Daredevil: Born Again Episodes 1&2 Review – A Good Start

Here’s my Daredevil: Born Again Episodes 1&2 review and for me it was a good start, though that may depend on your tastes. Some background information to start with. This will be a SPOILER FREE review, which means not getting into the weeds on plat dynamics. However, unlike historically with Marvel series, where I’ve reviewed the entire series, I’m instead going episodically with Daredevil. I started this with Agatha All Along, because it was the first Marvel show which felt like episodic TV.

Therefore, I’ll start by saying Born Again feels like a TV series. I’ll also add that I was a fan of Daredevil Seasons 1-3 on Netflix. I’d rank them 3,1,2 if I had to. So, now you know where I am coming from on Born Again.

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We begin without spoilers at a rather big set piece set a year before the series main events. I’ll guess this was filmed as part of the reshoots and I think it does a good job of showing how we got from Daredevil Season 3 to the start of Born Again Season 1. It’s also the most action oriented scene in either of the opening two episodes, more on that later. We get an exciting superhero showdown alongside some tragedy which helps set up where Matt is mentally. Namely that in the beginning of Born Again Matt has given up Daredevil. Therefore, outside of that opening scene don’t expect to see much of Cox suited up here, yet.

The scene is set in Episode 1. We see Matt’s current life and viewpoint and it’s juxtaposed with Fisk seemingly genuinely trying to be a changed person. Matt is now just a lawyer and Fisk is trying to go legit and become Mayor of NYC.

However, the drama will of course be in both falling off that wagon and eventually clashing. That’s why we’re here though, right?.

Episode 1

I enjoyed this episode the best of the two we have. There’s just a bit more going on and the actors get some juicy scenes to play into. The opening was cool, though some fans have criticised the CGI in certain moments. Me, I thought it was good enough rather than spectacular. It was horrific, yet interesting however to see Daredevil’s opponent have zero regard for any innocent lives that get in the way. Episode 1’s focus is on how Matt is coping with that event a year later.

Meanwhile Matt becomes aware that Wilson Fisk is running for Mayor, and doing well. With the focus where it needs to be on Murdock and Fisk, we are introduced to some new secondary characters to fill up this little world. All nice additions so far.

There is however almost no action outside that opening scene. That does not bother me. I have no need for action to stop me from enjoying good drama and this is good drama. There’s also lots of opportunities to sow little seeds of what may come and what has happened. So far, it feels just like Netflix Daredevil, but they’re not afraid to acknowledge all the crazy antics that have occurred in the MCU.

GRADE: B+

Good drama, not the best I’ve seen this year, but better than anything Marvel has out on Disney+.

Episode 2

This one is where we begin heading towards that inevitable fall off the wagon. Matt gets involved in a case, Fisk is quite happy to use blackmail to get what he wants politically. He’s not quite Kingpin again, yet. However, the point is, someone like Fisk is a leopard that won’t change his spots. Equally, whilst Daredevil remains off the table for Matt, he’ll find himself becoming embroiled in a situation which pushes him in that direction.

My only discrepancy between grades is that Episode 2 feels like set up for a banger on an Episode 3. Whereas, Episode 1 felt more like a fully contained catch up episode. There’s some exposition dumps, some easter eggs, and again very little in the way of action, maybe one scene alone. I still really enjoyed Episode 2 and there were one or two really nicely constructed scenes. The episode was needed though to set up the events which will be the backbone of this seasons plot. Vigilante’s, dodgy cops, ex-criminal politicians and retired vigilante blind lawyers. Just what you’d expect from a Daredevil show.

GRADE: B

No major complaints, enjoying where all this is leading, but we’re not there yet. A perfectly serviceable episode of TV as long as there’s pay off to come.

A Lack of Action

I wanted to get into this separately because it has little to no impact on my review. I review TV shows with no action in them at all quite often. However, I should and will point out that Marvel fans are a little different from regular TV drama fans. Having a quick chat with fans online I noticed a few bemoan that both episodes were just ‘all talking’. I’m not criticising their tastes, but that is 90% of all adult TV shows. Actors playing characters on sets, and they talk.

You’re being shown an ongoing story. A story where it makes sense that Matt is currently supressing Daredevil and Fisk his nastier instincts. When the veil eventually drops, as we all know it will, it should feel earned within the confines of this story.

In that respect I really enjoyed this open two episode premiere. I don’t need a Daredevil fight every week to decide whether I enjoy the show or not. Still, that’s me and my tastes. Maybe you’re like, ‘dude I’m watching a Marvel show, I want cool fights and superhero costumes’? If so, yeah I get you might find Episode’s 1-2 a bit talky and adult compared to most Marvel fare. However, any fans of the Netflix Daredevil will tell you this is consistent for this show. Stick with it, it will definitely heat up.

Any fans who liked Daredevil Season 1-3 I think will love this. It’s basically just Season 4 so far. Though, with a few twists and turns and a bit more of an MCU connected feel. I’m looking forward to Episode 3 next week.

What do you think of my Daredevil: Born Again Episodes 1&2 review? Were you a fan? If not, what did you dislike? Leave us any thoughts below.

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