AWAITING DAREDEVIL'S REBIRTH: SEASON 2

Though the epic topic has struck left and right in conversations among my peers, I intended to wait until the second season of Marvel/Disney+'s Daredevil: Born Again was done to comment on it, just as I did with the prior stretch. (My projections regarding what might materialize for any given series, I fear, may have grown old hat, and yet ...)

I realize that Krysten Ritter's Jessica Jones will rejoin Charlie Cox's titular hero, aka Matt Murdock, but Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, is said to be roaming Queens/Manhattan (or thereabout) for a Brand New Day, "special presentation" segue. All the same, the various pieces are being set in motion for a "Defenders (Re)Assemble!" (re)launch (aka Daredevil Born Again: Season 3). 

Despite the exciting, long-term prospects, for the interim, I'm more interested in seeing how Vincent D'Onofrio's Wilson Fisk, aka the Kingpin, finishes his dictatorial trip, and if, in fact, he'll make Michael Gandolfini's Daniel Blake an honorary Kingpin Jr.. (What can I say? I'm hankerin' for a Sopranos extension.) 

As far as Born Again's climate goes, I realize Season 1 reflects (as William Joel would say/sing) a "New York State of Mind." In the antagonistic, allegorical intersection of Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani, the political specks do make Daredevil's resurrection all the timelier. I can only presume that Season 2 will exploit the variables for all they're worth.  

On the other hand, as much as the NY regurgitation distinguishes this Man Without Fear incarnation, it's Trenton and Hamilton, NJ that bleed through for me. Those areas comprise my stomping ground, with all of their bad-is-good and good-is-bad vexations, where criminals are made into heroes and the worst of the worst have been pardoned by a former governor who's been puppeteered by a slippery, political boss, with (alas) a new, "golden dome" pundit now playing much the same part. (Okay, the ingredients still mirror NY, but it's really just a matter of "You like potato and I like ...," well, you get my drift.) 

No matter the geographic relegation or parallel placement, I'm confident I'll enjoy Born Again's philosophical, criminality dives no matter the twists and tucks. If that doesn't prove the case for some incalculable cause, I'm sure the fallback of two-fisted brawls will at least keep things tolerable. 

Daredevil: Born Again, Season 2 begins March 24 on Disney +. 

I SAW DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN

For the most part, I enjoyed Netflix's take on Daredevil (even considering it the most unwavering of the premium's Marvel set) and wondered how Disney, now known for its perplexing, PC-to-an-infuriating-fault proclamations and insolent alterations to traditional fables, might make or break Matt Murdock's streaming legacy? 

At least Charlie Cox was to return, assuring a link from old to new, but would this incarnation be an extension of his established persona, the lighter-toned edition of She-Hulk or something altogether undone? 

Well, Daredevil: Born Again, and Cox's Murdock, are in sync with Netflix's foundation. The continued series proved serious and somber, with the expectant sadness installed, but the sadness isn't relegated just to criminal consequence, but on occasion, basic misunderstanding: case in point, Margarita Leviea's Vanessa Glenn, Murdock's love-interest, who refuses to see heroism even when it saves her. 

Daredevil: Born Again also incorporates the late Kamar de los Reyes' Hector Ayala, aka White Tiger, who's a relatable, Daniel Penny-steered vigilante for the early stretch, and while the virtuous campaign lasts, he works as a respectable replacement for Iron Fist, Powerman and Jessica Jones, aka Daredevil's fellow Defenders. At least Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, Deborah Ann Woll's Karen Page, Elden Henson's Foggy Nelson, Wilson Bethel's Benjamin "Dex" Poindexter, aka Bullseye, Vincent D'Onofrio's Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin, re-enter for familiar-face continuity, with some lingering longer than others. (I was glad to see them one and all, no matter the durations attached.) 

To its further advantage, Daredevil: Born Again wastes no time in resuming the right, boiling, sociological conditions for the Hell's Kitchen icon, having him spring out of retirement a year after a big brawl with Bullseye, in order to serve justice once more beyond the courtroom and into the blood-stained streets, at one point marked by the "artistic" serial killer, Bastian, aka Muse, played by Hunter (Wednesday) Doohan. (Daredevil and Muse's fighting was harsh, tapping some of the Macbeth 1970, finale flair, just as the Netflix seasons had whenever Murdock slugged it out.) 

It's suffice to say that Disney didn't muck this one up, by having the bad besmirch the good, which is what often happens in the studio's "correctionist" politics, with all those sneaky, baddie-loving games in play. This Daredevil's path was and is Daredevil, for he never did swerve from his noble cause (even when mask-less), and this comes in spite of the "flattering," double whammy namedrop of NYPD's Murphy and Kim. (Surely, that must be a coincidence and not an affectionate nod to two of NJ's top, thug-loving statesmen; then again, Mayor Fisk's Cuomo/Norcross-ish cozy allegiance with crime gave little room for debate, underpinned as he was by wily, yes men, Michael Gandolfini's Daniel Blake and Arty Froushan's Buck Cashman.) 

Yes, sir, Daredevil: Born Again sure does push a profound proclamation where it counts. For this, I give a deep, satisfied sigh of relief and trust that the continuation of the Man Without Fear nurtures the same trajectory, even if devious Disney stays at the promotional helm.