Blind justice hits your living room
After being condemned to the gates of “shows being cancelled way too soon” hell, Daredevil is back in this latest iteration for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). For those out of the loop, “Daredevil: Born Again” is a continuation of the hit 2015 Netflix series Daredevil. The show follows Matthew Murdock, played by Charlie Cox, a blind lawyer working in Hell’s Kitchen New York as he struggles to live a double life as a vigilante superhero known as Daredevil. The show explores the nuances of street level superhero life such as Matt’s relationship with the people closest to him, his religious beliefs and how they conflict with the violent nature of being Daredevil, and the moral dilemmas of killing the kingpin of crime Wilson Fisk, played by Vincent D’Onofrio, for the greater good of New York City. These aspects are a reason why the original Netflix series was such a beloved little corner of the MCU which only hurt more once the show was ultimately cancelled in 2018.
Now almost seven years later Daredevil has returned giving some longtime fans like me, a feast for the eyes as “Born Again” captures the spirit of the original but now with some extra help to portray some of the character’s more fantastical elements. “Born Again” picks up a few years after the finale of the original with Murdock, best friend and partner at law Foggy Nelson, played by Elden Henson, and Secretary Karen Page, played by Deborah Ann Woll, having a drink at Josey’s Bar, a common hangout spot in the original show, when suddenly Matt senses something is wrong as Foggy receives a phone call from his client in fear of being murdered. Matt quickly suits up as Daredevil only for it to be a decoy and for Bullseye, played by Wilson Bethel, to attack Josey’s bar after which a dark and gritty battle takes place as the two fight with Daredevil being relentless with hand-to-hand and Bullseye throwing everything (literally) at Daredevil. All this leads to the climax that sets in motion for rest of the show as Daredevil throws Bullseye off the roof of the building with the intent to kill him. Matt then decides to hang up the horns for good but eventually is dragged back into his violent nature when the Kingpin of Crime Wilson Fisk is elected as mayor of New York City.
“Born Again” strikes the balance of superhero action while also blending in the emotional and thought-provoking storytelling that many fans come to expect from Daredevil. The main villain Wilson Fisk, a known criminal with multiple felony charges winning an election by convincing the masses that he will make New York City great (again), is something that hits a little close to home in today’s current reality, as well as addressing a problem that persists in our real world with police officers co-oping the symbol of the Marvel character the Punisher, a violent anti-hero that kills criminals without hesitation. This has raised concerns with comic fans as they believe the Punisher symbol should stay as far away from those that protect and serve as possible. Overall, “Daredevil: Born Again” not only lives up to the hype but surpasses it in some aspects. So, if you’re a man (or woman) without fear, then “Daredevil: Born Again” should be right on your radar.