Daredevil: Born Again Episodic Coverage: “Sic Semper Systema”

“Sic Semper Systema” Barely Progresses The Plot

“Sic Semper Systema” is a pure setup episode—and it’s the only reason it suffers. The last two episodes were a very clean arc, the White Tiger arc, and it ended brutally. But it also ended, and the fallout isn’t lingered on as much as I expected. It’s just bringing up the boil.

That’s the only way I can describe this episode: a fire heating water until it spills over. Matt Murdock can only lose so many times to the injustices of the world before he can’t stand to just play by the rule of law.

But, like, it was already obvious that was the trajectory of the series. This is just more prologue. Matt training with his old weapons doesn’t communicate anything new about the character, about the plot, or even the world. We knew he was considering it already. We knew. The stuff with Kingpin being increasingly annoyed that he can’t just strong-arm his way through governmental problems was already firmly established, too. There’s dramatic tension, and then there’s just dragging out the point.

Some Scenes Are Almost Repeats Of Older Scenes

But “Sic Semper Systema” is not a bad episode, despite this: because the acting was amazing. It was about 90% characters having poignant dialog scenes. There are so many monologs, each with so much energy and focus. And when that’s not happening, it’s a bunch of electric, back-and-forth arguments. We get commentary on societal injustices, on the nature of vengeance, and even love to some degree, all told through mostly organic scenes.   

“Sic Semper Systema” also does do—credit given—a good job setting up some stuff for later episodes. We’ve got the conflict with Adam. The horror scene of someone sucking blood out of people. And the rising threat of corrupt cops targeting Matt as himself. I hope the rest of the season explodes into violence and action and consequences because the rage is there. The stew is hot. I’m excited, so it better not waste it.

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