Disney’s Daredevil: Born Again Gets Political, Showcases Cops as Villains

Summary

Daredevil: Born Again showcases law enforcement as villains.
The series also highlights flaws in the justice system.
Born Again takes a political approach, similar to another recent MCU show.

It seems unusual that Disney and Marvel’s hit series, Daredevil: Born Again, is stirring up a bit of controversy, given that Disney typically steers clear of controversial stances due to the lack of financial gain from offending people. However, it appears that Matt Murdock and his team weren’t told about this common practice in the entertainment industry.

The Walt Disney Company stands not merely as an entertainment conglomerate, but as the preeminent one. With its far-reaching influence in movies, television, theme parks, comic books, streaming media, cruise lines, publishing, merchandising, and more, it serves as a model that others strive to emulate. From humble beginnings as a small animation studio, Disney has grown into an international powerhouse, employing approximately 225,000 people worldwide by 2023. Few public companies reach such immense scale, and Disney’s success in multiple industries is no accident – it’s the result of strategic moves that avoid controversy. The recent strategies surrounding the Snow White premiere exemplify this cautious approach. This context makes the upcoming series Daredevil: Born Again even more intriguing.

Daredevil: Born Again Isn’t Afraid To Show Law Enforcement As The Villain

I Fought The Law And The Law Won

The third episode of “Daredevil: Born Again,” titled “The Hollow of His Hand,” concluded with an explosive scene. With Matt Murdock’s impressive legal work, Hector Ayala was acquitted of a crime he didn’t commit. However, his victory was short-lived as he was assassinated in a hit job shortly after returning to the streets as White Tiger. In true Daredevil style, Murdock may have won the legal battle, but at a great cost. Most significantly, Ayala’s family suffered a devastating loss, losing their son, husband, and uncle in Hector. The cold-blooded murder of White Tiger serves as a starting gun for the series, providing a clear direction of where it’s headed.

In the fourth episode of “Born Again,” titled “Sic Semper Systema,” Angela Del Toro, Hector’s niece, gets a chance to express the collective sorrow and anger of her family. Actress Camila Rodriguez, recognized from Disney shows such as “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” and “The Naughty Nine,” brings a palpable sense of indignation to Angela’s character. As it seems that Angela is set to assume the role of White Tiger (though her future in the MCU is yet uncertain), this outburst of anger might serve as her catalyst for action.

Indeed, as a legal professional, I’m confident you can grasp this situation. He found himself in a predicament, intervening in a fight without his mask on. The officers involved were questionable, to say the least. You managed to secure his release from jail. Regrettably, he suffered a fatal gunshot wound. It shouldn’t require advanced mathematical skills to deduce that these events are linked, wouldn’t you agree?

If Angela stopped there, it would have been enough… but she goes on: “I despise this city. Nothing’s being done about it, and nothing ever will be because Hector was just a man from the Heights, and they’re the police.” Matt struggles to comfort her, but his words don’t seem to help much in that moment, given that the system has already let down the Ayala family, and Matt himself isn’t taking matters into his own hands as Daredevil.

Daredevil: Born Again Also Highlights Flaws In The Justice System

This Is A Disney Show?

In the hypothetical scenario where the series “Daredevil: Born Again” only portrayed corrupt cops as villains, it wouldn’t stand out much given the abundance of such characters in the original “Daredevil” series. However, it’s important to note that the corrupt cops in Born Again are not just being bribed by Fisk, but rather, they see themselves as self-appointed enforcers of justice, akin to Judge Dredd. This is distinct from being influenced by a comic book villain to turn a blind eye, and instead involves actively taking lives due to their belief in upholding the law. Contrary to expectations, “Born Again” spends time developing Matt Murdock’s legal career, and Leroy Mancini’s case is more ordinary than typical superhero showcases.

At the start of “Sic Semper Systema,” Leroy is caught red-handed stealing a few boxes of caramel corn. The officers, amused by the situation and helping themselves to the stolen goods, are far from making friends. Matt, ever the helpful one, works hard to get Leroy’s sentence lowered to ten days. However, a disgruntled Leroy, feeling the weight of his life’s troubles, is not particularly appreciative.

…you need to begin scavenging discarded food from supermarket trash bins, resorting to begging for change and food. Once in a while, I long for something more than the ordinary, something that truly tastes delicious. So, why did I choose caramel corn? I enjoy it immensely and it’s a treat. And yet, they are willing to spend five times as much to imprison me as they are to feed me. And you walk in here and suggest this is a gift, something for which I should be grateful?

In the fourth installment of “Daredevil: Born Again,” we witness Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk grappling with the inefficiencies of the system they are part of. Mayor Fisk encounters humorous reiterations of Starship’s “We Built This City” as he navigates through political bureaucracy, while Matt faces more pressing issues. The American system is renowned for its slowness and difficulty; achieving progress requires persistent effort. In contrast, the American justice system should uphold justice, but according to Matt Murdock, it has yet to do so in his experience. So far, “Daredevil: Born Again” has been unsparing in its portrayal of the political landscape, demonstrating to Matt that the system he serves is fundamentally flawed.

Daredevil: Born Again Takes Cues From Another Recent MCU Show

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Also Takes A Liberal Approach

In 2025, another Marvel Cinematic Universe series starring Charlie Cox as Daredevil, titled “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,” doesn’t shy away from addressing political themes within its comic book narratives. This has caused some controversy, as Hudson Thames from the show expressed concern earlier this year that it might be overly politically correct or “woke.” However, looking back now, it’s clear that YFNSM isn’t afraid to challenge the norm. For instance, the Osborn family in the series is black, Dr. Connors is a female character, and Spider-Man lets a villain off after stealing from a pizza place when she apologizes. This depiction of Peter Parker’s world in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is significantly more diverse than the original comic books he first appeared in, where almost every character, regardless of being good or evil, was white.

It’s invigorating to witness Marvel Studios boldly portray the diverse reality we live in, contrasting the initial, more conservative phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe which were predominantly white and straight. Balancing storytelling with sensitivity towards various audiences can be quite challenging, if not impossible. The upcoming series “Born Again” promising a “cops as Punishers” narrative is intriguing, and the fact that they’re tackling this concept at all shows progress. If Marvel Studios aim to reflect the world as we see it through our windows, then “Daredevil: Born Again” is excelling in that mission.

Daredevil: Born Again is available to stream on Disney Plus.

2025-03-19 20:06