‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2 Review: New York Will Never Be the Same

With Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 set to debut on Disney+ and the third season already in production, there’s never been a better time to be a fan of the Man Without Fear. While the first season of the continuation received mixed reviews, it also featured numerous production woes, including changes to the creative team and story.

Now, with a cohesive team led by showrunner Dario Scardapane at the helm, Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 makes an incredible return to form. Although the first season certainly had some great moments, it was clear that multiple visions for the series were stitched together. The second installment on Disney+ flows together much better, and any speculation that the series may not reach the heights of its Netflix predecessor can be emphatically squashed.

Similar to the original Daredevil series, Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 takes a few episodes to set the tone and get the ball rolling, but once it does, the jaw-dropping, edge-of-your-seat chaos doesn’t stop. Charlie Cox and Vincent D‘Onofrio are at their very best as Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk, but it’s the tightly written, wildly impactful story that makes Season 2 special.

Daredevil and Kingpin Are In for the Fight of Their Lives

The season is once again centered around Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk as they compete for the soul of New York City. While much of the season, especially early on, spends time diving into the lives of their closest allies, the heart of the story remains with the two rivals. However, as Matt is forced to hide in the shadows while the Kingpin flaunts his power in broad daylight, Matt’s allies play a central role in trying to bring Fisk down.

Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) plays a crucial role in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 and is featured far more than in the previous season. There are important storylines involving BB Urich (Genneya Walton) and Daniel Blake (Michael Gandolfini), and both actors perform admirably in some tense emotional scenes. However, if there is another main character outside of Daredevil and Kingpin, it’s New York City.

As Mayor Fisk’s Anti-Vigilante Task Force ravages the city, it’s impossible for Daredevil to keep up. Fisk’s fascist regime and his task force’s detainment methods parallel real-life issues in the country, as they lock up anyone who stands in their way. Luckily, with Hell’s Kitchen and all of New York facing some of their darkest days, Daredevil inspires hope alongside helpful allies, including the highly-anticipated return of Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter).

‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2 Features Some of the Most Intense Moments in Daredevil’s History

Although the first few episodes take some time getting their wheels in motion, the back half of the season more than makes up for it. Earlier Daredevil seasons, when the series was produced by Netflix, often worked this way as well, but the slow start is felt more in a season with only eight episodes.

However, episodes four through eight of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 rank among the best stretches of television in the character’s and Marvel Television history. The action is top-tier, the performances are wonderful, but mostly it’s the unpredictable, beautifully written story that makes the back half of the season so special.

The story is filled with devastating, triumphant, and heart-wrenching emotional moments, highlighted by the performances of Cox, D’Onofrio, and Woll. In addition to the big three, Wilson Bethel delivers an impeccable performance as Bullseye, a character that viewers will continue to love to hate. However, despite the intense action between Daredevil, Bullseye, and Kingpin, the most exciting moments of the season come off the battlefield.

Matt Murdock Faces His Toughest Challenges Yet in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2

Even with the slow start, Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 is a beautifully crafted story that is must-watch television when each episode drops on Disney+. It’s a strong return to form after a divisive first season, and it’s likely to unite fans of the MCU and fans of the classic Netflix Daredevil alike.

Although you don’t have to have seen the entire previous series to understand what’s going on in Daredevil: Born Again, it certainly amplifies the experience to be familiar with the story. The longstanding rivalry between Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk has come to a boiling point, and to truly appreciate these emotional performances, it’s important to understand their history together.

Season 3 is already in production, so fans should be able to continue to enjoy their yearly dose of Daredevil. However, with Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon, it’s impossible to predict how that story could affect Matt Murdock’s future. Luckily, in the meantime, Marvel Studios has created a borderline masterpiece with Daredevil: Born Again Season 2. Daredevil is back, and better than ever.

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 premieres on Disney+ on March 24th. Subscribe to the Agents of Fandom podcast and YouTube channel for more Daredevil: Born Again coverage! Make sure to follow the Agents of Fandom socials for the latest entertainment news and reviews.