After it was first announced in 2022 that Daredevil would be revived at Disney+ with an 18-episode order, our hearts leaped like one of Matt Murdock’s signature somersaults. Our favorite devil from Hell’s Kitchen, played most strikingly by Charlie Cox, was officially back, and from the sounds of it, so was the gang we’d grown to love. Seven years after the Netflix finale left us wanting more, Matt, Foggy (Elden Henson) and Karen (Deborah Ann Woll) return in Daredevil: Born Again. But while we want to say it’s better than ever, that’s not exactly true.
While we’re glad that Born Again didn’t just distill its brilliance of Netflix’s groundbreaking three seasons into a straight Frank Miller adaptation, something is missing in the nine-episode first season that leaves a sour taste in your mouth. The series, now streaming on Disney+, delivers a gut punch right from the start — and boy, is it a gut punch. It’s so intense that yours truly was left at the edge of her seat in the first 15 minutes and in tears. Pulling us back into the gritty, brutal world of Murdock, it’s clear from the first episode that this isn’t just a continuation of the critically acclaimed favorite — it’s a bold reinvention. The action is intense and the stakes are high. But as Daredevil: Born Again brings much of what fans loved from the original run, it also veers in new directions that, for better or worse, don’t always stick the landing.
Fans of the original three-season run on Netflix might recall how the series became a pure masterclass in Marvel television adaptations. This was the series to show you how to do it! So, when Disney+ tried to make its own catalog of shows within the MCU, it wasn’t the same. Take for example shows like Secret Invasion, Echo, and even She-Hulk that became small screen bombs for the streamer. Though Marvel assumed that would change with Daredevil’s steady fanbase holding their breath, the revival is a much more watered-down version of our superhero and it’s one that you’ll either really love or not like at all.
What Doesn’t Work for ‘Daredevil: Born Again’
With the first nine episodes made available to the press for review, it becomes clear that Born Again punches you in the gut and doesn’t let you go. But that doesn’t mean it’s largely appealing. While a plethora of fans are going to watch this with Matt’s rose-colored glasses because they missed their favorite, the reality is the show isn’t without its fair share of flaws. One of the biggest issues is the jarring shifts in tone and execution, which sometimes take you out of the moment of the series. The first 15 minutes are intense, no doubt. But that doesn’t mean they’re done well.
If the show’s first moments are to set the tone, there’s hell to raise with Marvel and possibly — Kevin Feige. The cinematography sometimes feels off with shots that aren’t always framed the way you expect them to be, especially coming off three seasons that showed us how it was done. Additionally, the pacing of some action scenes feels a bit rushed, which is a real bummer. A great example is the much-anticipated fight between Daredevil and Bullseye (Wilson Bethel), which is less impressive than it should be. If we’re comparing this to the snappy and iconic hallway scene in Season 1 or that chaotic prison sequence across 10 minutes in Season 3, this isn’t it. Instead, it’s scurried and dark with too many effects like strobe lights cutting into the action instead of serving it, while the air of misty gas severs our attention in what should have been a focused moment. In Seasons 1 through 3, the fight sequences felt warranted and added nuance to the story. But now, the hyperviolence accompanying blood and gore feels like it’s only here for shock value without adding meaningful growth to the character or story, and what that violence meant to Matt.
Meanwhile, the show’s episodic format also presents some pacing problems. While the original series managed more self-contained stories in a single season, Daredevil: Born Again feels less cohesive at times and slips into some random stories that go nowhere and the guest-star-of-the-week format, reminiscent of She-Hulk. We can give points to this aspect for being fun but it doesn’t add much value to Matt’s arc, particularly if the stakes are supposed to be higher. But as the guest stars are fun and create cause for excitement, the roster of new characters fragments the show with its overcrowding. New henchmen, lawyers, villains, and even an Irish gang leave you really perplexed, too many subplots go nowhere and feel like a distraction.
Take for example BB Urich (Genneya Walton) also known as Ben Urich’s niece, a Gen-Z reporter of The BB Report, who honors her uncle’s ideals, and Daniel Blade (Michael Gandolfini), a political advisor to the series’ immaculate performance of Vincent D’Onofrio’s returning villain, Wilson Fisk. As Walton and Gandolfini are solid in their roles, cut them out and they feel a lot like filler adding little to the overall narrative. Sure, they come into their own in later episodes but they dilute their own impact with an addition that feels forced. But no character feels more like a complication than Matt’s new girlfriend, Heather Glenn (Margarita Levieva). She’s no Karen in terms of depth and backstory, and tragically, doesn’t add much as a standalone outside of Matt. Worse off, the two don’t actually share that much chemistry either, which gives a feeling of disconnect between the writing and casting.
What Works for ‘Daredevil: Born Again’
After all that doesn’t work, there is still a lot to love about the show, especially for fans of the Netflix series. For starters, the casting is great and Cox and D’Onofrio really carry the show. Though it shouldn’t solely be on their shoulders, these two are the backbone that keeps you wanting more. Cox is as perfect as ever in the role of Matt Murdock as his performance feels both familiar and fresh, capturing the superhero’s inner conflict between responsibilities as a lawyer, the tragedy he endures, and his identity as Daredevil. Then of course, there’s D’Onofrio’s Kingpin, who is every bit as menacing and nuanced as he was before. There are a lot of parallels between the two this season and while we see them taking their own paths, there is a lot that brings them together too. The push and pull Cox and D’Onofrio hold shines as the most appealing part of Daredevil: Born Again, with each character’s arc pushing them deeper into a world of power, corruption, and personal loss.
As the series feels rushed in its action sequences and doesn’t exactly hold the same level of polish you’d expect from the original, it’s not a dealbreaker when it comes to the action. Sure, some of it feels gratuitous but it does level up its MA rating in a Deadpool & Wolverine way. Born Again doesn’t shy away from brutality and delivers some of the most intense fight sequences Disney+ has ever seen. While the choreography doesn’t always have the same fluid precision with snappy pacing, the action still hits pretty hard. You’ll find yourself wincing at some of the more bone-crunching moments. It’s that gritty, visceral energy that fans will recognize and perhaps even appreciate.
Another thing to really admire about the show is how it deepens Matt’s character in a few ways. While there are some ways to go, it makes a soft attempt at giving him more reason to be Daredevil. One of the best scenes from the series comes from his moments with The Punisher, played brilliantly by Jon Bernthal. Adding a natural gravitas to the situation and the push and pull of their morals, it’s their dynamic that really spices up the show, and wishes there was more. Bernthal’s Frank Castle in many ways, grounds Matt and elevates his humanity. As the series explores the emotional and psychological toll that Daredevil takes on Matt, there is a heaviness felt this season. It’s this weightiness of his past sacrifices and responsibilities that leans heavily into those emotional beats, which adds a lot of heart to the story — even if it feels a bit more bumpy than it should be.
What’s the Verdict for ‘Daredevil: Born Again’?
Unfortunately, Daredevil: Born Again is not the triumphant return many hoped for. The pacing is uneven, the episodic structure feels disjointed and some of the visual choices, especially some of the action sequences, feel unfocused. The fact that it also really feels like a step down from the Netflix series, which was pretty much perfection across the board, is a bit tragic for a show so hotly anticipated. Keep in mind, that the original showrunners for the Netflix series are not involved with this one, which is evidently felt. The fights are still solid, but they often feel awkward in their framing and are oddly staged for setup. There’s a raw intensity missing that also leaned heavily into its vulnerabilities during a fight that we don’t see here.
If you’re deeply invested in these characters, there’s still something here for fans. Just remember, all of your favorite shows can have one really off-season — and that’s this one. Born Again has its moments, and the performances keep it engaging. But if you’re looking for a pick up as Season 4 following a long hiatus from Season 3, this is having a major identity struggle. It’s hard to justify its place in the MCU’s television lineup when it’s in the same range as its previously panned shows. But it isn’t a complete disaster by any means even if it’s far from the next evolution of Daredevil fans were waiting for. Here’s hoping Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again delivers a lot stronger!
Daredevil: Born Again is now streaming on Disney+
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