The problem with Daredevil: Born Again Season 2

The first season of Daredevil: Born Again experienced a miracle, seeing that it ended up as good as it was. There were conflicting visions from two separate showrunners, reshoots, and casting changes, but somehow, Daredevil returned. The best episodes of the season were the eight and ninth, the only episodes unhindered by the previous showrunners. (I understand the first was written by the new showrunner, but it mainly exists to explain the changes since season 3.) Naturally, I assumed that, if left unhindered, that season 2 would deliver. It halfway has.

I assumed that, if left unhindered, that season 2 would deliver. It halfway has.

Great action with little story…

The problem I’m seeing with this season is that the “action forward” approach of the new showrunner has largely led to stunning action with very little narrative weight to it. For example, episode 7 ended with an attempt to kill Matt Murdock by setting the task force in a parking garage with other cops around him. The absurdity of cops shooting at a public figure not under suspicion of doing wrong who is flanked by other cops took me out of the scene instantly. There is no plot mechanics to even explain why they think they’ll get away with this.

This ethos also extends to the main character reintroduction of the season, Jessica Jones. A competently written show would examine how her character’s complicated relationship with vigilantism would lead her to be an interesting case study for this anti vigilante task force. What if performing her job as a PI she ends up using her powers, and then gets arrested. That would have been my episode 1, and her trial and incarceration would have provided a human face to the treatment of these prisoners by the task force. I don’t care even a little about the Swordsman, but would care about Jessica Jones being freed. Jessica’s role gets reduced to spitting exposition at the audience, and doing an action scene. It’s frustrating how such a great character is wasted here.

Another opportunity missed

In a season focused on vigilantism, I’m surprised how few vigilantes there are. This is where you reintroduce and catch up with the Defenders. Luke Cage should have had a redemption arc where he starts the season as a crime boss working lightly with Kingpin, getting on his bad side, arrested as a vigilante, and then having him fight as a hero in the end. Iron Fist would have been interesting as a former vigilante roped in by Kingpin as an anti vigilante advocate. He then gets inspired by Matt after finding out what he did to Luke to become a hero again and rescue him.

Lastly, there is a real lack of Kingpin plotting this season. He’s spent the season floundering. I would have used the weapons as the plot mechanic. Daredevil sinking the ship should have led Kingpin to use it to steal the weapons from Mr. Charles, and use them as untraceable firearms for his task force. These weapons should have been multifaceted. They should have anti sonar technology that messes with Daredevil, gas guns that shoot gas that neutralizes Luke Cage and Jessica Jones strength, and since these are off the book guns, the task force is unaccountable when using these. This is a Kingpin type move. There’s nothing like this in the real season.

Some redeeming elements include:

Now not everything is bad, and some moments come close to perfection. Episodes 4 and 5 are excellent examples of what happens when the show focuses on character rather than action. Episode 5 has no action, but great character moments.

A Reimagining of Season 2

Overall, this show deserves better. Given that Kingpin’s last villain arc was the brilliant season 3 FBI arc, his return deserved better. Here’s my overall re-structure of the season:

Episode 1:

We open with Jessica Jones on a case. She’s following a perp. He gets aggressive with a woman in a hotel room, and she decides to intervene. She then gets arrested by the task force. We then follow her through the dehumanizing treatment the task force shows people in the prison until her lawyers come. Matt and Kirsten are on the case. While there Matt overhears talk of a shipment. We then get the original opening on the season with the boat sinking. Kingpin sees it, and tells his people that this is an opportunity.

Episode 2:

We start with Daniel and Fisk greeting Danny Rand, who in the years since has decided to reject violence and vigilantism, and commit himself to Buddhist nonviolence. He films a PSA urging Daredevil to turn himself in, and all vigilantes to stand down. We then follow Matt, Karen, and Kirsten throughout the episode looking for evidence for Jessica’s arrest. They soon discover that the situation might have been a setup, and they’re trying to find out why. They encounter task force members looking to destroy evidence, and we get a fight. One of the members offers to give him his badge to help him break out Jessica.

Episode 3:

Matt and Karen plan a desperate and costly break out for the task force prisoners. The plan mostly works, but Karen ends up left behind, and once freed Jessica says she’s out. Kingpin blows up the freighter, and now his plan is in full effect.

Episode 4:

Kingpin goes on a public relations blitz where he says that Daredevil’s crew is actually a terrorist organization called The Defenders. He argues that they need federal involvement to address this issue. Matt goes to meet Danny, who explains that he lost his powers, his money, and now is just trying to move on. Matt reminds him that his powers aren’t his only skill, as he starts a fight that demonstrates his martial arts skills.

Episode 5:

We pick up with Luke Cage as the kingpin of Harlem, when he starts getting attacked by a rival gang with advanced weapons. He then goes to meet Fisk, and asks him why his gang wasn’t empowered with those weapons. Fisk hints that their tribute has been lacking. Cage agrees to pay, and sets up a meeting. Matt learns of Fisk planning a sale, and heads there. He encounters Cage, and is confused. He breaks up the sale, and they battle. Eventually, Fisk decides it’s more trouble than it’s worth, and captures Cage, using the weapons to defeat him.

Episode 6:

We basically do the original episode 4, but with an interspersed storyline of Luke meeting Karen in the prison, where he is sharing his disappointment with himself for having gotten himself once again in this situation. We end with Bullseye attacking Vanessa again.

Episode 7:

Same as the original episode 5, as it heightens the tension heading into the finale, and instead of escaping the church at the end, we have it surrounded, but Jessica Jones walks in.

Episode 8:

Daredevil, Bullseye, and Jessica Jones fight their way out of the church, and then Bullseye slips away. Jessica then takes Matt to Danny, who has decided to be a hero once more. They say that Luke getting captured is why they’re doing what they’re doing.

Jessica reveals that he’s the father of their daughter, but he doesn’t know. Matt decides that the only way to take down Fisk is to target his weapons, which are at the prison. He says that in order to get Fisk caught, this can’t be done quietly, as they need the media surrounding the place. Mr. Charles and his agents then corner Fisk, about to kill him, as they found out about the guns. He tells them he can give them better than the guns. In fact, he can give them expendable vigilantes. He then requests they make a call to Val. Daredevil, Jessica, and Iron Fist storm the prison, and free Luke. They battle their way task force, only for out of nowhere, John Walker enters, and starts roughing them up.

The Defenders are on the back foot trying to escape, as John Walker is a super soldier who is not afraid of R rated violence. Eventually, John is able to recognize that this was a corrupt setup once Daredevil is able to prove the weapons are Kingpin’s. They will be at the top of a roof, and Kingpin will be so angry he charges at Matt, and they fall off the roof, almost dying. Both survive, and they happen to be in casts next to each other at the hospital. There Matt makes the offer to let him leave the city. Fisk eventually accepts. Like in the original, Matt gets arrested, and Fisk leaves the country.

Feel free to comment and/or question me on this.

Now my pitch is probably ridiculously expensive, and ambitious, but I feel it would have been better. I of course left out a lot that would have likely padded each episode. What do you think? Am I onto something?

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