Daredevil: Born Again’s episode this week, “Art for Art’s Sake” has me torn. The pace is simultaneously fast and slow. Quick spoiler: Muse perishes during the episode. While the man behind Muse makes physical appearances earlier in the show, Daredevil: Born Again could’ve done more to develop him further. In short, “Art for Art’s Sake” sends mixed signals.

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. Daredevil: Born Again’s weekly episode left me scratching my head. I don’t know what to make of its pacing. I expected the first season to end with Muse’s demise. Instead, they get right to eliminating the threat. I would’ve liked to have seen more of Muse before he left the show. While the show could travel interesting waters, Daredevil: Born Again raced to Muse’s end. I figured Heather Glenn’s strange patient was tied to Muse or was Muse. That ended up being true. He was conspicuously the next patient after Wilson Fisk and Vanessa. For what it matters, the idea of no one noticing Muse fits; I was more focused on the couple. But I wanted the show to explore Muse more.

I wouldn’t classify Muse as a villain of the week. He’s more than that. While I didn’t care for how fast Daredevil: Born Again gave him the boot, how Muse left was intense. Despite any reservations I may have, Daredevil taps the suspense vein. Is it too soon to make a blood reference? Muse met a fitting end; I hoped he would’ve stuck around longer.

So, if Muse isn’t this season’s main threat, what is? I have an idea of where Daredevil: Born Again intends to take the season finale (episode nine; thanks again for the clarification, MetalAusten of BlueSky), and if I’m right, it could be a doozy. At one point in the Daredevil comics, Kingpin reveals that Matt Murdock is Daredevil. Daredevil: Born Again looks to be building toward that end, but it’s taking its time. See what I mean by this episode’s pacing. It raced to the end of Muse while dragging its feet toward something bigger, like Daredevil’s identity getting blown.

Kingpin has been sitting on Murdock’s identity for years. He’s known Murdock and Daredevil were the same person since the original series. Why wait until now to unmask Daredevil? Sure. Kingpin did warn Murdock not to resume his “activities” as Daredevil or else there would be consequences. But two episodes remain until the break, when this bombshell (if it does happen) will occur. Does Daredevil: Born Again intend to mark time until then? Why not build the tension while Muse continues his reign of terror? The show may have missed a symbolic gesture of Kingpin holding Muse’s mask while unmasking Daredevil.

And again, I can hear a sceptic ask, but what about Heather Glenn? She’s been set up as an anti-vigilante, and Matt says her name after he rescues her. First, Glenn’s anti-vigilante stance happened in the last episode or two. We haven’t known she’s been anti-vigilante for long, and the show has had opportunities for this inclusion. Second, Daredevil: Born Again hasn’t sold me on their relationship. The only time their relationship gets brought up (since the one date right after Foggy’s death and a couple of sex scenes) is when Heather asks where Matt was overnight. This was before Matt resumed work as Daredevil. The series hasn’t shown me that they’re close.

A quick tangent. While watching Daredevil’s side of this story, I’m reminded of Jim Plath’s pet peeve: the reluctant superhero. He’d say that the reluctant superhero cliche was overplayed, and that was ten years ago. Until the last two episodes, Daredevil’s story is a reluctant superhero story.

The Vanessa and Wilson Fisk angle remains the most intriguing. Venessa all but sends a gangster to attempt Kingpin’s murder. Or did she? She could’ve warned Wilson of the threat, but something tells me Buck (Kingpin’s right-hand man) always stands in the shadows while Kingpin eats. In a previous week, I mentioned that I like Heather Glenn more as Fisk’s therapist. I can’t wait to see how she tackles the layers of this relationship. Daredevil: Born Again could build an interesting dynamic of Kingpin using Glenn to get to Murdock before he reveals Daredevil’s identity.

As much as it may sound like it, I didn’t hate “Art for Art’s Sake.” Most of the show’s better moments happen on Kingpin’s side of the ledger. Venessa and Wilson Fisk’s relationship has me wanting more. Kingpin navigating his role as mayor has been a treat. I loved Daniel Blake’s heel-turn in this episode. In one scene, Blake went from a sniveling Mayor Fisk superfan to a cold-blooded manipulator that Kingpin can and should use in the future. And it felt organic. The gangland unrest, while understated, simmers in a tasty way. And I like the inclusion of Kingpin’s anti-vigilante task force. Like many other elements (in the show), its formation was rushed, but Officer Powell galvanizes the team.

Kingpin’s rise as mayor is Daredevil: Born Again’s bright spot. While I question some of the show’s decisions, it’s done enough to hold my interest, and I can’t wait for the finale. There’s a chance we have more than one surprise in the offing. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.