Netflix launched its “Daredevil” series over a decade ago, which had three seasons. Now, Cox features as the blind, masked hero once again, this time on Disney+’s reboot “Daredevil: Born Again.” This Shōnen style anime is a masterful elaboration on a stricken Matt Murdock (Cox), who teeters on the edge of being consumed by tremendous rage; astonishingly, Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin (the astonishing Vincent D’Onofrio), a psychotic mobster recently inaugurated as the mayor of New York City, resurfaces. This iteration of “Daredevil” is superbly intricate as it shatters the rest of the Netflix universe, allowing the character and others around him to endure, or in this case, suffer from the grief and turmoil of the time.
“Daredevil: Born Again” starts with a lot of favorite characters appearing. Matt and his best friends Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) and Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) are stepping out from their law firm, Nelson Murdock and Page. The moon is enormous as the group of friends heads to Josie’s Bar to throw a party for Cherry’s (Clark Johnson) retirement from NYPD. Sadly, the celebration goes south as things get chaotic. As expected, Matt tries to put on his costume as quickly as possible to turn into Daredevil and try to save the situation by fighting Bullseye (Wilson Bethel) —a psychopath ex-FBI agent who walks into Josie’s and slaughters everyone in sight. The night is bound to destroy Matt’s world forever.
A year later, Matt is trying to restart his life. He has put Daredevil firmly in his past and launched a new criminal law practice with attorney Kirsten McDuffie (Nikki M. James) and Cherry, who works as the firm’s investigator. However, when he learns that Fisk has resurfaced and is looking to take control of New York, the rage he has tried to bury for the past year begins to surface. Additionally, a new romance with therapist Heather Glenn (Margarita Levieva), who has differing views on vigilantism, highlights Matt’s internal conflict as he struggles to stay on the path of light. This challenge becomes even more difficult as the city becomes increasingly crime-ridden and old adversaries like Frank “The Punisher” Castle (Jon Bernthal) make their presence known.
Season 1 of “Daredevil: Born Again” primarily centers on Matt Murdock’s hesitation to combat crime outside the courtroom. However, the series also delves into how individuals as ruthless as Fisk and his queen-pin wife, Vanessa (Ayelet Zurer), utilize violence, fear, and sheer determination to gain power and influence public perception. Additionally, “Daredevil” explores the tensions in their marriage, which have been strained due to Fisk’s prolonged absences, his political ambitions, and their contrasting leadership styles. Both D’Onofrio and Zurer deliver such menacing performances that, until the latter half of the nine-episode season—entirely provided to critics for review by Disney+—it remains unclear whether they are collaborating or scheming against each other.
Furthermore, many scenes in “Daredevil” take place within the walls of Gracie Mansion, allowing the show to effectively explore the pervasive nature of corruption and its rapid spread. As Fisk consolidates his power, he silences his opponents, elevates his loyalists, and establishes an anti-vigilante task force made up of some of the most notorious members of the NYPD. His ultimate goal for total control becomes increasingly evident, especially as he entangles innocent individuals—such as Heather and young freelance journalist BB Urich (played by Genneya Walton)—in his schemes. BB’s reporting serves to highlight New York City as a significant character in the series, providing an accurate portrayal of the grit, texture, and diversity of its citizens, all in the shadow of a looming and prolific serial killer.
While most of the show focuses on Fisk and Matt barreling toward one another on an inevitable collision course, Scardapane and lead directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead also allow for some fun. Episode 5, which depicts St. Patrick’s Day, is a bit of a standalone. Loosely connected to the season’s major events, Matt decides whether he should lean on his abilities when a seemingly unremarkable meeting at his bank becomes a full-blown robbery and hostage situation. As the episode progresses, it becomes increasingly evident how distant he’s become from his alter ego’s moral code and processes.
Revivals and reboots are typically paltry reiterations of shows that have already had their time in the sun. However, “Daredevil: Born Again” rises above this trap. With a cast entirely at ease in their characters’ skins, and a darker tone, the series is a breathtaking example of what it means to revisit a known hero while offering him new reasons to fight for justice.
The first two episodes of “Daredevil: Born Again” premiere March 4 on Disney+ with new episodes dropping weekly on Tuesdays.
