Daredevil: Born Again Episode 7 follows up last episode’s Muse-Daredevil confrontation by providing some better late than never but not nearly enough backstory on Muse.
Daredevil: Born Again Episode 7 Overview
I have issues with the lack of a build-up to the events in this episode. However, I quite like how this episode handled the big moments. Heather (Margarita Levieva) and Matt (Charlie Cox) exchanging I love yous are rushed. There hasn’t been enough time spent fleshing out their relationship. However, the scene’s easily the best Heather-Matt scene in the season.
The same sentiment carries over to Muse’s backstory. Shoehorning the main Muse-serial killer plot into these two episodes robs the character of being an intriguing foil for Matt, as Bullseye and Punisher represent. Thankfully, the therapy scene between Muse and Heather is one of the most tense scenes in the series. Unfortunately, it’s too little too late.
Unstable building blocks aside, Cox continues to deliver as Murdock, and Vincent D’Onofrio provides his best performance in Daredevil: Born Again, making it one of the series’ better episodes.
Daredevil: Born Again Episode 7 is an improvement over episodes five and six due to constant tension, great performances and an intense action sequence with stakes.
Daredevil: Born Again is available to stream on Disney Plus.
The Devil’s Back in Daredevil: Born Again Episode 7
It doesn’t take long for word of Daredevil’s return to spread to Mayor Fisk’s office. Fisk associates Buck Cashman(Arty Froushan) and Daniel Blake (Michael Gandolfini) inform him about the girl Daredevil saved. D’Onofrio lets the smallest of smirk creep across his face. Later, he vents to Buck about Daredevil’s devastating impact on his business.
Matt is back to being squirrely about his activities. Heather pushes Matt to explain. At first, believing these wounds are self-inflicted. While Matt doesn’t reveal his identity as Daredevil, he does admit to struggling. Matt explains he feels like everything is fake. He’s quick not to blame Heather, but Heather tries to get Matt to push deeper. She tells Matt that he keeps bottling everything up and that it could ruin everything good in his life. Matt deflects with a little humor, but they claim to love each other.
The rumors of Daredevil’s return also reach the streets of NYC. BB plans to run a story on the return, but Daniel puts the screws on her to keep quiet.
The Muse and the Therapist
After getting his first lengthy amount of screentime in the last episode, Muse’s backstory is revealed in a rushed but tense scene that crosscuts between Fisk’s meeting with Detective Angie Kim (Ruibo Qian) and Muse’s therapy session with Heather.
Kim reveals the details of Muse’s disturbing past. Muse has a different take on what led him down a dark road. The facts are Muse was involuntarily hospitalized several times and he likely killed his Taekwondo teacher. Muse believes he was pushed too hard by his parent and hated Taekwondo, but does admit he learned some valuable things.
Muse reveals that these therapy sessions with Heather allow him to embrace his artistic calling. After his nose begins to bleed, Muse paints a disturbing picture with his blood. Muse reveals how important Heather is to him but is rebuffed.
Muse begins cutting into her arm. Daredevil finally catches up, and another fantastic fight begins. Daredevil gets the better of Muse again before Heather ends it with several bullets.
Fisk and his police squad arrive on the scene. Detective Cole North (Jeremy Isaiah Earl) reveals Daredevil’s involvement. Fisk persuades North to let the squad take credit for Heather’s rescue.
Kingpin vs Kingpin
Wilson isn’t the only one making moves in the Fisk household.
Vanessa (Ayelet Zurer) meets with Luca, one of the discontent leaders of her criminal empire. He wants her to step back into leadership. She was running the organization right.
Later, Luca receives a message from Vanessa about Wilson’s location, seemingly serving her husband up. Luca approaches Fisk from behind, but Buck is waiting and takes Luca out. Fisk asks Buck to call Vanessa to see if she wants a specific dish to eat.
The episode doesn’t make it clear whether Vanessa was setting up Luca or Wilson, but it’s unlikely Vanessa would believe Luca could take out her husband.
Daredevil: Born Again Episode 7 Rating
While Daredevil: Born Again can’t quite overcome its rushed storytelling regarding Muse and Heather, episode 7 does a strong enough job of making the big moments work.
Daredevil: Born Again Episode 7
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Very Good - 7.5/107.5/10
