Daredevil: Born Again returns to Disney+ for Season 2, picking up from the cliffhanger of Mayor Fisk’s (Vincent D’Onofrio) assault on vigilantism in New York City. Matt Murdock/Daredevil (Charlie Cox) and Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) lead a small underground resistance against Fisk’s regime as the civil unrest on the streets nears a fever pitch.
Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 is not only an excellent installment in the franchise but arguably one of the best in the entire run. The writing is tighter than the previous season and builds nicely on the groundwork it laid out. There were portions of Season 1 that felt disjointed, perhaps due to behind-the-scenes changes, but that’s all been cleaned up for Season 2.
This series has always thrived on the performances of Cox and D’Onofrio, and they continue to excel in these roles. Their hero/arch-nemesis dynamic is possibly the best in all the MCU, and I could watch these two go at it for as many seasons as Disney wants to produce. D’Onofrio is especially great in Season 2 and deserves Emmy consideration for his work in these episodes.
Fisk/Kingpin isn’t the only villain causing trouble in Hell’s Kitchen, as Benjamin Poindexter/Bullseye (Wilson Bethel) returns after having a much smaller but still pivotal role in the previous season. Bethel plays a terrific psychopath, and Season 2 really unleashes the character’s talents in fantastic fight scenes. But he’s not just killing for fun. Bullseye has a new motivation, and he isn’t necessarily fixated on Matt anymore.
Another refreshing change comes in the relationship between Matt and Karen. Season 2 has done away with any “will they, won’t they” schtick, and there’s no love triangle for them to figure out. The actors have undeniable chemistry, and the couple works as a team and as equals. Woll is strong and capable in the role, and this season finds a nice rhythm with the character.
The show never loses sight of the fact that, at its core, it’s a courtroom-based series. There are two well-executed trial sequences: the first sees the return of fan favorite Jack Duquesne/Swordsman (Tony Dalton), and the second sees Karen Page herself on trial. Dalton is so much fun in the role, and this season also sees him get to let loose a bit with the character’s fighting skills. A jailbreak fight sequence featuring Matt and Jack is the largest and most ambitious “hallway fight” yet. Also returning is the much-anticipated resurfacing of Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter). Taper your expectations a bit, as she doesn’t show up until later in the season and has a fairly small role, but it’s great catching up with the character, and her screentime is well used.
The most entertaining newcomer to the cast is Matthew Lillard as Mr. Charles, a proxy for Julia Louis Dreyfus’s Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Mr. Charles is a thorn in Fisk’s side, and Lillard is hilarious with his bravado and casual demeanor around all these dangerous people. The character doesn’t necessarily have a big story arc payoff this season, but hopefully that means we’ll learn more about him in another season or elsewhere in the MCU.
Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 is an improvement over Season 1 and manages its large cast extremely well. The plot moves fast, the action is incredibly choreographed, and every character gets their moment. The MCU’s television side is on a bit of a hot streak (see Wonder Man), and Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 only adds to the momentum.
Score: 4 out of 5