Let’s Talk about Daredevil 1-2

Daredevil may be born again, but Matt Murdoch is absolutely miserable.

During the series premiere of Daredevil: Born Again, Murdoch lost his best friend, split with his girlfriend, and watched a horror.

Wilson Fisk, Murdoch’s mortal enemy, has become the mayor of New York.

Even worse, the Kingpin ran on an anti-vigilante campaign, making Daredevil an enemy of the law.

The stage is set for a tense season. So, let’s talk about Daredevil: Born Again episode two, the one with murders to begin and end.

Daredevil Take Two

Matt Murdoch ended the last episode staring at the sun, which I guess he can safely do.

That was the TV on the Radio song playing at the end of episode one as Wilson Fisk surveyed his new empire as Mayor.

Murdoch looked up as the song played, and if it sounded familiar to you, you’re a Breaking Bad fan. Here’s the same band:

So, TV on the Radio has been used brilliantly twice on television series.

On Daredevil, the music symbolized the sudden imbalance in power between iconic Marvel rivals Wilson Fisk and Matt Murdoch.

That story extends into the start of the second episode, as an impotent Murdoch sits in his home and watches Fisk’s speech.

The Kingpin makes it clear that masked vigilantes are his top priority in office, as he references The Punisher and Spider-Man.

Fittingly, Fisk saves mention of “a guy who wears devil horns” for last. Murdoch can do nothing but wince. Fisk holds all the power.

Even worse, Daredevil’s super-hearing allows him to listen to the comments of people on the streets. Several love Fisk.

The Kingpin leans into his hypocritical reputation, swearing that under his leadership, the rule of law will prevail.

So, Daredevil: Born Again will clearly be more political than the ultimately toothless Captain America: Brave New World.

The topicality of these first two Daredevil episodes is unmistakable.

A villain claims he’s the hero, and the person who knows best the truth behind this lie can do nothing.

Daredevil has been born again as someone sitting on the sidelines watching his worst nightmare unfold.

Meet the White Tiger

The episode actually begins with a tribute to the late actor Kamar de los Reyes, who died 15 months before this episode aired.

The actor portrays the White Tiger in Daredevil: Born Again, and we meet him for the first time in this episode’s first fight.

Two hoods are bullying a guy in a subway when Hector Ayala notices. He approaches and intervenes.

A few seconds later, one of the thugs is dead. He misses an attack, Ayala trips him, and a Subway car crushes him.

The death is unintentional, but it tells a story. The White Tiger has stepped up in the absence of the Daredevil.

Or so we would think. The other “thug” stands up and points a gun at Ayala. The next words are, “NYPD. Do not move.”

Uh-oh. You know, they probably should have said that sooner. Instead, they were “beating on a guy who can’t defend himself.”

These are/were dirty cops, but Ayala is going to jail nonetheless. This is gonna be a thing.

While we await the political element of that storyline, Wilson Fisk sits in his office and appreciates his desk.

Fiorello La Guardia likely sat at that desk, and he was a person whom Fisk’s father admired.

So, the Kingpin feels humbled to sit here, although he’s already annoyed by the sheer volume of meetings a mayor must attend.

As a man of action, Fisk probably won’t be the best peacetime consigliere. He needs a war.

To drive home this point, the camera shows Fisk’s scabbed knuckles, the ones that previously beat blood from victims.

Murdoch and Ayala

The White Tiger catches a modest break. He’s suffering a beating during his interrogation as someone calls him a cop killer.

Conveniently enough, Murdoch is at the station discussing a different client, but his hearing allows him to notice this crime.

Murdoch enters the room of Ayala and asks a few questions. Daredevil quickly deduces the man’s innocence.

But there’s a catch. Murdoch asks whether Ayala is hiding anything, and the White Tiger lies.

What neither person could realize is that Ayala’s lie involves his secret identity.

Meanwhile, the presumed enemy of both vigilantes, Kingpin, makes headway as a politician.

While stopped in traffic, Fisk learns that a pothole has blocked the way.

With no further information available, the mayor exits his car, finds a construction worker and demands that they fill the hole.

The worker indicates that he cannot without a permit. Fisk dryly provides verbal permission. Seconds later, the hole is filled.

New Yorkers pull out their phones to record this rare display of political expediency.

The parallels continue between Murdoch’s descent and Fisk’s rise, as law firm partner Kirsten questions the Ayala case.

From her perspective, she sent Murdoch out for a DUI and he returned with a cop killer, which is bad for business.

Cherry, the recently retired cop, definitely doesn’t like their taking on this case, although he knows the secret of Daredevil.

That’s the convenient way the story sidesteps the fact that a retired NYC cop would NEVER defend a cop killer.

The Ill-Fated Interview

We’ll do stupid things to curry the favor of someone we like. In the case of Daniel, aide to the Mayor, this proves to be a mistake.

Daniel would love for a younger reporter named BB to notice him. So, he secures her a five-minute interview with Fisk.

As a reminder, BB is the niece of the late Ben Urich, whom the Kingpin choked to death during season one of Daredevil.

Fisk grants the interview because BB Urich was the first reporter to take his candidacy seriously.

He likes her and respected her uncle. That’s the complexity of the character right there. Fisk can respect someone he murders.

This interview also ties into the fact that Wilson Fisk has no children of his own, and Echo recently disowned him.

He’d like to make an impression on someone from the next generation, and that’s where Daniel and BB come into play.

Daniel would love nothing better than to be Fisk’s guy. The kid is a believer. But he’s a believer with a crush.

Despite her youth, BB appears to be exceptionally bright, something Kingpin quickly deduces.

In his words, she’s used to being underestimated, and he plans to use that against her.

Fisk says this because the interview starts with pleasantries but ends with implications of accusations.

Also, BB tries to ask about Mrs. Fisk. That’s eerily similar to the question that led to her uncle’s death.

Ben Urich interviewed Fisk’s mother, where he learned that Wilson brutally murdered his father with a hammer.

Remember that scene from Echo? It tied into this same story.

I presume BB is here to get her comeuppance rather than suffer the same fate as her uncle, but we’ll see. She’s definitely in peril.

Daniel definitely shouldn’t have set up this interview.

The Mayor’s Office Is a Snake Pit

Daredevil hasn’t sealed the deal with Heather yet. He’s taking it slower than with She-Hulk.

But we do learn more about her in this episode due to a book signing she does.

During this encounter, one spooky young dude asks if she’s taking new patients. She gives her email.

I’m pretty sure that Daredevil will have to give this dude a beating in a future episode.

Speaking of which, Mayor’s Aide Buck Cashman also appears at the signing. He, too, seeks an autograph.

I don’t know whether this is a professionally motivated appearance or whether he’s got a little crush. Stay tuned!

There is some professionalism on display in the following scene, though.

BB’s line of questioning clearly spelled out that Kingpin needs the support of the NYPD.

Fisk meets the police commissioner at the funeral of the dead cop. If anything, BB and Daredevil like Kingpin more than this guy.

In fact, Chief Gallo actually goes so far as to refer to Fisk as Kingpin.

I place the over/under on Gallo’s brutal murder at three episodes.

Marriage Is Complicated

Cherry and Kirsten try to help Ayala’s case by persuading his wife to help. It’s clear that the couple is estranged.

Kirsten distracts Ayala with questions while Cherry investigates. In a matter of moments, he deduces the truth.

Ayala safeguards the streets as White Tiger, but his wife doesn’t approve.

Murdoch is on a date trying to seal the deal with Kirsten when he receives the revelatory text about Ayala.

So, the attorney heads to prison to interrogate his client, who confesses. It’s obvious Ayala does this because he’s a hero.

The character explicitly states that he feels the need since Daredevil isn’t around now.

Ayala unknowingly says this to Daredevil’s face, which causes Murdoch to project a lot about himself into the conversation.

Eventually, the two come to an understanding. Ayala senses that Murdoch truly wants to help.

Meanwhile, the police chief submits his resignation to the mayor he loathes.

At this point, Fisk begins an odd conversation about Philly cheesesteaks to the native Philadelphian.

But the real purpose is intimidation. The police chief has a secret son Kingpin has found.

So, the mayor persuades his police chief to stay despite receiving nothing to improve the NYPD.

As the police chief exits, he states, “Be careful what you wish for.”

Since I’ve seen Fisk brutally murder dozens of people, I understand why the mayor casually dismisses the concern.

But Fisk’s real battle is impending. Kirsten cancels another date with Murdoch, who is pursuing a lead anyway.

So, Daredevil is fine with delaying the all-important third date. It builds suspense.

However, he’d feel differently if he knew WHY his potential girlfriend had canceled.

Marriage Counseling

As Kirsten cancels, she’s shown signing a non-disclosure agreement, noting it’s unnecessary for therapists.

While she’s right, handlers take extra steps when it’s people like the…Mayor Wilson Fisk. And Mrs. Fisk.

Yes, they’re going to marriage counseling, making this a sudden spin on Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

What Kirsten learns during these conversations very well may get her killed later.

For her part, Mrs. Fisk doesn’t understand why Fisk suddenly disappeared. I guess she didn’t watch Hawkeye or Echo.

Vanessa explains that she took over the family business. She adds that she missed Wilson while he was gone.

Then, she adds that she doesn’t know how she feels now that she’s back.

Wilson adds that he has agreed to marriage counseling because he doesn’t want to lose his wife.

The torch from Daredevil season one burns as bright as ever.

For Matt Murdoch, the evening is about to take a turn. He overhears a call that threatens the life of someone.

Specifically, it’s Nicky Torres, the person on the subway whose life Ayala saved. Some dirty cops are coming to finish the job.

Torres has no idea who Murdoch is. All he notices is a blind man knocking on his door, coming in, and telling him to run.

The whole thing seems implausible until someone bangs on the door, shouting, “NYPD! Open up!”

And Then the Murders Began

For a year now, Matt Murdoch has disavowed vigilantism. But nobody said anything about self-defense.

Two aggressive members of the NYPD enter Torres’s home. Suffice to say they’re unhappy he’s not there.

Recognizing Murdoch as Ayala’s attorney, one of the attorneys throws him against the wall.

This NYPD cop sports a Punisher tattoo. That’s…not good.

When Murdoch states that he’s blind, this gentleman punches him in the gut. They beat on Murdoch until blood spurts.

One signals the other to shoot Murdoch, who has taken the beating thus far rather than fight back. He says, “Don’t do this.”

They…shouldn’t have done this. When one points a gun at Murdoch’s head and cocks the hammer, Daredevil breaks his arm.

We’re talking full compound fracture shown up-close on camera. I cannot believe I’m watching Disney+. Someone cover Mickey Mouse’s eyes!

Seconds later, as the dirty cops keep throwing punches, Murdoch kills both.

Well, the one with the broken arm may just be knocked out. He definitely ain’t moving. The other breaks his neck or skull.

That dude is DEFINITELY dead. And the knowledge of what he’s done causes Murdoch to scream in fury.

In three episodes, Murdoch has either intentionally or unintentionally tried to kill three different people.

Disney Princesses are going to shun him after this.

But the big point here is that Daredevil is always hiding beneath the surface, whether Murdoch wants him there or not.

During the final few minutes of this episode, it’s Daredevil, not Murdoch, who is driving the movements.

Once again, this was phenomenal television. Daredevil hasn’t missed a step during the show’s five-year absence.

 

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