SPOILER ALERT: This article contains significant spoilers for the highly anticipated premiere of “Daredevil: Born Again,” now available for streaming on Disney+.

The beloved superhero series “Daredevil” makes a triumphant return, and the “Born Again” revival kicks off with an explosive opening that sets the stage for an intense season. Fans are eagerly diving back into the gritty world of Hell’s Kitchen as Matt Murdock takes center stage once more, much to the delight of longtime viewers who have missed this captivating character.

After a significant hiatus of nearly seven years, “Daredevil: Born Again” reintroduces Charlie Cox as the iconic Man Without Fear, seamlessly transitioning to the family-oriented platform of Disney+ while retaining the visceral violence and complexity that defined the original Netflix series. The premiere not only revives our hero but also marks a poignant farewell to a crucial character, setting a tone filled with tension and dramatic stakes.

The episode begins on a surprisingly upbeat note, with Matt Murdock (Cox), Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson), and Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) celebrating the success of their law practice at Josie’s Bar. As Foggy engages in light-hearted banter with assistant D.A. Kirsten McDuffie (Nikki M. James), Matt and Karen share flirtatious exchanges, creating a sense of camaraderie and hope for the future. However, this moment of joy is short-lived, as the darkness lurking in their world quickly resurfaces.

The atmosphere shifts dramatically when sharpshooter Benjamin “Dex” Poindexter (Wilson Bethel), now known by his menacing comic-book alias Bullseye, emerges seeking revenge. A frantic phone call from one of Foggy’s clients reveals a betrayal, as Bullseye targets Foggy with a sniper rifle while he leaves Josie’s. In a shocking turn of events, Bullseye shoots Foggy in the chest, narrowly missing Karen. Matt, donning his new Daredevil costume, rushes to confront the assassin in a desperate bid to save his friends.

Following an adrenaline-pumping, continuous fight sequence through Josie’s Bar, Matt and Bullseye escalate their battle to the rooftop. Covered in daggers and relying on his superhuman senses, Matt struggles to hear Foggy’s fading heartbeat. Overwhelmed by grief and rage as Foggy succumbs, Matt breaks his moral code and throws Bullseye from the rooftop, a moment that signifies a pivotal shift in his character. Although Bullseye survives the fall due to his reinforced skeleton, the emotional impact of this confrontation is profound.

Foggy’s shocking demise is sure to leave a lasting impact on “Daredevil” fans, serving as a catalyst for Matt’s character development and the overarching narrative of the series moving forward.

“It’s truly difficult — it’s heartbreaking,” Cox shared with Variety regarding the filming of Foggy’s death scene. “The silver lining is that it has to be iconic. We’re back with a new show, so we need to be bold and daring. It’s essential to introduce significant stakes, and unfortunately, that means losing Foggy. It’s devastating on both a personal level and for the characters involved. I have always viewed Foggy Nelson as the heartbeat of the MCU, and this loss is substantial.”

Initially, Foggy’s death occurred off-screen, but showrunner Dario Scardapane emphasized the need for viewers to feel the impact of such an earth-shattering event. “This is more than just an inciting incident. It’s an earthquake that sends ripples throughout the entire story,” he explained, underscoring the emotional weight of this pivotal moment.

Scardapane also revealed that Cox played a crucial role in deciding for Matt to hear Foggy’s heartbeat as it grew fainter and eventually stopped, adding a layer of emotional resonance to the scene.

“After several drafts, Charlie came in and suggested, ‘What if I can hear his heartbeat the entire time?’” Scardapane recalled. “That idea was a game-changer — I went home and revised the script immediately, as it was such a fantastic concept.”

After the devastating event of Bullseye killing Foggy, the story jumps ahead by one year. Matt has set aside his Daredevil persona, lost contact with Karen, and continues to grapple with the profound grief of losing his close friend.

“It breaks our hearts,” director Aaron Moorhead remarked. “The violence we depict is grotesque and carries real consequences. The sequence of events, including Foggy’s death and Matt’s struggle with crossing a moral line, create a ripple effect that extends far beyond the end of the episode. Matt must confront the question of how to move forward as someone who no longer believes, as a Catholic superhero, that he is worthy of divine grace.”

Meanwhile, Bullseye faces trial for Foggy’s murder, and the city of New York is introduced to Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio), also known as the not-so-reformed Kingpin, who has taken office as the new mayor. One of Fisk’s initial initiatives is to crack down on vigilante justice, leading him to confront Matt at a diner, attempting to dissuade him from resuming his role as Daredevil. However, by the end of the two-part premiere, Matt appears ready to resurrect the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen, fiercely taking down thugs who threaten a key witness in a case.

The original “Daredevil” series was renowned for its breathtaking single-take action sequences, and the “Born Again” premiere continues this tradition. Matt and Bullseye engage in a brutal fight through Josie’s Bar, with smoke engulfing the room as patrons flee in terror. The two adversaries hurl barstools, crash through doors, and exchange blows with billy clubs and knives in a relentless display of action. The camera stays focused on the fighters, capturing every moment without a single cut, even as it glides behind a sliding glass door, revealing only their silhouettes before they crash through and continue their battle.

“It’s incredibly complex. The camera movement in that particular scene was more deliberate and less frenetic compared to how we filmed other sequences, creating a sense of impending doom,” Cox noted. “Every department has to excel for the scene to achieve its full impact on screen. The lengthy scene in Episode 1 is quite significant; it’s a big moment for the series.”

“It’s also a very emotional scene because of the nature of what has just transpired,” Cox continued. “Shooting it was exhilarating, and we had extensive rehearsals. I believe we spent an entire day, if not more, perfecting it. It was challenging, but we knew we were creating something truly worthwhile.”

“Daredevil: Born Again” streams every Tuesday on Disney+.