Heaven's Half Hour

The first episode feels quite rushed. It starts with a sequence that, personally, I didn't find very pleasant, but I understand the decision to include it. However, if you're going to re-record and allow the Netflix show to be canon, then don't get rid of it in less than 10 minutes. As for the CGI, they should have just left it out-I don't think Daredevil needed it since it's a very underground character. The plot with Fisk is interesting, but it would have been better to save it for this series rather than using him in Hawkeye and Echo, since it's hard to take him seriously after what Maya did.

-MASS.

Daredevil: Born Again wastes no time and pulls no punches as it picks-up so many years after the events of Daredevil Season 3. The series premiere is fantastically written and goes in what feels like a natural progression (well, as natural a progression as you can have when reviving a show six years after it's cancellation). Charlie Cox and Vincent D'onofrio give fantastic performances as Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk, who feel exactly like their characters in the original series (despite the change in writers)

There are three main problems that I've had with this episode. First off, the soundtrack is fantastic... But it leans a lot into the main theme from the original show. That gets used a lot, which feels weird since it was only really used during significant moments of the original series. Secondly, the cinematography isn't as nice as in the original (but let's be real here, that's not saying much - since the original was gorgeous). And thirdly is honestly just the action. Don't get me wrong, it had an amazingly choreographed fight scene, that actually had a stunning one-shot sequence... But none of it's nearly as impressive as in the original series when you can clearly see that a lot of CGI was used at points. Throughout the Daredevil scenes in the episode, you can definitely see what was done practically, and what was done digitally, which really brought me out of the immersion of seeing Daredevil again

Overall, though, if you can push those three minor issues to the back of your mind... The series premiere of Daredevil: Born Again is fantastic and is an awesome way to continue the story from the Netflix Defenders Saga. It does justice to the original show and offers a lot by the means of enjoyment.

I've never left a review before, I probably won't again. The original is my favorite show of all time.

I believe this episode was good, but it is only good in that it is a passable imitation of something great. Like watered-down wine.

The action, one of the aspects which put the original on the map, is better than recent marvel, but not quite good enough. The relatively obvious (in a bad way) CGI did not completely ruin it, but it certainly took a lot away from the obvious effort that went into it.

The writing is alright, and would not be very engaging if not for the only truly exceptional aspect of this show: the actors. I think they are all phenomenal and I feel very bad that I don't really like the product of their work. It is not at all their fault.

The cinematography and colorwork is much more subjective, but for me was absolutely terrible. Not even a speck of effort to retain the original style which matched the show so well. It honestly looks like something rendered in a graphics engine trying to imitate reality's grey-ness in an attempt for grittiness.

There is nothing authentic and there are no risks of any sort, there is nothing special to this. It is all riding off of the success of the original, with its dynamic camerawork, colorwork, often over-the-top serious writing, and breathtaking action. It is simply a dilution and productization of authenticity.

We all know how intense and gritty the original daredevil show was and this episode puts you right back in that Thrill Ride seat. You usually expect a show to start off slow and slowly build up to a big moment or a major plot twist but this show pretty much doesn't waste any time at all. I also like that there isn't a lot of conversation between characters that doesn't feel necessary the show seems to hit on a very fine pace and doesn't let up. If you are a big fan of the original show then you will be definitely happy to see the show gets right back to where it needed to be and gives you what you needed to see.

First off, the first fight scene was different than any Marvel fight I've seen. The odd perspectives and lighting, the relentless zinging knives, along with DD's lurching, zombie-like pursuit of Bullseye, captured the Frank Miller Daredevil Marvel comic run from the 1980s better than any previous episode. That 1980s run also featured Kingpin's mayoral race. Good stuff. (It would probably cost a CGI fortune but we really do need to see an entire fight from DD's radar sense perspective.)

The music and score enhance the action by skipping overdramatized score crescendos (think Peter Jackson with LOTR). Some hip new pop tunes help too. Great mood and tone from the soundtrack.

I also enjoy how the dialogue and fights are more understated. The opening fight was mostly shot from a distance, which emphasized action over smashed bloody faces. It was less brutal and instead more vicious and clinical than, say, every single Punisher fight scene. The Kingpin - Daredevil coffee shop face-off was similarly understated, with little melodrama in either dialogue or score. And if that scene wasn't an homage to the De Niro-Pacino coffee talk then I'm Michael Mann.

I'm optimistic. Smart, crisp writing and a consistent score/soundtrack (without any of Marvel's self-parody) will keep me tuned in.