SERIES REVIEW – Daredevil: Born Again is Disney+’s ambitious follow-up to the critically acclaimed Daredevil series, originally streamed on Netflix between 2015 and 2018. While the original was a Marvel co-production, it was canceled after its third season, leaving fans clamoring for more. Marvel promised the Man Without Fear would rise again on Disney+, but many doubted the House of Mouse would allow a story this dark, violent, and brooding to thrive under its squeaky-clean brand. But let me be clear: every doubter was dead wrong.

In recent years, Disney has started leaning into grittier, more mature storytelling within both the Marvel and Star Wars universes. That shift paved the way for Daredevil’s return, and after critics got an early look at the first two episodes of Daredevil: Born Again, the verdict is clear—he’s back, and in top form. Production may have gone through a massive overhaul—including a full rewrite and heavy reshoots after the first six episodes were completed—but the result is tighter, stronger, and more confident than expected. This isn’t just a revival. It’s a triumph.

A Devil Never Sleeps… for Long

The series opens with Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) stepping away from his vigilante persona after suffering a devastating personal loss. He retires the red suit—but not the fight. Instead, Matt returns to what he knows best: the law, helping a fellow masked crusader navigate legal peril. The horns may be shelved, but you don’t name a series Born Again unless you plan a resurrection. And when it comes, it hits hard. As the season unfolds, Matt finds himself once again crossing paths with Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio), who’s been off the radar for a while. (Viewers who’ve followed the Disney+ lineup will know where he’s been.) Now he’s back—and he’s running for mayor, in a storyline that eerily mirrors certain real-world strongmen. Matt and Fisk are locked in their eternal ideological war, but this time, Fisk has added legitimacy to his arsenal. He’s not just pulling strings in the shadows—he’s out in the open, using the system itself to strangle his enemies. It’s an epic clash, and it works on every level.

Not a Reboot, But the Fourth Season in Disguise

Make no mistake—despite the branding, this isn’t a reboot. Born Again picks up right where the Netflix series left off, spiritually if not literally. With the exception of Fisk’s appearances in Hawkeye and Echo (plus a couple of sly Ms. Marvel references), this show is deeply rooted in the narrative threads of Daredevil and The Punisher. Both have found a new home on Disney+, but their DNA is all over this revival. While newcomers can still enjoy it, longtime fans will find the emotional beats hit harder—especially with returning characters like Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) and Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll), whose presence still shapes Matt’s world.

And yes—the fight scenes deliver. If you feared that Disney would declaw the combat, fear not. The violence is every bit as raw and inventive as before, featuring throat punches, broken bones, and bloodied knuckles. Daredevil does the bulk of the damage, but Fisk and Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal), aka The Punisher, also get their brutal moments. One standout scene cuts between Matt and Fisk each delivering savage beatdowns—one to a serial killer, the other to someone who allegedly betrayed him. The dual perspective brilliantly underscores how similar they are, even as it reminds us how dangerously different their moral codes remain. It’s stylish, smart, and uncompromisingly intense.

Elegant Storytelling, Elevated by Strong Performances

Structurally, the season balances serialized storytelling with compelling detours. A fictional news show, The BB Report, pops up throughout the series, offering both world-building flavor and an in-universe media lens. The show’s anchor, BB (Genneya Walton), even appears in person for several episodes. There are occasional hiccups—most likely due to the rewrites. Episode five, for instance, feels tonally disconnected from the rest, its subplot not quite meshing with the broader narrative about a city on the brink. Still, even at its weakest, the show remains captivating.

Performance-wise, it’s a slam dunk. Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio return with a magnetic intensity, sliding back into their roles like no time has passed. Margarita Levieva makes a strong impression as Heather Glenn, Matt’s therapist and romantic interest, who brings nuance to the anti-vigilante perspective. Meanwhile, Michael Gandolfini is perfectly cast as Daniel Blake, Fisk’s fiercely devoted new apprentice—a young man who would walk through fire for his boss. There’s a lot more under the hood, but spoiling the rest would do you a disservice. Suffice it to say: Born Again earns its title. It’s a brutal, brilliant return to form.

-Gergely Herpai “BadSector”-