Superheroes constantly put their lives at risk to save the innocent, and while most of the time they are able to make it out alive, there are a few occasions where they have to pay the ultimate price for their good intentions. We've seen this scenario play out multiple times throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe, given that Iron Man, Black Widow, Maria Hill, Groot, and many more all bit the dust in the name of the greater good. Unfortunately, that list just got a little bit longer in the most unexpected way possible.
Daredevil: Born Again kicked things off on a very devastating note as viewers couldn't do anything but watch as Foggy Nelson took his last breath. For a moment, it seemed like things couldn't get any worse moving forward. However, this is a Daredevil show we're talking about, which means no one is ever truly safe. Unfortunately, that idea was only reinforced during the events of episode 3 where a beloved hero suited up one last time without anyone knowing. But before we break it all down, be warned: There will be spoilers ahead for the latest episode of Daredevil: Born Again.
White Tiger was shot and killed in Daredevil: Born Again episode 3
The moment everybody fell in love with The White Tiger, he was tragically taken away from us. To understand how this happened, it's worth remembering that Hector Ayala unknowingly got into a confrontation with two corrupt cops who were attacking a helpless man in a subway back in episode 2. In the middle of all the chaos, one of the officers tripped and fell right in the tracks at the exact moment the train was passing. Being blamed for the death of an officer, Hector was sent to trial with all odds against him. But wouldn't you know it, Matt Murdock performs his best work with his back against the wall.
Matt did the unthinkable and revealed Hector Ayala was the White Tiger in court — proving to the jury that the suspect was actually a hero who constantly put himself in danger just to help others and making it clear that pre-meditated murder was never an option for him. Unfortunately, such a risky move also made Hector a target to everybody he helped imprison, and the corrupt cops who wanted to see him unjustly behind bars in the first place. Because of that, Matt advised Hector to never put on the White Tiger costume again, leave his days as a hero behind, and start a new chapter far away from the city with his family.
But while Hector even talked about the possibility of going back to Puerto Rico and spending the rest of his days on the beach, that wasn't his true nature. As such, he suited up one more time after being set free without knowing he'd be walking straight to his demise. Out of the blue, a shadowy figure wearing a Punisher vest appeared from a corner and shot White Tiger in the head. But was it really Frank Castle behind this shocking event? Well, it seems unlikely considering that we've seen the corrupt cops using the Punisher imagery across the series. So perhaps this is just an imposter unsatisfied with the idea that Hector was able to walk out free after his trial.
Even if it seems like a really abrupt ending to White Tiger's story, it's important to remember two things: For starters, his character died in a similar fashion in comic book pages, as he was also shot after being accused of wrongful murder. Furthermore, and most importantly: Hector hasn't been the only one to adopt the White Tiger identity throughout Marvel history. Ava Ayala, Hector's sister, is perhaps the most popular iteration of the character. And wouldn't you know it, but she was mentioned during the third episode of Daredevil: Born Again — confirming she already exists in the MCU. So perhaps this won't be the last audiences see of the beloved hero, even if it's somebody else under the mask next time.
But what about Matt? Well, he should know now more than ever that the system is broken. Even if he won the case, he ultimately lost the battle. So where does he go from here? Perhaps he could wear the iconic red suit moving forward, solving problems with his fists instead of with the law. Furthermore, he'll likely want to talk about the whole situation to the real Frank Castle, who we know will eventually appear in Daredevil: Born Again and will surely be unhappy about the corrupt cops using his logo. However, I can't imagine the Punisher will be eager to talk, as he tends to jump straight into the action (and I can't complain about that in the slightest). The only question remaining is: In which episode will the iconic anti-hero finally make his MCU debut? Well, there's only one way to find out.
Daredevil: Born Again streams new episodes on Disney Plus on Tuesdays.