Marvel Television didn’t skimp on the intensity in the season 2 premiere of Daredevil: Born Again. Because, from the moment the episode began, viewers are repeatedly hit hard. Not just with punches, kicks, and batons. The Anti-Vigilante Task Force (a.k.a. Marvel Studios’ ICE agents) was illegally detaining, beating, and interrogating people. But since they had the backing of New York City Mayor Wilson Fisk, they knew they had carte blanche to act however they deemed necessary.
While the Kingpin's corrupt officers have permission to act outside of the law, the end of the episode shows us all that someone else is willing to do the same.
WARNING! SPOILERS FOR DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN SEASON 2, EPISODE 1
Enemy of my enemy
Cherry, the former police officer and current investigator for Murdock & McDuffie, was at home looking over cases when the Anti-Vigilante Task Force knocked on his door. They wanted entry, but Cherry said not without a warrant. Of course, this didn’t stop them from kicking in the door and beating Cherry bloody (even though he said they hit like kids).
Cherry was saved by Daredevil, but the attack and stress caused Cherry’s heart to beat fast and for his arm to feel weird. Daredevil heard this and got flashbacks of Foggy dying. The distraction gave Fisk's men the advantage and led to the task force unmasking him. Now, it was time to shoot the Man Without Fear.
As the Anti-Vigilante Task Force prepared to kill Murdock, some well-placed bullets through the eyes kill them. Then, a blade flies through the apartment, bounces off the wall, and lands in front of Daredevil. The knife has an inscription that says, “You’re welcome,” and it has Bullseye’s logo on it.
Bullseye unexpectedly has Daredevil's back
In the first season of Daredevil: Born Again, Vanessa Fisk hored Benjamin "Dex" Poindexter (Bullseye) to kill Foggy Nelson. After he was arrested, Dex was placed in general population (genpop), which, for someone like him, is a death sentence. After he escaped, he went after Vanessa and Wilson, but failed his attempt to kill them thanks to Matt jumping in front of the bullet.
The backstory above shows that this is an “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” situation. Bullseye was betrayed and almost killed by the Fisks, and the Anti-Vigilante Task Force is certainly not on his side. So, rather than letting Daredevil get murdered (thus giving Wilson an advantage), Dex decides on the lesser of two evils. The question now is if Bullseye thinks he’s on Matt’s side or if Daredevil will trust Dex enough to allow him to help.
First, Bullseye in Marvel Comics is crazy enough to think that DD would forgive or forget everything he’s done. The MCU’s version isn’t that delusional. He’d come at this as a quid pro quo. As for Matt Murdock, it’s unclear if he’s desperate enough to allow the murderer of his best friend to help him. If he does, it will put a wedge between Matt and Karen Page. The answer to all of this should happen next week when Daredevil: Born Again returns with two episodes.
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