Daredevil: Born Againis rated TV-MA, but there is still a surprising amount of cursing compared to the original Netflix series. Netflix’sDaredevilwas the first collaboration between Netflix andMarvel. It was technically part of the MCU with loose connections to the franchise, but mainly kept to itself, building a smallerDefenders universe in New York City. When the series debuted, many were surprised at the high level of bloody violence, a stark contrast to the family-friendly content Marvel is known for. The other Netflix shows had this same level of brutality, showing a darker side of Marvel.
However, the Netflix shows didn’t have much swearing. As violent as it was, thecharacters didn’t drop the f-bomb often, if at all. Since most Marvel films are PG-13, they also don’t include much cursing. If they do, it’s used sparingly, ensuring that it still appeals to a family audience. However,Born Againis doing its own thing, separate from the MCU (even though it’s set firmly in the franchise) and the Netflix series. There are a lot of f-bombs in the first season, and I’m surprised Disney is allowing this much cursing when the Netflix show barely had any.
Netflix’s Daredevil Didn’t Include Many F-Bombs
Daredevilwas shockingly brutal, including several memorable moments of gore, like the Punisher’s prison knife fight and Kingpin decapitating someone with a car door. However, that level of violence wasn’t matched by the show’s dialogue, which was mostly clean. On theIMDbParents Guide for the Netflix series, the series only received a moderate rating for its profanity. The rating is given by the audience, so the information may not be entirely accurate, butmany of the comments suggestDaredevilonly used the f-bomb once for the entire show.
Those numbers could be different for other Netflix shows, includingThe Punisher, which was relentless with its dark and gritty tone. Still, it’s interesting thatDaredevil’swriters weren’t concerned about the level of gore in the series, but avoided including that much cursing for their characters. It’s important to note thatDaredevil: Born Againand the Netflix shows are under different conditions on Disney+. Parents can turn on parental locks on kids' accounts to keep these shows separate from the other Marvel content.
Matt Murdock Has Said The F-Bomb At Least Twice In Daredevil: Born Again
Matt Isn’t Watching His Profanity In The Disney+ Series
It’s strange to hear Marvel heroes drop the f-bomb, andMatt has already done so twice inBorn Againseason 1. The first time he used it was during episode 6. Before putting on the Daredevil suit for the first time in a while to save Angela Del Toro from Muse, he says, “Fk it.” The second time is in episode 8 when heconfronts Bullseye in prison. After smashing Bullseye’s head into the table, Matt hits him with a blunt, “Fk you.” The f-bomb is also dropped by other characters, including Kingpin’s deputy, Daniel Blake, and New York crowds.
BeforeDaredevil: Born Againpremiered, many wondered if it would have the same mature tone as the Netflix series. It isn’t under Netflix’s umbrella anymore, and Disney might not want to have such violent material on its streaming service. However, the series immediately proved doubters wrong in Daredevil’s opening battle against Bullseye, which featured plenty of headshots and stab wounds. However, Marvel Studios is pushing the boundaries even more about what it can include in its shows, including cursing from its main heroes.
Guardians of the Galaxy 3 And Deadpool & Wolverine Made Profanity More Acceptable In the MCU
Star-Lord Opened The Floodgates For The F-bomb In The MCU
The golden rule in film is that only one f-bomb can be used in a PG-13 movie. Any more than that and the film could be considered R-rated. Marvel films have dropped f-bombs before, but not in the MCU until 2023’sGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. In the film, Peter Quill assists Nebula in the simple process of opening a car door. After growing increasingly frustrated at her, he yells,“Open the f**king door.“That was the first f-bomb ever in the MCU, and it opened the floodgates for other Marvel projects.
One year later, Marvel released itsfirst R-rated film withDeadpool & Wolverine. Cursing isn’t new for Deadpool, but it is for Disney. However, Disney didn’t shy away from Deadpool’s crass and vulgar language, and embraced it, creating a film that wasn’t afraid to blend its universe with Deadpool’s meta and mature humor. Marvel doesn’t need to swear to create good content, but it is promising to see the studio embrace more mature content that appeals to an older crowd.Daredevil: Born Againcould be a solid template for future MCU TV shows.
