It took untilDaredevil: Born Againepisode 8, but I finally realized that Marvel’s overhaul of the series was the correct choice. Theending ofDaredevil: Born Againepisode 8masterfully set up the show’s season 1 finale, with Bullseye back in play as Matt discovers a dangerous reality about Foggy’s death. WithDaredevil: Born Againepisode 9on the horizon, audiences are looking forward to the ending of the show’s first season ahead of season 2’s prospective release in early 2026.
With full focus now onthe aforementioned finale andDaredevil: Born Againseason 2, the creative overhaul the show underwent is a thing of the past. Initially,Daredevil: Born Againwas planned as an 18-episode season, yet the break in production caused by 2023’s industry strikes caused Marvel to realize the show was not quite working as it was. A new showrunner and directing team were picked out, with some actors initially not part ofDaredevil: Born Again’s castreturning as a result. AfterDaredevil: Born Againepisode 8, I can confidently say this overhaul was the right choice.
Daredevil: Born Again Episode 8 Was The First True Post-Overhaul Episode
The Episode Is Daredevil: Born Again’s Best Thus Far
When the overhaul ofDaredevil: Born Againwas placed into effect, the original creative team had completed six episodes of the show. The new team was hired and created three more episodes, equating toDaredevil: Born Againepisode 1, episode 8, and episode 9. The former of these was used to set up the pre-overhaul content, markingDaredevil: Born Againepisode 8 as the first installment of the show that is not beholden to what was already crafted. This was evident, especially withDaredevil: Born Againepisode 8’s strong reviews citing it as a much more confident, stylistic installment of the show.
Daredevil: Born Again Episode 8 Review - I Was Shocked By Bullseye’s Return & Even More Excited For The Finale After That Game-Changing Foggy Reveal
Wilson Bethel’s Bullseye returns in Daredevil: Born Again’s latest episode and that leads to Matt Murdock making a major discovery about Foggy Nelson.
Overall,Daredevil: Born Againepisode 8 felt much more compelling than its six predecessors that were crafted before the overhaul came into effect. Be it the added stylistic choices like Bullseye’s blue coloring, the deep reds emulating Matt’s journey, the more artistic shot choices, and smoother editing or storytelling elements like the blending of plot points and side characters being given more dramatic, investable scenes,Daredevil: Born Againepisode 8 simply worked a lot better than previous episodes.
Characters like Kirsten or BB Urich, who were passengers throughout episodes 2-7, were tied much more intrinsically to the central journeys of Matt or Kingpin. Then there was the treatment of Vanessa Fisk, with scenes involvingAdam inDaredevil: Born Againand the reveal that she hired Bullseye to kill Foggy marking a turning point in the story. All of this, combined with the more confident filmmaking on display, proved howDaredevil: Born Againepisode 8 was the first true post-overhaul episode, and was all the better for it.
Even Daredevil: Born Again Episode 1 Felt Beholden To Pre-Overhaul Storytelling
Due To What Came After It
As I have already alluded to,Daredevil: Born Againepisode 1 was also written by Dario Scardapane, the post-overhaul showrunner, and directed by Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson, the directing team hired after the changes. However, I would classifyDaredevil: Born Againepisode 8 as the first true post-overhaul episode as the premiere was simply a way of setting up the show’s pre-overhaul story. Originally,Daredevil: Born Againepisode 2 was planned as the show’s premiere, with everything from episode 1 happening off-screenas a means of differentiating the MCU project from Netflix’sDaredevil.
Is Daredevil: Born Again A Continuation Of The Netflix Show?
Despite bringing back many characters from the Netflix series, Marvel has gone back and forth on if Born Again continues that same story.
Therefore,Daredevil: Born Againepisode 1 was crafted with that in mind. The premiere was used to establish the foundations of elements from episodes 2 through 7, from Matt’s relationship with Heather to the Muse subplot and Wilson Fisk’s mayoral goals. As such, only the cold opening ofDaredevil: Born Againepisode 1 which featured Foggy’s death felt like it had the same sense of stylistic flair that episode 8 had. Beyond that, the premiere was beholden to pre-overhaul aspects.
Episode 8 Set The Bar High For The Show
Image via Disney+
One thing I think is worth pointing out is that I enjoyed most of what I saw fromDaredevil: Born Againepisodes 2 through 7. Episode 7 was somewhat rocky, but the others were highly enjoyable.Daredevil: Born Again’s White Tigersubplot was compelling, as was the bottle episode that featured a bank heist. Overall, though, I just felt that something was missing from this batch of episodes, be it connections to the Netflix show or the more artistic direction and stronger writing found inDaredevil: Born Againepisode 8. As it turns out, many Marvel fans agree with me.
SinceDaredevil: Born Againepisode 8, many fans have taken to social media to share just how different, in a positive way, the installment felt in comparison to its predecessors.@Fagan_Matthew_onXstated that the show felt entirely new due to the aforementioned stylistic choices in direction.@Thedevil_Of_HKreiterated this, insisting that the shift in quality was noticeable. Many more fans have since claimed the same, proving that the post-overhaul direction ofDaredevil: Born Againepisode 8 is resonating with the entire fanbase.
The New Team Is Here To Stay
If it was not already glaringly obvious, all of this is meant to point out thatDaredevil: Born Again’s overhaul was the correct choice by Marvel. Again, I will reiterate that the pre-overhaul episodes mostly worked, and the filmmakers responsible for that are certainly talented. However, the pre-overhaul version of the show was too content with being separate from Netflix’sDaredevil, with the post-overhaul content proving that connecting back to that show is the right move. Above all else, seeingDaredevil: Born Againepisode 8 has made me overwhelmingly excited for season 2.
Daredevil: Born Againseason 2 began filming in February 2025, and is expected to be released in 2026.
The team responsible forDaredevil: Born Again’s overhaul is crafting the entirety of season 2. Dario Scardapane will be the showrunner and head writer, with Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead serving as lead directors. While other directors will likely be hired for certain episodes, the core team for the overhaul will remain in place.
This will giveDaredevil: Born Againseason 2 a much more consistent tone, not to mention an equally consistent level of quality. The filmmakers will not have to tie the story back to pre-overhaul elements, allowing them to continue telling the story they have teased inDaredevil: Born Againepisodes 8 and 9. Gone will be the conflicting storylines and tonal shifts, replaced by the full creative control ofDaredevil: Born Againepisode 8’s team. For this reason, I am more excited for season 2 of the show than I already was.
