Note: There are MAJOR spoilers in this article. Fans of Netflix’s Daredevil lamented the day the critically acclaimed series was abruptly cancelled back in 2018. It was hailed as one of the best Marvel properties around, balancing outstanding grounded action with compelling characters and stories. Finally, in 2025, the Man Without Fear returns in Daredevil: Born Again, the Disney+ sequel series that hopes to live …
Note: There are MAJOR spoilers in this article.
Fans of Netflix’s Daredevil lamented the day the critically acclaimed series was abruptly cancelled back in 2018. It was hailed as one of the best Marvel properties around, balancing outstanding grounded action with compelling characters and stories. Finally, in 2025, the Man Without Fear returns in Daredevil: Born Again, the Disney+ sequel series that hopes to live up to the legacy of the original series. Does it get off to a good start? Let’s find out.
Born Again takes place some time after the events of Hawkeye and Echo and opens up with a friendly and warm sight: Matt Murdock with his friends Foggy Nelson and Karen Paige. Like catching up with old friends you haven’t seen in years, the show effortlessly eases back into the rapport of the trio without missing a beat.
Then, before you can say “bullseye,” the warm fuzzy feelings are gone as Foggy Nelson is unexpectedly killed off before the opening credits even roll. It was a wholly unexpected scene, as Bullseye Poindexter assassinated a fan favorite character, leading to a signature Daredevil fight sequence, complete with extended camera shots and brutal violence, resulting in a visceral and thrilling sequence. What made it more intense was Matt checking in on Foggy’s slowing heart rate while the brutal fight slogged on, and both men were beaten within an inch of their lives, with blades sticking out of their bodies. The production value seems spiffier and some of the VFX did feel a bit uncanny, considering how in-camera Daredevil has felt in the past. But the effect is nonetheless effective, with the tension and stakes being palpable. I genuinely did not expect the show to kill off a major character so soon, especially considering the many years we’ve had to wait and the false start Born Again had in its production.
This tragedy pushes Matt into a period of self-reflection, resulting in him retiring the Daredevil vigilante. The show then jumps ahead one year, and Matt is a successful lawyer with a new practice with Kristin McDuffie, an old friend of Foggy and fellow lawyer. He’s even just started seeing someone, a successful therapist named Heather. But other vigilantes have taken up shop in Hell’s Kitchen to fill the void left by Daredevil’s absence, such as White Tiger, in a desperate attempt to take back the city from the growing criminal underbelly. Thanks to Vox Pop interviews on the streets, we end up getting a sense for what this New York is like and the fear and anger its citizens are feeling. Which leads me to my next point.
Another thing that was noticeable about the show as it went on was how eerily similar it was to current political affairs. Vincent D’Onofrio returns to the world of Daredevil as Wilson Fisk, who has opted to abandon the life of the Kingpin in favour of running (successfully) for mayor. Despite the fact that this show was written some time ago, the parallels to a certain president cannot be ignored. Whether by accident or premonition, the writer’s portrayal of Fisk and his influence strongly reminded me of recent headlines, resulting in an eerie viewing experience.
With Matt and Wilson having given up their alter egos, one would wonder how the show is going to set up the return of those identities. Enter the aforementioned White Tiger. His involvement in the show seems critical, as he’s on trial for the murder of an NYPD officer, but as a civilian, not as the vigilante. Likewise, the man is innocent, but there’s a conspiracy in the force trying to keep Tiger behind bars, or, ideally, dead. What the conspiracy is and how it all fits together remains to be seen, but by the end of episode two, Matt had a gun to his head after protecting a key witness and has seemingly killed two police officers himself, pulling the devil back out to the forefront. With Fisk promising an end to vigilantism, it’s only a matter of time before the mask is back on and Daredevil must contend with Fisk’s wrath (don’t forget, Fisk knows Matt is Daredevil).
We may have had to wait a long time to see where Daredevil would go after the explosive third season, but so far, all signs are pointing to this show being worth the wait. It’s ruthless and intense and already feels immensely more complex and nuanced than anything Marvel has done in quite some time, whether that be on the small screen or big. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
