After Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter, the original Daredevil series is my favorite Marvel show. That includes all of the newer stuff made for Disney+, too. So I was excited for Daredevil: Born Again to finally start streaming last month. As the show continued to drop new episodes, there were certain moments, thoughts, and feelings I wanted to explore through writing.
However, my motivation to write has been scarce since being laid off from my full-time job in February. But I’m slowly getting back into writing so I can rediscover my love and fondness for the art, especially when it’s just for fun. That brings me to the season 1 finale of Daredevil: Born Again, because my Marvel-loving self couldn’t possibly go the whole season without writing something about it.
Dex’s fragile state
Seeing Ben Poindexter in that flashback scene featuring him and Vanessa Fisk was rather jarring. It was strange seeing Dex in such a fragile state given how much of a contrast it is to all the other times he had been shown. The guy can barely even hold a writing utensil! So though there’s lingering anger from Bullseye murdering Foggy, this flashback provides greater insight and understanding into how Dex became Bullseye again.
Matt saying Karen’s name at the hospital
Is it bad that I laughed when Matt said “Karen”? This is far from the first time I’ve seen a scene like this, but it works so well every time. This case is especially interesting, though, because Matt can’t see that Heather is the one with him. They’ve made contact, but she hasn’t said anything, so Matt can’t hear that Heather is there. And I know Kirsten said it’s the drugs, but how many of us really believe that? Even if it was just the drugs, the whole situation is still painfully awkward for Heather. Because either Matt wants Karen to be the one there or believes Karen would be the one there over his actual girlfriend. Or both.
Matt and Frank bickering
I’ve always enjoyed Matt’s dynamic with Frank Castle, but the bickering between them in Matt’s apartment was particularly entertaining. It’s not that they hate each other, but they don’t necessarily like each other, yet they still care for each other. They’re not the same, but, at the same time, they’re also not that different. It’s an intriguing relationship to examine. Their bickering characterizes them well and acts as a great segue into their sort–of team-up fight against the Anti-Vigilante Task Force.
Heartbeats and adrenaline
In terms of the Daredevil world, I certainly have my ship preferences. But I’m not all in on any of them—I don’t love any of them. I don’t feel strongly enough about any of them to truly be actively rooting for one couple over another. That makes the whole Matt/Karen/Frank love triangle all the more fun to watch for me. When Matt and Karen were discussing heartbeats and adrenaline, you could recognize the awkwardness, tension, and indirectness of the topic at hand. I loved diving into the drama and having less of a stake in how it turns out.
Avocados at law
Cue the tears. That’s all.
Frank calling out the Anti-Vigilante Task Force
The finale had a lot of satisfying moments, but perhaps none was more satisfying than the Punisher calling the AVTF officers who admire him “clowns.” I know so many other fans had been waiting for this scene, and it did not disappoint.
Gallo’s death
Who knew the Disney+ version of a Daredevil series would go way beyond the brutal violence of the original show that debuted on Netflix? Commissioner Gallo’s death, on its own, is more disturbing than all of the violence in the original show. But kudos to Disney for not shying away from that TV-MA rating and making the most of it.
Fisk implementing an 8 p.m. curfew
When Fisk mentioned that New York City would have an 8 p.m. curfew, my immediate thoughts went to Broadway. Surely that means Broadway is shut down in the MCU, right? How can all those shows survive on matinees alone? Unless all the shows move their start times to something around 5:30 or even 6:00 for shorter shows. But, even then, that’s a tight window, which makes Broadway remaining open seem unlikely. All that said, does this mean Wilson Fisk is forcing Rogers: The Musical to close?!!!
Heather choosing to work with Fisk
Remember when I said I’m not all in on any ships in the Daredevil world? Well, there are ones I’m all out on—or at least one: Heather and Matt. It was always obvious they wouldn’t be the right pairing in the long run, but Heather deciding to work with Fisk makes me want her and Matt to break up even sooner. That’s not to say I don’t think a Commissioner of Mental Health is unimportant. It’s a role that should exist. But Dr. Glenn’s refusal to even consider the negative implications of what Fisk may be doing is concerning.
Maybe it’s the fact he was already her patient, so she has to look at him impartially. That makes me question her acceptance of the position even more, though. She knows Fisk on a level others never will because of the counseling sessions. Will she even be able to work with him on a professional level, or is there a conflict of interest to consider?
Caged up vigilantes
Seeing Swordsman among the vigilantes who are caged up is so strange. Once he was proven to not be a malicious character in Hawkeye, Jacques Duquesne has seemed like nothing more than a fun character. He’s just a rich guy who loves swords and, apparently, uses them to do good/stop crime. Beyond the brief clip of Swordsman, we don’t really see him in action as a vigilante. So it’s weird that he’s locked away, but it’s also incredibly telling of just how strict Fisk is being with vigilantes. After all, we saw how one of the AVTF officers staged one of its murders as taking down a masked vigilante and not just a young man who was participating in looting during the blackout.
Matt’s closing monologue
The show may be called Daredevil: Born Again, but it has been just as much about Kingpin’s rebirth as it has Daredevil’s. Matt’s closing monologue in the season 1 finale, however, firmly establishes and reminds the audience that this is Daredevil’s show. This is about a hero coming back to life, reclaiming his responsibility, and protecting his city. I think the Captain America fan in me especially appreciated Matt’s monologue, because it gave the same vibes as what I would expect from Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson.
Anthony Petruccio’s lack of intelligence
I know the cops in the Anti-Vigilante Task Force aren’t smart, but Anthony Petruccio is a prime example of just how dumb they are. Because in what situation would you ever think a locked-up Frank Castle offering a handshake is just that? Why would you willingly make contact with a prisoner known for brutal murder? Did Anthony really think Frank was interested in getting to know him and was just being friendly? Apparently so. It’s great because it shows how dumb they are, but it’s frustrating because it shows how dumb they are.
“I can’t see my city. But I can feel it. The system isn’t working. And it’s rotten. Corrupt. But this is our city. Not his. And we can take it back, together. The weak…The strong… All of us… Resist. Rebel. Rebuild. Because we are the city. Without fear.”
– Matt Murdock/Daredevil, Daredevil: Born Again, episode 1×09: “Straight to Hell”
