Finally, though, Daredevil: Born Again has turned a corner. As of Daredevil: Born Again season 2, episode 5's ending, no one can deny that Netflix's Daredevil is back after eight years in the cold.
Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, Episode 5 Thematically & Visually Emulates Netflix's Daredevil
It would be easy to say that Daredevil: Born Again season 2, episode 5 is still only trying to be like Netflix's Daredevil thanks to the flashbacks in the former that are set just before the latter. These flashbacks show Matt and Foggy trying to navigate a case as rookie lawyers, having not yet founded their own firm. Meanwhile, Kingpin looks for someone to do his dirty work for him, as well as a business to launder money, leading him to his future wife's art gallery.
Via these flashbacks, Daredevil: Born Again tries to visually become Netflix's Daredevil. The shot choices are more claustrophobic and gritty, combining with a darker tone and more saturated color palette to emulate the more grounded realism of Netflix's show than the more fantastical world of the MCU that Daredevil: Born Again inhabits. However, it is how these visuals combine with the thematic, narrative reason for the flashbacks' existence that proves Daredevil: Born Again has actually succeeded in becoming its sister show.
Fisk's remembrance of how he met his wife ties beautifully, and heartbreakingly, to the present-day storyline in which Vanessa dies. Without the flashback, the scenes of Kingpin experiencing the trauma of losing Vanessa would be nowhere near as meaningful.
On the other side of things, Matt's remembrance of Foggy is thematically relevant to exploring some of the key aspects that made Daredevil, well, Daredevil, that now remain in Daredevil: Born Again's post-overhaul story. In the latter, Matt is trying to learn how to forgive Bullseye for murdering Foggy. Thanks to Foggy himself, or, more aptly, the memory of him, Matt finds it in his heart to do so.
Matt remembers how Foggy always chose mercy and forgiveness, both to his friends and his enemies. The flashbacks show exactly this. While the visuals of Netflix's Daredevil are a nice treat, it is how the character work blends effortlessly with what is going on in Daredevil: Born Again that is so excellent. Netflix's Daredevil was so good at providing flashbacks to prior moments that inform meaningful character decisions. Now, Daredevil: Born Again is doing exactly that, becoming the show many hoped it could be.
Daredevil: Born Again Will Only Continue Carrying Netflix's Legacy
Daredevil: Born Again will continue to carry the legacy of Netflix's Daredevil, only further factoring into the feeling of season 2, episode 5 being a turning point in the sense that the show is becoming its predecessor. Next week, Jessica Jones will return to aid Daredevil, as was first teased in Daredevil: Born Again season 2's trailer.
Jessica Jones was another big part of Netflix's Defenders timeline that began with Daredevil. Evidently, Daredevil: Born Again is finally leaning back into that side of the Marvel universe, only a week after releasing the first episode that truly felt like it belonged as part of Netflix's story, only now in the MCU.
Beyond that, other vital characters of the Defenders Saga are seemingly returning. Reports, rumors, and social media posts recently seemed to indicate that Luke Cage and Iron Fist will return in Daredevil: Born Again's future. These two characters made up the other half of Netflix's Defenders team.
In Daredevil: Born Again season 2 and beyond, they will make up the remainder of the titular character's resistance to Wilson Fisk. This will only make Daredevil: Born Again feel more like Netflix's Daredevil than ever, with season 2, episode 5 being the true turning point of this.
Release Date
March 4, 2025
Network
Disney+
Showrunner
Dario Scardapane
Directors
Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson, David Boyd, Jeffrey Nachmanoff
Writers
Jesse Wigutow, Jill Blankenship, Thomas Wong, David Feige, Grainne Godfree
Disney
English (US) ·