Daredevil: Born Again – Marvel resurrects the darkness within its Devil

Daredevil owes She-Hulk a favour.

After all, it was after Matt Murdock’s appearance in Marvel’s divisive She-Hulk: Attorney at Law series that the direction of Daredevil’s return began to change. Wearing a yellow suit and bearing a silly smirk, Daredevil’s (technically, second) arrival in the MCU lacked all of the grit and teeth that made Netflix’s original series so special. Once rumours began to spread that the tone of Daredevil: Born Again would feel closer to this incarnation of the character, fans cried bloody murder (and, supposedly, so did the cast). Suddenly, Disney realized the problem that they had on their hands that needed to be fixed.

Maybe, just maybe, Disney was going to have to do things the Netflix way this time around.

As a result, after undergoing massive overhauls to the script, Daredevil: Born Again puts the fire back in the Devil’s belly once again. The series is dark, violent and very, very angry. But, somehow, that’s what gives the series teeth. And becomes a welcome return.

In Daredevil: Born Again, blind lawyer Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) returns with an eye for justice at his law firm. But his world is shaken with the news that former mob boss (and old adversary) Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) has resurfaced, this time with new political agendas on his mind. As the two men’s lives begin to collide, they must battle their past selves in order to keep New York standing.

Born Again feels like it’s own world in the MCU

Led by showrunner Dario Scardapane, Born Again describes the series best. Daredevil is, officially, reborn. Despite their initial reluctance to step into the R-rated waters, their decision to put the ‘devil’ back in Hell’s Kitchen pays off entirely. (Though I’m sure a billion-dollar Deadpool movie made it easier to make that decision as well.) With one foot in the shadows of the city, Scardapane ensures that the series feels once again like the gritty crime drama that made it notable. While it still fits into the overall MCU (for example, Fisk’s plan is hinted at in Echo), this vision necessarily feels like its own world. Here, New York feels almost claustrophobic. Fisk and Murdock seem as though their worlds are irrevocably tied together and every encounter between them is pregnant with potential fury.

Of course, much of the show’s success is due to the return of strong work by Cox and D’Onofrio. Having become friends offscreen in the initial series ten years ago (!), the relationship between the two actors is always fascinating onscreen. And, after four seasons together, both Cox an D’Onofrio understand each other’s beats, bringing seamless chemistry to their interactions. Both D’Onofrio’s Fisk and Cox’s Murdoch walk fine lines between heroism and unadulterated rage. They are reflections of one another that live on opposite sides of the mirror. That’s what makes their relationship so toxic and that’s what makes their relationship so compelling.

Once again, Matt Murdoch battles his own inner demons

It’s also this ‘fine line’ that makes this season so special. As Murdoch attempts to put Daredevil behind him, one can sense the rage that is bubbling underneath the surface. He has decided that the best way to protect this city is through his work as a lawyer. Yet he is still battling the ‘devil’ inside. As Matt finds himself entrenched more deeply into Fisk’s world, he can’t seem to decide which side of the line that he needs to stand if he wants to protect the city. (“I was raised to believe in grace. That we could be touched by the Divine and be transformed into a new person… But you should know that I was also raised to believe in retribution,” Murdoch mutters through gritted teeth.) This tension between peace and violence lies at the heart of Daredevil and is on full display in this iteration.

As a result, it’s worth pointing out that Daredevil: Born Again isn’t for younger viewers. Broken bones that can be seen and brutal action scenes mark this series. (In fact, the first episode also features the MCU’s second F-word.) While this doesn’t have the language and gore of Deadpool, it certainly isn’t the same tone as Spider-Man either. The rating of TV-MA is earned and, as a result, Marvel’s highest rated series on Disney+. 

Disney charts a new course for the series

Now, having said this, longtime fans should know that this vision of Hell’s Kitchen still feels different than that of Nelson, Murdoch and Page. Even with its dark edges, the lighting is brighter, making it feel like it takes place more in the daylight than in the shadows. What’s more, despite throwbacks to the original series, Born Againstill wants to take you in a new direction than the Netflix era. (Also, without giving spoilers, fans will likely be quite upset about the series’ opening moments.) 

Even so, Daredevil: Born Again still feels true to the series that we have loved. With rage in his heart and blood on their fists, Scardapane shows that he clearly understands what makes him unique, making Born Again feel like a much-needed resurrection.

The first two episodes of Daredevil: Born Again is available on Disney+ on March 4^th, 2025, with new episodes streaming weekly.