Daredevil: Born Again season 2 review – Marvel drama still needs incubation

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A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Despite significant challenges and uncertainty that nearly stopped Charlie Cox from reprising his role, this new season of his Disney+ series feels like a fresh start for Daredevil, marking yet another revival for the character.

I recall hearing that making the first sequel was actually pretty tricky. Apparently, they hit a snag when the people in charge realized that completely ignoring the awesome original movie might really upset fans. They had to rethink things!

When the original showrunners left, Dario Scardapane, who previously worked on ‘The Punisher,’ stepped in to try and save the project. He combined existing footage with newly filmed scenes, creating a surprisingly successful, patchwork result.

The second season starts strong, with the new head writer successfully moving away from previous, unfinished ideas. However, the show loses steam towards the end, culminating in a lackluster finale.

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The story begins with Wilson Fisk, played by Vincent D’Onofrio, firmly in control as the mayor of New York City. He maintains this control over the city and its people, often using his tough Anti-Vigilante Task Force (AVTF) to do so.

Police are told to stop vigilantes who are operating outside the law, but because these officers often lack honesty, empathy, and skill, they end up endangering ordinary people.

With the city becoming increasingly dangerous, Matt Murdock (Cox) and his girlfriend, Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll), are secretly working together to fight against their main enemy and his followers.

A key difference between the current direction of the show, under Scardapane, and previous plans is the continued development of Matt and Karen’s relationship. Earlier showrunners had intended to eliminate Karen Page, Woll’s character, in a version of the series that was ultimately abandoned.

While true to the original story, this change would likely upset fans who had been eagerly awaiting a reunion between Cox and Woll after a long wait.

Scardapane was able to reverse a problematic storyline, but the consequences of a previous plan limited how much of Woll’s character could be shown in the first season. Now, Woll is a central figure, and fans who wanted Karen to live will be pleased with how things have turned out.

The connection between Cox and Woll remains powerful, bringing to mind the passionate and often conflicting relationship between their characters, Matt and Karen – both when they’re falling in love and when they’re disagreeing.

As the season goes on, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to understand Matt’s perspective, even if you can relate to feeling guilty in a Catholic context.

His rigid way of thinking leads to a strange and insensitive outcome that doesn’t feel right, even though the show tries to make it seem justifiable. I’m really curious to see what people think of it.

I was really disappointed to hear that bringing Karen back as the main woman in ‘Born Again‘ meant Nikki M. James’ character, Kirsten – a smart legal partner – and Margarita Levieva’s Heather, who had such a compelling, complicated past, got pushed to the sidelines. It felt like their stories deserved more focus.

It would have been better if Scardapane had focused less on BB (Genneya Walton) and Daniel (Michael Gandolfini). Their storyline this season has dragged on for too long and feels both uninteresting and absurd.

Unfortunately, at this point, you could describe Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin in similar terms.

He’s been a fantastic villain for over ten years, ever since he first appeared in Netflix’s Daredevil. Many fans even think he’s the best villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the character’s story feels complete now.

Wilson Fisk’s once-intimidating voice and imposing size don’t scare us like they used to, even when he’s at his most violent.

Being mayor hasn’t improved the situation, resulting in a complicated position within the US political system and made even more difficult by the sheer size of New York City – not to mention the added complexity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Frank Fisk’s workplace is filled with terrible acts – including the frequent, though sometimes hidden, mistreatment of people in the area – but surprisingly, he’s worried about an upcoming visit from the calm and polite Governor Taylor.

She and her mysterious partner, Mr. Charles (also new to the scene, played by Matthew Lillard), don’t seem to take Fisk’s control seriously, making Matt and Karen’s decision to leave feel like an unnecessary and self-focused escape.

Ultimately, Born Again doesn’t quite deliver on its potential. While it hints at real-world issues, the story’s core conflict involving the Mayor Kingpin feels underdeveloped and doesn’t offer any particularly meaningful or thought-provoking political insights.

Even though the season had some problems with its plot, Daredevil: Born Again was still watchable thanks to the strong performances of its returning cast – Charlie Cox, Deborah Woll, Ayelet Zurer as Vanessa Fisk, and Wilson Bethel as Bullseye.

The show is also boosted by the return of Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones, and I won’t spoil any details about how that happens.

Just like Marvel often does, the major reveal is saved for later in the season. However, even when it finally arrives, it feels sudden and a bit out of nowhere, as TopMob previously noted.

Despite a few clumsy moments, it’s wonderful to see one of Marvel’s most beloved heroes return, and Krysten Ritter easily slips back into the role, hinting at significant character development during her seven years away.

Generally, season 2 of Born Again feels like it’s still working through issues caused by the way the first season ended. It’s trying to develop its initial ideas while also resolving storylines from the Netflix version of the show.

As the story winds down, it feels like the hardest part is finally over.

The new Marvel series, Daredevil: Born Again, will start streaming on Disney+ in the UK on March 25, 2026. A Disney+ subscription costs from £5.99 per month.

Don’t miss Daredevil: Born Again! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV suggestions, exclusive features, and more.

Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about TV dramas and comedies for TopMob, focusing on the newest and most popular shows on television and streaming platforms. Before joining TopMob, he worked at Starburst Magazine and hosted The Winter King Podcast for ITVX. He also has a degree in Journalism from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-03-25 04:35