Daredevil Viewers Are Letting Marvel Down Big Time

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As a passionate film enthusiast, I must say that Marvel’s fresh TV production, ‘Daredevil: Born Again’, made its debut on Disney+ with more of a thump than a bang. The series brings back Matt Murdock, the lawyer-turned-vigilante who wears the red suit once again, portrayed by Charlie Cox. This is essentially a gritty reboot of the beloved Netflix series that fans have adored for years. However, when it comes to viewership numbers, it’s not exactly setting the world on fire. In its initial five days, it managed to garner around 7.5 million views. While this isn’t too shabby, when compared to other recent Marvel and Star Wars shows, it appears a bit underwhelming.

Discussing viewership comparisons, the offbeat WandaVision spin-off titled ‘Agatha All Along’, starring Kathryn Hahn as the lively witch Agatha Harkness, managed to accumulate a staggering 9.3 million views in merely seven days. Interestingly, it surpassed the viewership of ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ by nearly 2 million, despite having only two fewer days to tally the numbers. On the other hand, the new Star Wars series, ‘The Acolyte’, featuring lightsabers and lesbian space witches, drew in a whopping 11.1 million views within just five days. This leaves ‘Daredevil’ significantly behind by approximately 4 million views. Ouch indeed!

What’s new here? The return of Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio as the formidable Kingpin, Wilson Fisk, in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’. This series is gritty, intense, and maintains the authentic street-level feel that the original Netflix show was renowned for. The first two episodes were released on March 4, 2025, and initial reviews are positive – expect intense fight sequences and a story that doesn’t shy away from conflict. However, it’s possible that enthusiasm didn’t carry over from the past. Alternatively, Marvel’s TV lineup might be too congested at the moment.

On the ‘Agatha All Along’ front, Hahn’s magical shenanigans kicked off quite impressively in September. The series embraced practical effects heavily, which kept production costs at a minimum – apparently, it’s the most cost-effective live-action Marvel show to date. It’s an exhilarating journey along Witches’ Road, with Joe Locke and Aubrey Plaza injecting some electricity into the mix. However, as the story progressed, the viewership seemed to dwindle, suggesting that not all viewers were enchanted enough to stay for the surprising plot twists involving broomsticks.

In June 2024, ‘The Acolyte’ made a swift entrance. This series, set in the High Republic era, focuses on an investigation led by Amandla Stenberg and has generated significant anticipation, carrying a hefty $230 million budget. However, it failed to keep viewers engaged, leading to its cancellation after only one season. It appears that a strong beginning doesn’t always guarantee a successful conclusion.

Returning to the world of Daredevil, Charlie Cox has been part of it since 2015 when the Netflix series commenced. Over three seasons filled with rooftop fights, he established a devoted fanbase, and his brief appearance in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ brought me great joy. The upcoming series ‘Born Again’ aims to expand upon this legacy rather than simply reiterate it. With a total of nine episodes currently available, it’s the most watched show on Disney+ at the moment. Whether it will surpass its current position is uncertain, but with 7.5 million views in just five days, it’s definitely making waves – though not quite as much as ‘Loki’ Season 2 did with 10.9 million views in three days.

An intriguing twist – ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ currently holds the number one premiere spot on Disney+ for 2025. However, it’s still early in March, so the competition isn’t fierce yet. I’d be thrilled if it surpasses ‘Agatha All Along’. The Man of Hell’s Kitchen deserves more than being outperformed by a witch and some Jedi. What are your thoughts – can Matt Murdock deliver the knockout punch to claim the top spot?

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2025-03-11 09:54