'Born Again': Daredevil's Brutal Soft Reboot
A short recap of the two-episode premiere of 'Daredevil: Born Again'
Covering: S1) Heaven’s Half Hour & Optics
The first two episodes of Daredevil: Born Again successfully capture what fans love about the original series while also subverting some expectations they may have had about the remainder of the season.
In a way, this feels like a soft reboot for Matt Murdock in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The first two episodes of Born Again are about passing the baton from one era to the next. It reintroduces us to characters from the Netflix series, then swiftly places them in their respective corners of the MCU.
The opening episode, Heaven’s Half Hour, kicks the show off with a bang, finally killing off fan-favorite Foggy Nelson—Matt Murdock’s best friend—who had long been speculated to meet his demise in a Daredevil show. In fact, making Foggy’s death the catalyst for Matt to hang up the mask is a clever way to give him an “MCU origin story.”
“My best friend was killed. A line was crossed. I felt like I lost the privilege.”— Matt tells Kingpin later in the episode.
We also discover that Karen Page, the secretary-turned-reporter—a third of “Nelson, Murdock, and Page”—has moved to San Francisco. A year after Foggy’s death, Karen appears later in the episode to briefly talk with Matt, highlighting the destruction of their once-solid relationship and lives. This imagery is later reflected in the new opening credits for the show.
In a believable way, Marvel successfully removes Matt’s closest friends, leaving him alone in New York City. There is no “NM&P.” No Daredevil watching over Hell’s Kitchen. Just Matt Murdock picking up the pieces.
Murdock v. Fisk
The first two episodes are about two men trying to reconcile their pasts, setting up the foundation on which the show will rest. They are pitted against each other: Matt’s former life as a vigilante and Wilson “Kingpin” Fisk’s former career as a crime boss. It’s Murdock v. Fisk.
The remainder of Heaven’s Half Hour and episode two, Optics, quickly establish the foundation for the rest of the series. Surprisingly, it doesn’t take an entire season to get Fisk into the mayoral position. Nor do I think it will take long for us to see Matt pick up the Daredevil mantle again. This show doesn’t seem to be interested in lingering where other MCU shows have before.
“These first few days are critical. Optics are gonna matter,” —says Sheila Rivera, Fisk’s political advisor.
The show is quite literally focused on the optics—on how fans, both old and new, perceive it. It comes out of the gate swinging fists, shattering bones, and defying some expectations.
The show is also refreshing in its approach to Matt Murdock. While he doesn’t currently have his iconic crimson outfit and batons, he’s still protecting the people of his city. This serves as a reminder of why comic fans love not only Daredevil but also Matt Murdock. It’s an indicator of who the MCU wants him to be within their universe. Marvel has plucked Matt Murdock out from one universe and dropped him into their own, acting as if he’s always been there, leading a double life as a lawyer and vigilante.
If the remainder of the nine-episode arc is as tightly knit and focused as the first two episodes, Born Again could end up being the breakout show Marvel has been looking for. The baton has been passed. Daredevil is now officially a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.