Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again Episode 5.Daredevil: Born Againhas been decisive since its very first scene in Episode 1,“Heaven’s Half Hour,” where Foggy (Elden Henson) was murderedbyBullseye (Wilson Bethel). Even I have critiqued and complimented different aspects of the show, fromCharlie Cox’s performanceto thesubpar use of CGI. In keeping with this fashion, the fifth episode, “With Interest,” seems to be another case in which many seem unsatisfied.
Some viewers are thoroughly unimpressed, believing the episode either distracted from the main narrative or included aspects of the wider universe that arguably only existed to allude to other, perhaps more interesting characters. However, I believe this argument misses the fact thatthis episode was exactly what a comic book TV show should be.
‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Episode 5’s One-Off Adventure for Matt Is Just Like a Comic
As we get in comics all the time,Daredevil:Born Againoffers a one-shot that allows us to see Matt’s skills as a lawyer, using his negotiating skills with Devlin (Cillian O’Sullivan) andpowersin a new context. Putting the vigilante in a bank robbery scenario without his costume is a premise most of us would have jumped at the chance to see play out. Yes, we didn’t see whatFisk (Vincent D’Onofrio),Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal), or anyone else were up to, limiting the screen time of fan favorites, but we did get to see Matt unlock a bank vault in a very cool sequence,giving us a real-world application of his power. We know that bank vaults are nearly unbreakable, and it is refreshing to seeDaredevil: Born Again’s writers consider what else Matt can do with his superhuman abilities.
Before that, a fascinating fight scene in the stairwell lends itself to some amazing sound design, as the motif in the background cuts to give way to only the sound of Matt’s movements and punches, demonstrating his commitment to ensuring no one else overhears him taking down a bank robber. It may not be Matt fighting the main antagonists ofDaredevil: Born Again, but in comics, while larger arcs are beloved, many just love watching their heroes get to show off their skill set. Without it,we don’t understand the stakes when they meet a larger opponent.
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The Weight of Matt’s Decision to Suit Up in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Shines Through
The singular focus ofDaredevil: Born Again’s fifth episode also helps to create an effective exploration of Matt’s inner conflict surrounding whether to return to his vigilante persona. Sometimes, including multiple characters can distract from our protagonist’s journey, and we need time to sit with them and witness their reaction to a situation. Matt has been on the fence about becoming Daredevil again for multiple episodes at this point, whereas"With Interest" directly challenges him to either leave this life behind completely or make a crucial decisionto “suit up.” Rather than being forced to juggle all ofDaredevil: Born Again’s ongoing storylines, the episode’s decision to chiefly follow its protagonist gives the world more scope, specifically through the lens of its main hero.
The Inclusion of Yusuf Khan Supports Matt’s Journey in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’
This is whereYusuf’s (Mohan Kapoor)cameo actually feels natural in this episode ofDaredevil: Born Again— even if, for many others, it’s onlyan anticlimactic Young Avengers tie-in. Certainly, the one line referring to Kamala “visiting friends” in California is awkwardly shoved in, but can we not simply enjoy the fact that the MCU is an interconnected universe, where characters can appear in other shows, without it needing to be the biggest deal ever?It made sense for Yusuf to appear. He works at the bank, and Matt needs a loan for his firm — and this isn’t the only bank he has visited, as he tellsKirsten McDuffie (Nikki M. James), it was merely “another no.” If it had been a random bank manager, the scene would have been extremely lackluster. Instead, Yusuf’s inclusion adds an interesting dynamic between himself and Matt, which ultimately has a huge impact on Matt’s arc.
In many ways, Yusuf is the perfect choice to appear alongside Matt in this episode. As Kamala’s father, he understands the risks people will take to do the right thing, and it means he doesn’t question Matt’s abilities after he sees them for the first time. When Matt calls back to his line inSpider-Man: No Way Homethat he can do these things because he is a “really good lawyer,” we don’t see any protests because, firstly, we don’t need to see them, and, more likely, Yusuf didn’t have any. This allows him to support Matt through the ordeal, almost inadvertently encouraging him by turning to Matt for guidance. Rather than a civilian who would feel too accepting of Matt’s abilities,Yusuf was the right character who could work with Matt and help him rediscover the importance of his Daredevil persona.
To have an entire episode focused around this is surely why we want superhero TV shows, and if they feel like reading a one-shot comic, isn’t that even better? If this episode wasn’t for you, that’s OK. However, there seems to be more criticism of what we didn’t see than what we did. Viewing Matt in this context offers aclear examination of his inner conflict that feels confidently solved (for now)and allows the plot to move forward — just as it does in Episode 6, “Excessive Force.”
New episodes ofDaredevil: Born Againare released weekly on Disney+.
Daredevil: Born Again
After Charlie Cox’s cameo appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home and supporting role in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Daredevil: Born Again gives Matt Murdock his first show set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Daredevil: Born Again continues the story that started in Netflix’s three-season Daredevil series and sees Wilson Fisk ascend to mayor of New York City.
