Daredevil: Born Againis a chance to bring the unique tone of the Marvel Netflix shows into the modern Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU has faced a lot of controversy sinceEndgame, particularly suffering accusations of homogeneity. Everything has just seemed oddly the same ever since the Infinity Saga ended, but a return to the franchise’s awkward side universe could change things. It’s enough to make a fan wonder what some of the previous MCU projects might have been like in this new/old tone.Moon Knightmay have been a very different show with that option on the table.
The early reactions toDaredevil: Born Againappear as mixed as the show itself. It boldly attempts to pick up the torch from the original three seasons while also struggling under theweight of modern Marvel’s expectations. Is it as good as the best moments from the Netflix series? No it is not. Is it as good or better than the many weak moments blended in throughout those 39 episodes? Yes, it blends in pretty well so far. A fresh rewatch of the original series might manage expectations for the revival.
Dario Scardapane
Stars
Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Margarita Levieva, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson
9
Streaming On
Disney+
Fans and creators tend to organize superheroes into levels based on the scale of their adventures.Street-level heroes arethose who tend to operate entirely in one city, fighting the usual bank robbers and murderers. Daredevil fits comfortably into that description, as does the entirety of hisDefendersuniverse. Unfortunately, Marvel doesn’t love playing with their street-level talent in their current cinematic universe. They keep trying, but they seem far more comfortable operating on a bigger scale. A level up from the streets might see a hero take on the world. Captain America, for example, spends most of his movies traveling the globe and engaging in espionage or combat. Another level up might see heroes like the Guardians of the Galaxy traveling the universe, far beyond the boundaries of terrestrial adventure. In each case, the stakes of the hero’s challenges tend to fit the location.If Captain America fails, the entire planet could be at risk. If the Guardians blow it, countless planets could turn to dust. Daredevil mostly deals with murderers and organized crime, keeping the risk relatively low but the tone far darker.
Ironically, when only a few lives are at stake, the violence becomes more personal. This presents the main issue with the MCU’s street level. They don’t want to get asdark as something likeDaredevil, but they do want to keep their narratives tight and personal. Threatening the world or more in every film can get old, especially when they have to keep coming up with reasonable motivations to do so. Take Spider-Man for an example. The MCU keeps elevating Peter Parker far beyond his friendly neighborhood roots in order to guarantee him something commensurate with every other Marvel project. IfSpider-Man had the optionto play in the same waters asDaredevil, albeit with a more comedic tone, it might feel like a more unique piece of the MCU.Born Againmight open that path for the rest of the franchise, and there’s one beneficiary who really needs a fresh start.
Moon Knight Will Return in a New Form
Moon Knightkinda came and wentwithout too much fanfare. People seemed broadly positive towards Oscar Isaac’s performance, the music, a few of the action scenes, and a few other standout elements of the series, but very few people still discuss it. It was the sixth outing of the MCU’s fourth phase, which had the unfortunate circumstances of followingEndgame. Though Phase Four had its moments, fans and critics were quick to denigrate anything that came out of the Multiverse Saga.Moon Knightwas one of many post-Endgameprojects that promised a bold new tone without ever delivering. People expected something more in line with the comics, but they got another MCU show that feels a bit too much like the others. There won’t be asecond season ofMoon Knight, but Marvel TV exec Brad Winderbaum promises “plans for Moon Knight down the road.“Those plans could come in many forms, butDaredevil: Born Againoffers some new potential.
Daredevil’s Tone Fits Moon Knight Well
People always seem to want their comic book media to be as dark as it comes, but that impulse actually fits Moon Knight pretty well. TheFist of Khonshuis a mentally ill vigilante who carries out brutal violence on his enemies. His stories are about madness, he rarely has any superpowers, and most of his supporting characters are monsters of one kind or another. None of those elements fit the MCU particularly well, but they feel right at home next toDaredevil. Moon Knight could easily return to the MCU in a form that better reflects his persona from the comics.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has become increasingly risk-averse as it gained and lost its monopoly on blockbuster power. Their current reaction to shifting tides is to consistently retreat to the things that made them iconic 15 years ago. Any step forward, or even a slightly different step backwards, is a test for potential future MCU outings.IfBorn Againdoeswell enough, it provides a launchpad for shows and movies like it.Moon Knightstruggled because it stuck too closely to the usual MCU format.Born Againprovides a new dimension to that gimmick, and it could be the perfect spotlight for Moon Knight to make a return.
