By Ben Konuch
“There’s a thing they say in boxing, the best cure to a black eye is fast hands.”
(The following review contains spoilers for “Daredevil: Born Again”)
“Daredevil: Born Again” is finally finding its footing. While its premiere episodes were a slightly uneven mix of great potential and rough edges, the series pumps the brakes on action to build a dramatic foundation, which works massively. Despite barely any action in episodes three and four, “Daredevil: Born Again” remains a compelling and exciting series due to the way it echoes its predecessor’s formula on character-driven tension.
Episode three continues the storyline of Matt trying to free Hector Ayala (also known as the White Tiger) from being framed for murder. While the previous episode focused on Matt investigating the crime and attempting to save a witness from crooked cops, most of this episode sees Matt trusting the justice system by fighting for Hector in the courtroom. When the witness that Matt risked his life to save gives a false testimony that convicts Hector, Matt takes a desperate gamble to sway the jury by revealing that Hector is the White Tiger.
Matt’s faith in the justice system is on trial here almost as much as Hector is. Watching him grapple with the oppression of crooked cops, the intimidation of witnesses and the suppression of his own secrets makes every courtroom scene full of tension and high stakes. The courtroom scenes of “Daredevil’s” second season were some of the best moments of the entire series, and seeing a return to that courtroom drama is exceptionally welcome. Matt’s grand reveal, while bold and uncharacteristically reckless, demonstrates Matt’s final test of faith in the system – and the public’s faith in vigilantes – even if it costs Hector everything.
Charlie Cox is fantastic here, as usual, but Kamar de los Reyes steals the spotlight in his portrayal of Hector. This isn’t just another vigilante; this is a man who continues to fight for the right thing – even if it costs him his very life or the love of his family – because he can’t stand by while evil goes unchecked. The quiet, grizzled maturity that Reyes brings to the role elevates Hector from just a supporting character into the heart and soul of the episode, and in a strange way, a form of antagonist for Matt.
Although Matt fights for Hector’s innocence, the White Tiger represents everything Matt has turned his back on in the wake of Foggy’s death, and defending him in front of a jury is also a defense of the vigilante life that Matt abandoned. Hector’s repeated line when asked why he fights, “because it’s the right thing to do,” stabs Matt and us as an audience every time. What is the right thing to do? Is Matt doing the right thing anymore?
And then the episode ends with an emotional gut punch that reminds me why I fell in love with “Daredevil” in the first place. Good men don’t always make it out. Good men must carry the burden of those that they feel they failed, and Matt will carry the weight of Hector’s death due to his gamble with the White Tiger’s identity.
Another interesting takeaway from this episode was the continued thread of Fisk’s role as mayor. He seems to continue fighting for a better New York, even refusing to deal with former criminal associates threatening his mayorship, by doing everything the legal way. The continued mystery of who Fisk has become and what he’s after rises, and I appreciate the sincerity they give him and Vanessa as characters in this season. Focusing on their marriage counseling was a bold move but a very valuable one in understanding who they are now as well as uncovering pieces of the past.
Episode four, on the other hand, is much quieter. Matt investigates the death of Hector and the strange, cult-like following that cops have started around the Punisher, tracing connections to Hector’s murder all the way to Frank Castle, the Punisher himself.
What ensues is one of the greatest scenes of character-driven dialogue I’ve witnessed in the MCU as a whole, proving once again that Jon Bernathal and Charlie Cox are the perfect incarnations of these characters on screen and that no other actor could recapture their chemistry and dynamic like they could.
This confrontation marks a turning point in Matt’s journey, as Frank’s accusations cut deep. Burdened by the question “Have I failed Foggy?” that’s haunted him since episode one, we finally see Matt unearth his old costume and prepare to bring back the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen for righteous vengeance upon its enemies right as we begin to see the cracks in Fisk’s facade.
While I loved a lot of aspects of these episodes, especially how they allow for both loud and quiet conversations to drive these characters’ journeys forward, the pacing is beginning to become a problem. Scenes bounce around far too quickly, and the BB Report interview segments that transition between scenes are a huge sign of that. Although “Born Again” focuses on character development and dialogue, the series doesn’t quite trust us enough to engage without getting bored. And so, the camera moves around often, scenes cut to different characters and we’re never left watching the same moment for too long.
But I want to linger. I don’t want the camera to cut away so quickly after a conversation. I want to see the aftermath. I don’t need to cut between Fisk and Matt seven times in an episode to feel connected to both of their stories. The confrontation between Matt and Frank was the best the show has been, but it also shows its biggest weakness: we haven’t gotten many scenes that linger and let the characters work together or against each other like this very often.
To truly be born again, this series needs to trust its audience to keep watching so it stops giving us narrative whiplash.
I give “Daredevil: Born Again” episode 3 a score of 8.5 and episode 4 a score of 8
“Daredevil: Born Again” is now streaming on Disney+
Ben Konuch is a senior Strategic Communication student who serves as a writer for Cedars A&E and as their social media lead. He enjoys getting sucked into good stories, playing video games and swing dancing in the rain.
Images courtesy of Marvel Studios
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