Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 is a pleasant surprise

One of the most interesting turns in the recent MCU happened, I wouldn't say off-screen, but certainly in a remote corner of the multiverse, without causing major consequences around it, to the point that if you haven't seen the first season of Daredevil: Born Again, you might be totally unaware. Wilson Fisk, the notorious New York businessman and ruthless criminal with superhuman strength, nicknamed Kingpin, is in fact the new mayor of New York City. And not only that: among his first ordinances is a total, complete, and radical ban on masked vigilantes, starting with Daredevil, Punisher, and Spider-Man. Yes, such a significant event, whose ramifications could have extended to films and series over a year or two, characterizing their tones and events, perhaps allowing other brands to recharge, was instead confined within a single series (and not even one of the most talked-about, to be honest). And yet.

• The Plot of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2
• The Dialogue with Current Events in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2
• Notes for the MCU from Daredevil: Born Again Season 2

The Plot of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2

Thus, the second season of Daredevil: Born Again benefits from this situation, starting with a decidedly fascinating scenario that utilizes situations already seen in the comics but infuses them with new elements to transport them to a new medium with a new perspective. Now that masked heroes must move with caution, New York seems to have become a mirror of its mayor: a beautiful facade behind which lies what cannot be told. The Anti-Vigilante Task Force (AVTF) is effectively a militia under Fisk's command, engaged not only in the ruthless enforcement of anti-vigilante laws but also in a series of activities to repress dissent against the mayor's actions, as well as further, even less legal activities connected to illicit dealings conducted in the shadows by Fisk himself with the help of his wife.

Far from prying eyes, however, a resistance is brewing. Around Matt, who has now returned to wearing the Daredevil mantle in his black suit, and Karen, other figures—informants, confidantes, and defectors—gravitate, aiding in the constant effort to thwart Fisk and expose his true nature to the public. And the sinking of a ship laden with weapons destined for clandestine operations is a major thorn in Fisk's side. The Mayor, however, must also defend himself on the communication and image front. Despite official channels striving to convey the image of a city happy to no longer have superheroes around, pacified and safer than ever, the sabotages of a mysterious hacker continue to spread confidential news from his inner circle and cast shadows on Fisk's affairs and interests.

The Dialogue with Current Events in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2

There's an urban legend that has always surrounded MCU productions: it's said that when the set opens, a large part of the script still doesn't exist in its final form. So, decisions are made day by day, in the studio, then sometimes ideas change, and what's there is rearranged, perhaps by shooting patches. This is probably an exaggeration, but there must be some truth to it, or at least that's what one comes to believe seeing how explicitly Fisk's AVTF New York recalls Minneapolis under siege by Trump's ICE. The suspicion that the events of a few weeks ago (crazy, right, it was the topic of the day just before the new conflict; what a time!) influenced, if not the direction of events in Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again, then at least their representation, seems legitimate.

It is this part of the show that shifts into gear after about the first third, raising both the pace and the stakes. The most immediate comparison one can make is with Season 2 of Andor, but the Disney series operates on different production values. In this sense, and especially due to its somewhat confused political approach, it recalls more the simplification made by the film V for Vendetta compared to the original work, especially for the concluding act in court. I doubt that Marvel intended to take an explicitly political stance: it's more probable that the opportunity presented itself somewhat by chance, and it was decided to adapt this storyline to events to amplify its power. And the fact that the ending somewhat muddies the waters by making a reference (admittedly a bit confused) to another well-known news event seems to point in this direction, that is, to avoid trouble by not displeasing anyone.

However, this does not mean that the series handles this convenient parallel poorly. On the contrary, if visually the AVSF and the actions of its members recall recent news scenes, the in-depth treatment reserved for Fisk's court demonstrates that at the base of their characterization there is a thought on power that comes from afar. Kingpin's various subordinates (played by a Vincent D'Onofrio in great form) and his consort show a rare awareness (at least on TV) of the mechanism they are part of and have no problem admitting they adhere to it for convenience.

The MCU Could Take Two Notes on What Works in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2

Despite a somewhat bland start, a bit too much in line with a certain flat and anonymous MCU production line, credit must be given to showrunner Dario Scardapane and directors Chris Ord and Matt Corman for having stepped on the gas in the second half of the season, staging one of the best Marvel adaptations on screen without betraying the spirit of the comics. The no-holds-barred war against vigilantes, even without too many special effects and star power, is better represented than the cinematic Civil War (don't remind me of that sad airport brawl…), in fact, conveying the atmosphere of the comic book Civil War much better, albeit on a smaller scale.

Without reaching the heights of Andor Season 2, the second chapter of Daredevil: Born Again delivers some truly remarkable scenes, such as the diner massacre (sorry, as you may have noticed, spoilers are kept to a minimum) or the entire final part in court. It also hits harder than usual in the fight scenes (there's a beautiful clash between Daredevil and Kingpin) where blood truly drips. The main limit is always the lack of a real style, a vision, an approach that makes the series immediately recognizable: there are mostly flashes here and there, decidedly more successful moments where, however, one always has the feeling that the inspiration comes now from the already mentioned Andor, now from Mr. Robot, another time from JAG (always the patron saint of legal dramas involving uniforms).

However, for how it manages to complete the narrative arcs of its characters, for how it delivers at the end of the viewing a protagonist and a villain deeper than those at the beginning of the season, for how it manages to create a corner of the MCU with its tones and characters (cameos abound, don't worry) much more interesting and dynamic than the rest of the universe, Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 is among the best things Marvel has made recently. It's a shame about the poor coordination with Spider-Man (the trailer for Brand New Day spoils an important event for you), because greater cohesion between small groups of characters could represent a more sustainable, flexible, and stimulating future alternative for the MCU (somewhat like what happens in the comics, with different characters divided by families, imagine the cycles and recurrences).