Just as soon as “Daredevil: Born Again” came, it went. With everything said and done, it’s safe to say that while this season was amazing, Disney made a mistake splitting the original plan of an 18-episode season into two nine-episode seasons.
As much as “Born Again” has impressed audiences with its mature themes and amazing cinematography there are a few issues that stopped this season from being perfect.
The premiere fell completely flat and did a terrible job getting audiences excited for the more indepth storytelling in the latter episodes. This is especially disappointing since it was Disney+’s most-viewed premiere.
Many viewers have also taken issue with the fact that the titular character of Daredevil rarely appears. It’s not the worst thing in the world, but when viewers are promised a show about Daredevil it’s no surprise they complain when he only appears in costume a handful of times.
Aside from the obvious issues with this revival, separating the season into two halves was a mistake. It is apparent after watching the whole season that it is unfinished, although even with several hurdles the show manages to shine.
Episode 7 wraps up a shorter storyline very neatly, with arguably the most intense episode of “Born Again.” It was hard to watch at times because something this gruesome has never been seen before in a Marvel project. Despite the gore, the events in this episode flawlessly transition into the next.
Following the resolution of the previous conflict in episode 7, Episode 8 sees the facade of one of the main characters melt away as they are taken to their breaking point. This episode not only shares the great cinematography that the other episodes have, but it also elevates it. The cinematography and camera work in the second half is beautiful, and the cliffhanger provided audiences with the suspense needed for the final episode.
Season finale “Straight to Hell” was hands down the best episode of “Born Again.” From the raised stakes to the hard work the cast displayed in their acting, every aspect of the finale creates hype for next season, despite the forced separation of seasons. The end of a season should leave audiences hungry for more while feeling satiated by what they’ve seen, and its split into an additional season left the finale to fall just below the mark.
In the case of “Straight to Hell,” it’s a good middle of the story episode, but it just opens up so many new plot points without any satisfying resolution. It’s understandable this mishap happened, due to the replacement of creative teams amidst production. This swap in teams may have hindered the current release, but the inevitable second season will benefit from a team that is more oriented to the previous series.
Overall the show has been a delight to watch. Many who love it will be excited to see that season two is just around the corner, but it’s hard to imagine a future where they continue to build on Daredevil’s story after that.