It’s no secret thatDaredevil: Born Againreceived a complete overhaul with plenty of re-shoots before its release, and I’m very gladMarveldecided to do so after learning what the original opening scene forDaredevil: Born Againepisode 1 was. Now thattheDaredevil: Born Againfinalehas aired, I can confidently assert that the show is one of thebest I have seen in the MCU. It delivered a compelling narrative, stunning performances, and did not shy away from the action or the TV-MA rating, even delivering the mostgruesome death scene of the MCU.
I’m glad that this was the case, as there was some trepidation surrounding the show before its release after audiences learned of the re-shoots it was subjected to. Thankfully, it helped to prove how re-shoots can benefit an MCU production, despite prevalent feelings to the contrary. Now, two of theDaredevil: Born Againdirectors have vindicated that notion by revealing what the original plan was for the show’s opening, making me sure that what we were left with was distinctly more preferable.
The Opening Scene Would Have Been Particularly Stripped-Back
Image via Disney+
There were a total of five directors who worked onDaredevil: Born Againacross various episodes. Aaron Moorhead, who directed episodes 1, 8, and 4, and Jeffrey Nachmanoff, who directed episodes 4 and 5, recently spoke withThe Hollywood Reporterabout the making of the show. While talking about Daredevil getting back into the costume, Moorhead divulged the original plan forDaredevil: Born Againepisode 1, revealing thatthe show would open with Matt Murdock in his suit, but swiftly take off the mask and refuse to wear it again for several episodes. Their full quotes are as follows:
Moorhead:This is something kind of juicy. During the first round of shooting, there was a shot that isn’t in any of [Daredevil: Born Again]. This shot used to open the show, I believe, and Matt was in the outfit. He then pulled off his mask, and he was just so unbelievably sad, crying and all that. Then he dropped the mask, and that was the whole scene.
Nachmanoff:It was by the water.
Moorhead:It was supposed to be the last thing that happened after Foggy died, and it explained why he didn’t put the suit on for so long. But now we have a whole episode [101] about that.
Moorhead explains that the first round of shooting would show the aftermath of Foggy’s death in a quick sequence to help explain why Matt Murdock wouldn’t wear the suit, showing him sobbing beneath the mask after taking it off and throwing it aside. In the end,it was re-shoots that facilitated the alternative opening with a more fleshed-out version of events, showing the moments leading up to Foggy’s death, Matt Murdock’s response, and the aftermath with a year’s time-jump. I’m glad about this, as I think what we got was preferable.
Why Daredevil: Born Again Is Better Off With Its New Episode 1 Post-Overhaul
Daredevil: Born Again Episode 1 Gave Foggy’s Death The Time It Deserved
Foggy Nelson is one ofDaredevil’s most beloved characters, acting as Matt Murdock’s moral anchor alongside Karen Page. BeforeDaredevil: Born Again, fans were well aware of his importance to Matt, with the threat of his dying being a huge motivating factor for many of Matt’s actions, including delivering his ultimatum to Kingpin atthe end ofDaredevilseason 3. If all we saw inDaredevil: Born Againepisode 1 was Matt mourning the loss of Foggy in what seems to have been an off-screen event, I think I would have felt cheated.
Seeing him, Matt, and Karen happy and together again made the death all the more heartbreaking, and gave the tragedy as much emotional weight as possible.
Instead,Daredevil: Born Againepisode 1 delivered the most impactful version of this story by fully depicting the events surrounding Foggy’s death. Seeing him, Matt, and Karen happy and together again made the death all the more heartbreaking, and gave the tragedy as much emotional weight as possible. Without seeing the desperation of this event, it might have been harder to buy into the emotion of Matt’s story following Foggy’s death and Karen’s departure.
