Spoiler alert! This article contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again episode 1.
the MCU timeline, reaffirming the Netflix shows as official MCU cannon. However, after the first episode, it’s clear that Marvel has fundamentally misunderstood what made Netflix’s Daredevil resonate. The problem isn’t that they leaned too hard into Kingpin—it’s that they abandoned the emotional core of the original.
Netflix’s Daredevil was a gritty, character-driven drama that explored Matt Murdock’s double life as a lawyer and vigilante. While it delivered breathtaking action sequences and intense confrontations with Wilson Fisk, the show was never just about its hero and villain. What truly made it stand out was its rich, fully realized ing cast, grounding the narrative in emotional stakes beyond simple crime-fighting.
Karen Page And Foggy Nelson Were The Heart Of Netflix's Daredevil Show
Karen and Foggy Were Essential To Matt Murdock's Story
Throughout Daredevil’s three seasons, Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) and Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) weren’t just side characters, they were essential to Matt’s journey. Karen, with her relentless drive for the truth and unwavering moral com, challenged Matt’s often murky sense of justice. She wasn't just a love interest; she was an investigative force in her own right. Her character growth, from a troubled secretary to a fearless journalist, mirrored Matt’s own struggles with his identity as Daredevil.
After Daredevil: Born Again's Premiere, I'm Now More Convinced Avengers: Endgame Broke The MCU Timeline Beyond Repair
Daredevil: Born Again confirms it, the MCU’s timeline is officially a complete mess. Luckily, the MCU has an opportunity to rectify it in the future.
Foggy, on the other hand, was Matt’s anchor. As his best friend and law partner, Foggy was the one person who truly understood Matt’s internal conflict. He constantly reminded Matt that being a hero wasn’t just about putting on the mask – it was about fighting for justice in the courtroom as well. Their relationship had ups and downs, but it was deeply compelling because it was rooted in genuine love and respect. Foggy’s presence was a crucial counterbalance to Matt’s brooding tendencies, offering humor and heart in a show often defined by darkness.
I Think Daredevil: Born Again Writing Out Karen And Killing Foggy Was A Mistake
Karen And Foggy Were Written Out In Episode 1
Daredevil: Born Again made the baffling decision to brutally kill Foggy in the first episode. This subsequently drives a wedge between Matt and Karen, and the pair lose by half-way through the debut episode. Writing out Karen and killing off Foggy not only strips Matt of his core emotional ties but also robs fans of the deep, character-driven storytelling that made the original series so impactful.
What's Going On With The Punisher In Daredevil: Born Again And Is The MCU Trying To Retcon Frank Castle's Vigilante Identity Reveal?
Daredevil: Born Again reunited the cast from Netflix’s Daredevil. However, Punisher is notably absent and his last appearance may have been retconned.
Instead of embracing these beloved characters, Marvel has seemingly replaced them with new figures like McDuffie, Matt’s new law partner, and Cherry, Matt’s new love-interest. These both function in precisely the same way as Foggy and Karen had in the original series. This could potentially be explained by the MCU wanting to return to Daredevil’s secret identity being known to those around him. Regardless, McDuffie and Cherry feel like pale substitutes for the history and emotional weight that Karen and Foggy brought to the original story.
Foggy’s supposed death feels especially cheap, given how much of the original series revolved around Matt and Foggy’s evolving friendship and how essential he is in the comics. Killing him so quickly proves that Marvel didn’t see his character as vital, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Daredevil’s strongest moments often came from Matt, Foggy, and Karen navigating the moral gray areas of the legal system together. Without them, Born Again already feels hollow.
Kingpin Is A Great Villain, But Daredevil Was Always More Than Matt And Fisk
The Ramifications Of Matt Vs Fisk Was Key To The Netflix Show's Success
There’s no denying that Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk is one of the best villains in comic book television. His return in Daredevil: Born Again is exciting, but Marvel seems to be making the mistake of reducing Daredevil’s story to just Matt vs. Fisk. The Netflix series always understood that the ing characters were just as important as the central rivalry. That’s why they brought back Vanessa Fisk – because Kingpin isn’t complete without her. But if that’s true for Fisk and Vanessa, why isn’t it true for Matt and his own closest allies?
Every Superhero Active In New York In The MCU Who Would Break Kingpin's Vigilante Laws
Kingpin’s anti-vigilante laws in Daredevil: Born Again jeopardizes several Marvel Cinematic Universe heroes still operating in New York City.
Daredevil was never just about the battle between Matt and Fisk – it was about the people caught in the crossfire, the relationships that kept Matt grounded, and the sacrifices that came with his dual life. Karen and Foggy were Matt’s moral com, his family, and the ones who truly knew him beyond the mask. Their absence in Daredevil: Born Again isn’t just disappointing – it’s a fundamental misunderstanding of what made the original series so great.
Daredevil: Born Again
- Release Date
- March 4, 2025
- Showrunner
- Chris Ord
- Directors
- Michael Cuesta, Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson, Jeffrey Nachmanoff
- Writers
- Chris Ord
- Franchise(s)
- Daredevil, Marvel Cinematic Universe
Cast
Matt Murdock / Daredevil
Wilson Fisk / Kingpin
After Charlie Cox's cameo appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home and ing role in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Daredevil: Born Again gives Matt Murdock his first show set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Daredevil: Born Again continues the story that started in Netflix's three-season Daredevil series and sees Wilson Fisk ascend to mayor of New York City.
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