Daredevil: Born Again is a Worthwhile Descent into MCU Darkness
Departing from its previous incarnation, Daredevil: Born Again quickly establishes a relentlessly dark and consequential tone. The first two episodes explore the brutal realities of violence and its repercussions, moving away from superhero spectacle to a visceral exploration of human frailty. Here’s why it works.
Daredevil: Born Again (2025) | Marvel Studios and Disney+
The Story Feels Intentionally Dark, As It Explores the Consequences of Violence
Daredevil: Born Again makes it clear that this is a distinctly different Daredevil, despite some familiar elements. The series opens with the devastating loss of a fan-favorite, a brutal act that immediately sets the tone for the episodes to follow. This is not a world of clean victories and easy resolutions; instead, it's a world where violence leaves physical and emotional scars, with the repercussions of this initial loss rippling throughout the narrative, impacting every character and relationship. Grief becomes a tangible presence, a constant reminder of the fragility of life.
Relationships, once strong, fracture under the weight of trauma, revealing the cracks that were always there. Beyond the personal, the series also explores the societal ramifications of violence. The city, now visibly changed by the violence, reflects the characters' internal turmoil. The show does not shy away from showing the darker side of society, and how violence can reshape the world around you. This is a Daredevil that confronts the harsh realities of his actions, a hero forced to grapple with the consequences of his choices. This darkness is not gratuitous; it serves a purpose, grounding the narrative in a sense of realism that elevates the stakes and forces the characters to confront their deepest fears.
Charlie Cox Makes His Long-Awaited Return as Daredevil
The return of Charlie Cox is a welcome sight for fans of the character. Although he's yet to fully don the Daredevil mantle in these initial episodes, Cox seamlessly steps back into the role of Matt Murdock. It's as if he never left, capturing the character's inherent conflict between faith and violence, justice and vengeance.
His portrayal, reminiscent of his work in the former Daredevil series, efficiently showcases Murdock's vulnerability and inner turmoil alongside his unwavering resolve. Cox effortlessly portrays the character's internal struggles, reminding us of the human behind the mask, and his ability to convey Murdock's emotional depth, unwavering justice, and internal conflict proves his innate understanding of the character. And thankfully, his passion for the role is evident in his performance.
The Series Feels Like a Fever-Dream of New MCU-Canon
Daredevil: Born Again feels like a significant step forward in integrating the Marvel-adjacent characters into the mainstream MCU. Seeing these characters navigate the established MCU landscape is a refreshing change of pace, highlighting an era of Marvel storytelling where characters that could have seamlessly fit into the MCU are finally getting their due. And it’s not designed to be a cameo-filled nostalgia trip, but a genuine attempt to weave these characters into the fabric of the larger MCU narrative.
By grounding the story in the gritty realism that defined the original Daredevil series, Daredevil: Born Again brings a crucial perspective to the MCU, exploring themes of violence, loss, and redemption in a way that feels both familiar and groundbreaking with a power-less hero. The series ultimately feels like a fever dream because it is placing previously "street level" characters and stories, into the grander MCU narrative after years of waiting. Fortunately, there’s still plenty more to come.
