This review will focus on themes rather than specific details (this is a non-spoiler review but it assumes you at least watched the Daredevil: Born Again trailer). Though I’ll give away nothing from the first three episodes, I will have to talk a little bit about the Netflix version which precedes Disney’s version. I highly recommend starting there before jumping into Disney’s newest addition, although the first episode does fill you in on some details if you’re paying attention.

Created by Stan Lee, Daredevil is a marvel comic superhero who had a childhood accident which blinded him. The event gave Matt Murdock (Daredevil) superhuman abilities such as heightened senses, as well as the ability to heal faster than the average human. The Matt Murdock of the comics fights crime by night and is a lawyer by day, using the law to bring criminals to justice. In Netflix’s Daredevil, much emphasis is placed on Murdock’s Catholicism. Born Again follows this as well, Murdock’s faith being something that continues to shape his decision-making.

.Murdock is like Batman in that he refuses to kill. Murdock’s reason in the Netflix version? Because of his Catholic faith which stresses the value of human life and thus the value of second chances. To steal someone’s life is to steal their potential shot at grace. He disagrees with Marvel’s Frank Castle (aka the Punisher), Castle being a regular in Netflix’s Daredevil since season 2, and also being included in the Born Again series luckily.

Like the Netlix version, Born Again has a rated-M rating for violence, as well as some language. As made evident in the trailer, Born Again appears a tad more violent, maybe more Watchmen like than the Netflix version.

Language: In Netflix’s version, there’s be plenty of damns, goddamns, shits, Jesus Christs, and once in a while an f bomb. In Disney’s episode 1, there were quite a few F-bombs but they did feel natural. did have more language than Netflix’s version with F-words being more frequent than we’re accustomed to of Disney’s version follows this. I didn’t know how the large gap in filing would affect things but in episode 1 I have zero complaints.

Once again, I recommend starting from Netlix’s Daredevil Seasons 1-3, much of those seasons becomes self-explanatory when watching the first episode of the Disney+ continuation Daredevil Born Again.

Do I need to watch Netflix’s Punisher, Netflix’s The Defenders, & Disney+’s Echo?

There’s a reference to Echo, a Disney+ show which had Wilson Fisk as a regular. Echo definitely had potential but ultimately lacked good story-telling. Luckily you won’t need to watch it to understand Born Again.

Netflix’s The Defenders does feature Daredevil, though I don’t feel it’s necessary to watch before jumping in to Born Again. The focus in The Defenders isn’t on Daredevil per se but on him working in a team. The narration of that show, like Echo, lacked good execution as well as decent story-telling.

Regarding Netflix’s Punisher, you don’t need to watch it before viewing Born Again, but it may be helpful since Frank Castle is also in the Born Again series. Punisher is very good but also intense. Jon Bernthal, who plays Frank Castle in this universe of Daredevil, may just be the best Punisher. Marvel illustration legend Michael Golden has called Bernthal the Punisher and I do agree. Since Castle is featured in 2 seasons of Daredevil, you won’t necessarily need to watch Punisher which focuses on Castle’s backstory rather than his relationship to “the devil of Hell’s kitchen.”

Episode 1 follows its Netflix predecessor in focusing on the value of community, citizens binding together to stand against injustices, and indirectly deals with mental health. Episode 2 deals somewhat with rage against a broken system, Charlie Cox’s portrayal of torn soul being spot on. And episode 3 continues to deal with corruption in the system (including court rooms which ought to be flowing with justice, not blood).

If you’re a fan of the Netflix version, you’re in for a ride with episode 1 which delivers the same vibe despite having such a gap between filming/writing. Many fans, myself included, were quite worried the quality would seriously lack in such a late comeback, but perhaps a break can also be a good thing, giving opportunity for writers to not rush things.

Daredevil: Born Again by Disney+ follows the original three seasons made by Netflix. It deals with themes of grace, retribution, false messiahs, and the human/biblical impulse of “How Long Oh Lord?!” The message of doing the right thing in times of evil is a biblical message. What is not biblical is the idea that violence will somehow solve complex issues. Matthew Murdock is on a right path in his unwillingness to kill, and respecting the imago dei (the God-ness in humans). Unfortunately, we’re in desperate need to recover a theology proper of the idea that all humans are made in God’s image and thus worthy of our respect. As tensions rise over who is right and who is deplorable, may we remember this: Jesus made clear that in the Age to come, we’ll be shocked at who will be present and who won’t be (see Matthew 8:5-13).

Recomended List/Order:

Daredevil Season 1

Daredevil Season 2

Defenders (lacks in story but provides the backdrop for Daredevil season 3)

Daredevil Season 3

Punisher seasons 1-2

If you really like Wilson Fisk, Echo is an interesting take though the show is nowhere near the level of Daredevil/Punisher in terms of writing.