Daredevil was a special series for me back when Netflix built the superhero with a stellar cast, story and the ability for it to hold its own as a stand out MCU TV show that had it’s own self contained unique identity, it remains up there as one of the greats. So when Daredevil: Born Again was announced under the MCU’s umbrella, fans had every reason to be cautious. Would it have the same bite? Would it keep the street-level grit, or would it get swallowed by Marvel’s typically, formulaic storytelling?

Daredevil:Born Again brings back Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock, Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk, and several familiar faces from The Defenders Saga and the short version of this is that I’m happy to say after watching Born Again’s two episodes which we got to see early, it is hands down, one of the best starts to a Disney+ Marvel show to date. Born Again kicks off with a premiere that’s unapologetically dark and brutally effective.

It adds on to the foundations that the original series laid with its characters and it feels like Daredevil truly shines in this format. It feels like there’s a larger story to tell with the episodic format as opposed to what would have felt like the extended version of MCU movies being cut into parts.

A Devastating Opening Act

From the very first episode, Born Again makes one thing clear: this is a story about tearing Matt Murdock down to his core. While the return of Elden Henson’s Foggy Nelson and Deborah Ann Woll’s Karen Page initially gives a sense of comfort—reminding us of what made the original show so emotionally rich—the relief is short-lived.

That’s because Wilson Bethel’s Bullseye is back, and he wastes no time making his presence known. The opening s sequence is raw, visceral, and almost unbearable to watch as Matt, just seconds too late, sees Foggy gunned down right in front of him. The fight that follows is classic Daredevil—close-quarters, vicious, and personal. One of the best touches? The way the show visualizes Matt’s heightened senses, locking onto Foggy’s slowing heartbeat as he desperately tries to finish the fight in time only for him to fail.

And then, just when you think Matt’s going to hold onto his moral code, he throws Bullseye off a building—an act of pure, unchecked rage. Matt Murdock is no longer in control.

From there, the show jumps forward a year, and we see a very different Matt. He’s given up the mask, buried himself in his work as the head of a new firm with his partner, former assistant district attorney Kirsten McDuffie (Nikki M. James), who sets him up with his new love interest, therapist Heather Glenn (Margarita Levieva) but he is barely holding himself together. The weight of Foggy’s death hangs over him, and Charlie Cox plays a man who has lost his best friend and his sense of purpose with conviction.

Wilson Fisk, Mayor of New York

One of the smartest moves Born Again makes is how it repositions Wilson Fisk. We’ve seen Kingpin as a crime lord before, but now, he’s the Mayor of New York, which makes him more dangerous than ever. The political maneuvering adds a new layer of tension, and the show leans into it hard, Fisk may not be cracking skulls, but he’s rewriting the rules of the city itself and somethings just hit too close to home in the real world we live in now.

What’s fascinating is how the show plays Fisk and Matt against each other. Their diner conversation in Episode 2 is easily one of the best scenes so far two men who absolutely despise each other, sitting face to face, playing verbal chess. There’s a deep, underlying rage in every line, and Cox and D’Onofrio absolutely nail the tension and delivery. Fisk, for all his menace, almost respects Matt, and that’s what makes their dynamic so compelling—it’s not just hero vs. villain, it’s two men who understand each other too well and the scene alone is probably the most chilling hero interaction between hero and villain

And then there’s Vanessa. If you thought she was just Fisk’s devoted wife, Born Again flips that dynamic completely. The revelation that she has an extramartial affair with a mysterious individual we know little about. This adds an entirely new wrinkle to their relationship. It’s a fascinating power shift, Fisk, the man who once controlled everything, now has cracks forming in his personal life. The question isn’t if he’ll snap, but when. This is evident when they both for goes for couple’s therapy, and the therapist managing this ? The very same love interest in Matt Murdock’s life and it is definitely going to get even more personal.

A New Vigilante Rises

This new series isn’t just about Matt Murdock and that’s where White Tiger (Hector Ayala) comes in. The late Kamar de los Reyes gives a fantastic performance in his role as Hector, a man who, much like Matt, believes in justice but isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. His introduction is pitch-perfect, no suit, no flashy superhero moment, just a guy stepping in when he sees someone being hurt.

What makes White Tiger’s arc so interesting is how Born Again frames his struggle. He isn’t just dealing with criminals but with a corrupt system, and that’s where Matt, the lawyer, comes into play. Their interactions in Episode 2 echo Matt’s relationship with Foggy in the early days of Daredevil, and it’s easy to see that White Tiger is being positioned as someone who could carry on the fight, whether Matt chooses picks up the mask again or not.

And yet, Matt is still teetering on the edge. Watching him try to fight corruption in the courtroom instead of on the streets is a fascinating shift, but there’s an undeniable sense that it’s only a matter of time before he snaps. The moment he sees a cop with a Punisher tattoo, a not-so-subtle nod, it’s like a switch flips. The final fight sequence, where Matt finally brings the Devil out again ends episode 2 in an explosive moment.

The Devil demands your attention

There was always a risk that Daredevil: Born Again would feel watered down under the MCU’s control, but so far, that’s not the case. Instead, it feels like a natural story progression that respects everything Daredevil. The action is brutal, the character work is top-tier, and the stakes feel real. More than anything, it understands what makes Daredevil compelling and it’s not just the fights, it’s the moral dilemmas, the personal struggles, and the weight of every decision that Matt has to make to save lives.

With a second season already confirmed for 2026, it’s clear that Born Again isn’t just a one-off from Marvel Television And if these first two episodes are anything to go by, the Man Without Fear is back, and he’s better than ever.

New episodes of Daredevil: Born Again drop every Tuesday on Disney+.