well-choreographed fight sequences and impressive cinematography. The television season is busy right now, but if you can make the time in your schedule, I highly recommend diving into this next chapter in Murdock’s story with “Daredevil: Born Again.”
Noble Garcia (he/him) is majoring in Film and Media Management and Accounting. He is from Haymarket, Virginia and roots for all Washington sports teams no matter how terrible. You can often find him writing for the Wheel, playing different instruments, or listening to music on his headphones.
