What To Remember Before Charlie Cox’s Marvel Series Returns

Season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again was met with mixed reviews. While the show’s creative overhaul shifted the series from its original premise as a separate story from Netflix’s Daredevil to a more interconnected narrative, there can be no doubt that the end of Season 1 set up a fascinating continuation. Now that creator Dario Scardapane appears to be in complete control of the narrative for the show’s return, Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 is already one of the most anticipated shows on Disney+ this year.

However, it might be difficult for fans who don’t have time to rewatch Season 1 to remember exactly what is and isn’t relevant to Daredevil: Born Again Season 2. Luckily, the following recap should clear up everything that you’ll need to know. While certain aspects of Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and Wilson Fisk’s (Vincent D’Onofrio) initial storylines won’t be as important to the plot of Season 2, several aspects will play a key role in deciding the fate of New York.

‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 1 Sees Matt Murdock Battling With His Vigilante Side

When Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) and Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) appeared in Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 after initial reports hinted that they might have been killed off-screen, it seemed likely that their characters would play a significant role. While Karen is off-screen for most of Season 1 until the finale, “Straight to Hell,” Foggy’s presence immediately impacts the narrative. In the season premiere, “Heaven’s Half Hour,” Foggy is murdered by Bullseye (Wilson Bethel), and the trauma of his friend’s death causes Matt to give up being Daredevil.

One year later, Matt is still torn between fully trusting the justice system and returning as Daredevil. The trial of Hector Ayala (Kamar de los Reyes), a vigilante known as the White Tiger, who killed a corrupt undercover police officer while protecting a civilian, sparks public controversy, and Hector is later executed after Matt gets him acquitted. His client’s fate, as well as the threat of a new murderous villain, Muse (Hunter Doohan), drives Matt to don the Daredevil suit once more.

Muse is perhaps one of the most underused aspects of Season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again. While he is teased as a major threat to Fisk and the city, he eventually targets Heather Glenn (Margarita Levieva), a therapist whom Matt has started dating. Just before Muse can murder Heather, Matt intervenes as Daredevil, and the two fight before Heather fatally shoots Muse, ending the story of a villain who had much more potential. However, the return of Daredevil and the safety of his love interest don’t come without personal sacrifice, especially once Heather figures out Matt and Daredevil are one and the same. Matt’s secrecy causes their relationship to fracture, and the situation only worsens after Fisk hires Heather to work for him, positioning the former couple on firmly opposite sides of Season 1’s brewing conflict.

Wilson Fisk Becomes King of New York in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 1

While the central conflict of Daredevil: Born Again revolves around Matt and Fisk, the two are largely separated for most of Season 1, only slightly interfering with each other’s spheres of influence. Fisk’s initial subplot follows him winning the New York mayoral election, allowing him to tighten his grip on the city and enforce harsh anti-vigilante policies, including an Anti-Vigilante Task Force composed of the city’s corrupt cops. Initially, it appears Fisk and his wife, Vanessa (Ayelet Zurer), are growing dangerously apart, with her potentially colluding with other crime families after cheating on Fisk with a man named Adam (Lou Taylor Pucci), whom Fisk keeps locked up. The two eventually pursue couples counseling with Heather, establishing her link to Fisk. By the end of Season 1, Fisk and Vanessa definitively reconcile in a move that leads to the head of a rival crime family being executed.

With Fisk and Vanessa united as a team, they begin working together to turn a piece of New York City into a free port, meaning it is outside federal jurisdiction and available as a hub for their illegal dealings. Later in the season, it is revealed that Vanessa had been the one who ordered Foggy’s death, tasking Bullseye with the job, because Foggy had learned about the plan. Before Matt can confront Vanessa with the truth, Bullseye, freshly escaped from prison, tries to orchestrate his own revenge by taking a shot at Fisk. Matt throws himself in front of the bullet, saving Fisk’s life, but in response to this threat, Fisk imposes martial law, even going so far as to murder New York’s Chief of Police in a brutal display of his own power.

‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Sets Up a War Between Daredevil and Kingpin in Season 2

While Matt survives multiple attempts on his life, thanks to the return of both Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) and Karen, there is little he can do while still injured from his gunshot wound to stop Fisk’s ascent. Frank attempts to confront the members of the AVTF who worship his alter ego of the Punisher, but is captured and thrown into a cell, along with the other billionaires who refused to back Fisk’s free port plan, including Jack Duquesne (Tony Dalton). However, in a mid-credits scene for Season 1, Frank successfully escapes captivity after tricking a prison guard. With his freedom in question and Fisk a greater threat than ever, Matt prepares to start a war with the future of New York on the line.

While Frank is not confirmed to return for Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, Matt does have more than one potential ally on his side, including Karen as well as Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), who will be adding some much-needed firepower to the team. With the stakes as high as they are and more of the Defenders potentially joining the fold, Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 will be more action-packed than ever.