The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen makes a bloody, triumphant return … on Disney+, of all places.
Admittedly, I’m a chronic sufferer of superhero fatigue. Despite that, this series was still one that piqued my interest, mostly born of my curiosity revolving around whether or not Matt Murdock and company would be “Disney-fied.” Would Daredevil fall victim to a reduction of violence and the cracky, sometimes forced humor that’s become a trademark of the Marvel name? We’ve already seen him used as a joke once here in MCU Land — would that goofy cameo turn out to be a bad omen for the lawyer vigilante?
The answer was a resounding no to both, much to my very pleasant surprise.
My expectations going in were zero, the bar was in Hell(‘s Kitchen), and the open mind I went in with was quickly blown away, in about 10 minutes to be exact. I can confirm it’s nothing like the Netflix series, it is something so much better.
It goes without saying that Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio returning as Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk, along with all the other familiar faces along the way, was a necessary ingredient to the success of this re-introduction. Their performances as these iconic characters are elevated by the intelligent and masterfully suspenseful writing of the series. It’s raw and emotional, letting these two great performers showcase their mastery of their craft. Alongside one and facing another head on, the bad guys are downright diabolical, and there are quite a few of them. Small sub-plots lead you throughout the 9-episode season, leaving you on the edge of your seat until they blossom perfectly into a blood-soaked, gnarled finale without missing a beat.
The series builds Matt Murdock anew, functioning as an origin story, a crime/political drama, and a gruesome display of the street-level beatdowns Daredevil is known for. The relevance of the events is eerily timely for a series written well before the beginning of 2025, showcasing abuse of power and the strength of those willing to fight against it, with Kingpin and Daredevil dancing around each other yet again for the fate of New York City.
Daredevil: Born Again isn’t muddled by Multiverses or otherworldly threats, nor is it bogged down with unnecessary cameos and intertwined storylines with films or series you may not have watched. Heading into the confirmed season 2, we can only hope that its purity remains, as that’s what makes this season so extraordinary. It’s gritty, it’s dirty, and it’s corrupt down to its very core. Showrunner Dario Scardapane took this lightly formed lump of clay and molded into damn near perfection.
After writing all of this, I still implore you to head in as I did — with no expectations — but that isn’t to avoid disappointment, but rather to indulge in the story and characters organically. Don’t look in every scene for a sneaky cameo or clue to who Daredevil may meet next. Captain America’s shield isn’t in anyone’s basement here. Enjoy this for what it is because it is a wonder to experience.
The first two episodes of Daredevil: Born Again premiere Tuesday, March 4, at 9 p.m. ET exclusively on Disney+.
