Born Again’ Needs To Finish That Conversation Between Matt and Frank
Although its first season was marred by production issues and some choppy moments, Daredevil: Born Again was able to conclude its first season on a high note by giving more time in which Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) are given the chance to interact with one another. While it has been evident since the second season of the original Netflix Daredevil series that they have wildly different views on justice, Matt and Frank are forced to team up when Wilson Fisk’s (Vincent D’Onofrio) quest for power leads him to declare New York City as an independent city-state. It’s exciting to see these two iconic superheroes fighting alongside each other, but Frank and Matt were not able to finish their discussion on the merits of killing.
There is tension between Matt and Frank, which is only exacerbated by the mutual affection they share for Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll); while Matt had to give up being Daredevil altogether after feeling like he had crossed a line when he nearly killed Bullseye (Wilson Bethel), Frank has taken the looming threat of a totalitarian New York City as justification to being even more brutal vigilante. Daredevil: Born Again needs to force these characters to reckon with the consequences of their moral codes in order to prevent the series from establishing a boring status quo.
‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Doesn’t Have Enough of Frank and Matt
Daredevil: Born Again set up a compelling conflict between Matt and Frank that was established in “Sic Semper Systema,” in which they share an argument over the death of Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson). While Matt was afraid that his aggressive techniques had made him unstable, and feared the violence he could commit if he remained Daredevil, Frank accused him of being cowardly. Unfortunately, “Straight to Hell” did not give them the opportunity to progress their conversation in a meaningful way; although Matt insists to Frank that killing the cops working for Fisk is not worth it, their philosophical debate is interrupted after they find the killer of Hector Ayala (Kamar de los Reyes), the vigilante known as “The White Tiger.” This would’ve given Matt the perfect opportunity to explain why killing Ayala’s murderer would only lead to a never-ending cycle of revenge, but the series unfortunately ends the scene before a meaningful debate can arise.
Frank needs to address Matt’s greatest flaw, as his unwillingness to kill Fisk has allowed “Kingpin” to once again rise to the top of the New York political infrastructure, as he understands that the one person capable of taking him down will never go all the way. Frank’s frustrations with Matt are well-founded, as he has become increasingly agitated that Fisk is able to consistently elude justice. While Frank is a character who commits a significant amount of violence, he is not inherently sadistic; Frank is still coping with the trauma of losing his family and wants to ensure that the same pain is not inflicted upon others, such as Ayala. Although Frank gets a few moments to point out the irony of Matt saving Fisk, it doesn’t result in the moral reckoning for both characters that it should have.
Matt needs Frank to hold him accountable for his actions, as it doesn’t appear that he has learned much from his brief departure from being a superhero. While Matt had feared crossing a line and becoming an untenable monster, his inability to kill Bullseye allowed the vigilante to escape and cause more violence; Matt may claim to fight for justice through traditional legal means, but he is no longer able to use his institutions as a tool now that Fisk has taken control of the city. Matt has indicated that he fears the impact that Frank’s more brutal definition of justice will have on the city, but Daredevil: Born Again didn’t give him the chance to articulate why he feels so strongly.
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Matt’s quick deductions are suddenly lacking the realism we’ve come to expect from the character.
‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Needs To Show the Ethical Differences Between Superheroes and Vigilantes
Matt and Frank need to have a conversation about Fisk’s corrupted police officers, as they have used the symbol of “The Punisher” in order to justify their extreme tactics. This would theoretically grant credence to Matt’s point-of-view; by serving as his own judge, jury, and executioner, Frank has inadvertently inspired an abusive sect of law enforcement to take up the same violent techniques. Although Frank rejects the opportunity to lead the Anti-Vigilante Task Force when they capture him at the end of “Straight to Hell,” he has not yet reckoned with why they have grown to idealize him. Frank’s dark past has made it hard for him to place his trust in anyone, but Matt is one of the few people that he respects enough to listen to.
Daredevil: Born Again has yet to show how Matt and Frank have reacted to Fisk’s surprising political move, in which he officially outlawed vigilantism, imprisons many of his political opponents, and declares martial law. Given that Matt intends to create an “army” to restore the true spirit of New York City back into power, it seems as if Frank may have impacted his plans moving forward, especially after his escape from confinement. It remains unclear if he would be willing to work with Matt again; despite their stark differences, they are now viewed in the same light as “vigilantes” as a result of Fisk’s new political initiative.
Daredevil: Born Again needs to offer more than fan service moving forward, despite its charms, the first season of the Disney+ original did spend a significant amount of time leaving Easter Eggs for fans of the Netflix show. While the chemistry between Cox and Bernthal is often too excellent to fully disregard, it would be even more exciting to see them engage in a deeply-rooted ethical debate, in which these timeless characters must defend their point-of-view. Daredevil: Born Again certainly laid the groundwork in order to save the Marvel Cinematic Universe from its quality decline, and it’s up to the second season to provide the substance.
All episodes of Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 are available to stream on Disney+.
- Release Date
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March 4, 2025
- Showrunner
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Chris Ord
- Writers
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Chris Ord
- Franchise(s)
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Daredevil, Marvel Cinematic Universe
