Marvel fans rejoiced as Daredevil: Born Again season 2 premiered on Disney Plus last week with a debut episode that put everyone on note: The gritty world and characters of the Marvel Netflix Universe were officially back. Although season 1 had proven that there was still life in this corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there were some shortcomings that prevented it from truly breaking out. From just one episode of season 2, it's clear that this is no longer an issue for the series.
The shocking conclusion of the premiere saw Daredevil momentarily blindsided by Wilson Fisk's corrupt Anti-Vigilante Task Force and unmasked as Cherry seemingly had a heart attack. Before the corrupt cops could kill Matt Murdock then and there, they were taken out by gunshots themselves - with a blade confirming that the person who came to Daredevil's aid was, indeed, Bullseye.
This has set the stage for a very exciting season. It has also laid the table for the next hours of the show - two of which released together, as the Disney Plus series unveils episodes 2 and 3 this week. With that in mind, here's what went down in “Shoot the Moon” and “The Scales and The Sword”.
The morning after the night before...
The second episode is all about aftermath. As epic as Bullseye's off-screen save of Daredevil was in the season premiere, it still took place when Cherry was seemingly having a heart attack, so understandably, much of the second episode is devoted to the aftermath of that.
Cherry is okay; a little shaken up but recovering in hospital. Fisk sends his goons to finish him off, but Detective Angie Kim and some decent police officers prevent them from doing that. Matt is also shaken up, with the impact of the whole ordeal - particularly losing his focus during the battle and having flashbacks to Foggy Nelson's death - rattling him to his core. And, while we're on the subject, something else that rattles him to his core? Being saved by Bullseye.
Meanwhile, Bullseye himself - Benjamin Poindexter - is looking for absolution at a church for betraying others. And Fisk isn't happy to hear that Daredevil and Bullseye are working together.
The second episode is full of conflict. Bullseye continues to target Fisk's Anti-Vigilante Task Force, watching Vanessa from afar and making her incredibly uncomfortable. She knows he's out there even if she can't see him.
Meanwhile, Matt sets out to prove that Fisk is trafficking weaponry via the Red Hook shipping port and exposing what's really on The Northern Star ship is the only way to do that. Fisk has other ideas, having his men plant diapers there for the crowds watching in order to create the kind-hearted mayor façade. He also holds a special call-to-action to the public in which he asks them to find the hero who saved his life - Matt Murdock - knowing full well that will limit what Matt can do in the public eye.
As Matt and Karen figure out a way to get into Red Hook, Fisk's AVTF agents go wild on the streets, attacking innocent people and placing them under arrest (and eventually in cages) in what is a terrifying social commentary on real-world events right now. One of the people targetted is Soledad Ayala - the aunt of Angela del Toro.
Freeing the masses
The bulk of the second and third episodes once again highlighted just how much control Fisk has over New York City and the systems within it. Despite Kirsten McDuffie's best attempts to defend Jack Duquesne, the corrupt system ensured he would never have a fair trail. The good thing is that Kirsten was allowed into the warehouse they were keeping him in. Despite being blindfolded, this was more than enough for Matt, who paid her a visit as Daredevil and got the information he needed.
Although their initial plan was to infiltrate the Red Hook port, Matt and Karen opted to free the hostages instead. Daredevil made it a point to free Jack first, offering him a metal rod which he could effectively use as a sword. And, with that, Daredevil and the Sworsdman freed all of the prisoners, attacking the Anti-Vigilante Task Force officers that tried to stop them.
Karen was going to warn them that Powell and the rest of the goons were on their way when she came across Angela del Toro, wearing the White Tiger necklace. Together, they managed to help Matt rescue everyone, driving an armored van into the location just as Powell began firing at everyone. It was enough protection to get everyone on safely. With that, Jack drove it out of the vicinity - with more help from Angela, who scratched the tyres of the officers, preventing them from giving chase.
This was a symbolic moment for the series because Daredevil and the resistance finally got a win over Fisk. The legal system wouldn't work, so Matt tried things the other way - and just as we have seen so many times in the original Daredevil series, it proved to be much more successful. And with that, they managed to deal Fisk a major blow.
Unfortunately, the victory would be short-lived, as the Kingpin would get rid of the rest of the incriminating evidence. The men who he had clear the Northern Star of all the evidence were ordered back onto the boat by Powell only for it to be blown up and sunk. In one fell swoop, Fisk buried the evidence - killing innocent men who did the job for him in the process.
Our final scene is Daredevil and Karen in their getaway car, looking every bit as hopeless as they did in the original Netflix series when Fisk would get the last laugh. The Kingpin always finds a way to succeed, and yet again it cost people their lives. So, while the heroes obtained a huge victory in the battle in episode 3, the war is still Fisk's to lose.
Daredevil: Born Again season 2 is now streaming on Disney Plus.
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