Daredevil: Born Again Episode 1 & 2 Review: Still Devilishly Good

There is deep irony in the Daredevil revival being titled Daredevil: Born Again. This name is shared with a Daredevil comic storyline many consider the magnum opus of Frank Miller. However, that story was already adapted for Season 3 of the Netflix series. It has no relation to the two episode premiere of the new Disney Plus series. While renewal is a connecting theme throughout these episodes, they are a continuation of the original show rather than a rebirth.

The first episode of Daredevil: Born Again, “Heaven’s Half Hour,” opens several years after the finale of the Netflix series. Matt Murdock and Karen Page are flirting, but still firmly friends. Their legal and investigative partnership with Foggy Nelson is also still going strong. Unfortunately, the return of an old enemy and the tragic consequences that ensue break up the band. They also push Matt Murdock to retire from vigilantism.

One year later, Wilson Fisk reemerges onto the public stage to announce his candidacy for Mayor of New York City. Running on an anti-vigilante platform, Fisk wins the election but finds little satisfaction in his new role. While most of the public love him, the NYPD remembers the Kingpin all too well and aren’t convinced he has reformed. His main concern, however, is saving his marriage and rekindling the affections of his wife, Vanessa.

The second episode of Daredevil: Born Again, “Optics,” tasks both Fisk and Murdock with new challenges. For Fisk, this means butting heads with the Police Commissioner while tackling his public perception problems. Conversely, Matt Murdock is tested by his new client, Hector Ayala, who is framed for murder by crooked cops. The case is further complicated by Matt’s discovery that Hector is the vigilante White Tiger.

Daredevil: Born Again true to spirit of original show

Any fears that Disney or Marvel Studios might blunt the edge of the Netflix series are obliterated by the first 15 minutes of Daredevil: Born Again. The first fight scene, in which Matt wages a five-minute running battle with an assassin, compares favorably to the best action sequences of the MCU. This is due to the return of stunt coordinator Phil Silvera, who blocked the first two seasons of the original show.

Beyond that, it is like the original Daredevil show never came to a close. True, the status quo changes significantly after the time jump, with Karen moving to San Francisco and Matt starting a new law firm. Matt also starts a new romance with a psychiatrist, Dr. Heather Glenn, who just happens to be the Fisks’ marriage counselor. But the chemistry between the old ensemble is still there throughout the first two episodes of Daredevil: Born Again.

The Murdock/Fisk rivalry makes Daredevil: Born Again

This is most apparent in the brief scene in which Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk confront each other in a diner. Both Charilie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio have had the chance to keep their characters fresh in other Marvel Studios productions. This lends an extra weight to their verbal sparring, as they test their uneasy truce. It is clear they both know something of the other’s activities, though only the events of Echo are referenced directly. Those who haven’t kept up all the MCU movies and shows can enjoy Daredevil: Born Again without any homework.

All in all, the premiere of Daredevil: Born Again is everything we might have hoped for. It is a bridge between the original show and the new status quo. However, for all the changes, it is still an intense, driven show that seamlessly blends legal drama and superhero action.

Grade: 10/10

Daredevil: Born Again Episodes 1 & 2 are now streaming on Disney+.