Daredevil’s Born Again Pays for Netflix Series’ Biggest Mistake

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Ben Urich is a tenacious investigative journalist who has been a recurring character in Daredevil comics since 1978 when he was first created by writer Roger McKenzie and artist Gene Colan. In the comics, he usually works for The Daily Bugle, but as the Marvel Cinematic Universe didn’t delve into anything related to Spider-Man in 2015, in the TV series, Urich worked for The New York Bulletin. He played a crucial role in saving Karen Page’s life by exposing the conspiracy she had stumbled upon, thereby making it difficult for those involved to escape legal consequences.

In the first season of Daredevil, Urich played a pivotal role – he served as a guide for Page, instilling in her the determination that would carry over throughout subsequent seasons. Their joint probes into Wilson Fisk were instrumental in setting up Daredevil’s confrontation with him during that season. Unfortunately, Fisk eventually located and killed Urich in the second-to-last episode of the season. His funeral spurred Matt Murdock to take action, leading him to assume the role of Daredevil.

In a somewhat somber fashion, his departure didn’t seem incongruous within this narrative, given the development of this character. Yet, it undeniably left a significant void in upcoming Daredevil narratives. Ben Urich has always served as a crucial catalyst in Daredevil’s information-gathering, making it effortless to introduce new characters, such as informants and antagonists. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe jargon, he was essentially an indispensable “man behind the desk” for Daredevil.

Ben Urich’s exit felt fitting in this story but left a gap in future Daredevil tales. He usually helps Daredevil uncover information quickly and introduces new characters like informants and villains. In Marvel Cinematic Universe lingo, he was a key “behind-the-scenes” ally for Daredevil.

Filling in for Urich

In the absence of Urich, characters like Karen Page stepped up to assume the detective role during Seasons 2 and 3 of Daredevil. This shift was met with mixed reactions among fans, as while Karen had never demonstrated a strong inclination towards investigative work in the comics, her characterization there was inconsistent and frequently negative. Consequently, many viewers felt that the show did not suffer significantly from Karen’s newfound role as a detective.

The series devises alternative means to provide Matt with data and link him to the criminal network, given his role as a public defender makes this easier. Since the show doesn’t typically follow comic book storylines word-for-word, Urich’s absence is subtly felt, although it may be noticed if one is familiar with his usual narrative contributions. His character serves to convey the city’s overall mood and sentiment at different points in time.

BB Urich

In the comics, Urich’s most memorable instances involved unmasking wealthy, corrupt antagonists like Kingpin and Green Goblin. Consequently, it comes as no shock that Born Again looked to replace the character, as it centered around Kingpin once more. For the MCU, BB Urich is a new creation; however, Ben did have relatives in the comics. BB reveals early on that she was named after Ben, and she harbors resentment towards Fisk, believing him to be responsible for her uncle’s demise.

BB brings an intriguing element to the series, but so far we haven’t fully explored her character’s capabilities. Instead of assuming her uncle’s position as a trusted advisor to Daredevil, she spends most of her screen time with Daniel Blake, Fisk’s assistant. It appears that neither character managed to conclude the storylines they were developing this season, and BB’s narrative seems to have been cut off unexpectedly. With Commissioner Phil Gallo deceased, it remains uncertain where BB’s investigation leads now and how much information about her real motives Fisk is aware of.

Fans have some thoughts about how BB could team up with Matt Murdock/Daredevil in Season 2, and it looks like she might take on a role similar to her uncle’s in the storyline. However, many are frustrated by the lengthy journey to this point and miss having the well-known, iconic reporter alongside Daredevil instead.

Currently, you can stream the entire first season of “Daredevil: Born Again” on Disney+. Production for Season 2 is underway and set to release in the early part of 2026. The original series, along with all other Marvel shows from the Netflix era, are also available for streaming on Disney+.

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2025-04-20 04:09