Spoiler Warning:
In a two-episode release, “Daredevil: Born Again” brings tense action, emotional depth, a spine-chilling villain and the rebirth of the Man Without Fear.
Episode 5, “With Interest” – 4/5
On St. Patrick’s Day, Matt Murdock applies for a bank loan but is rejected by Assistant Bank Manager Yusuf Khan — played by Mohan Kapoor. This episode is not the first time viewers may have seen Khan, with him being the father of Kamala Khan, also known as Ms. Marvel.
The inclusion of Y. Khan subtly brings together a larger world without feeling contrived. The naturalness of K. Khan’s father in his everyday job serves the narrative well and does not overshadow the plot. This example of a cameo is one that Marvel Studios should begin employing more rather than trying to shoehorn A-List stars into media that does not require their presence.
Murdock is denied the bank loan and the scene ends. Suddenly, a bank robbery at Khan’s employer occurs. Murdock, in his common New Yorker attire, rushes into the bank to help; however, it becomes clear that he is in over his head, as he cannot do much against a group of armed robbers with hostages. After all, he does not have any real superpowers.
The episode sees Y. Khan offer moral advice to Murdock in the form of fables he shares with his daughter. The episode culminates in a fight between Murdock and the lead robber Devlin, played by Cillian O’ Sullivan. The choreography displays Murdock’s acrobatic technique — something that was missing in the Netflix series — and his brutality when he snaps the leg of Devlin in half.
Notably, Wilson Fisk was absent in this episode that felt like a filler episode to introduce the larger MCU — granted in a natural locale.
Episode 6, “Excessive Force” – 4.5/5
Matt Murdock finally dons the red suit. Episode 6 takes audiences back to the main plot of the season and introduces a hunt for a serial killer known as Muse. The killer siphons the blood of his victims and uses it to create murals across town.
Both Fisk and Murdock are made aware of the situation, and each reacts in their own way. Fisk, after attending a Gala where he realizes he is not doing enough to gain the respect of his peers, employs a group of crooked cops to scrounge the city — proving he is not done with his Kingpin ways.
Murdock takes no action until Angela Del Toro goes missing. He dons the suit to be a hero, not a punisher.
The return is well-earned and the ensuing battle between Muse and Daredevil characterizes the vigilante perfectly. Daredevil has the opportunity to hurt the killer, but it would mean the possibility of Del Toro dying. Murdock lets go of his rage, begins to say a prayer — one of the first instances of his return to Catholicism — and begins to do chest compressions.
The narrative cuts between Murdock rescuing the child, Fisk fights Vanessa’s former lover in choreography that demonstrates Fisk’s advanced strength. As the devil rises, he brings Hell with him. The episode ends where it began with a serial killer on the loose, but this time Daredevil is there.
The episodes continue to characterize Murdock and Fisk wonderfully; however, while managed well, it is obvious that the desire to connect every piece of media to each other is Marvel’s greatest hindrance. Additionally, Marvel has yet to figure out how to adapt the superhero costumes onto the screen, so when Murdock does put on the suit, it looks silly at times.
Episode seven of “Daredevil: Born Again” releases on April 1 at 8 p.m. Central Standard Time on Disney+.
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