Heaven's Half Hour

When the most memorable/interesting scene of the episode is two dudes sitting at a table, you KNOW something isn't quite right. Yikes.

I wasn't impressed at all with the first episode of DD Born Again.

They had a chance to at least do the fight scene right, but nahhh, why do that when you can rely (HEAVILY) on CGI?

The soundtrack is pretty bad too with those very weird and annoying constant thumping tones trying to make you think the episode is "intense" or whatever. Give me a break.

Maybe all this would be acceptable if Born Again wasn't supposed to be a continuation to the great show that was Netflix's Daredevil.

6/10 for episode 1 from me.

Daredevil: Born Again wastes no time and pulls no punches as it picks-up so many years after the events of Daredevil Season 3. The series premiere is fantastically written and goes in what feels like a natural progression (well, as natural a progression as you can have when reviving a show six years after it's cancellation). Charlie Cox and Vincent D'onofrio give fantastic performances as Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk, who feel exactly like their characters in the original series (despite the change in writers)

There are three main problems that I've had with this episode. First off, the soundtrack is fantastic... But it leans a lot into the main theme from the original show. That gets used a lot, which feels weird since it was only really used during significant moments of the original series. Secondly, the cinematography isn't as nice as in the original (but let's be real here, that's not saying much - since the original was gorgeous). And thirdly is honestly just the action. Don't get me wrong, it had an amazingly choreographed fight scene, that actually had a stunning one-shot sequence... But none of it's nearly as impressive as in the original series when you can clearly see that a lot of CGI was used at points. Throughout the Daredevil scenes in the episode, you can definitely see what was done practically, and what was done digitally, which really brought me out of the immersion of seeing Daredevil again

Overall, though, if you can push those three minor issues to the back of your mind... The series premiere of Daredevil: Born Again is fantastic and is an awesome way to continue the story from the Netflix Defenders Saga. It does justice to the original show and offers a lot by the means of enjoyment.

First off, the first fight scene was different than any Marvel fight I've seen. The odd perspectives and lighting, the relentless zinging knives, along with DD's lurching, zombie-like pursuit of Bullseye, captured the Frank Miller Daredevil Marvel comic run from the 1980s better than any previous episode. That 1980s run also featured Kingpin's mayoral race. Good stuff. (It would probably cost a CGI fortune but we really do need to see an entire fight from DD's radar sense perspective.)

The music and score enhance the action by skipping overdramatized score crescendos (think Peter Jackson with LOTR). Some hip new pop tunes help too. Great mood and tone from the soundtrack.

I also enjoy how the dialogue and fights are more understated. The opening fight was mostly shot from a distance, which emphasized action over smashed bloody faces. It was less brutal and instead more vicious and clinical than, say, every single Punisher fight scene. The Kingpin - Daredevil coffee shop face-off was similarly understated, with little melodrama in either dialogue or score. And if that scene wasn't an homage to the De Niro-Pacino coffee talk then I'm Michael Mann.

I'm optimistic. Smart, crisp writing and a consistent score/soundtrack (without any of Marvel's self-parody) will keep me tuned in.

We all know how intense and gritty the original daredevil show was and this episode puts you right back in that Thrill Ride seat. You usually expect a show to start off slow and slowly build up to a big moment or a major plot twist but this show pretty much doesn't waste any time at all. I also like that there isn't a lot of conversation between characters that doesn't feel necessary the show seems to hit on a very fine pace and doesn't let up. If you are a big fan of the original show then you will be definitely happy to see the show gets right back to where it needed to be and gives you what you needed to see.

As a big fan of the original series who was devastated by its cancellation, I was incredibly hopeful about its continuation in Daredevil: Born Again. One episode in and it is very clear that, while continuing the story of Daredevil, this show is very much its own stylistically. I cannot help but miss the distinct visual aesthetic of the original show, with such gorgeous lighting and cinematography. Born Again is much more along the lines of other Disney+ Marvel shows visually, with some flashes of the original bursting through.

It is truly a delight to have Daredevil and Fisk back, both actors truly bring their all and I am excited to see what this season has in store for them. However, the show makes a big decision in its opening that I found very difficult to stomach. Ultimately, I recognize that my excitement for the series' return clouds me from making an unbiased decision about the execution of this moment, but I had a quite harsh reaction to the show's opening sequence. I don't want to go as far as to say that it is disrespectful to the original show, although I couldn't help but reject it and expect it to be incredibly divisive. I do, however, understand the choice itself and will wait until some time has passed to see how it sits with me.

The original show is long gone, and ultimately this one is a different beast. Daredevil: Born Again takes bold swings that will likely cause some to love it and some to hate it. I'm still giving it its chance and looking forward to the rest of the season, because ultimately there is a lot to appreciate and enjoy inside of this first episode-even if some elements left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.