REVIEW: ‘Daredevil: Born Again Season 2’ Episode 5 – “The Grand Design”

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 5 is written by Jesse Wigutow and directed by Angela Barnes. The episode stars Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio, as well as Wilson Bethel and Ayelet Zurer. In the wake of Bullseye’s attack on Vanessa (Ayelet Zurer), Fisk goes to the hospital while Daredevil tries to keep the assailant alive.

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 5 is split between multiple stories happening at the same time. There’s Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) in the hospital, and Daredevil (Charlie Cox) and Bullseye (Wilson Bethel). But that’s not just it. The episode also includes flashbacks for the main characters, to before the start of the very first Daredevil season. It’s an episode about reflection and remembrance. 

Not only is it precarious, with a life hanging in the balance, but it also incorporates elements from the previous show. The slow, contemplative pace, as well as elements of a legal drama, are a key part of the Daredevil mythos. There aren’t any fight scenes in this episode, but there is so much drama.

The fate of Vanessa hangs in the balance in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 5.

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 5 is one of the most pivotal episodes of the entire show and the Netflix series, too. The concept is similar to two episodes of the original series. Bullseye and Daredevil return to the same church that the assassin attacked in Season 3, whilst Kingpin standing around Vanessa’s bedside is reminiscent of her poisoning in Season 1 of Daredevil.

It could be considered too reminiscent. But it’s also an example of the history these characters have and the things they have been through. Also, the outcomes are vastly different from those in the first instances, which adds to the devastation.

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 5 has an incredible ending, actually trying to stray from what’s expected with a red herring. It’s setting up something different, with a whole new plotting potentially unfolding, before a second twist occurs just minutes later. It’s an ending that had been predicted since the start of the season, but Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 5 features multiple surprises to try and subvert what we know is coming. And even knowing it might happen doesn’t take away from the emotional impact.

By returning to the past, we see what tethers our two opposing forces in the present.

The characters are terrific in both time periods. The biggest reveal is Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) appearing in the flashback, who is sorely missed in the reboot series. Hanson’s portrayal in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 5 is a brutal reminder of that. With both he and Cox playing young versions of the lawyers, we once again get to see the incredible friendship between the duo.

It’s also key to see how much of an effect Foggy had on Matt’s moral compass. The heart of Nelson and Murdock, as well as their mission statement, is heavily influenced by Foggy, not just by Matt. The notions of mercy and second chances, and respect for the rule of law, all came from his best friend, not just God.

The villains within this season are incredible. Fisk is very much the focus of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 5, as his beloved wife is so vulnerable. It’s these scenes where D’Onofrio shines, fully understanding the character. He’s loud and desperate, and everything else within his world is irrelevant when his wife is in danger. There are multiple moments where Fisk is a shuddering wreck, completely shattered and unsure of what to do. His money and influence can’t rescue this.

Vanessa is key to Fisk’s emotional stability, and that stability now hangs in the balance.

Elsewhere, Daniel (Michael Gandolfini) continues to have complicated relationships with multiple people. With BB Urich (Genneya Walton), they are both using each other, and it’s getting to a very dangerous point. There is genuine care from both of them, but BB siphoning information from Danny is starting to get him in trouble.

Then there is Buck (Arty Froushan), the former SAS soldier and Kingpin’s head of security. He took over from Wesley, who also makes an appearance in the flashback. It highlights how long Buck has worked for Fisk and his loyalty to the man. He’s much further down the journey than Danny and is a terrifying villain. He’s sophisticated and a gentleman, classic British gentry, but he’s also a ruthless hitman who just gets things done. Where Danny can be gibbering and gets things wrong, Buck is flawless in his efficiency.

Then there’s Bullseye, who had become one of the great villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He and Daredevil are stuck together, and the marksman demonstrates his meticulous mindset. Now that he thinks he’s killed Vanessa, he considers himself finished, happy to die. Even while bleeding and dying, Bullseye is smiling with satisfaction. His obsessive personality is all about balance and precision, and he has accomplished that.

The production is profound and intelligent. When jumping back through flashbacks, the show genuinely changes to feel closer to that time. The yellowish tint, the tight close-ups, all show an attention to detail and a date for what came before. The characters in the flashbacks all look younger, too, still sporting the same hairstyles they did in the original show.

Despite the lack of violence, Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 5 prepares us for the loudest shockwave.

In the church, there’s a perfect example of how the show has evolved in this newer version. There’s just more color and vibrancy. Where Daredevil once hid from the cops, it is now lit with a bright red light. And in the main room, a green glow filters through the windows.

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 5 reveals the beginning and the end of the same character at the same time. Implementing flashbacks is a lovely addition to the show because it demonstrates that the original series hasn’t been forgotten. The lighting and aspect ratio had changed, but the influence of Foggy and Wesley is still felt in how both Wilson and Matt live their lives. It’s also a reminder of how long the actors have been in these roles, embracing such iconic figures. It reveals the beginning at the same time as the end.

But one of the longest relationships, one that’s been a tether and a calming influence on one of the biggest sides of the war, is delivered an earthquake that will change it forever. That’s possibly why this episode is calmer, because of how loud the shockwaves will be.

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episodes 1-5 are streaming now on Disney+.

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