Daredevil: Born Again

I found the reboot to be thankfully like the 4th installment of an already brilliant series. I was worried that Disney were going to decimate what was one of the best Marvel adaptations ever done. But thankfully it is a faithful and enjoyable continuation of Hells Kitchen and it's gritty and dirty scenarios. Found the acting to be just as compelling, Denofrio being again a big part of that enjoyment. His Kingpin is flawless. Also liked the new additions with Lindsey, Daniel, Sheila and Heather all bringing something new and fresh. I really enjoyed seeing Murdock battle his demons and found the multiple sub plots on the various characters to be enthralling. Can't wait for season 5.

I didn't see the original Daredevil series, so at times I wasn't totally sure what was going on or who certain characters were. But even without that background, Born Again held my interest and delivered a decent experience.

The show has its ups and downs-some episodes feel strong and well-paced, others drag or get lost in slower subplots. Still, it's better than a lot of recent Marvel content. It doesn't reach the heights of Deadpool & Wolverine, Guardians of the Galaxy, or Loki, but it's a noticeable step up from many of the weaker MCU shows.

Overall, it's a solid watch with a darker tone and a more grounded approach. If you're into street-level heroes or just looking for something a little more serious in the Marvel universe, it's worth checking out-even if you're new to the character like I was.

This spiritual sequel doesn't try to be Season 4 of the Netflix series, nor does it fully reboot the character. Instead, Reborn threads a careful needle-it reintroduces Matt Murdock into the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe while honoring the darker, more grounded tone that made the original show a standout.

Set after the events of She-Hulk and Echo, Daredevil: Reborn finds Matt grappling with a changed New York, a fractured legal career, and a city that no longer believes in heroes the way it used to. Wilson Fisk is back-newly reinvented but as manipulative and calculating as ever-and their decades-long feud simmers with renewed tension. The series doesn't pick up directly from where the Netflix show left off, but fans of that version will recognize familiar emotional throughlines: guilt, justice, and the cost of wearing the mask.

Charlie Cox once again proves he is Matt Murdock. His performance walks the line between quiet resolve and explosive emotion, never losing the wounded nobility that defines the character. The series leans into his dual identity more than ever before, showing a Matt who is at odds with both his vigilante persona and his place in the courtroom. There's more internal conflict here, and while it sometimes slows the pacing, it adds psychological depth that's often missing from MCU fare.

Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin is just as terrifyingly nuanced as ever. Reborn wisely avoids turning Fisk into a caricature of evil. Instead, he's methodical, personal, and hauntingly relatable in his conviction. He doesn't just want to reclaim power-he wants to rewrite the rules of the city itself. His return provides both narrative weight and emotional stakes that elevate the show beyond standard superhero tropes.

Tonally, Reborn feels like a hybrid of its Netflix predecessor and the broader MCU. The violence is dialed back compared to earlier seasons, but it's still more brutal than your average Disney+ series. The fight choreography remains a highlight-gritty, close-quarters, and visually inventive without relying on over-polished CGI. There's a hallway fight, of course-because there had to be-and it doesn't disappoint.

Where Reborn stumbles is in trying to balance its legacy with its new responsibilities as a Disney+ series. At times, it feels caught between two worlds: the mature, brooding storytelling of Netflix's Daredevil, and the lighter, interconnected world of the MCU. Supporting characters like Foggy Nelson and Karen Page are notably absent or underutilized in the early episodes (though rumors swirl about their eventual return), and the series introduces a few new characters who don't always feel fully fleshed out. The show is more restrained, but occasionally that restraint comes across as hesitation.

Despite these flaws, Reborn succeeds at what it sets out to do: reintroduce Daredevil to both old fans and new audiences without undermining what came before. It asks bigger questions about justice and morality in a world now crowded with gods, monsters, and multiverses. What does street-level heroism look like in an era of celestial threats? Reborn doesn't pretend to have all the answers-but it's asking the right questions.

Visually, the show looks great. The cinematography makes excellent use of shadows and urban environments, grounding the action in real spaces. The soundtrack is moody and minimal, occasionally invoking themes from the Netflix series while forging a new sonic identity.

In short, Daredevil: Reborn is a strong return-not quite the gut-punching triumph of the Netflix run, but a thoughtful, engaging next chapter in Matt Murdock's journey. It may still be finding its footing, but with Cox and D'Onofrio leading the way, the future of Hell's Kitchen looks promising.

How great it is to see the original cast of the series back, including Charlie Cox, Elden Henson, Deborah Ann Woll, Vincent D'Onofrio, Jon Bernthal, Wilson Bethel, and Ayelet Zurer. One thing I want to highlight is that Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk had already appeared in other recent Marvel series, but they had lost the essence of their characters. This series brings that essence back, and as a fan of the Netflix version, I'm truly grateful - even though their characters were heavily affected by their appearances in other shows.

Before I continue my review, I need to mention that this series was released after many Marvel productions that lost their potential, so its release feels important. I hope it sends a message to everyone in the company - and to the entire film industry.

Continuing the review, it's really hard not to compare this Marvel series to the Netflix one. One thing I liked in this version was the fight scenes - they feel more epic and continue to be brutal. However, I still prefer the old series because the fights there felt more natural and realistic. Despite my preference, I enjoyed the action scenes in this series too - they're not bad at all. But one thing that bothered me a bit was that many of the best fight scenes take place in the dark or in smoke, which can make it harder for the audience to follow what's happening.

As for the screenplay, I felt it was very slow and lacked a clear purpose until the last two episodes. That lack of direction can especially be seen in the Muse arc - he's a great villain, but in my opinion, he was underused. Another thing I really disliked was how long it took to explain the lack of connection between the old and new series. Even by the final episodes, there was no clear explanation of why Poindexter did what he did at the beginning of the series, or how Fisk is free and has become the mayor, after being accused of killing Agent Nadeem in season three.

Despite the short number of episodes, I liked the arc involving the corrupt cops and I'm interested to see how they'll be dealt with in the second season. Still, it felt strange not to see other major heroes involved in such an important storyline - especially Spider-Man.

An honorable mention goes to Hector Ayala, portrayed by Kamar de los Reyes, who sadly passed away. Even though his screen time was limited, his presence was powerful and meaningful to the story. I really liked his character and wanted to see more of him. I especially enjoyed the courtroom scenes and his relationship with Matt, as well as his motivations. Overall, even with short time, he made a big impact, and as fans, we should honor him. May he rest in peace.

So, this series is great, but compared to the original, it still has some areas that could be improved - though I'm not sure if those issues were caused by the reshoots. Still, it's a good series to watch, and I'm definitely looking forward to the second season.

Daredevil: Born Again was announced several years ago, shortly after the character's cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Since then, this series has undergone a very troubled and very long production. Several episodes of the original show, which had no connection to the Netflix Daredevil beyond a few central actors, were filmed before a massive creative overhaul was ordered. This led to reshoots and revisions, turning the show into a sequel to the Netflix installment.

All this to say, it's clear that Born Again is two shows stitched together. Especially with the first episode, which squeezes probably a good two or three episodes work of plot into one in a desperate attempt to introduce the new elements of the show and refit the original story. This is the show's main problem, along with some of the elements of what would appear to be the original ideas not being very interesting or fitting with the tone of the reshot material. One story is a procedural drama, the other is Daredevil Season 4. Also brought with this new direction are a couple questions, such as how did Kingpin get out of jail after Season 3, and how does the whole Hawkeye/Echo story fit into all this?

Despite this, and some poor use of new characters (the villain Muse in particular), there is still a lot to love. Charlie Cox, Vincent D'Onofrio, Wilson Bethel, Jon Bernthal, and Ayelet Zurer play their characters just as well as ever. Cox and D'Onofrio in particular are extraordinary. Kingpin running for mayor leads to great suspense, as you keep waiting for the moment he'll crack and return to his old ways. When he finally gives in, it results in the single most brutal scene I've ever seen from a Marvel or DC property. I thought I was watching The Boys for a second.

Despite some tonal whiplash, Born Again is without a doubt some of Marvel's best post-Endgame content, and I look forward to Season 2, where a singular vision from the show's creative team will hopefully fix most of Season 1's issues.