Warning! This article contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again episodes 1 and 2.
Daredevil: Born Againgot off to an excellent start, but I need to say that I think Marvel used too much CGI for certain moments. By the time ofDaredevil: Born Againepisode 2’s ending, I was as happy as anyone to see the show back. Although there are some differences from Netflix’sDaredevil, many would agree thatDaredevil: Born Again’s cast, its tone, and its overall story continue many of the better elements of the former show.
This feeling is likely only set to continue, with some ofDaredevil: Born Again’s returning Marvel characters- like Frank Castle - set to make the Disney+ show feel even more intertwined with the original Netflix production. However, there have been some criticisms inDaredevil: Born Again’s many online reviews, with one standing out more than most. While this is a criticism that is often directed towards modern Hollywood filmmaking, there are some ways in which I agree with it:Daredevil: Born Againsometimes uses too many CGI elements.
Some Aspects Look Too Unrealistic
Image via Disney+
Firstly, it is worth noting that I am aware many superhero projects are unable to completely remove CGI from the post-production process, and it will always be a vital tool for the genre. Also, much ofDaredevil: Born Againepisodes 1 and 2 are absent of CGI. However, it was during the opening sequence ofDaredevil: Born Againepisode 1 that I realized CGI was being used for smaller details which, if done practically, could have made this sequence even better than it was, regardless of the show’s shocking death scene.
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The main source of CGI came from Daredevil’s more acrobatic movements, be it his traversal to the rooftops and back down to the street using his billy club or his more acrobatic fighting techniques.Several moments pulled me out of the immersive scene due to the noticeable CGIfor stunts that could have been done practically. Admittedly, the one scene I admit could not have committed to practical stunts was Daredevil running across the rooftops early in the sequence, but other moments certainly could have been.
For instance, the first full shot of Daredevil standing on a fire escape with a church in the background was excellent, but the movement was noticeably jarring due to CGI. This scene was not overly ambitious and could have been done more practically. Later, Matt jumps from a higher point and begins fighting Bullseye on a rooftop, with this scene also including distracting CGI body doubles. Overall, the scene was certainly not ruined by these elements, but I cannot deny that part of me wished they were more in camera than post-production creations.
Only During These CGI Moments
On the whole, I thinkDaredevil: Born Againcaptures the tone of Netflix’sDaredevilwell. However, these CGI moments certainly lack the gritty, grounded aspects of the original show, especially given that they were most prominent during fight scenes.Daredevil’s action sequences are among the best in superhero TV history, and all of them were filmed with minimal CGI due to Netflix’s smaller budget. Naturally,Daredevil: Born Again’s status as anMCU Disney+ TV showmeans it has more budget to play with, leading to the increase in CGI elements.
During the one-take action sequences of Netflix’sDaredevil, the show never loses its sense of realistic action. There are certainly ways in whichDaredevil: Born Againmatches this, such as human characters like Matt and Bullseye seeming tired during their fight. That said, the noticeable CGI aspects almost unconsciously separate the real from the exaggerated, removing some immersion that Netflix’sDaredevilnever lacked.
I Hope Daredevil: Born Again Has More Fights Like The End Of Episode 2
This Fight Better Emulated The Original Show
As I have already alluded to,Daredevil: Born Againcaptured the feeling of Netflix’sDaredevilin many ways, most notably the ending of episode 2. This scene saw Matt enter the home of a witness who could exonerateDaredevil: Born Again’s White Tiger, who was wrongly accused of killing an NYPD officer. There, Matt is confronted by two dirty NYPD cops who framed Hector Ayala for this crime, with the duo looking to dispose of the only witness to what really happened. This sparks a fight scene that has more grit and realism than the sequence that opened episode 1.
This fight scene felt more akin to those from Netflix’sDaredevil, with Matt’s rage and violence shining through…
I will admit that I think there is room for both sweeping, more superhero-like action sequences and the grounded fight scene of episode 2 inDaredevil: Born Again.Regardless, I cannot help but hope the show has more like the latter as it goes on. This fight scene felt more akin to those from Netflix’sDaredevil, with Matt’s rage and violence shining through as he brutally defeated the two crooked cops trying to kill him. The smaller scale of the fight allows a lot of the stunts to be performed in-camera as they were in the original show.
Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Needs To Cut Back On The CGI
The Second Season Has Just Begun Production
With all of this in mind, I hope Marvel Television takes these criticisms on board and cuts back on the CGI forDaredevil: Born Againseason 2. The first season of the show finished production a while ago, meaning it is already too late for the show to add in more practical elements for the upcoming seven episodes.Daredevil: Born Againseason 2’s productionhas only just begun, however, meaning more physical, realistic stunts could be implemented into the continuation.
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The online community is directing criticism toward the CGI inDaredevil: Born Again, which is something Marvel Studios has faced regularly since the ending of the Infinity Saga. More than ever,the studio needs to figure out a way to rectify this criticism, either by cutting down on CGI aspects and trying to do more stunts and large-scale elements practically or by giving post-production crews more timeto perfect these effects. This could begin withDaredevil: Born Againseason 2.
This is not to say that the bigger elements ofDaredevil: Born Againneed to be removed entirely. In fact, seeing Daredevil be more acrobatic in his fights and his traversal is a joy and harkens back to the source material in ways that Netflix’sDaredevilrarely did. Moreover, the aforementioned need for superhero projects to include CGI will always be present, and expecting a complete lack of computer-generated effects is unrealistic. Nonetheless, the point is that some CGI elements inDaredevil: Born Againcould have been practical to increase immersion, and I hope that season 2 commits to that.
