A couple of thoughts on the first 4 episodes of season 2 of Born Again & my Daredevil Bingo card.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
First comes the Bingo. Let me know if I missed anything. I was a little distracted sometimes and may watch it again with someone else, but I wanted to know first if the show is recommendable.
So, here goes, without any particular order:
I think it was good to wait a bit, so I could do a subscription for one month, because watching the first few eps back to back felt much more like watching it all unfold on Netflix. It's certainly a slow burn, but I don't mind. I still don't like it as much as the original show so far, but it really gets closer this year and I'm aware that it's an unfair comparison in many ways.
For instance: I will always prefer Matt with the shitty black pajamas to the suit, but i know that he needs armour for this particular fight. Maybe him becoming a symbol with this will help sell it more, but staring at this mask in scenes with important dialogues just bugs me. Maybe it will get better once Matt Murdock reemerges. To Charlie Cox's credit though, there is a lot he can convey just with his voice, his body language and that mouth. I also remember that She Hulk episode in which he shamelessly flirted with that mask on. And sparks were still flying when he pointed out Jen's heartbeat...
I also miss Foggy, but I'm very invested in the story they're trying to tell without him and for now I think there not being much humour goes with that, because the Fisk and AVTF plot is just... ahem... timely. After season one being so utterly depressing I really need to see them win big in the end though and like Matt I think I just gotta stay hopeful and trust that it'll somehow be worth it all.
It helps that we get to see Matt and Karen smile a couple of times despite the David vs Goliath feel all this has. It kinda sucks that we don't really get to see how they got together. Even season 3 of the OG show gave us those important flashback scenes of how he told her about Daredevil. It just annoys me that they did not feel this was important enough to show. Although, I gotta say that the little bit of happiness they appear to have found with each other is really helping with the tone. I was not a big Karedevil shipper from the beginning, but I like both these characters and seeing them strategize, train together, argue, hide and cuddle while forming a resistence is a treat. I think at this point they see eye to eye and make a brilliant team. Matt really listens to Karen and even if he improvises, he immediately tries to explain himself. Karen gets to show just how angry and frustrated she can be and Matt sees now why her and Frank have certain things in common. The way they communicate has gotten so much better and that is great. We also see the cracks, of course, and I have a weird feeling that this time it might be Karen's well-meaning actions that could lead to a rift between them. But I still do root for them.
I love the new dynamic with Bullseye and Bethel is easily selling it. Very excited to see where this is going and I think so far he's totally stealing Fisk's thunder. The Milkshake scene really had me and Dex happily announcing that he is a good guy while massacring a bunch of task force agents was nuts. Matt trying to talk to him and make him understand that all he's gonna do is make Fisk a martyr or help him sell the terrorist rhetoric? Awesome. He really has no idea how to navigate this and it's entertaining to watch him try.
The new side characters work much better this year, despite most of it being very predictable so far. It didn't really hurt that I saw some spoilers. Kirsten finally gets more to do, although I still hope she will eventually be more involved. I liked watching her handle the Swordsman trial against the odds. Angela shows a lot of promise, I think. Funny, how Karen is unsure of letting her help and Matt agrees quickly. BBs little talk with Karen referencing Ben was pretty interesting as well and I'm curious where they are going with Daniel. This might get interesting. And are they setting up Heather and Buck?! Did not see that one coming, but I'm weirdly intrigued by it and Muse showing up as her hallucinations makes that subplot work a little better. However, the first ever scene with Heather and Kirsten makes me wonder how those two could have been friends... That's one overhaul irritation that I know I'll just have to live with. Powell continues to be a great villain though. Looking forward to Matt kicking his ass again.
I don't know what I think about Vanessa. Killing her off would be really lame actually, because more than Fisk's weakness, she has been shown to be a threat of her own and I'd hate to see all that just poof and disappear. More than that one of the things I really liked about Born Again is that Vanessa was really shown to be the calm force behind the scenes making a lot of Fisk's businesses run more smoothly. Taking her out should be the beginning of the end for the mayor. He will try to make life hell for his enemies, but I think losing her has to lead to him making mistakes.
Charles I'm not so sure what to think about yet. All this stuff with the weapons I'm not sure what it'll be about.
Was glad to hear that Maggie is safe. Maybe we'll see her again some day!
That's it for now. Overall I've got a feeling that I'll like if not love this season and I can't wait for Jess!
