REVIEW: ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2 Episode 1 is a Perfect Way to Start a New Season

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The Devil of the Hell’s Kitchen is back with a style! After the thrilling finale of Season 1 we get a continuation that doesn’t try to change everything; instead it develops existing storylines in a satisfying way.

Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) shows up in his new black suit. He’s not the same vigilante anymore. He moves more quietly using shadows to surprise his enemies. At the time it’s clear he’s gotten stronger and later scenes show him training hard. He’s determined to take down Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio). Criminals are scared of him. Matt doesn’t hold back. He has put his lawyer life on hold as he is now wanted across the city by Fisk’s Task Force.

Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) helps Matt in his mission to bring Fisk down. Her role feels bigger and more important compared to Season 1. She’s the one who contacts Jessica Jones to get information about the Northern Star, a ship secretly transporting military weapons tied to the criminal underworld controlled by Fisk.

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After the ship sinks and Daredevil escapes, Fisk must deal with public opinion as well as a new problem: a huge wreck in the middle of the city. A man named Mr. Charles (Matthew Lillard) arrives from Washington. His intentions are unclear. We see that he can help Fisk and has connections to Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Lillard fits into the role very well. He clearly enjoys it, tries things and delivers a very real performance.

The episode also features the return of Jack Duquesne also known as Swordsman (Tony Dalton) as well as Heather Glenn (Margarita Levieva). Glenn becomes involved in Fisk’s legal crusade against vigilantes, aimed at convicting masked, self-appointed heroes operating in New York. Her task is to provide an evaluation of Duquesne. However she is still haunted by Muse (Hunter Doohan), who tried to kill her in the previous season. Fans have theorized that in future episodes she may break down and follow in the footsteps of her would-be attacker.

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Toward the end of the episode Cherry (Clark Johnson) is attacked in his apartment by a Task Force unit. Just when it seems like it’s over for him, Daredevil appears from the shadows, easily neutralizes the threat. However when Cherry has heart problems Matt loses focus recalling the moment of Foggy’s (Elden Henson) death. The Task Force takes advantage of the situation and knocks him out.

When they remove his mask it’s revealed that Daredevil is none other than the lawyer from Hell’s Kitchen, Matt Murdock.

The biggest surprise of the episode is the return of Dex, also known as Bullseye (Wilson Bethel), who saves Matt. A knife he throws kills the Task Force unit and lands embedded in the floor. Although we don’t see Dex the knife reads "You’re welcome " and a target symbol next to it confirms it was him, though his motives are still unknown.

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The season premiere is very strong. Both new and returning characters deliver, and the show doesn’t try to become something completely different from its previous season. It strikes a great balance between storylines, leaving just enough uncertainty, which works perfectly in this case.

Rating: 4/5