NINEOTES VS. DAREDEVIL BORN AGAIN EP 202 & 203

Ninetoes was holding his breath (in a good way) by the end of the third episode. Has he exhaled yet?

Fisk tries a new tactic to lure Daredevil out of hiding. (Episode 2)

Matt Murdock and Karen Page find new allies. (Episode 3)

Directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorehead (ep 2) and Solvan Naim (ep 3)

Written by Dario Scardapane

Starring Charlie Cox, Vincent D’ Onofrio, and Debra Ann Woll

Hey there, television lovers. It is your old pal, Ninetoes, coming to you from Ninetoes HQ. Today, I am looking at episodes 2 & 3 of Daredevil: Born Again season two. I have coffee in my system, and my thinking cap on, so let’s get to it!

This television show is three things at once: a crime thriller, a political thriller, and a “superhero” show. Each element works hand in hand with the other two to deliver an experience as close to perfection as possible.

Dario Scardapane weaves a story that can come straight from our headlines. The Anti-Vigilante Task Force mirrors ICE. Mayor Fisk mirrors the President. The man on the street interviews that heavily favor Mayor Fisk mirror the current administration’s supporters. Matthew Murdock and Karen Page mirror those against the current administration, and Daredevil and his fellow vigilantes mirror the hope for a brighter day. Scardapane uses these elements like a master artist and gives a flawless picture. He treats the Daredevil mythos with extreme care to give the fans a show that they can treasure. Speaking as a Daredevil fan, he has succeeded on every level.

There is one scene in episode two that is truly terrifying and reflects what a lot of people experience every day. Teen thugs try to steal beer in a local bodega. Soledad Ayala. Hector Ayala’s (White Tiger) widow intervenes. The AVTF shows up and rough-houses the teen. Angela lightly grabs the AVTF officer’s arm, and he says, “That is assaulting an officer.” And in the blink of an eye, she is arrested and taken away, leaving her daughter behind. People who are taken away by the AVTF are never heard from again. This scene was an absolute punch to the gut with the force of a sledgehammer.

In episode three, the trial of Jacques Duquense (The Swordsman) begins and ends. Mayor Fisk owns the court; the guilt was decided before a single word was spoken, but the court let the trial play out all for the glory of Fisk. This is the first shot fired to get vigilantes off the streets “legally”.

Three scenes got my attention. The first one was the detention center. You see those captured by the AVTF in separate cages, pleading for help. The second was at Fisk’s dinner when the governor was giving a toast, and he had a knife in his hand as if he wanted her GONE right now. The third was Daredevil’s solution to the holding center. His solution was a perfect ballet of violence. ‘Nuff said!

Episode three was full of action towards the end of the episode, and it was all choreographed to perfection. We are talking the kind of action where you do not realize you are holding your breath until you let it out at the end.

Both episodes were executed to perfection and set the tone for what is to come, and it is not pretty. The stakes are going to get higher, the violence bloodier, and politics darker. At this point, I do not see how the vigilantes can free New York by the end of the season. Yes, I realize this is a blatant appeal for a third season, and I hope someone out there who is in charge hears the plea of this fan!

Until the next time, I bid you happy viewing!

Darren “Ninetoes” Perdue is a book and media reviewer. When he is not reading, he is watching true crime shows, cooking for his family, or working on a plan for universal domination. If you see him on his porch, say hi. He does not bite…much.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing. Thank you for understanding.