Disney Plus released episodes 5 and 6 back to back, so it’s time for the Daredevil: Born Again Mid-Season review. The decision to release in this format is puzzling. A few miscellaneous characters carry over, but tonally, these two episodes have little in common except for one thing. Charlie Cox‘s performance throughout is exceptional.
Daredevil: Born Again Mid-Season Overview
Episode 6 is the better episode of the two. Episode 5 feels like a different show. Either it’s part of the new slate of episodes from the creative overhaul or a carryover. Disney Plus and Marvel executives knew this wasn’t the strongest episode, so they released both.
There are some positives in Episode Five, which is a hostage episode. Matt must systematically break down the hostage-takers while keeping the hostages safe. The best aspect of a relatively straightforward episode is the chemistry between Murdock and a surprise minor MCU character. Episode five isn’t bad, but there’s no real tension to the hostage situation.
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Episode six is a better return to form that finally cements Matt and Wilson Fisk’s trajectories. There are some issues here. The Murdock-Heather Glenn scenes and Fisk-Vanessa scenes don’t have enough conflict. Muse doesn’t come across as scary as he could due to some weird Marvel dialogue that undermines what should be a terrifying discovery. However, getting Matt to embrace his Daredevil persona is excellent, and Daredevil’s fight with Muse is terrific, as is his cutting between Fisk’s altercations.
These two episodes aren’t the best of the series, but they succeed in getting Matt where he needs to be moving forward.
Daredevil: Born Again is available to stream on Disney Plus.
Episode 5 Review
Daredevil: Born Again Episode 5 opens with Matt trying to get a bigger loan at a bank. He meets with the Assistant Bank Manager, Yusuf Khan (Mohan Kapur), Kamala Khan’s father. After praising his daughter and reacting positively to Matt’s muted fondness for Jersey City, Yusuf rejects Matt’s request. They part on pleasant terms.
After Matt leaves, a group of Irish thugs descend on the bank. Matt hears the commotion, returns to the bank and slowly begins to separate the hostage-takers from one another while keeping Yusuf and the other hostages safe.
After Matt leaves, a group of Irish thugs descend on the bank. Matt hears the commotion, returns to the bank, and slowly begins to separate the hostage-takers from one another while keeping Yusuf and the other hostages safe. Meanwhile, the leader of the thugs, Devilin, negotiates with NYPD Detective Angie Kim.
Meanwhile, the leader of the thugs, Devilin, negotiates with NYPD Detective Angie Kim. When he’s not making the usual demands, he allows for more time by asking for a good joke.
Eventually, the police lose their patience and storm the building. The commotion allows Matt to defeat Devilin and his thugs in a brutal fashion. The episode ends with Matt agreeing to dinner with Yusuf and his family.
Overall, Episode 5 is fun but it just doesn’t have a lot of substance to it. The thug’s hostage tactics aren’t novel, the hostage negotiating is too casual, and it never feels like hostages are in real danger. Thankfully, Cox shines at exuding the Man without Fear elements of the character. Whether thugs are pointing a gun at his head or he offers himself as a hostage in exchange for a husband, Matt’s in total control.
Episode 6 Review
Daredevil: Born Again Episode 6 has its flaws, but the cross-cutting ending between the Daredevil-Muse and Fisk brawls mostly overcomes it.
Fisk and Matt have found a common enemy in Muse. For Fisk, Muse’s blood-soaked murals are hampering his development project. Matt’s interest in Muse is more personal.
A sanitation worker gives Kingpin the bad news. He can’t remove the mural due to the blood. A frustrated Fisk orders an update from Police Commissioner Gallo. Tonally, this scene is a mess. The sanitation describes removing the blood as a hindrance to his job instead of responding in horror at his discovery.
After receiving an update from Gallo, Fisk creates a task force to take care of vigilantes. He and Vanessa meet with New York’s elite, who aren’t intimidated by the new mayor. Jack Duquesne (Tony Dalton) from Hawkeye is one of the characters in this scene.
Meanwhile, Hector Ayala’s niece, Angela Del Toro visits Matt at his office. She reveals that her Uncle was searching for Muse when he was gunned down. She wants Matt to take action, but Angela looks for Muse herself when he won’t. Camila Rodriguez is fantastic once again as Angela. The conflict between Matt and Angela is so intense that it clearly illustrates everything wrong with Heather Glenn and
Vanessa’s storylines to this point.
Matt finds out she’s missing and dawns the devil’s cowl once again. While he takes on Muse, Fisk decides to continue doling out punishment to Adam. I love how the episode cuts between both brawls illustrating both men are embracing their true natures.
Daredevil: Born Again Mid-Season Review Score
Daredevil: Born Again Episodes 5 & 6
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Good - 7/107/10
