4/5
Born To Run
9 Episodes. Starring: Charlie Cox, Vincent D'Onofrio, Margarita Levieva, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Wilson Bethel, Zabryna Guevara, Nikki M. James, Genneya Walton, Arty Froushan, Clark Johnson, Ruibo Qian, Michael Gandolfini, Ayelet Zurer, Kamar de los Reyes & Jon Bernthal. Created By: Dario Scardapane, Matt Corman & Chris Ord. On: Disney +.
Reborn this way, 'Daredevil' may have gone Disney with 'Born Again' season one on the Plus streaming service, but this isn't some random fall out of the sky, like in 'She-Hulk: Attorney At Law', where he forgets his Catholic upbringing for a minute as he gets "smashed" ("Daredevil F###s!"). That was fun and all, and we loved the comic moments and red and gold suit, but we all know 'Daredevil' really runs dark, blood-red, like his classic cameo in the epic 'Echo' series, that came from the 'Hawkeye' Christmas special where Kingpin made his M.C.U. N.Y.C. debut. Now he's running for mayor, like in the comics too, and where his Spider-Man to return the favour and better help the devil you know. We will have to wait until the kid with no way home is born again, himself, for a brand-new day. Even if Charlie Cox cameoed his voice for 'Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man' too.
From the broken concrete of the terrific theme and titles of 'Born Again' you know it's back on again, as it all comes together to the beat of this jungle's streets. 'Daredevil' represents the kitchen he cooks in, and there's hell to pay this time out with an opening one shot to rival them all, with a new-look Bullseye that will truly break you, throwing everything, EXCEPT the kitchen sink, at everyone trying to pass the bar. From there it's clear to see that this gritty and raw show, may not always be as good as its Netflix street-level predecessor, but it comes real, real close. And it may be Mobb Deep dirtier in this new New York that's lost all hope of being a friendly neighbourhood when the big guy in the Yakuza suit is in charge. Daredevil's first meeting with Fisk in a diner feels like a hallmark homage to De Niro and Pacino in Michael Mann's 'Heat' (rest peacefully, Val Kilmer), and the only thing that doesn't pull its punches more than that, is his encounter with Frank.
The Punisher of the grizzly bear Jon Bernthal ('The Accountant 2', 'The Amateur') is about to have his own special for Disney like Halloween's 'Werewolf By Night', but just wait until he puts the hammer down here, as fanboy cops who don't understand his logo try to take his skull crown and put it on the front of their own police bulletproof vest. When you watch Cox and Bernthal together again, like their verbal brawl on the rooftop after trading hands, you realize that they were born to play these classic characters. Like Vincent D'Onofrio as the Kingpin (with all due respect to the late, great, game-changing Michael Clarke Duncan). And of course, the legends Hugh Jackman as The Wolverine, and Robert Downey Jr., as Iron Man, and now, the man in the iron mask, Doctor Doom. Ditto to Deborah Ann Woll (check out her podcast with The Punisher) and Elden Henson as Karen and Foggy, Matt Murdock's day one, fellow attorneys at law. Add Wilson Bethel's Poindexter and the Vanessa (Ayelet Zurer) that you should have never embarrassed Fisk in front of, and this 'Daredevil' feels at home.
More 'Marvel' cameos in a brilliant bank job for your dog day afternoons. Arty villains that you will make your Muse. Slick swordsmen you've seen before. And even a White Tiger that will have you clutching your sacred amulets, as he makes this street-level hero supernatural like a Captain America skit on 'The Boys'. 'Daredevil: Born Again' has it all. Police procedure and corruption. Courtroom drama that even 'Joker: Folie à Deux' couldn't sing at. And a collection of compelling, new cast members. Most notably, Margarita Levieva (who really can save herself), Nikki M. James, Genneya Walton, Arty Froushan, Ruibo Qian, Clark Johnson, Zabryna Guevara and the son of a 'Soprano' Michael Gandolfini, doing his lookalike, late, great father James proud as he stares down a man even scarier than Tony. Yet, it's the story of Kamar de los Reyes that is truly heartbreaking. The 'One Life To Live' actor sadly lost his battle to cancer before this show aired. This tragedy was met by the awful shame that he didn't get to see his performance and the reception it received. Clawing away at a classic performance as the White Tiger we could have seen an echo of in a one shot, origin series. Yet we know his family will continue his legacy, as he will be born again, every time we watch his work. This is for him. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Daredevil', 'The Punisher', 'She-Hulk: Attorney At Law'.
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