Here’s my Daredevil: Born Again episode 8 review and the fans really love this one, I’m less convinced myself. Let’s begin with the usual, this is a SPOILER FREE review, so I will be vague about plot points.
A New Direction
We all know that Episode 8 and Episode 1 were added after the Daredevil do-over by the new showrunners and directors. I’m finding that online at least, fans are going gaga for this one like it was the second coming. Not sure I see it that way personally. I felt like this episode almost had too much crammed in to set up a new finale. Therefore, it creaked a little under the pressure.
A lot happens and quickly this week. The viewers who think the show was too slow might be happy? Though, not necessarily has this space been filled with action. Instead it’s mor a sense of tension. I’m fine with that for the most part other than some moments where it felt like characters didn’t have time to process anything.
Character Development
The character of Heather, not my favourite, and no offence to the actress here. The writing for her character has just not been my favourite part of this reboot. Therefore, I don’t quite feel I’m along for the ride with her and Matt’s story. Maybe that’s the fault of less scenes in earlier parts of the season, who knows? However, I get the feeling that were this character never seen in Season 2, or again, no one would bother much. I feel the same about the character of Cherry and again it’s not the actors issue, but a script issue. Maybe Season 2 can really develop these two organically alongside the leads?
It feels like we’ve taken an entire season to once again show how Fisk becomes Kingpin and Matt becomes Daredevil. Daredevil did this twice in three of it’s season and now Born Again has spent a season on the same plot again. Character development is cool, but not the same development all the time. I knew this was inevitably where things were headed, and at first I was fine with it. In fact as a fan you’re actually rooting for the crap to hit the fan for Fisk and Matt. Maybe I just hadn’t realised that this was the entire plot of Season 1, which it is.
I actually like where Fisk and Vanessa are heading and I like where Matt is headed, now. However, I think we just take too long to get there in previous episodes and then it’s all too quick in Episode 8.
RELATED: Daredevil: Born Again Episode 7 Review – Some Cracks Are Showing
One character, who is an absolute treat shows back up this week though. Let’s see more of Bullseye in Season 2 Marvel. Really loved all the scenes involving Wilson Bethel this week. I also feel like the showrunners may gave us all a heads up what they thought of the Fisk marriage counselling scenes. We seem to get that wrapped up quickly and then Vanessa just tells Heather they don’t need her skills any longer. I get it, but I think Episode 8 might suffer from a bit too much of, ‘guys, were here to save this series, watch this’ from the new team. Why not just reshoot more of the previous episode, which wasn’t all that, into two and make this a 10 episode Season 1. It might have given more time for some transition? Maybe due to budget constraints?
Cracks, But Not Broken
Matt is essentially running around like a headless chicken this episode as he appears in almost every scene, with every character. Look, I hope and I believe the show will be better in Season 2. However, I said last week I see the cracks showing between the two versions and that is also true of this week.
Don’t let me make you think this is terrible though. In fact this is probably the 3rd best Episode of the season for me after Episode 1 and the one in the bank that was a standalone. Still, if I compare Born Again to Daredevil S1-3, then so far Born Again is 4th. It’s not awful, which Marvel has given us recently. However, overall it’s not as good as it could be, or as good as it used to be. Thus some of the landing has been fluffed in Season 1 for me so far, even if the finale is great.
Above average TV series so far, slightly above average grade this episode but not an A+ like I’m reading online.
GRADE: B+
Better, but not quite a great TV show yet. Season 2 could and should be better I think. But hey, we all have different tastes. I really loved Episode 5 and a lot of fans hated it. What can I tell ya, I call it like I see it. This one tried harder, but perhaps too much baggage weighs it down. I enjoy the show, I just won’t be raving about it to anyone for the moment.
What do you think of my Daredevil: Born Again Episode 8 review? As always, leave your own thoughts on Episode 8 or Born Again as a whole below.
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