By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 18 seconds ago

Babylon 5 is one of the best sci-fi shows of all time, thanks to creator J. Michael Straczynski’s intricate plotting of the entire story from day one. That means every major plot beat and story twist was planned years in advance, and the smaller character moments were, too. Season 1 Episode 3’s “Born to the Purple” gives fans an early look at the development of future favorite, Lieutenant Commander Ivanova, in a short, simple B-plot, well removed from the main story of Londo’s lover, that tells everything about the character in only two short scenes. It’s a masterclass in writing and one of the many, many reasons why the series is among the best. 

Breaking The Rules Of Babylon 5

“Born to the Purple” centers on Londo dealing with his lover, the dancer Adira Tyree, working as a spy to get the Centauri Purple Files so that her owner, Trakis, can blackmail the most powerful members of the government. The other follows the station’s Chief of Security, Michael Garibaldi (Jerry Doyle), as he attempts to figure out who’s illegally using the highly classified gold communication channel to communicate with someone off station. There could be a spy, and with the delicate Centauri-Narn peace talks taking place on the station, finding the culprit is a matter of intergalactic importance. 

Garibaldi goes to Lieutenant Commander Susan Ivanova (Claudia Christian) for assistance. She offers to help track the communication, but when he goes to track it again, he’s blocked, and the countermeasure came from the Russian Consortium. Ivanova keeps telling him it’s a figment of his imagination, or gremlins, but he cracks it the next time around and uncovers the message. 

Ivanova has been keeping an eye on her dying father back on Earth. He came out of his coma, and communicated a final message to his daughter saying how proud he is of her, apologizing for all the pain and hurt he caused her, and regretting how he wasn’t a better father.

Ivanova watches as he dies, and so too, does Garibaldi. It’s a heartbreaking moment that would, in a lesser series, come after a season of build-up and teasing, with constant emphasis placed on Ivanova being distracted at work, or acting differently, but Babylon 5 is built different, and this early season moment tells the audience everything they need to know about Ivanova. 

Loneliness In A Crowd

In the previous two episodes, Ivanova did mention some family problems, but kept them close to her chest, not wanting to burden anyone. She showed up and did her job because that’s what she does. At the same time, her illegal use of the gold channel shows that she’ll bend the rules slightly for a moral good. Well, that, and anytime Garibaldi and Ivanova go against one another, no one wins, as the two are too similar in how they think, they each have connections on and off station, and each seems to know what the other is thinking, even as they do their best to hide it. 

“Born to the Purple” also speaks to the extreme loneliness that those on Babylon 5 can experience; despite it being a central hub for trade and politics, they can feel isolated. Londo takes comfort in the arms of a dancer, Ivanova violates station protocol to reach out to her father; two very different characters, different species entirely in fact, but the same need for connection.

It adds to each of them, Londo is gregarious and outgoing so you wouldn’t think he’s lonely, while Ivanova is so pragmatic and says herself she’s a realist, that emotional connection wouldn’t be something she’s overly concerned about compared to getting the job done. It’s a testament to JMS’s writing and world-building that a simple early-season episode can say so much about who these characters are, what’s important, and tease fans with where they end up.

Months after Brooklyn Beckham‘s explosive comments about his parents, another voice has chimed in, one that claims his words rang true.

Hana Cross, who dated Brooklyn between 2018 and 2019, has now weighed in on his rift with his famous brood, recalling her own experience with them, and they are not fond memories. 

In a recent interview, the model revisited that chapter of her life, one she says she had long tried to leave behind. However, the constant media attention continues to pull her back in, something she describes as emotionally draining.

“It’s hard because I don’t look back on that as a fond time, on reflection,” Cross shared, noting that she was never pressured or warned to stay silent. Addressing Brooklyn’s explosive statement, Cross admitted they caught her off guard, but they also reflected what she encountered with the clan. 

“It was a bit shocking to me that he did that. It was a surprise,” she said. “I guess it shocked his family, too… but it summed up a lot of my own experiences as well and the way that their family as a brand does act.”

Cross Says Being With the Beckham Family Caused Her ‘Anxiety’

The Yorkshire-born catwalk star continued detailing her past with the Beckhams, revealing it took a toll on her mental well-being. “My time with the family caused me a lot of anxiety, in all honesty,” Cross told Hello Magazine.

“There were a lot of warning signs and things that happened during the relationship that, in hindsight, should have made me think and maybe end the relationship or walk away from it a lot sooner than I did,” the 28-year-old added. 

Cross noted that at the time she was still young and did not have anyone she could confide in about her struggles. Despite the difficulties, she ultimately hoped the famous clan would reconcile, stressing the importance of unity and togetherness.

How Brooklyn Beckham Found Comfort in Nicola Peltz’s Family

While Brooklyn appears to be distancing himself from his own relatives, he seems to have blended just fine with his wife’s Nicola Peltz family. 

In an interview last month, Peltz offered glimpses into their close-knit dynamic, revealing that her parents have embraced the budding chef as “another son.”

The actress, who has six brothers, also spoke about how naturally he fits in with them. “He gets along really well with my brothers. They play soccer together a lot,” she shared, according to The Blast. 

Nicola’s billionaire father, Nelson Peltz, has also addressed the situation, acknowledging the tension between Brooklyn and his own parents. While noting that he advised the couple to stay away from the media, he expressed hopes that the couple would have a “long marriage.” 

Brooklyn’s Sibling Got Emotional Performing A Song Referencing Family Feud

Meanwhile, the family strain appears to be weighing heavily on Brooklyn’s younger brother, Cruz. A few weeks ago, Cruz delivered a heartfelt performance of his track “Loneliest Boy” at London’s Courtyard Theatre.

As The Blast reported, during the set, the young singer appeared overcome with emotion and was comforted by a bandmate. His parents, David and Victoria Beckham, along with his brother Romeo, were in the audience for the first of three sold-out shows, proudly supporting him.

Fans have since speculated that the track is directed at his estranged brother, with lyrics describing a boy who pushes people away despite being shown love, and a poignant verse referencing a mother’s heartbreak.

Cruz has also reminisced on how things were before the rift, sharing old pictures of their happy family, seemingly expressing hope for a reconciliation. 

Brooklyn Showered With Love From His Parents on His 27th Birthday

Despite the ongoing tensions within the brood, David and Victoria Beckham made sure their eldest son felt

cherished as he marked another year on March 4.

Per The Blast, the football club owner shared two throwbacks on Instagram Stories, celebrating the milestone. The first showed him and Victoria in a swimming pool with a young Brooklyn flashing a radiant smile. “27 today [face holding back tears emoji] Happy Birthday, Bust [white heart emoji] We love you x,”

His second post featured a black-and-white snapshot of father and son, echoing the same sentiments of love and pride. Victoria also reposted the swimming pool photo along with her own tribute, captioned with red heart emojis and a warm declaration of affection.

By TeeJay Small
| Published 17 seconds ago

When I first heard that a Michael Jackson biopic was in the works, I just knew the production was going to be a train wreck in some way. From the king of pop‘s traumatic upbringing, to his child abuse scandal, to his outspoken support of a free Palestinian state, so much of Michael’s life is effectively unfilmable and unmarketable to the Hollywood machine.

According to the trades, the Michael film was recently overhauled in post-production, with over $15 million spent on reshoots. The goal of these reshoots: restructure the entire story to completely eliminate any mention of Jackson’s abuse allegations, effectively stripping the story of one of its most important details.

Ignoring Important Allegation Arc

As the report outlines, the Michael script was originally a frame narrative with the child abuse scandal hanging over the entire story. The movie was designed to open with Michael Jackson facing intense scrutiny in 1993 when the allegations first became public. Then, as the film highlights different significant moments in the singer’s life, we flash back and forth to the 21st century, concluding with a long sequence about how the allegations impacted Michael’s final years.

After principal photography had wrapped on Michael, a producer realized that there were legal issues preventing the production from moving forward with this depiction. Specifically, one of Jackson’s accusers has refused to allow the movie to mention him in any way, shape, or form.

Personally, I suspect there were many factors behind the decision to strip the film of this controversial subject matter, since Jackson’s estate is a key money maker for numerous people and businesses. Jackson’s death has also been subjected to an endless number of conspiracy theories, so the production would be facing a major uphill battle by depicting those years at all.

The Full Story Cannot Be Told

Instead of highlighting Michael Jackson’s greatest controversy, Michael will center primarily on the pop icon’s lasting clash with his abusive father, Joe, played by Euphoria‘s Colman Domingo. Inside reports suggest that the final cut of the film will now follow a fairly straightforward linear path, concluding with Jackson’s career-defining Bad world tour. Execs at Lionsgate seem to believe that a third of the footage left on the cutting room floor could be repurposed if they ever decide to make a sequel, but doing so would obviously open Pandora’s box once more.

Beyond the scrapped footage and the $15 million worth of reshoots, the production of Michael has raised a lot of eyebrows. According to those same reports from the trades, Michael’s sister and fellow performer of stage and song, Janet Jackson, will not be depicted at all. To see what ends up on screen, we’ll have to wait until April 24, when Michael hits theaters across the country.

Streamer Deshae Frost is speaking out after a resurfaced video showing a physical altercation with a woman on the set of his YouTube series began circulating online.

Related: Celina Powell Reacts To Deshae Frost’s Fake Lip “Infection” And Says He Planned Their Viral Kiss (VIDEOS)

Former Editor Shares Resurfaced Clip Alleging On-Set Assault

Over the weekend, a clip went viral showing Deshae Frost in a heated exchange with a woman on a boat. The footage was reportedly shared by a former editor who previously worked on Frost’s 2023 YouTube series ‘Deshae Takes 8 Girls To Miami,’ which featured Frost alongside multiple female contestants.

The editor said the clip was the reason he decided to step away from the project. In the caption, he wrote, “The reason I quit directing a 10-episode series on YouTube. No man should ever hit a woman. I pray that the Lord my God Jesus Christ forgives me.”

As the video spread across social media, the woman involved also began addressing the situation publicly. She appeared in The Shade Room Teens’ comment section, responding to circulating claims and reactions.

Additionally, she later took to her Instagram Story, alleging the incident stemmed from her refusing sexual advances from Deshae Frost. In a separate post, she wrote, “Crazy how I tried to tell y’all years ago… I didn’t wanna have sex with that man so he got mad & hit me… Not because we were beefing, not because we argued, but because I didn’t wanna have sex with him and his ego was hurt… everybody called me a liar 😂😂😂 boo hoo I don’t feel bad for him or nobody. & I don’t need nobody feeling bad for me either. God will handle him.”

Deshae Frost Addresses The Resurfaced Video

Following the viral circulation of the clip, Deshae Frost addressed the situation in a YouTube video uploaded on Sunday, April 12. In his response, Frost described what he says led up to the altercation, claiming the woman had been problematic throughout filming and alleging that she became physical with him first. He also denied claims that the incident was tied to sexual refusal. Instead, claims tensions escalated after she made comments about his family.

Frost explained that he “mushed” her during the confrontation and insisted he “was never trying to hurt her,” adding that the angle of the footage may have made the moment appear more severe than it was.

He further stated that after the incident, he apologized to her. Frost also claimed the two later spoke, kissed, and were intimate on some level, while clarifying that they did not have sexual intercourse.

Social Media Reacts

As the situation continues to circulate online, social media users have weighed in with mixed reactions.

Instagram user @official_emanii wrote, “He just needs to soley be apologetic for ts. It’s not excuse for what he was doing. 😂”

Another Instagram user @ilystephx wrote, “Nothing he can say will make this situation any better btw”

While Instagram user @_shaashaa_ wrote, “Why the editor just not posting it?????? If he genuinely felt away about it”

Instagram user @poohglockss wrote, “that wasn’t a mush she literally flipped”

Another Instagram user @truelenayyn wrote, “Wait so what was the point of bringing this back up again tho we already knew about this when it happened why are we bringing up old news ?”

While Instagram user @overly.oak1y wrote, “I’m not defending him, but I’m also not about to vouch for the girl when she was kissing him after he did that to her… and now she’s trying to get clout off Brooklyn.”

Instagram user @citha2.0 wrote, “He apologizing because he doesn’t want to get dropped from contracts or endorsements. He was just picked up from KICK! This is who Deshae Frost is and anybody that watches him knows it!”

Another Instagram user @motion_hokage wrote, “I see nothing wrong here they both wrong oh well move on from it she hit him he hit her back they argued obviously they had some going on”

While Instagram user @extravagant.chanel wrote, “If it was really genuine that apology wouldv’e been private and directed to her first. This feels like saving face, not real accountability.”

Related: Deshae Frost & Rakai Respond After Kai Cenat’s Ex Gabrielle “Gigi” Alayah Airs Them Out Over Post-Breakup Shade (VIDEOS)

Anime fans don’t need to find convoluted ways to watch their favorite shows anymore. Indeed, long-gone are the days of split-up anime on YouTube; now, you can enjoy thousands of shows on convenient streaming services. Crunchyroll and Netflix are home to some of the greatest anime, such as One Piece and Demon Slayer. However, as the medium grows, more and more streaming services are adding anime to their catalogues.

They may still be in their infancy, but Prime Video and Hulu are two streaming giants that are offering more and more anime, making it easier to watch the best shows. If fans are unsure about the best anime on these platforms, they have come to the right place, as this list discusses the best anime shows on Prime Video and Hulu. Based on aspects such as story, animation, enjoyability, originality, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality, these ten anime shows are absolute must-watches.

‘Undead Unluck’ (2023-2024) – Hulu

Image via David Production and TMS Entertainment

Hulu, especially, is newer to the game, but it has already put together an impressive list of underrated modern anime, including Undead Unluck. Fuuko has given up on life after her unfortunate power has killed everyone close to her, but when fate brings her into contact with Andy, a man who cannot die, the two start their adventure to help save the world in their own weird way.

Undead Unluck is one of Shōnen Jump’s most underrated titles, maybe because no one knew it was available to stream. Still, it deserves credit for its originality, which takes these power wielders across the world on a globe-trotting adventure. Undead Unluck is a bizarre Shōnen that blends action and romance, creating a distinct series that deserves more recognition.

‘New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt’ (2025) – Prime Video

Image via Gainax

Everyone loves a cliffhanger, but some shows leave off on a bad note, only to never get another season. But after almost a decade, New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt finally brought the weird and wacky world back to fix its ending. The two titular angels are anything but heavenly, with their earthly desires getting in the way of their devil-hunting, which they must complete to return to heaven.

Known for its explicit sexual references and Western style, New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt picks up where the absurdity left off. It is bolder, raunchier, and even more chaotic, delivering a visual spectacle that doesn’t get in the way of its surreal comedy and plot. It may not be to everyone’s tastes, but New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt is certainly a unique anime that will be different from anything fans have ever seen.

‘The Fable’ (2024-Present) – Hulu

Image via Tezuka Productions

Good animation isn’t everything; sometimes, a great story and characters elevate an otherwise small production. The Fable follows a hitman and his assistant on a vacation after their trail becomes too hot, needing to take some time off for things to cool down. However, it seems they cause trouble with the mafia and other scam artists wherever they go.

The Fable’s manga is phenomenal, and while the anime doesn’t live up to it, the story is intact, and the entertainment remains, resulting in a hidden gem on Hulu. The comedy is surprisingly funny, and the tension is thick, creating an amazing crime thriller. Now is the best time to watch The Fable as well, with a second season now in production, bringing the hitman to even funnier and dramatic heights.

‘Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku’ (2018) – Prime Video

Image via A-1 Pictures

It may be a cruel reality, but many viewers outgrow the typical tropes and themes of anime, especially since they are catered towards teenagers. But that is why the adult-cast genre is so good, and Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku is among its best. Starting a new job, Narumi makes sure that no one learns she is an otaku, but when that instantly goes wrong, she and her new boyfriend start a goofy and awkward romance.

For viewers who are tired of teenage and school romances, Wotakoi offers a mature love story that is even more realistic and entertaining. The goofy style and silly characters create a playful, fun love story that retains its whimsical charm despite being aimed at adults. Like many of the all-time best anime series, Wotakoi is short and sweet, a worthwhile romance that expands Prime Video’s catalogue of anime.

‘Summertime Rendering’ (2022) – Hulu

Image via OLM

The mystery genre thrives in cinema, but it isn’t as big as it should be for anime. Still, there are some classics, including the modern hit, Summertime Rendering. After leaving his cozy island hometown to go to school in Tokyo, the protagonist returns years later for the funeral of his close friend. However, when he uncovers a strange supernatural conspiracy, he realizes she may not actually be dead.

Summertime Rendering has an excellent vibe, making it a perfect summer show to relax to and get intrigued by. The story does lose the plot for a bit, but the anime is an overall masterclass of mystery and suspense. The building plot and shocking moments pair well to create a thrilling experience available to watch on Hulu.

‘Heavenly Delusion’ (2023-Present) – Hulu

Image via Hulu

Fans will always be waiting for the second season of some show, but fans of Heavenly Delusion are more desperate, considering how good the previous season was. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, a girl and her bodyguard traverse the wasteland in search of a utopia where food is abundant and danger is nonexistent. But to get there, they need to struggle without food and fight against strange monsters and other survivors.

Heavenly Delusion quietly became one of the best anime series of the 2020s, balancing mature themes with entertainment value. It wasn’t afraid to get dark with its narrative or moments, making the show even more gripping and tense. However, the characters, their adventure, and their development were the highlights, and fans can’t wait for more Heavenly Delusion, culminating in a magnificent anime that is one of Hulu’s gems.

‘Dororo’ (2019) – Prime Video

Remakes are a great way to fix an old series with issues or bring back a classic that everyone forgot, and Dororo is the blueprint for the latter. When a father sells his newborn son’s soul, the child is born without skin, eyes, ears, a nose, and more. Despite all odds, the child survives and is now on a journey to kill all the creatures that possess his human parts and finally become human.

Originally made in the 1960s, this modern remake completely reimagined the manga, making it more serious, gritty, and action-packed. Lots of fans don’t like that sort of change, but it worked in favor of Dororo, creating a remarkably mature anime with profound themes and blood-pumping fights. Dororo is a modern classic with an incredible story, compelling characters, and thrilling animation that help it become one of Prime Video’s best anime series.

‘Banana Fish’ (2018) – Prime Video

Image via MAPPA

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There aren’t many anime set outside of Japan, and if there are, it’s some sort of fictional world. However, Banana Fish is set in New York City in the 1980s. Two Japanese reporters come to the city to write an article on American gangs, but one, Eiji, gets involved with Ash, the young gang leader. However, they are now both involved in a government conspiracy that will put them six feet under if they aren’t careful.

For many, Banana Fish should probably be the best anime on this list, but the other two are just as good in different ways. This prestigious anime feels like a Western drama, and that originality separates it from every other anime. Its story is a dark and winding road of twists, turns, and unexpected developments that turn into unforgettable moments. Banana Fish is a masterpiece that proves some of the best series are on Prime Video.

‘City The Animation’ (2025) – Prime Video

Image via Kyoto Animation

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Nichijou is one of the greatest comedy anime shows of all time. Unfortunately, it isn’t on Prime Video or Hulu, but another work by the same creator is: City The Animation. Set in a quaint town full of eccentric characters, this anime follows their daily life and the chaos that comes with it. From retired dads reliving their glory days to a city-wide race for prizes, every episode is a treat.

City The Animation is one of the best anime series of 2025, hands down, showering viewers in creativity unlike anything they’ve seen before. This incredibly ambitious series features some of the best directing, editing, and animation of the modern era of anime, further cementing its status as a masterpiece. City The Animation may be chaotic and funny, but beneath that is a charming anime with heart and a nostalgic vibe.

‘Bleach’ (2004-Present) – Hulu

Image via Pierrot

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Most of these anime were streaming on Prime Video or Hulu right from the start, but other series came to the platforms later. Bleach follows Ichigo, a seemingly normal teenager who is thrust into the world of the supernatural when saving a soul reaper. With his newfound powers, Ichigo battles whatever villains plan harm to him or his friends, constantly thwarting their dastardly intentions.

All of Bleach is now streaming exclusively on Hulu, making it the best anime on the platform. Bleach is one of the greatest anime series of all time, and its reputation proves that. With hundreds of riveting episodes, it influenced modern shōnen with its focus on urban fantasy and the rule of cool. Bleach is a stylish and epic anime that excels in its fights, characters, and action-packed plot, which experienced a major bump in animation with its modern adaptation of the final arc.

President Donald Trump has spoken out after he shared a picture on Truth Social that appeared to depict him as Jesus Christ.

RELATED: What Was Posted?! Social Media Is Goin’ OFF After Clip Shared On Trump’s Truth Social Account Showed Obamas Depicted As Apes (VIDEO)

Donald Trump Shares Picture That Appears To Depict Him As Jesus Christ

According to CNBC, on the evening of Sunday, April 12, President Trump took to Truth Social and shared a photo that appeared to depict him as Jesus Christ. Furthermore, per the outlet, the image appears to have been created using artificial intelligence. Additionally, it appeared that Trump shared the photo after Pope Leo XIV reportedly criticized the U.S. for its “war against Iran and for military action against Venezuela.”

He Speaks Out As Social Media Goes OFF

Furthermore, on Monday, April 13, Trump deleted the photo amid it sparking backlash. Additionally, during a press conference, he spoke on why he shared the photo and denied any intention to compare himself to Jesus Christ.

“I did post it. I thought it was me as a doctor, and it had to do with the Red Cross,” Trump reportedly said. “… It was supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better. And I do make people better. I make people a lot better.”

Per the outlet, former Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene took to X to assert that Trump published the photo “to attack the Pope.”

“On Orthodox Easter, President Trump attacked the Pope because the Pope is rightly against Trump’s war in Iran and then he posted this picture of himself as if he is replacing Jesus,” she wrote.

Additionally, the reactions continued in TSR’s comment section.

Before Donald Trump Shared Picture That Appeared To Depict Him As Jesus Christ, He Made Headlines By Way Of Candace Owens

Before Donald Trump shared the picture that appeared to depict him as Jesus Christ, he made headlines by way of Candace Owens. As The Shade Room previously reported, Owens had been public about disagreeing with the U.S. war against Iran. In turn, Trump reportedly called her and other individuals out, saying that they have “low IQs.”

In response, Owens clapped back, calling Trump “grandpa,” in part.

RELATED: Grandpa Gotta Go! Candace Owens Claps Back After Trump Calls Her Out Over Iran War Stance (PHOTO)

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 22 seconds ago

Like many fans, I burned out on the Marvel Cinematic Universe after 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. That film felt like the natural culmination and conclusion of something the franchise had been building toward since 2008. After losing their glorious purpose, though, Kevin Feige and crew have seemingly been stuck going through the motions. Marvel movies have become tired and predictable, and superhero fatigue has set in as fans realize that the same generic storytelling blueprint is being used film after film. The Marvel TV shows on Disney+ are even worse, with most of them feeling like homework for a class that general audiences have long since dropped out of.

Because of this, I hesitated to watch Daredevil: Born Again, and I feared that Disney would completely neuter everything that made the earlier Daredevil series on Netflix so compelling. However, the news that Krysten Ritter would be reprising Jessica Jones (one of my favorite characters long before she joined the MCU) for Season 2 made me cave in and watch the new show. To my shock, I really loved the first season, in large part because it felt like nothing else in today’s superhero media. That’s when it hit me: Daredevil: Born Again is successful specifically because it breaks all the storytelling rules of modern Marvel media.

Not Exactly Kid-Friendly

Modern Marvel media has often tried to walk a tightrope between appealing to adults and appealing to the youngsters they are trying to sell toys to. The Thunderbolts is a great example of this. As a movie where the real Big Bad is crippling, soul-destroying depression, this film has a core message that an older audience can really vibe with. Because it’s meant to be a blockbuster superhero movie, though, we also have to get a steady stream of bad jokes, most of them courtesy of David Harbour’s insanely over-the-top Red Guardian character.

Daredevil: Born Again embraces its TV-MA rating to tell a story by adults and for adults. There’s no real push to sell toys (or, for that matter, Marvel Rivals skins), so the writers can focus on telling a story that is centered on trauma. The first episode begins with one of Matt Murdock’s closest friends getting shot by Bullseye, leading to the show’s first real balls-to-the-wall action scene. When he hears that friend’s heartbeat stop, Matt does two things that once seemed impossible: he tries to kill the attacker and subsequently hangs up the horns for good.

The story that unfolds doesn’t feature any Spider-Man-like quips from our hero. For that matter, nobody utters any of those Whedon-esque lines like “Well, that just happened.” Instead, the narrative focuses on the guilt that our protagonist feels over his life as a superhero, ultimately getting his best friend murdered by a costumed villain. Everything (including a horrifically honest portrayal of police brutality and a serial killer subplot straight out of Hannibal) feels refreshingly mature. The TV-MA rating isn’t just about letting Daredevil drop f-bombs. Instead, it’s a license to, like the earlier Marvel shows on Netflix, return to telling rich stories rather than selling cheap toys.   

The Return Of The King

Unsurprisingly, Charlie Cox does an amazing job as the titular hero of Daredevil: Born Again, and he injects his tortured character with so much pathos that you’ll stay invested in his every move, whether he makes them in a courtroom or on a rooftop. But the primary reason to watch this show is the triumphant return of Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk, better known to friends and foes alike as the Kingpin of Crime. In the original Daredevil show, the actor pulled off the impossible by showing us tantalizing glimpses of the vulnerability hidden behind Fisk’s mask of violence and domination. Incredibly, he doubles down on all of this with his showstopping Born Again performance. 

In this newer show, Kingpin becomes the mayor of New York City in an attempt to improve lives, but he can’t shake the criminal nature that made him infamous in the first place. D’Onofrio helps to sell the fact that his character does not see this as a contradiction or a sign of hypocrisy. Rather, he sees a city spiralling into chaos, and he believes costumed vigilantes are a symptom of the larger problem rather than a solution. Accordingly, he runs the city with the same ruthlessness that he ran his criminal empire, with the ultimate goal of restoring order.

Daredevil: Born Again’s ambitious plot works on several levels, with Kingpin’s government (complete with ICE-like enforcers) serving as a clear parallel to Donald Trump’s government. Thanks to D’Onofrio’s performance, though, Kingpin always comes across as a complex character rather than a political parody, which gives all of this strident social commentary a downright electrifying frisson of tension. As with Cox, D’Onofrio isn’t here to sell toys, and he’s not here to be a mustache-twirling farce. Unlike most Marvel villains, he’s in this show to illustrate how the banality of evil will always be wrapped in a cult of personality and the best suits that money can buy.

Law & Order: MCU

Aside from his fun cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Charlie Cox’s most substantial Marvel role before Born Again was his cameo in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. That series did a good job at bringing the funny, and its lighthearted approach to storytelling (despite what the haters would tell you) often felt like a breath of fresh air. However, She-Hulk suffered in one major regard: its courtroom scenes. It was a show about a lawyer-turned-superhero, and unfortunately, nobody involved with the show could write a compelling courtroom scene if their lives depended on it.

Fortunately, Daredevil: Born Again delivers an ongoing legal plot (Matt Murdock must defend a costumed vigilante accused of killing a corrupt cop) worthy of the best Law & Order episode. This plot drives many of our heroes’ actions and makes for one of the most compelling aspects of Season 1. It felt like a magic trick, really. In a season that brought back both Jon Bernthal’s Punisher and the franchise’s killer action scenes, nothing kept me on the edge of my seat more than when I was waiting for the jury’s verdict with bated breath.

Forgive Marvel, For They Have Sinned

Obviously, the quality of Daredevil: Born Again doesn’t make up for modern Marvel mostly being a disappointment. Furthermore, it’s entirely possible that Season 2 (which is still ongoing as of this writing) will manage to drop the ball. But if you’re like me and have been burned out on what the MCU has to offer, it’s worth checking out this sequel series. If nothing else, additional audiences tuning in may let Disney know exactly what we want from superhero movies and shows: mature writing, deep characterization, and the intersection of several killer plots.

You don’t need superpowers to know where to find Daredevil: Born Again. Like all things Marvel, it can be streamed today on Disney+. That streamer is also the home of the earlier Marvel movies that once premiered on Netflix. When Born Again inevitably makes you nostalgic for the days of exciting Marvel TV shows, you can always go back and watch the original Daredevil. Just do what I did and try to ignore that you’re watching it on the same streamer that brought you stinkers like Secret Invasion and Iron Fist.   

Daredevil: Born Again SCORE