After what feels like forever (but it really hasn’t been), we are back in Hell’s Kitchen. Daredevil Born Again Season 2 is a sharp, brutal dance with the devil.
Daredevil Born Again Season 2 Review
Following up the original Daredevil series was always going to be a daunting task. Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was raw, bloody, and hell-raising yet it barely scratched the surface of what a Daredevil show could be. Season 2 brings even more to the table, delivering something that matches the tone of the Netflix vision for a truly visceral experience. After the events of season 1, fans have been eagerly awaiting the return to Hell’s Kitchen and the promise of an ugly confrontation between Kingpin and Daredevil.
Daredevil: Born Again season 2 is a sharp, brutal, dance with the devil. Imagine a modern day court full of intrigue, explosive bloody action sequences, and plenty of twists. Who is the king and who is the jester here depends on where you’re standing. Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Wilson Bethel, and Krysten Ritter are perfect in their respective roles, with the latter marking a welcomed return for her character. Then there is Matthew Lillard’s Mr. Charles, a delightfully demented and sly mystery man. Fans of both the comics and shows are going to eat well this season and be clamoring for the next.
Six months have passed since Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) have become fugitives thanks to the “Safer Streets Initiative” aka Anti-Vigilante law put into place by Mayor Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio). The city is essentially under martial law, giving Fisk’s Vigilante Task Force free rein to arrest anyone they think may be a vigilante or helping one. At first most citizens are ok with this version of New York, after all the streets do seem safer and they aren’t really affected by the unjustness of the Task Force. Fisk continues business as usual, including some underhanded dealings with the shady Mr. Charlies (Matthew Lillard). He even has a charity boxing match scheduled to raise funds for New York the Task Force. But the people gradually become fed-up and all the while, Daredevil is trying to bring down Fisk’s empire with the help from a few friends and one frenemy.
Now that we are fully plugged into this world thanks to season 1, season 2 wastes no time diving back into the streets of New York’s underbelly. I’ve seen some people say this season starts slow but I don’t agree. This picks up essentially where it left off, hitting the gas, and never looking back. From episode 1 it is clear that this time around, everything is going to be elevated from the violent fight scenes to the sheer gravity of what is happening to the people and heroes of the city. The blood, broken bones, and deaths are plentiful. Oh and the hallway fight scenes (not to mention the ones that take place in other locations) are thrilling as they are brutal.
After being hesitant to don the mask and take his place once again as Daredevil, this time around he truly is a “Man Without Fear” and Cox is loving this chance to show off the darker sides of Matt’s character as well as his own action prowess. Daredevil and taking down Fisk has consumed Matt, with even his relationship with Karen suffering because of it. Cox handles it all masterfully, even the classic Matt Murdoch Catholic guilt. Crying in the church and all. He is dogged in his pursuit of Fisk and their confrontations are everything you could ask for. D’Onofrio meanwhile gets to live Fisk’s most interesting arc yet, as he fights to maintain grasp on the city and an upstanding public image. As those things inevitably start to slip, he descends into the darkness we all expect from Kingpin.
Ritter is back on the scene and Jessica Jones is as sarcastic and kick*ss as ever. Her chemistry with Cox was one of the best parts of The Defenders series and it remains a highlight here. Their banter and team-up moments are on point and to say more would be to spoil some of my favorite moments. Just know that what I saw got me beyond excited. Wilson Bethel’s Bullseye not only gets more screen time but is also given the most complex arc of the season. His dynamic with Matt is one that is combative, anger-filled, and begrudgingly understanding. He gets another shot (no pun intended) to show off how deadly accurate Poindexter is with a weapon (or any other object in his hand for that matter).
As for the rest of the cast, Buck, Daniel, Cherry, and Kirsten are given more to work with. The former two working for Kingpin and figuring out what their allegiance means and the latter two being more fleshed out and less hangers on from the Netflix series. Heather Glenn remains my least favorite (or interesting) character in the show. She is far more obnoxious now that she is working for Fisk and willing to throw away all her oaths as a doctor for his “protection.” She really just comes across as a jilted lover who can’t let it go. Tony Dalton’s Jack Duquesne is charming and makes an impact whenever he is on screen. Really the only one missing is Punisher but we know he’s busy with Spider-Man and whatever we are about to see him get into in his special.
Verdict
Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 is one helluva return to the streets with Matt Murdock and company. Each episode balances the need for visceral thrills, emotional beats, and well-timed humor. Cox, D’Onofrio, Bethel, and Ritter are firing on all cylinders for one eventful and impactful season. The ending is guaranteed to be on the most talked about episodes of the MCU TV era, alongside the likes of WandaVision and Loki season 2. Which is how I know when that season finale hits, every Marvel fan will be anxious to see what happens next.
It’s no surprise that this is the first Disney+ MCU show to get a third season. It has it all really, complex characters, drama, wit, bone-crunching action, and enough surprises to keep you guessing. I know I can’t wait for season 3, but I guess in the meantime I can rewatch Born Again and wait not-so-patiently for Punisher: One Last Kill.
Daredevil: Born Again season 2’s first episode is now available to stream on Disney+. Additional episodes will air Tuesday nights at 6pm PT/9pm ET.
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