DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN Season Finale SHOCKER – Fisk’s Reign of Terror Begins

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The final episode of the first season of “Daredevil: Born Again” has been released! It features an incredible, intense fight between Punisher and Daredevil, a beloved original cast member’s comeback, and the most gruesome violence seen on Disney+ yet. Here’s how the first season ends.

Vanessa Fisk and Bullseye: The Truth Revealed

The story begins by flashing back to a year ago. Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer) goes to see Benjamin Poindexter (Wilson Bethel) in a mental institution, explaining that the FBI’s investigation into Wilson and its subsequent exposure of corruption led to her husband’s acquittal after season three. This explains why Fisk hasn’t been in prison since the end of the original series. She tells him that a client of Foggy Nelson’s could expose her criminal organization and its links to Red Hook Point, and she wants Poindexter to take care of him before he does so. In exchange, she offers him an early release. With no other options, Bullseye agrees.

Matt (Barely) Survives Taking a Bullet for Fisk

We shift back to the current situation, following Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) being wounded while protecting Mayor Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio). Upon waking up in the hospital, Heather Glenn (Margarita Levieva) and Kirsten McDuffie are by his side. For a fleeting instant, Matt believes Heather is his former love Karen Page, causing her discomfort. Kirsten remarks, “It’s the medication,” but Heather understands it’s more than that. Matt informs Kirsten that Vanessa Fisk arranged for an attack on Foggy, and pleads with her to help him retrieve his old case files. It’s evident that Heather views Matt as delusional, and Kirsten is close to agreeing with her assessment.

Wilson Fisk Becomes the Kingpin Again

In the opulent Fisk mansion, I found myself alongside the Mayor and Vanessa, both of us battered from an assassination attempt. The once immaculate white shirt of Matt Murdock bore his blood – a symbolism as blatant as it gets. Wilson, in a surprising confession to Vanessa, admitted to orchestrating Foggy’s hit. His indifference and lack of remorse were palpable. He claimed he ran for Mayor to save the city, but it was clear he yearned for a return to the criminal underworld.

He insinuated that Vanessa had used Red Hook as a conduit for millions, but in his position as Mayor, he could funnel… billions instead. A sly smile graced Vanessa’s face as she acknowledged the Kingpin of Crime was making his grand return.

Mayor Fisk Throws Rule of Law Out the Window

In his office, Mayor Fisk becomes enraged following his assassination attempt. He shouts that his Anti-Vigilante Task Force will pursue all vigilantes, not just Poindexter. He declares a disregard for body cams, due process, and warrants. Police Commissioner Gallo (Michael Gaston) points out the illegality of such actions, but Fisk feels he transcends legal boundaries. The corrupt officers within his task force gleam with approval, now empowered to act as monsters they’ve long desired. Fisk makes clear he is not merely tolerating lethal force; instead, he is inciting it. Sheila (Zabryna Guevara) acknowledges that a single gunman attacking a mayor is a significant offense. Yet she believes this isn’t sufficient to warrant shutting down the entire city or closing all bridges and tunnels. However, Fisk appears deaf to her words, as if they pass through one ear and out the other.

Mayor Fisk Orders Matt’s Death

As Fisk’s outburst persists, it becomes evident to all that he considers himself the supreme entity in the cosmos, and his desires reign supreme. The law holds no sway over him. Only Buck Cashman (Arty Froushan) remains with him after he dismisses his staff. When they are left alone, he inquires about Matt Murdock’s condition in the hospital, and Buck informs him that he is stable. He also mentions that attacking him now might “complicate the public perception.” However, Fisk sees this as a golden opportunity, effectively asking Buck to poison Matt in the hospital so it appears that the heroic lawyer from Hell’s Kitchen died attempting to save his life. In essence, he thanks the man who saved him by sending someone to kill him in his hospital bed. “A martyred hero is more effective than a living vigilante.

Gallo Tries to Make an Alliance With Sheila

Fisk is with Sheila, and he tells her that the city could be set right if it gets the correct nudge. He explains that she recognizes who among his team is faithful, and who isn’t. He asks her to let go of those who don’t fully support his personal goals. However, Sheila realizes that siding against a powerful figure like Fisk might not be beneficial for her safety. As she attempts to leave his office, she encounters Gallo. Gallo is aware that Sheila understands the situation and its illegality. He mentions that there are still reasonable individuals in the building, and he believes she’s one of them. Gallo shares that he intends to inform the governor in Albany about what’s happening, and he needs her assistance. Only the governor has the power to remove Fisk from office. Sheila consents to this plan.

The Punisher Returns

In the hospital bed, Matt recognizes Buck Cashman’s arrival. He understands Cashman’s purpose and method, as Cashman prepares a syringe to eliminate Fisk’s Daredevil issue once and for all. Just then, the city plunges into darkness due to Fisk’s manipulation of the power company. Seizing this moment of chaos, Matt manages to flee the hospital, preventing Cashman from carrying out his plans. Back at his apartment in his hospital gown, Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) is already there. He scolds Matt for lacking a functioning coffee maker, but Matt retorts that not everyone lives in a bunker like he does.

I, myself, was directly inquired by Matt about what prompted the Punisher to emerge from retirement. He responded by sharing that he received a call from a friend who insisted he help Matt survive. As we converse, he mentions there are numerous “supporters” out there eagerly waiting to storm his location and cause harm. He’s prepared to employ deadly force against them, regardless of my feelings about it. Furthermore, he inquires about Fisk, expressing confusion as to why I would risk a bullet for that man. Matt seems at a loss for an explanation regarding this query.

Daredevil and Punisher Take on Fisk’s Goons

While they converse, Fisk’s anti-vigilante squad arrives at Matt’s apartment, preparing to storm in and apprehend him. As a group of officers, armed and ready, move inside, Matt, acting as Daredevil, breaks through the skylight instead. Using minimal lethal force, he takes out one officer after another. The Punisher, on the other hand, has no qualms about killing these officers, even though Matt pleads with him to cease. Moreover, since many of the cops sport the Punisher emblem, he shows no hesitation in targeting his own fanbase… sometimes with a brutal throat slash using a large knife.

Matt Learns Who Killed Hector Ayala

One office that remained standing is Cole North (Jeremy Isaiah Earl). The Punisher identifies the spent bullet casing as being from his weapon, and it’s the same one used in the murder of Hector Ayala. Despite the urge to kill him, Daredevil abstains, opting to knock him unconscious instead. The Punisher tries to provoke him, saying, “Come on, Red.” But Matt resists such actions. As they debate the ethics of executing these officers, Matt becomes aware of a grenade being thrown into the apartment. The two vigilantes then leap from the roof and land on a police car. Alone on the street, a vehicle approaches. Stepping out of it is none other than Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll), who assists them in escaping the situation.

Daredevil and Karen Page Reunite

Karen escorts both men to Frank’s hideout, intending to mend their wounds. After learning Bullseye had escaped, she contacted Frank and flew to New York immediately. Matt appears upset when he finds out she contacted Frank first. Karen finds Fisk targeting Matt Murdock instead of Daredevil daring, even for him. It’s at this point that Matt reveals Vanessa Fisk ordered the hit on Foggy. He believes there are pieces of evidence in storage to support his claim, but needs Karen’s assistance to locate them. The Punisher declines to join their detective work, opting to stay out of it. Karen expresses gratitude for the Punisher’s role in saving Matt and reminds him that she recognizes the tough exterior hides a genuine concern.

New York City Falls Into Chaos

In a clandestine gathering late at night with city officials, character Daniel Blake (played by Michael Gandolfini) endeavors to win their support for Fisk’s “Safer Streets” program. One council member criticizes the plan as irrational. However, Daniel then reveals knowledge about various illicit activities and hidden financial accounts each member is involved in. To keep these secrets from being exposed, he demands a full commitment to Fisk’s proposal aimed at transforming New York into a heavily-policed city. As the power outage persists, riots erupt throughout the metropolis, leading to looting. A juvenile looter is apprehended by the police, but when he surrenders, an officer shoots him. A fellow policeman with compassion realizes “he was just a kid.” However, the officer who pulled the trigger covers his eyes with his cap and declares “No, he was a disguised vigilante.

Matt and Karen Discover Why Vanessa Had Foggy Killed

At Matt’s storage unit, he and Karen search for files that Foggy had stored a year prior. Karen eventually locates the file containing photocopies of 1855 documents. These documents show that Red Hook was declared a free port, not officially part of New York state or even the United States. This means that any crime committed there doesn’t technically occur on U.S. soil and isn’t subject to American laws. As Matt examines this discovery, he understands that Vanessa Fisk has been using Red Hook as a legal means to launder money for years. Now, her husband is constructing a development project in Red Hook. Under the Red Hook Charter, he could engage in various illegal activities there legally and potentially earn billions. Foggy accidentally uncovered this information, and Vanessa sought to silence him about it.

The Punisher Gets Captures By His Own Fans

Frank is tuned in to the police radio, learns that Karen and Matt are in peril, and heads towards Red Hook Point. There, he encounters a horde of his admirers, who are members of Fisk’s militia. He swiftly eliminates them, resembling the character Jason from a “Friday the 13th” movie. However, he is eventually apprehended alive. In the meantime, Sheila deceives Gallo and shares their conversation with Fisk as evidence. Overwhelmed by guilt for her actions, she cries, recognizing that fear for her own safety drove her to make a morally reprehensible decision. As Gallo gets into his vehicle, a rookie officer with a fresh Punisher tattoo is driving him. He comprehends he’s been double-crossed and is being led somewhere from which he probably won’t return alive.

In a chair secured with zip ties, the Punisher encounters his number one supporter, Officer Powell (Hamish Allan-Headley). This officer from the corrupt police force claims that many men under his command have perished at the Punisher’s hands today, and expresses hope that it was all worthwhile. He attempts to recruit Frank to their cause, suggesting he could act with freedom as part of Kingpin’s personal army. However, the Punisher dismisses them as foolish for idolizing him, and reminds them they can never comprehend his suffering or grief. One by one, each officer wearing the Punisher’s insignia delivers a brutal beating to Frank.

Fisk Brutally Murders Gallo in Front of His Task Force

In a tent in Red Hook, Fisk is accompanied by his task force, and Gallo is escorted there. Gallo openly tells Fisk, “You’ve never given up your role as the Kingpin, and you won’t be able to.” Whether it was his audacity or his certainty, Fisk responds by punching Gallo in the throat and brutally squashing his head, leaving his task force witnesses. “Any questions?” Fisk queries those present, but his militia remains silent. After witnessing such a gruesome spectacle, it’s doubtful anyone would dare ask any questions. (Reminds me of when Disney+ was rumored to avoid R-rated content.)

Daredevil Declares War, “We Need an Army”

At Red Hook Point, Daredevil and Karen find themselves confronted by Kingpin’s task force. Matt contemplates entering the fray, but Karen warns him that it would likely result in his death or causing harm to someone else. She urges him to be cautious, given his current state of injury from the previous night’s altercation. Eventually, she manages to dissuade him. However, Matt insists he can overcome Fisk and restore order in the city. He tells Karen they require an entire force to accomplish that feat. The next day, electricity returns to New York City, and Heather Glenn meets with Fisk in his office. Fisk proposes she take on the role of “Commissioner of Mental Health,” which she accepts. It’s unclear whether she supports Fisk or is working for Matt on the sly.

Mayor Fisk Declares Martial Law

In a televised speech to the city, Fisk deceitfully claims that Gallo voluntarily resigned. He then implements his Safer Streets Act, making all vigilante actions unlawful, sets an 8 pm citywide curfew, and declares martial law. Once this contrived emergency subsides, he promises to reinstate “the pursuit of life and liberty” in the city. “Remember,” he adds, “I am a friend of New York.” Matt finds refuge at Josie’s Bar and confesses to Karen that since Foggy’s death, he has struggled with his identity. Karen reassures him that Foggy saw both his good and bad sides and accepted him for who he was. This encouragement helps Matt resume wearing the Daredevil mask, and he convenes with his police force allies, including Cherry (Clark Johnson) and Angie Kim (Ruibo Qian), at Josie’s.

The War Between Fisk and New York’s Citizens Begins

Simultaneously, Fisk and Vanessa venture to his concealed dungeon, where previously Adam was confined. Now, it’s filled with pens for his political adversaries, including Jack Duquesne (Tony Dalton), also known as the vigilante Swordsman, and Frank Castle himself. The formidable criminal duo celebrate their control over New York City at an extravagant dinner. As the episode concludes, Matt proclaims New York as a “city without fear,” vowing to reclaim it from Fisk permanently. A post-credits scene follows, revealing Frank Castle escaping his cell, hinting at his forthcoming solo adventure in The Punisher Special Presentation, set for release later this year.

1) Will Matt’s troops have the Defenders back together? Has Fisk taken over as the King of New York? Is it true that Foggy has passed away? These questions will be answered when season two of “Daredevil: Born Again” starts in spring 2026.

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2025-04-17 17:05