Warning! This article contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again season 2, episode 4.

Daredevil: Born Again season 2, episode 4 includes a massive twist, one that finally removes the biggest lingering plot hole from Netflix’s Daredevil. As a continuation of the Netflix Defenders timeline, only now in the mainline MCU, Daredevil: Born Again is in an interesting position. It can tie into past projects and upcoming Marvel movies, as well as the vast small-screen collection of both Disney and Netflix.

For the most part, though, Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was self-contained. It included a few wider elements, but the pre-overhaul elements of the show proved it was initially intended as a new story. Daredevil: Born Again season 2, however, is changing that. Everything from the post-overhaul version of the series seems like a love letter to the Netflix shows, all while setting up new stories.

Episode 4 typified that in many ways, from Bullseye’s killing spree to Matt’s faith and the final climax with Kingpin and Vanessa Fisk. This climax resulted in a massive twist that left Vanessa seemingly dead, removing the biggest plot hole connecting Netflix’s Daredevil and Daredevil: Born Again: Matt’s deal with Fisk.

To defeat Fisk in Daredevil season 3, Matt threatened Vanessa, stating that if Kingpin ever resumed his criminal activities, Daredevil would find her and take her away. This put an end to Kingpin’s reign of terror, yet Daredevil: Born Again resumed it without Matt ever thinking about upholding his half of the deal, raising the question of why a massive part of season 3 wasn’t continued. With Vanessa seemingly dead, though, that plot hole is gone, promising a big future for Daredevil: Born Again in many ways.

Vanessa’s Death In Daredevil: Born Again Makes Both Fisk & Matt More Dangerous

Perhaps the biggest impact Vanessa’s death will have on Daredevil: Born Again is how it makes Fisk and Matt more dangerous. Starting with Fisk, the reasons for this are obvious. Fisk’s love for Vanessa has always been his weak point, either because of the ways she tempers his darkest desires or the way she can be used against him, as Matt proved in Daredevil season 3.

Now, however, that weakness is gone. Fisk will undoubtedly exert his power over New York on an even bigger, more dangerous scale, searching for vigilantes who killed his wife or anyone else who opposes him with more ruthlessness. Moreover, Vanessa was a big player in Fisk’s switch to politics and all the dodgy dealings that came with it. With her gone, Fisk could now revert to the world he knows: organized crime.

Concerning Daredevil himself, Vanessa’s death removes one of the biggest ways for him to stop Fisk. Daredevil season 3 made sure to convey that threatening Vanessa could put an end to Kingpin’s activities, as it was the only way Matt could think to stop his archenemy without killing him; Vanessa is gone now, and Fisk is more powerful and influential than ever.

If Matt using Vanessa was the last shot at beating Kingpin before, what route is there left to take? The system is owned by Fisk, vigilantism isn’t working, and Vanessa, Matt’s trump card, is gone. This all raises the question of whether Daredevil will finally consider killing Fisk, now that Vanessa and any potential deal like in Daredevil season 3 are gone forever.

Vanessa’s Death Can Make Born Again Different From Netflix’s Daredevil

For 1.5 seasons now, Daredevil: Born Again has been trying to emulate Netflix’s Daredevil, in both quality and story. Despite the former killing a major character from the latter, it could actually be a blessing by differentiating them.

Firstly, it is worth noting that Vanessa was an excellent character in both shows. Her connection with Fisk, her secret love for his underworld, her business-savvy ways, and her darker moments all provided some of the biggest story points of both shows, including Foggy’s murder.

That said, we have never been able to see how Kingpin is without Vanessa. In some way, Vanessa has always kept Fisk on somewhat of a leash. Now, we can finally see a full-blown Daredevil vs. Kingpin story with the latter giving in to the power he has accrued, and the dark urges Vanessa’s death has brought to the surface.

Kingpin is already one of Marvel’s best villains, but his potential after letting loose could make him even better. If this happens and Matt has to rise to meet him, alongside his many allies and enemies of this sect of the universe, Daredevil: Born Again could become more than Daredevil ever was.

This is not to say the new show will eclipse the old one in terms of quality, but it will at least have a different feeling now that a major character with such an integral impact on the overall storytelling has been removed. Vanessa’s loss will be felt, yes, but the storytelling and character-based impact this could have could finally allow for Daredevil: Born Again to escape Daredevil‘s shadow, becoming its own beast entirely.

Release Date

March 4, 2025

Network

Disney+

Showrunner

Dario Scardapane

Directors

Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson, David Boyd, Jeffrey Nachmanoff

Writers

Jesse Wigutow, Jill Blankenship, Thomas Wong, David Feige, Grainne Godfree