Resist. Rebel. Watch this show. Daredevil is the only thing that matters right now, and you’ll be glad you invested in this thrilling vigilante’s story!
New and Returning Cast
With this second season, many new faces take their respective spotlight, joined by a shocking number of stars from the previous season… and original series!
Daredevil (Matt Murdock)
Our beloved blind vigilante Matt Murdock returns in this jam-packed second season of the Disney+ revival! Operating full-time under his moniker “Daredevil”, Matt works day and night with an ever-growing resistance to end his nemesis’ reign over his city. This proves to be a far more difficult task than previous seasons (and even series), as his all-time adversary Wilson Fisk has amounted to a level of power only previously found in the pages of a comic book. Bringing this Kingpin down opens the door for a lot of nuanced character growth.
Forced to work with those who previously wronged him, Matt must learn to forgive (but not forget) the worst of his enemies from throughout his complicated past. With the much higher stakes this time around, Matt’s Daredevil suit has shifted from his bright red to an inky-black suit of armor and his well-known DD logo printed large on his chest, perfect for staying hidden under the cloak of night and shadows in daylight. Portrayed by Charlie Cox, Matt brings a very grounded, almost heartwarming performance as a man who fights and forgives, even when he doesn’t have to.
Bullseye (Benjamin ‘Dex’ Pointdexter)
Our sadistic ex-FBI agent makes a daring return… as a good guy!? That’s right, the masked vigilante “Bullseye” makes a heroic comeback, wanting no more than redemption– whether he lives or dies. While he’s still as versatile and paranoid as ever, his genuine want to be part of the resistance against Wilson Fisk pushes his character through physical and emotional feats that were only ever touched on in the original series. Portrayed by Wilson Bethel, Dex brings a shockingly nuanced performance as a troubled, tortured man who just wants to make things right… no matter the cost.
Kingpin (Wilson Fisk)
Our favorite mayor of New York City returns, stronger and more in control than ever before. Long gone are the days of being underground, or in an FBI-sanctioned safehouse. Since the previous season, Fisk’s grip on the city has only tightened. His anti-vigilante task force (AVTF) is now official, operating outside of the law to keep the city in line. Although he has nothing but control, this season will rope him into an emotional and political breaking point that’s far more impactful than anything we’ve seen before. Portrayed by the versatile and legendary Vincent D’Onofrio, he brings a lonely heart to an otherwise brutal, true villain.
Vanessa Fisk
Our favorite art-dealer-turned-mob-boss makes a majestic return, keeping her erratic, downright evil husband in check. While she is a very good restraint for her husband, her underlying fears of death cloud her judgement in more than one area. This new season puts her right in the ring, front, center, and in the crossfires of this vigilante war. Portrayed by Ayelet Zurer, she brings a soft humanity that perfectly contrasts a heartless tyrant.
Karen Page
Our heart of hearts has come a long way from a framed convict, although she hasn’t stopped her out-of-the-law activities. Now leading the resistance with Matt, her tough decision-making has solidified her as a bona fide vigilante. Sporting many disguises, and operating in the shadows, she works hard to protect victims of Fisk that weren’t fortunate enough to escape his grasp. This new edition to the series works hard to push Karen to her mental limits, often resenting the idea of justice, and becoming fonder of good old revenge. Portrayed by Deborah Ann Woll, she brings a rebellious flair to the fight against their tyrannical mayor.
Foggy Nelson
Our all-time favorite lawyer makes a triumphant return to the series in a slew of flashbacks that even featured another familiar villain, James Wesley, that fill up most of the fifth episode, “The Grand Design”, and it’s nothing short of heartwarming. We go back to a simpler time, highlighting his undying desire to help people, no matter how many times he claimed it was all for the money. Portrayed by Elden Henson, he shines a familiar bright light on an otherwise bleak, unforgiving story. His spotlight on the values of mercy is essential for Matt, as he learns how to deal with one of his greatest adversaries.
Swordsman (Jack Duquesne)
Our cocky, but not unlikeable goofball, Jack Duquesne first appeared in the 2021 series Hawkeye. While Jack was much more of a comedic character in the series, obsessed with swords, using incorrect movie references, and always trying to one-up Kate’s family as a new stepfather figure, his more recent appearance in both seasons of Born Again has been a bit more serious.
Jack was stuffed inside one of Fisk’s many cages at the end of season 1, but a special breakout sequence with Matt as he frees the many government officials and other “criminals” from their confinement proves to be the Swordsman’s time to shine. Jack is surprisingly good at action scenes, and his pairing with Matt as they take down the many ATVF officers is absolutely sublime. While he departs at the start of the next episode, he offers his behind-the-scenes support for Daredevil’s cause, making him an important ally moving forward.
Mr. Charles
Our newest addition to this fabulous show, Mr. Charles is a CIA agent who struts across Kingpin’s path like a pro. He is hilariously casual and always knows how to make an already brutal conversation even more uncomfortable. Played by Matthew Lillard, Mr. Charles holds a very special, almost psychotically cool personality, and his ties to characters like Vallentina Allegra DeFontaine help enrich the series’ connection to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) at large in the same way Yusaf Khan tied the first season back to Ms. Marvel. Bravo to Lillard and his amazing first performance in the superhero world!
Second Season Standout Scenes
The Swordsman Unleashed
In the climax of the third episode, “The Scales & The Sword”, Daredevil and the Swordsman team up in one of Fisk’s illegal prisons. Whilst freeing prisoners, the shockingly dynamic duo actively fight and take down what feels like an armada of agents, all in a one-shot… Well, multiple takes stitched together to feel immersive. Either way, those watching at home are thrust into an adrenaline-inducing fight scene that absolutely sets the bar for future seasons.
Bullseye Attacks
A grand midpoint in this new season is rich in appearances from our favorite new vigilante, Bullseye. First appearing in the fourth episode’s cold open, “Gloves Off”, Dex paves forward his own path to justice, though he takes things a little too far. After an epic fight in a diner with some AVTF officers, Poindexter seeks redemption for murdering Matt’s business partner and friend, Foggy Nelson, by taking Vanessa Fisk’s life.
This is clearly an overreaction to the situation, and Bullseye needs to learn how to chill next season! But for now, Matt makes some peace with his longtime enemy, agreeing to a brief moment of mercy as they run away from Fisk’s task force. Later, this agreement even extends to Dex protecting the governor of New York from one of Fisk’s assassins. This becomes a pivotal moment as the governor is instrumental in Fisk’s removal.
Vanessa’s Last Words
Vanessa Fisk’s death in Born Again season 2 was one of the most shocking moments in the entire five seasons of this series so far, including the original series. Initially, episode four ends with the image of Vanessa having been struck by one of Bullseye’s fatal and 100 percent precise throws, leaving us to question whether or not she would actually survive to the next episodic installment. It is revealed in episode five, “The Grand Design”, that she is in fact alive, but in critical condition.
After an intense surgery she shares one last conversation with Wilson over a pineapple juice, listening to the story of how they both met. She slowly slips away to an implied beachside paradise, leaving Fisk alone to his grief. While it might disappoint some that Vanessa will not be returning to the show, her death made a very important dynamic change from the previous installments of the series. Her passing was necessary for Kingpin to reach the peak of his story arc, losing his mind after his wife’s passing, and making life abysmal for the citizens of New York. The shift leads to an intense crack-down on the vigilante “Safer Streets Act”, giving Fisk the perfect motivation for his unlawful and violent actions in the season 2 finale.
Daredevil v. Kingpin
After a very stressful sixth episode, “Requiem”, a clash of the century finally happens. Kingpin, mourning the loss of his wife, sits in an underground safehouse. Daredevil confronts him, peacefully, asking him to imagine a world where the two of them have never met. Instead of indulging this fantasy, Kingpin goes right to swinging. Daredevil follows suit.
This scene features some of the best one-on-one combat choreography in the entire series so far (besides the standout swordsman fight), as Daredevil does many kicks and flips around the safehouse-turned-arena, utilizing his billy clubs and grappling hooks. Meanwhile, Kingpin fights the old-fashioned way; hands only, by throwing, kicking, and most of all, punching. Lots and lots of punching. In the end, the short battle is a draw, as Daredevil escapes off into the night. Don’t worry, though, a far more devastating battle will soon be under way.
The final episode of the series, “The Southern Cross”, mostly takes place in the courtroom, where Matt Murdock makes his first public appearance in ages and fights to free Karen Page. After revealing his identity to the room and the media, a pivotal moment that will be essential moving forward, Kingpin rallies his supporters to fight against the vigilantes. However, BB Urich uses her secret media platform to rally the many Daredevil supporters in New York as well, making the army much more evenly matched to fight Fisk’s fascist policies. The battle is intense, but it ends with Matt finally achieving peace with Wilson, getting him to agree to a plea deal and the cessation of his political career. Now with Fisk gone, Matt can be at peace knowing that New York has finally reached its goal of having safer streets without a domineering Kingpin.
A New Dynamic Between Characters
The BB Report and Daniel’s Sacrifice
BB Urich, a fan-favorite niece of Ben Urich (from the original series) and Daniel Blake, a lackey for Kingpin and his crew, share a dynamic that goes beyond face-value. While they operate on opposing sides, their bond provides some very fitting nuance in a resistance versus fascist war.
In the penultimate episode of the season, Daniel is forced to make a choice. Give BB up to the Kingpin and have her harmed or let her escape and let himself be harmed. His choice would be the latter, as he makes an emotional self-sacrifice by letting her get away from the mayor’s regime. Ultimately, it would cost him more than a moral gut-punch, but his life as well. His death marks the bridge to a very dark, emotional, eventful finale, and is one of the most shocking moments in the season.
Daredevil and Bullseye Find Common Ground
In a very shocking turn in this new season, one of the most well-known rivalries faded into one shared goal. In Bullseye’s search for redemption, he finds himself trapped. Daredevil, who will always resent him for taking Foggy’s life, finally embraces his late friend’s values of forgiveness and saves who was thought to be his worst enemy. Together, they make an agreement to do everything in their power to take down Fisk’s reign over the city. A team-up like this was often unimaginable, but this new season opens that threshold of possibilities.
What’s in Store for Season 3?
There’s a lot in store for the future of Daredevil, and as we move farther into the future, we may need to dive back into the past. Various leaked set images have supported these possibilities, though keep in mind, none of these are officially confirmed by Marvel Studios, so take them all with a grain of salt. Last warning, if you want to avoid any possible spoilers for season 3, stop reading here!
Some of these set photos have depicted reunions between cast members from an older Netflix Marvel series called The Defenders. This show was generally considered terrible by most fans, so don’t feel like you need to watch it to understand what may be happening in the near future for Born Again season 3. However, the characters from this series (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist) are what matter. If they team up in season 3, this could give Matt the proper support he needs to fight Kingpin and could lead to the greatest action of the Disney era for the Daredevil story we’ve ever seen.
This return could also possibly reinforce Matt’s team without the vigilante even being present, as other leaks suggest that Matt will be in prison for a significant portion of the season. This was more vigorously confirmed by Matt’s prison sentence at the end of the season 2 finale. The potential for this storyline is great, as perhaps Fisk and Matt will be in jail together, forced to work together to survive their prison time and maybe exit before that time is up. The season 2 finale seems to suggest that Fisk is only in apparent exile, not federal prison like Matt, though perhaps this will change soon in the beginnings of season 3. If this is Marvel’s plan, a jailed Fisk and Matt could be similar to the possible scenario projected for DC’s Man of Tomorrow where Superman and Lex Luthor regrettably join forces to handle another more dangerous villain.
This villain could be someone like the unpredictable Mr. Charles, who has seemingly unchecked political influence and never appears to see eye to eye with Fisk. Maybe it would be his implied superior, Valentina Allegra DeFontaine, the corrupt director of Project Sentry and the primary financial supporter of the New Avengers, otherwise known as the Thunderbolts. Would it be someone like Bullseye, wreaking havoc on the city of New York with extreme vigilantism? He is currently taking some nice vacation time on Mr. Charles’ airline! Despite this plethora of options, one other character seems much more likely, and that villain is Muse.
If you’ve followed Daredevil: Born Again from its start, you may be thinking, “didn’t we already get rid of Muse in season 1?” You would be right, but season 2’s finale implies that Heather Glenn, Fisk’s government-hired psychiatrist, might become her worst fear. Other set leaks corroborate this as some images show a figure, likely Heather, suiting up in the original Muse costume. The finale itself also shows her putting on the mask in front of a mirror. If this is the case, it means that Heather will have succumbed to her trauma after her deadly encounter with the original Muse as played by Hunter Doohan. This twist would be particularly haunting given her trauma, and could provide a temporary new villain to preoccupy Matt, the Defenders, and the rest of the resistance while Fisk is seemingly on a hiatus.
All in all, the future of Daredevil grows more and more intriguing as time passes. Thankfully, these seasons seem to be ready to go back to back yearly much like the original series had been, defying Disney’s usual move to release a new season only once every three or so years. Yikes! There are plenty of new opportunities for the hero in New York, and there’s a wide world waiting for him when he exits prison, maybe even a whole multiverse!
One of the most classic team ups in the Marvel comics is between Matt Murdock and Peter Parker. Given that they’ve already met before, and Matt wouldn’t need to remember much about Peter, an appearance from Daredevil in Marvel’s upcoming joint Sony release Spider-Man: Brand New Day wouldn’t be much of a surprise. Plus, Frank Castle has already been confirmed to return in the film as the Punisher, following his special presentation in May and making a Matt Murdock cameo more plausible. From the first teaser, we know that Sheila Rivera will take over as the new mayor of New York, finishing the remainder of Kingpin’s term. Trailer footage shows her giving over the city key to Spider-Man, providing plenty of street level crossover opportunities for all characters in the series.
Avengers: Doomsday will release later in December this year, marking the beginning of the end for the 616 Marvel Cinematic Universe. Born Again season 3 is expected to release in about one year, which is interesting given that the multiverse is expected to collapse before this would debut on Disney+ likely in April of 2027. Could Matt be imprisoned in the New York of Doctor Doom’s “Battleworld” dimension? Or would the series just ignore these events to make the story more cohesive? The second option seems more likely and would allow Marvel to address the events of Avengers: Secret Wars only after season 3, keeping the multiversal mess out of this beloved street level series.
Whatever the case may be, Daredevil is back in black (and red) and isn’t letting jail time stop him. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for this action filled series and the many other crossover opportunities it can provide. Until next year, resist, rebel, rebuild. Marvel Television is born again!
