Before Daredevil: Born Again had even aired its first episode, fans the world over were terrified about the “MCU-ification” of their favorite anti-hero. Netflix’s original Daredevil may be the darkest story set in Marvel’s cinematic universe, with a lead who rarely gets a happy ending, let alone cracks a smile. To the staunchest Daredevil purists, Marvel’s quip-heavy instincts would only water the character down — and his supporting role in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law only confirmed their worst fears. Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) was definitely the same character in She-Hulk, but by transitioning to the MCU, the vibe had shifted. He was lighter, more jovial, and yeah: a bit quippier than he’d ever been. From the outside looking in, Marvel didn’t truly understand what made this version of Daredevil work, and any future attempts to force him into the MCU would only end in catastrophe.
Fast forward three years, and now we have definitive proof of Marvel’s grasp of the character. Daredevil: Born Again isn’t the bar-for-bar revival the purists had been praying for, but it’s also a much-needed departure from the traditional Marvel story. There are some issues in pacing or tone here and there, likely remnants of the creative overhaul that Born Again underwent in 2023. But for the most part, it splits the difference between Netflix’s dour house style and Marvel’s much frothier instincts, and it does so by embracing episodic storytelling over the streamer’s binge model... and by letting Matt have a bit of fun now and then.
