Previously on Daredevil: Born Again, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) wins the case for his client, Hector Ayala (Kamar de los Reyes), with the help of his partners Cherry (Clark Johnson) and Kirsten McDuffie (Nikki M. James). Hector was on trial for killing a police officer. During the trial, Matt informed the jury that Hector was a vigilante, which helped his case. After winning the case, once Hector got released from jail, he prepared to go back to being the White Tiger. As he’s about to go save his next victim, someone comes up, wearing the Punisher’s attire, and kills him. The cops involved in the crime being committed on the streets of New York have an obsession with the Punisher.
The next episode starts with Matt at the hospital, the coroner packing Hector’s belongings. Hector’s niece tells Matt she wants to see him, but he tells her that she shouldn’t. She asks what happened, knowing that the cops killed him. He tells her that someone will find Hector’s killer.
Next, we see Daniel Blake (Michael Gandolfini) at a nightclub with BB Urich (Genneya Walton). He accidentally spills some work info to BB, and then says he has to leave for work in the morning. BB doesn’t like how hard Daniel’s working for Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio), saying that he needs to live his life to the fullest and not always be on the same daily schedule. Daniel expresses the influence Fisk has on him, that he admires him.
As Daniel gets into the taxi, across the street, an NYPD car pulls up to a bodega and arrests a man. One of the police officers is holding two boxes of snacks.
Fisk and Vanessa have their next session with Heather Green (Margarita Levieva). Vanessa expresses that when Fisk left, she felt hopeless. She says that it stemmed from when she was a child, the way her father treated her mother. Vanessa had an affair. Fisk ended the affair by confronting him. It’s confirmed that Adam, who was Fisk’s employee, was the one who Vanessa had the affair with.
Before their session ends, Heather asks to speak to Vanessa alone. She asks her if she feels safe in her marriage. Vanessa tells her that Fisk isn’t “capable” of hurting her.
Matt goes to the jail to meet with his new client, Leroy Bradford (Charlie Hudson III). Leroy is the man who was arrested at the bodega for stealing boxes of caramel popcorn. Matt tells Leroy that the cops and the owner of the bodega are willing to testify against him.
Matt’s in the hallway after talking with a clerk and hears Officer Powell on the phone. He subtly tells Powell that he knows he’s the one who killed Hector, or at least had something to do with his death. Powell pushes Matt against the wall, denying the accusation. Matt hears his steady heartbeat, confirming Powell is telling the truth.
Matt then goes back to tell Leroy that he’s got 10 days in jail and then he can go home. Leroy isn’t okay with it and explains how the system never lets him succeed.
Next, we see Fisk at a school and little kids are singing “We Built This City,” by Starship. Fisk is sitting at the front of the classroom and even though he has a smile on his face, it’s obvious he feels uncomfortable. He gives the kids a standing ovation.
He then goes to the Latvian Culture Center and speaks to the members. As he makes his entrance, a group of singers also perform the song by Starship, but in their native language.
After the conference, Fisk demands Sheila Rivera (Zabryna Guevara) to set up a team meeting after a leak happens. Daniel speaks up saying he leaked the news. Daniel interrupts Fisk before he says anything, expressing how sorry he is and how unforgivable his actions were. Fisk isn’t going to fire him, only threatening him not to do that again.
Later that day, Matt goes out and traces Hector’s steps to where he was killed, trying to trace the lost bullet casing. He finds the bullet casing on the curb of the street. He continues to walk, going inside an abandoned building, and heads to the ground floor.
He walks inside of an old office and as he says something, we see Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) aka the Punisher, push Matt against a locker, until Frank realizes it’s him.
Frank gets the idea that Matt wants his permission to kill someone. Matt says that’s not true. Frank then brings up Foggy (Elden Henson). He knows that it’s killing Matt inside to know that he couldn’t save his best friend.
Matt denies that his feelings have anything to do with Foggy, but Frank says, “It’s all about him.” Matt begins to cry and Frank brings up his son, saying that he does what he does because he feels guilty for his son dying, just like with Foggy and Matt.
After the emotional interaction, we see Vanessa and Fisk unwinding for the day. He knows that Heather asked Vanessa if she felt safe with him. Fisk tells her that he’s trying to change his ways and become a better man for her.
Late at night, Matt gets out of bed and goes to the roof of his apartment. He enters a stairway and walks inside a room, where he has all of his Daredevil stuff. He goes back to the roof and practices his skills with his nunchucks.
Then, we see Fisk, eating dinner at his hideaway dungeon, where Adam is locked in a cell. Adam begs him to let him out, but Fisk ignores him while continuing to eat his dinner.
Overall, this was an epic episode for Marvel fans. Getting to see Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle again was exciting. Will we see more of him? It was emotional, hearing what he had to say to Matt about Foggy. It’s clear that even though Frank doesn’t like anyone in the justice system or part of the government, he will be by Matt’s side, with whatever he decides to do when it comes to Daredevil. It’s intriguing to see Fisk at the end of the episode, being nostalgic for similar themes in Daredevil, with him torturing individuals and eating his meals.
Rating: 9/10
