NETFLIX’S Daredevil series will always have a special place in my heart as it's dark and gritty tone really made it stand out in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
From the philosophical rooftop debate featuring Matt Murdock and Frank Castle back in Season 2, to the climactic battle between Bullseye, Daredevil, and Kingpin in Season 3, the series was filled with a lot of moments that would truly inspire the inner vigilante in us.
And now with Disney having full rights to the devil of Hell’s Kitchen, I was wondering how things will pan out? Will it remain its gory and mature tone or will things sizzle down for a more PG-oriented audience?
Daredevil’s profound storytelling remains
Daredevil’s surprise appearances in She-Hulk may suggest that Marvel might make the masked vigilante into a lighthearted character but Born Again immediately dismisses these perceptions.
Just like in the previous seasons, Born Again tackles profound themes centered on justice, and it likewise dug deep into the stories of Wilson Fisk and Matt Murdock. Seeing Fisk evolve into the Mayor of New York City added more tension and it even elevated his status as a major threat.
Once again Vincent D'Onofrio shines with his character as his aura was everywhere in the show. I really felt his transition from being a powerful crime lord to a power hungry government figure, while also trying his best to embrace the civilian life. His character was even well written especially since I saw the inner turmoil in him.
As much as he wanted to show that he is a good-natured politician, Fisk also has a hidden shadow lurking within. This was even amplified when digging deep into his relationship with his wife Vanessa.
Meanwhile, Murdock came from a tragedy where he witnessed the death of his best friend Foggy Nelson, which became the perfect catalyst for Matt's narrative where he realized that all of his efforts were for nothing.
Matt tried to follow the system where he believed that justice will eventually stand tall, only for him to slowly witness its flaws and Charlie Cox did a great job with his delivery to the point where viewers can sympathize with his internal struggles.
At the end of the day, Born Again was blessed with one of the most mature stories, exploring the internal conflict from both Fisk and Murdock and how they tested their values.
It didn't matter if the series was paced slowly as the writing was really captivating, and this didn't just end with the two main characters as this even translated well by the side characters, which in my opinion were the best in the series.
Each of the side characters stood out with Karen Paige reeling from the pain of Foggy's death, to the cabinet members under Fisk who all have their own agendas.
And despite the numerous characters involved, each and everyone of them was squeezed well in the overall narrative.
Action sequences
But besides the overall writing, the Daredevil series has also been renowned for its action sequences, with Season 1 serving as the benchmark due to its iconic cinematography.
Born Again simply followed the same formula of the previous seasons, however there was something I noticed while watching some of the sequences. There was so much emotional depth from Matt Murdock that really made me question if he will suddenly let go of his sense of morality, which was last hinted back in Season 3.
This was already highlighted during his battle against Bullseye in Episode 1, then there were moments where I felt like he might finally break his code of honor.
It was such a perfect touch in the series as it further explored on Murdock's duality, and it also elevated Daredevil not just as a superhero, but most importantly...an emotional human being.
Combined that with the series' signature cinematography and what you get is a masterpiece.
And this wasn't just limited to Daredevil as both Kingpin and the Punisher have also stamped their mark as seen with how they've unleashed their demons while battling against their foes.
CONCLUSION
Then when looking at the final episode of the series, I wondered if Marvel will be gunning for something big, especially since it hinted that Daredevil will be leading a revolution to counter Wilson Fisk's tyranical methods.
No one knows what his plans are for the 2nd season of Born Again, but I'm extremely excited as this could open up the doors for the MCU. Will Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, or Elektra make an appearance?
For some, Born Again can be a slow burner as it takes a lot of time to unravel the various plot points in the series, but overall it manages to tell a compelling story that is perfect with the times, especially since the show tackles themes centered on politics, power, and corruption.
The buildup leading to the 2nd season can be described as an 'absolute cinema' and we're hoping to see more of the devil of Hell's Kitchen take centerstage. Perhaps this might be the road leading to his official entry with The Avengers.
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