Arriving on Disney+ on March 11 with the first episode of its second season (with the remaining seven arriving weekly) is ‘Daredevil: Born Again’, which brings back lawyer Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) has he battles the powerful Wilson “Kingpin” Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio), who is ruling New York as mayor with an iron fist.
UPLl9v8DcuODJ0OGYMYxF3The cast for the show also includes Margarita Levieva (‘The Lincoln Lawyer’), Deborah Ann Woll (‘True Blood’), Matthew Lillard (‘Scream’), Lili Taylor (‘American Crime’), Michael Gandolfini (‘The Many Saints of Newark’), Genneya Walton (‘Candy Cane Lane’) and Wilson Bethel (‘Hart of Dixie’).
Related Article: Matthew Lillard Joins ‘Daredevil: Born Again’
Initial Thoughts
The first season of ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ was a largely successful attempt to fully incorporate Daredevil and his nemesis Wilson Fisk into the MCU with their own storyline. Though it suffered from some very apparent seams as the behind-the-scenes team attempted to rescue an unsuccessful first effort with new material, it still provided some superior entertainment.
The second season doesn’t have the same collision of creative vision, but it does have its own challenges.
Script and Direction
Dario Scardapane takes full control of the season this year, and is clearly happy to be unleashed. The action is brutal in places, the dialogue often crackles and the storyline is much smoother.
Still, there are issues: at times the momentum lags, and not every plotline outside of the main clash between our central hero and villain works.
Directorially, with Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead leading the team, the show still looks great, with moody scenes, excellent fights and some inventive connective tissue (such as a series of videos mocking Fisk).
Cast and Performances
Cox and D’Onofrio know exactly what they’re doing at this point, and if the script doesn’t always keep up with them, they make the most of their material.
Outside of them, the likes of Deborah Ann Woll, Genneya Walton and particularly new guest star Matthew Lillard are all strong, Lillard in particular excellent as the mysterious Mr. Charles, who is by turns funny and threatening.
Final Thoughts
The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen may not have worked out all of his issues, but the second run of ‘Born Again’ certainly offers enough to please fans of the character. And with Season 3 already shooting, we know more will be on the way.
‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2 receives 72 out of 100.
What’s the plot of ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2?
Mayor Wilson Fisk crushes New York City underfoot as he hunts down public enemy number one, the Hell’s Kitchen vigilante known as Daredevil.
But, beneath the horned mask, Matt Murdock will try to fight back from the shadows to tear down the Kingpin’s corrupt empire and redeem his home. Resist. Rebel. Rebuild.
Who is in the cast of Daredevil: Born Again’?
- Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock / Daredevil
- Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk / Kingpin
- Margarita Levieva as Heather Glenn
- Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page
- Wilson Bethel as Benjamin “Dex” Poindexter
- Nikki M. James as Kirsten McDuffie
- Genneya Walton as BB Urich
- Arty Froushan as Buck Cashman
- Clark Johnson as Cherry
- Michael Gandolfini as Daniel Blake
- Ayelet Zurer as Vanessa Marianna-Fisk
Movies and TV Shows Featuring Characters in ‘Daredevil: Born Again:’
- ‘The Punisher‘ (1989)
- ‘Daredevil‘ (2003)
- ‘The Punisher‘ (2004)
- ‘Punisher: War Zone‘ (2008)
- ‘The Punisher: Dirty Laundry‘ (2012)
- ‘Marvel’s Daredevil‘ (2015 – 2018)
- ‘Marvel’s The Punisher‘ (2017 – 2019)
- ‘Marvel’s The Defenders‘ (2017)
- ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home‘ (2021)
- ‘Hawkeye‘ (2021)
- ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law‘ (2022)
- ‘Echo‘ (2024)
