Over a year ago, Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio returned as Matt Murdock/Daredevil and Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, respectively, on Disney+ nearly 10 years after the pair portrayed the characters on Netflix’s Daredevil series. Now, the duo is back in season two of Daredevil: Born Again, picking up where we left off last March.
For those who need a refresher (*do not read any further if you haven’t watched season one), the first season of Born Again saw the murder of Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) at the hands of Bullseye (Wilson Bethel), who was later charged with Nelson’s murder but escaped, giving himself a new mission to kill Fisk. Wilson Fisk’s political rise to Mayor of New York City and the creation of the Anti-Vigilante Task Force stirred controversy. With Daredevil gone, other vigilantes step into the spotlight, including Victor Ayala/White Tiger (Kamar de los Reyes), who tries to break up a fight in which a cop is killed. Arrested and labelled as a cop killer, Matt’s legal prowess is Ayala’s only hope for freedom.
So, basically, Matt had a lot going on – grieving his best friend, stepping away from being Daredevil, and taking on new cases. Despite the craziness, Matt begins a new relationship with therapist Dr. Heather Glenn (Margarita Levieva) and eventually returns as Daredevil as the crime in the city rises, including the appearance of a new serial killer named Muse (Hunter Doohan). Dr. Glenn becomes one of Muse’s targets, making Matt’s quest to hunt the killer down even more urgent. However, the growing tensions between Matt and Dr. Glenn reach a boiling point when she joins Mayor Fisk’s administration as the Commissioner of Mental Health. However, perhaps the biggest reveal from season one was that Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer) orchestrated Foggy’s murder.
So, now that you’ve been reminded about what happened in season one, let’s chat about what season two has to offer. Picking up where the previous left off, we find Matt unravelling a new mystery that leads him and Karen (Deborah Ann Woll) closer to danger. The pair are in hiding because of Matt’s vigilantism, and Karen helping him in his vigilante quests. As Fisk’s Task Force wreaks havoc throughout the city, making it significantly unsafe for residents (despite the alleged point of the Task Force to make the city’s streets safer), Matt and Karen have their work cut out for them. Trying to take down Fisk is at the top of their list, but they have yet to realize that they’re not the only ones with this mission. Bullseye is lurking, waiting ever so patiently. Whether due to Fisk himself or other external factors, anyone who is in Kingpin’s orbit is slow dancing with danger.
There’s a lot I cannot say in my review to preserve the experience for audiences watching the show at home. That said, I enjoyed season two more than the first. What Matt and Karen grapple with this season is a bigger threat – to them, to their friends, to the city. The stakes are higher, and it’s rewarding to see their character arcs develop, including the reemergence of our favourite badass, Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter). As always, Ritter brings her A-game. It’s clear that she missed the character, just as much as we missed Ritter’s portrayal of her. As the punch-first, ask-questions-later type, Jones brings a lot to the storyline, and yes, there is another cool hallway scene to look forward to.
Cox and D’Onofrio are brilliant. As the titular character for years, Cox has mastered the role of Matt Murdock/Daredevil. Whether taking on the opposition in the courtroom or using his gifts to help him take out the enemies that threaten New York City, Cox is just as believable as the character since he first began playing the character. The same goes for D’Onofrio. He’s frighteningly good as Fisk, and this season, he manages to be even more terrifying this season.
However, probably my favourite character this season was Wilson Bethel’s Bullseye. Bethel is locked in for this performance, and it was great to see the man with impeccable aim really let loose this season. A man on a mission, Benjamin “Dex” Poindexter is ready to take down the Kingpin, and Bethel looks like he’s having an amazing time in the role. Of course, one shouldn’t be out here rooting for a villain, but I will say I had a hard time not cheering for him (just a little bit) during a particularly gruesome showdown in a diner.
If you enjoy the Daredevil series because of the fights, you’ll be pleased with the action in season two. As previously mentioned, we get some hallway scenes, and Bullseye gets scrappy in a diner. We also see Fisk enter the boxing ring with some chilling results, and we even get to see Karen take on some bad guys. The fight choreography is well-done, and (for the most part), we can actually see the action this time around. There’s always something to be said about watching the street-level heroes take on the streets of their respective cities and kick ass for the sake of their neighbours. The show’s grounded nature sets it apart from the more fantastical elements of other Marvel stories. It’s something I’ve always loved about the series, and I am glad that it continues to stick to its roots.
However, perhaps the standout aspect of this season is how the series reflects real-world issues, making it more relatable and thought-provoking for viewers. It’s unsettling at times to watch how Fisk keeps doing these outrageous and harmful things, with many eyes on him, yet continues to evade consequences. The Anti-Vigilante Task Force is a clear stand-in for ICE and, really, every other law enforcement body that nefariously exerts its power over its citizens. At times, the scenes that played out were similar to ones seen daily on the news or posted on various social media platforms, captured on someone’s cell phone.
From the higher stakes to the gritty action to the character arcs, the new season of Daredevil: Born Again begs to be seen. All of these elements make for must-watch television. It highlights the meaning behind being a hero. As superpowered as one might be, there is nothing that can get in the way of the world crumbling down around you. But still, one has to push through, put on the mask (literal or figurative) and fight for what is right. The series reminds you that it’s more than just superhuman abilities that make a hero; it’s the decisions one makes in the most dire of circumstances and the way one helps others, using one’s power and privilege for good.
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