If you thought Fisk would go batshit crazy after his wife's death, think again. The worst he does in the seventh episode of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 is pile on too many charges against Karen and almost choke her to death in prison. He wears a sad, angry expression that suggests he is still mourning, and his voice is bitter and urgent. Yet Fisk, in other words, seems tame—almost scared. On the verge of losing his political seat, he appears remarkably impotent. Is the series "saving" his fury for the finale? If so, that probably means we will get only a few fleeting minutes of the truly unhinged Kingpin before he is forced into hiding, especially since he seems destined to lose both the Karen trial and his position as New York City's mayor.
Something tells me the second season, much like the first, will end with a whimper. But at least it performs one good deed: reviving Jessica Jones in this universe. Near the opening of Episode 7, Cherry tells Jessica that he is a big fan. "Same," I thought to myself. It seems she may remain part of this series going forward, and that is a smart decision. Someone should greenlight Jessica Jones: Born Again—she deserves her own standalone series too, and it should be every bit as fantastic as the Netflix seasons.
I digress. Then again, there is not much else to discuss here. I will, however, report some bad news regarding the death of one of my favorite characters: Daniel Blake, the Deputy Mayor of Communications. Here was a man who had been tickling my funny bone since his very first appearance. Many anemic episodes gained at least some semblance of vigor from nothing more than a single word or gesture from Daniel. For me, he was the real hero—the life of the series. It is a pity he had to die in this episode. His death feels like a greater tragedy than anything Fisk experiences after Vanessa's passing. I will miss him, especially during the dreary, tiresome episodes that I will find ahead (I do hope I don't find them).
At the same time, I hope Jessica can make up for this loss by energizing the show. It is not that the other actors are weak—Born Again certainly has a talented cast. The problem is that they are rarely allowed to break free from the shackles of stiff direction. This is where Michael Gandolfini proved such a welcome exception. He seemed to operate on his own wavelength, imbuing Daniel with subtle comic shades, as though he were amusing himself. He clearly enjoyed playing Daniel, and that enjoyment was evident and infectious. What a loss. Rest in peace, Daniel.
Final Score- [4.5/10]