Daredevil Born Again Review: “It's hard to accept having a violent nature, to hate the power it exercises over us,” these are the words of Wilson Fisk/Kingpin – played by Vincent D’Onofrio who surpasses himself every time – who anticipates a little of what awaits us. The first season of a brand new chapter, Daredevil: Born Again sees the Devil of Hell's Kitchen on Disney+, after the cancellation of the series on Netflix (three seasons produced from 2015 to 2018).
D’Onofrio is back, but Charlie Cox (Matt Murdock/Daredevil), Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page) and Elden Henson (Franklin “Foggy” Nelson) are also back. Those who feared that a return of the Marvel series would not live up to the first three cycles of episodes can rest assured: the series has an explosive start and leaves its mark immediately. Created by Dario Scardapane and based on the Marvel comic book character of the same name, the first season of Daredevil: Born Again is available, streaming on Disney+, from March 5, 2025.
Daredevil: Born Again – a dark and cinematic tone and a New York in ruins
Matt, Kare,n and Foggy are back. We find them more united than ever, but a twist turns everything upside down, and life for them is no longer the same. The Matt we knew has a breaking point: he still fights for justice, but something in him changes profoundly after what happened while Fisk goes into politics, apparently for the good of a New York completely out of control. It is easy to imagine that the two, despite the “friendly” chat they had, will soon find themselves on a collision course.
Faithful to its roots, Daredevil: Born Again deals with events with a decidedly darker and more cinematic tone than in the past. Matt’s fight is not only physical but also psychological because what happens puts him to the test. Thanks also to an incredible long shot and tracking shot – shortly after the beginning of episode 1×01 Heaven’s Half Four – viewers immediately experience a sense of immersion while enjoying a certain visual symphony. Contributing to the powerful narrative are the acting performances of Cox, D’Onofrio and even Woll.
At the center of everything, however, is the fall of New York, totally in ruins at the hands of crime. 30% of the police force is retiring, the remaining cops are corrupt, Daredevil seems to have disappeared and the people, scared and in despair, rely on the least reliable of all because they hope, however, that he can really bring about change: Fisk. "Crime is really out of control around here. We need him back", people say - speaking of Daredevil - interviewed on the street.
The pain, the new dawn, and Matt's sense of justice
With the right balance between action and emotional drama, Daredevil: Born Again proves to be more violent than the parent series. Matt and Wilson have both changed and been marked by some events. Both face pain - for different reasons - and a new dawn. Matt puts the pieces back together: he falls, gives in to pain and anger, but gets up and tries to turn his life around (fearing what he saw in him). However, his sense of justice never fails, which for him always represents a moral compass that he can never do without. “I promised myself I would let the system take care of it. […] Our job is to do the impossible,” says Matt in the guise of a lawyer and not a vigilante.
Daredevil: Born Again is a story that focuses more on crime in New York, on the corruption of the system and on the desperation of those who can no longer live constantly in fear, without anyone actually doing anything (a particularly current and heartfelt theme in our parts, lately). In some ways, we can dare to say that the pace and themes of this new chapter – the fourth cycle of episodes, if we consider the first three originals – are a cut above what Netflix had managed to do. The script is dense and brilliant, while Cox and D’Onofrio were able to reprise their roles with naturalness and skill.
Daredevil: Born Again – evaluation and conclusion
Consisting of nine episodes, the first season of Daredevil: Born Again sees its dark soul and intense tone as its strengths, as well as a protagonist who struggles between his vulnerabilities and his sense of justice. The performances of Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio are impeccable: both confirm themselves as two great actors. From a visual point of view, the series stands out for the use of shadows and lights, which manage to evoke the typical dark atmospheres of Hell’s Kitchen.
Also worth highlighting are well-characterized characters, a solid plot, a direction attentive to detail – Fisk’s gestures, for example – and a soundtrack that certainly does not disappoint, as well as the opening theme that is renewed without losing its essence: everything crumbles, but from the rubble a new Daredevil emerges.