Season 1 of \’Daredevil: Born Again\’ Excels: Here\’s a Lesson for the Wider MCU

The first season of
Daredevil: Born Again
has wrapped up on Disney+, and it’s safe to say it was a big success, both with critics and fans. The show brings back the titular hero, played by Charlie Cox, and his classic adversary, Kingpin, portrayed by Vincent D\’Onofrio in triumphant fashion after nearly seven years in the wilderness (save for a
quick cameo in
Spider-Man: No Way Home
), following Disney’s acquisition of the initial
Daredevil
series from Netflix.

It\’s a far more gritty series than you\’d typically anticipate from Disney, continuing in the vein of its Netflix precursor. It’s also
much more violent
than anyone would expect from a Disney+ original. While those two aspects of the show are definitely strengths, that’s not what I think the broader MCU could take away from the show’s success. The MCU doesn’t need to be more violent, it needs more movies to be self-contained, smaller stories. The ever-expanding universe (or universes) needs to be reigned in occasionally. Let me explain, please.

Marvel Reached A Pinnacle In 2019, But Lately, It’s Been Dicey

Avengers: Endgame
It was a remarkable victory for the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2019. This achievement brought together 22 films, beginning with
Iron Man
In 2008, if you watched the
MCU movies in order
, just like I did during the initial phases of the COVID-19 quarantine with my
Disney+ subscription
It underscores how effectively they developed their cinematic world from a single superhero to multiple heroes. Since then, we\’ve had 13 movies (and soon will have 14 following the forthcoming release of).
Thunderbolts*
in May) have
been a mixed bag
, at best.

Although some of the films have been decent, none have truly matched the quality of previous ones.
Endgame
Level. The growth of the universe extending to include Disney+ series such as
Loki
and
WandaVision
was promising, though even there, the franchise has been uneven, with less-acclaimed shows like
Moon Knight
, which began with great momentum but seemed unfinished.
has
The work with these shows lies in the fact that they mostly consist of standalone narratives.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe should have rebooted following Avengers: Endgame.

Over an 11-year period, the gradual development enabled Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) enthusiasts to absorb each element step-by-step. Initially, it focused on Robert Downey, Jr.\’s character facing a mortal adversary, Obadiah Stane portrayed by Jeff Bridges, following the creation of his initial Iron Man armor. The narrative follows classic comic-book tropes, featuring one hero against one antagonist, coupled with thrilling action sequences and witty banter. During the premiere’s end credits, viewers were introduced to Nick Fury played by Samuel L. Jackson, setting the stage for expansive possibilities ahead, indicating grand plans for what was yet to come.

Throughout the following series of films, we encounter The Incredible Hulk.
,
Thor, and Captain America (prior to the first
Avengers
Movies were skipped, but we had the chance to witness the key members of the group, including Hawkeye and Black Widow, joining forces against Loki and The Other.
The Avengers.

From there,
The films continued to become larger-scale productions.
, and increasingly numerous superheroes and antagonists joined the fray. The Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, Black Panther, and others continued to add to the excitement, with each new film release being thrilling for us, the devoted fans. Ultimately, we reached
Avengers: Endgame,
And everything culminated with Captain America finally uttering the line \”Avengers, assemble,\” to
Tony Stark’s death
, the film served as an excellent finale to conclude things.
Infinity Saga
.

This ought to have served as an indication to those in charge that it was high time for a fresh start. Adding to this, the pandemic struck just months afterward, grinding global activities, including those in Hollywood, almost to a halt temporarily. This only reinforced the sentiment that it was crucial to recalibrate things. However, contrary to expectations, that’s not how events unfolded.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe Has Become too Large

What I mean when I say the MCU has become enormous is that both the storylines and settings have grown incredibly vast. Our superheroes traverse not just galaxies, but an endless array of alternate realities. With numerous movies to watch and television series to stay current with, there’s also a wealth of Easter eggs and hints scattered throughout for die-hard followers to discover. However, this can be progressively vexing for viewers who aren’t as deeply engrossed in keeping track of everything.

What the MCU has lacked recently is a strong connection to the characters. Marvel is well-known (and rightly so) for how it has kept most of its superheroes relatable over the years, but now there’s nothing particularly down-to-earth about them.
present condition of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
There are characters endowed with godlike powers—heroes and antagonists alike—who wage war in the farthest reaches of space. It makes for an impressive finale (intentionally so), yet once you\’ve reached the conclusion, there’s no further progression available.

\”Daredevil: Born Again\” Is A Plan

Daredevil: Born Again
is a
grounded, heartfelt story
, takes place within a single neighborhood in New York City and revolves around one protagonist (or possibly two, should you consider them both).
a few scenes featuring the Punisher
), grappling with his individual problems while trying to discover his purpose both as an individual and as a superhero following the loss of a close friend. These are the types of superhero narratives I adore. Let’s be clear, I thoroughly enjoyed
Endgame
, but I want to gradually create a supervillain of Thanos-like magnitude instead of starting with one.

Here’s where I believe the MCU could reboot itself. Choose a single superhero—in my opinion, Spider-Man was ideal—and pit them against a typical adversary right here in New York City, much like an archetypal Spider-Man comic storyline. Gradually reincorporate familiar characters and introduce fresh faces across several films.
then
try to recreate the
triumph of
Avengers: Endgame
.

Now, I’m realistic, I understand there is a business component to all of this. The execs have to, for better or worse, feed the beast they’ve created. They have to keep trying to top themselves, but as we’ve seen over the last four or five years, it’s impossible to fake the magic that 11 years of storytelling gave us just by giving movies
larger funding and additional cameo appearances
So begin anew, return to a more personal scope for some time, and rebuild the MCU, allowing us to relish another moment like \”Avengers, assemble!\” once more.

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