Alright Marvel fans the wait is over! Daredevil: Born Again is finally streaming on Disney+ and everyone is talking about it. After years of hype a creative reboot and a whole lot of mystery is Matt Murdock's return living up to expectations? Let's break down the early buzz the viewership numbers and what's happening in Hell's Kitchen this time around.
Daredevil: Born Again Viewership - Beating Expectations or Falling Short of the Mark? The Numbers Are In!
So how is Born Again doing in terms of viewers? Well good news it seems to be off to a solid start. Disney announced that the show had a pretty strong debut becoming their most-viewed Disney+ series premiere this year with around 7.5 million views in its first five days. That's not too shabby especially when you consider the context.
Now some folks are pointing out that it didn't quite hit the numbers of Agatha All Along which had about 9.3 million views in its first week. But hold on a sec there is more to the story. First off Agatha might have had less initial hype but it is a spin-off from the mega-popular WandaVision. Also Disney releases viewership numbers a bit differently these days making direct comparisons tricky.
Looking at data from Luminate it seems like Born Again is actually doing pretty well compared to other recent MCU shows. Its first-day numbers were only slightly behind Echo which dropped all episodes at once giving it a big initial spike. And it is trending around the same level as shows like Agatha and even ahead of Secret Invasion and Loki Season 2 in daily minutes watched after the premiere. For a show with a unique backstory Born Again is holding its own.
Why Born Again is Different: Netflix Legacy R-Rating and Adult Tone - Is It Helping or Hurting?
Daredevil: Born Again is not your typical MCU Disney+ series. Think about it it is kind of a season four for the original and loved Daredevil show that was on Netflix. Those Netflix Marvel shows got cancelled back in 2019 when everything moved to Disney+. Plus Born Again is the first hard-R rated show on Disney+ and the first MCU show aimed at adults since those Netflix days.
This makes it different for a few reasons. On one hand the original Daredevil has a huge fanbase and there is a lot of nostalgia. On the other hand it is been a while since that show ended and being R-rated might turn away some casual MCU viewers who are used to more family-friendly content. Disney even had to roll out parental controls because of the Marvel-Netflix stuff. So Born Again is a bit of a gamble for Marvel. They are kind of trying to bring back those older fans who might be a bit tired of the usual MCU formula. Think of it like Deadpool & Wolverine going R-rated to shake things up. Early signs suggest this bet might be paying off.
Episode 4 Recap: Matt Murdock's Struggle Fisk's Mayor Life and a Familiar Face Returns - Spoiler Alert!
For those diving into Born Again let's peek into a recent episode to see what's happening. Episode 4 shows us Matt Murdock still wrestling with his Daredevil side. He is trying to work within the system but Hector Ayala's death really hit him hard. He is starting to slide back into vigilantism.
Meanwhile Wilson Fisk is trying to be Mayor Kingpin but it is not all smooth sailing. He is dealing with Vanessa's affair and trying to handle things "legally" but his darker side is definitely still there. He even has Adam Vanessa's lover locked up unsure what to do with him. Fisk is all about forgiveness but can he really let this go? Vanessa herself is starting to wonder if she is truly safe with Fisk.
And here is a cool moment: Frank Castle aka The Punisher shows up! Matt goes to Frank for help after finding a shell casing with the Punisher logo. It's a great scene with Frank calling out Matt's inner demons and violent tendencies. It looks like Matt is getting closer to fully embracing the Daredevil mantle again.
Skrull Shout-Out? Born Again Episode Connects to Secret Invasion and The Marvels in Unexpected Way
In a fun Easter egg Born Again even name-drops the Skrulls! In the latest episode Matt is helping a petty thief and the guy jokes about blaming a Skrull for the crime. This is a nod to Secret Invasion and The Marvels and confirms that Skrull stuff is public knowledge in the MCU now. President Ritson even declared war on all aliens remember? It is a small detail but it shows that Born Again even though it is street-level is still part of the bigger MCU world.
Comic Book Inspiration: Daredevil Unleash Hell Red Band - Muse Returns for More Mayhem
If you are craving even more Daredevil action you might want to check out the new comic series Daredevil: Unleash Hell Red Band. This series is diving deep into the dark side of Daredevil's world and guess who is back? Muse a seriously twisted serial killer obsessed with Daredevil.
Muse is creating gruesome crime scenes all over New York City and it is messing with Daredevil's head. The comic is even "red band" meaning it's for mature readers and it is going to be intense. It is interesting to see how the comics are also exploring darker themes and villains in Daredevil's corner of the Marvel universe which seems to align with the tone of Born Again.
Daredevil: Born Again - Key Things to Know
- Viewership: Strong debut numbers for a mature-themed MCU show.
- Netflix Connection: Continues the story of the original Netflix Daredevil series effectively Season 4.
- R-Rating: First hard-R rated Disney+ original series within the MCU.
- Mature Tone: Deals with darker themes street-level crime and Matt Murdock's inner struggles.
- Punisher Returns: Jon Bernthal reprises his role as Frank Castle/The Punisher.
- Skrull Reference: Acknowledges wider MCU events like Secret Invasion.
- Comic Tie-in: Related comic series Daredevil: Unleash Hell Red Band explores similar dark themes.
The Verdict So Far? Daredevil: Born Again is a Gritty Welcome Return to Hell's Kitchen
Early signs are positive for Daredevil: Born Again. It is pulling in viewers holding its own against other MCU shows and giving fans that mature street-level Daredevil action they have been craving. It is definitely a different flavor of MCU show and it looks like Marvel is willing to take some risks to keep things fresh. If you are a fan of the original Netflix series or just want a darker grittier superhero story Daredevil: Born Again might be exactly what you are looking for. Are you watching Born Again? What are your thoughts so far? Let us know in the comments!