Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 has become more than a fun season of superhero television. It’s proof that the Marvel Cinematic Universe still has some bite, and the ability to balance touchy and realistic themes. One of the biggest takeaways from the season has been how deeply the story feels connected to the communities of New York City.
CBR recently spoke with Michael Shaw, the production designer for Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, about the many challenges that went into creating Fisk’s vision for New York City. In particular, Shaw discussed filming the major riot sequence near the end of Fisk’s time as mayor — a scene that almost faced shutdown by the actual New York City Police Department.
«Having Fisk in the window, looking down at it, seeing it, it’s a real clash and a culmination of everything boiling over,» Shaw said. «And that’s what was happening in New York at the same time.»
Though the riots and the use of the Anti-Vigilante Task Force may feel like direct commentaries on modern-day events, Shaw noted that the parallels between fiction and reality this season naturally became impossible to ignore. He revealed that production had to work around actual protests happening throughout the city during filming.
«We had to schedule around protests that were actually happening,» he said.
CBR Exclusive · Quiz WHICH MARVEL CHARACTER ARE YOU? Your Powers Are About to Be Revealed The Marvel Universe is full of extraordinary people — genius billionaires, super-soldiers, sorcerers, and gods. Twenty questions stand between you and the truth. Answer honestly. Your true self will assemble.
⚡Iron Man
🛡️Captain America
🗡️Black Widow
☘️Thor
🕷️Spider-Man
01
You’re outnumbered and outgunned. What do you do? A hero’s instinct is defined in their darkest moment.
02
Your team disagrees with your plan. How do you handle it? Every Avenger has their own idea of teamwork.
03
What does your hero identity mean to you? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.
04
How do you typically make big decisions? A hero’s process shapes their outcome.
05
Someone takes credit for your work in front of everyone. You: Pride is the armor and the weakness of every hero.
06
A government agency wants to oversee your activities. Your response? Accountability is the line every hero must face.
07
When facing a villain, your strategy is: Every fighter has a philosophy.
08
Your biggest personal flaw is: Every hero has a crack in the armor.
09
A rookie hero is overwhelmed on their first mission. You: How a hero mentors others reveals their character.
10
What drives you more than anything else? The “why” behind the hero is everything.
11
You’ve just suffered a crushing defeat. What’s next? A hero is measured by how they get back up.
12
You could end a threat permanently — but it crosses an ethical line. You: The hardest choices define a hero from a weapon.
13
What do you actually fear most? Even the mightiest hero has something to lose.
14
People who just met you would describe you as: First impressions carry a grain of truth.
15
What’s your ideal base of operations? Where a hero operates reveals how they think.
16
What does “being a hero” actually mean to you? The philosophy behind the power is the real definition.
17
What do you want to leave behind? The mark a hero leaves is their truest measure.
18
Someone you love is in danger. Your first move is: Crisis strips away everything but the truth.
19
Your power — where does it come from? Origin shapes destiny in the Marvel Universe.
20
The final battle. Everything is on the line. You: This is the moment that defines everything.
THE MARVEL UNIVERSE HAS SPOKEN YOUR HERO IDENTITY
Your scores are shown below. The character with the highest number is your match. Read their description to discover which hero the universe chose for you.
⚡ Iron Man
🛡️ Cap. America
🗡️ Black Widow
☘️ Thor
🕷️ Spider-Man
Brilliant, driven, and uncompromising in your ambition. You believe that the right technology — in the right hands — can solve any problem, and you’re confident enough in your own abilities to back that up. Beneath the armor and the bravado, you carry the weight of responsibility deeply. When it truly matters, you’re willing to sacrifice everything.
Principled, courageous, and steadfast. You have an unshakeable sense of right and wrong, and no amount of pressure, politics, or power can make you compromise it. People trust you instinctively — not because you demand it, but because you’ve earned it. You lead not by authority but by example, and you will always get back up.
Strategic, precise, and formidably self-reliant. You don’t need a suit or a superpower — your greatest weapon is your mind and your nerve. You keep your cards close, trust slowly, and operate three steps ahead of everyone else. Your past is complicated, but you’ve turned it into something that makes you nearly impossible to stop.
Powerful, honorable, and ultimately humbled by what truly matters. You came into your power believing it was your birthright — and then you learned it had to be earned. Your strength is immense, but your greatest growth came from learning to serve rather than reign. Loyal to your people, terrifying to your enemies, and always magnificent.
Quick-witted, deeply compassionate, and driven by a responsibility you didn’t ask for. You’ve learned the hard way that great power comes with great cost — and you show up anyway. You stay grounded when others would ascend, and your humanity is your greatest strength. You make it look effortless. It never is.
According to Shaw, the NYPD’s concerns about the production weren’t necessarily tied to fears of escalating tensions, but rather the optics of staging a fictional protest during a tense moment in the city.
«There were a lot of points when we almost got shut down because the police just didn’t want another protest that felt so much like what was happening in New York.»
Daredevil: Born Again has already distinguished itself through its strong balance of action, character drama, and political tension. However, the series’ ability to unintentionally mirror real-world anxieties elevated the season even further, serving as a striking example of art reflecting life.
Building on the success of Season 1, the series continued its momentum with widespread critical praise, with critics highlighting its grounded storytelling, performances, and thematic depth. In CBR’s review, Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 earned a perfect 10/10.
The future of the series also appears promising, with Season 3 expected to bring back even more characters from Netflix’s Defenders-era Marvel shows. As the franchise continues evolving, there’s hope that Daredevil: Born Again will maintain the same emotional and cultural relevance that made Season 2 resonate so strongly.
Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 is streaming now on Disney+.
Daredevil: Born Again
Release Date
March 4, 2025
Network
Disney+
Showrunner
Dario Scardapane
Directors
Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson, David Boyd, Jeffrey Nachmanoff
