After recent comments from the showrunner ofDaredevil: Born Again, I am more worried than ever that Marvel has learned the wrong lessons from the titular character’s previous appearances. As many now know,Daredevil: Born Againis a continuation of the Netflix show. Initially, the MCU project was planned as a soft reboot of the Netflix series until an overhaul ofMarvel’s upcoming TV showssaw the story’s direction change somewhat. Now,Daredevil: Born Againis expected to be essentiallyDaredevilseason 4, just under a different title.
This came as a welcome surprise to me and the many other fans ofNetflix’sDefenderstimeline, with many holding several of those shows in high regard. Theranking of the NetflixDefendersshowsoften seesDaredevilat the top, with the ongoing hope being thatDaredevil: Born Againwill continue what it started and carry over the show’s strong elements to an MCU setting. While the trailer forDaredevil: Born Againgave me hope that Marvel Studios has succeeded in this regard, recent comments from the showrunner have caused my worries to resurface.
Daredevil: Born Again’s Showrunner Has Commented On The Best & Worst Parts Of Netflix’s Show
The Wrong Lessons May Have Been Taken From Netflix’s Daredevil
In a bid to promoteDaredevil: Born Again, showrunner Dario Scardapane was interviewed bySFX, revealing what elements of the Netflix show would be carried over to the MCU project. However, I am concerned that Scardapane has misunderstood what the best and worst parts of Netflix’sDaredevilwere after reading his comments. Scardapane insisted thatDaredevil: Born Againwill have"more fun in the moments with these characters and a lot less navel-gazing than before."
Scardapane was also a screenwriter for Netflix’sThe Punisher,also set in theDefendersSaga.
Scardapane goes on to say that"the earlier show, at its best, was fantastic…at its worst, it was two characters in a room talking about what a hero is.“While Scardapane does insist he is not simply"taking swipes"at the Netflix show, he insists thatDaredevil: Born Againwill feature fewer scenes of"characters grousing about their lot in life.“Evidently, Scardapane is going intoDaredevil: Born Againwith very specific views about the Netflix show, but I am worried he has misunderstood what made the latter so great in the first place.
The Idea That Daredevil’s Worst Aspects Were Its Character Interactions Is Worrying
Netflix’s Daredevil Excelled In Its Character Work
Although I will concede that Scardapane wanting to inject more fun character interactions intoDaredevil: Born Againis a positive thing, it is his comments that the worst parts ofDaredevilwere the characters sitting around and talking that I take issue with. Many would likely agree with me when I say that the biggest strength of Netflix’sDaredevilwas exactly this, its character work. Hearing the showrunner of the new iteration ofDaredevilfor the MCU say otherwise is admittedly worrying.
It is the heartfelt, excellently written, brilliantly performed character scenes inDaredevilthat stand out to me…
When I think about my favorite moments fromDaredevil’s three seasons, it is not the conventionally fun action sequences I think of. Of course, these are great scenes and should be included in any adaptation of Marvel Comics, but it is the heartfelt, excellently written, brilliantly performed character scenes inDaredevilthat stand out to me. Be it Matt and Foggy’s back-and-forth about why the former should be Daredevil in season 1, episode 10 or the many compelling interactions between Matt and Kingpin,Daredevil’s strength was its exploration of morality and heroism that was driven by its characters.
Matt Murdock’s 10 Best MCU Scenes Before Daredevil: Born Again, Ranked
Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock will be returning in 2025’s Daredevil: Born Again, so it’s time to look back at some of his best scenes in the MCU so far.
Daredevilseason 2 had similarly amazing moments, most of all the conversation between The Punisher/Frank Castle and Matt on a rooftop in episode 3. This seems like the specific scene Scardapane is referencing due to Matt and Frank talking about what it means to be a hero. The scene is one of the best in the entire show, but knowing that Scardapane may think otherwise is concerning. The following episode has a similar scene, which is a gut-wrenching monologue where Frank tells Matt about his murdered family. These are the scenes fromDaredevilI remember most, not the action.
How Daredevil: Born Again Can Still Work In Light Of The Showrunner’s Comments
Despite my worries about Scardapane’s comments, I admit that I am still expectingDaredevil: Born Againto work. Perhaps one of the biggest reasons behind this is the show’s shorter runtime. If I had any criticisms about Netflix’s 13-episode mandate for Marvel shows, it was that the middle section of each season tended to drag slightly.Daredevil: Born Againis expected to have nine episodes, meaning the pacing will tighten upin a way that could be reflective of Scardapane’s comments.
Scardapane does referenceThe Punisherin this light, explaining that less time will be spent trying to fill scenes with dialogue before the next big action scene. While this could be worrying and enforce my concerns, the fact thatDaredevil: Born Again’s casthas spoken openly about how much better the show is since Marvel’s revamp gives me some hope. Overall, I am still excited aboutDaredevil: Born Againand hope that Scardapane has found a balance between dialogue and action, but I cannot deny that I fear Marvel may have learned the wrong lessons from Netflix’sDaredevil.
