In episode six of Daredevil: Born AgainOpens in a new tab, after waiting five whole episodes, Matt Murdock puts on the Daredevil costume again at long last. And he has very good reason to do so. Here’s what happened in the sixth episode of Born Again, “Excessive Force.”
The Serial Killer/Artist Muse Takes Another Victim
We open with more BB Reports, with candid interviews with a New York graffiti artist, who talks about getting a bad rap in the wake of Muse’s art all over the city’s buildings. Another guy talks about how a friend of his caught a new vigilante saving people using a sword, earning him the nickname “the Swordsman.” Marvel Comics fans may know that back in the ‘70s, there was an Avenger named the Swordsman, who actually married Guardians of the Galaxy’s MantisOpens in a new tab. (Don’t hold your breath for that to happen in the MCU.) More on him later. Near a rundown part of the docks, a sanitation worker finds the body of a young man with his eyes gouged out, with blood dripping out of each socket, as if painted on. The latest “masterpiece” from the graffiti artist/masked serial killer called Muse.
Matt Murdock, Still a Good Catholic Boy
In his apartment, Matt prays while holding Foggy’s funeral card, dwelling on his recent losses. Not only is he thinking of Foggy, but also Hector Ayala. He also thinks about how good it felt to put on a mask and kick some bad guy ass, and you can’t help but wonder if he’s really asking God’s help in keeping his promise to not return to being Daredevil. Heather GlennOpens in a new tab (Margarita Levieva) seems genuinely surprised Matt still prays, and he tells her that while he’s given it up before, he always comes back to his Catholic faith. She tells him she’s working on a new book, exploring the psychology of vigilantes. She tries to get Matt’s insights on it, as he knows the Punisher and Daredevil. (One of those he knows extremely well.) For obvious reasons, Matt doesn’t seem too keen on the whole thing.
Mayor Fisk’s Criminal Past Keeps Coming Back to Bite Him
At the mayor’s office, Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) has an “unscheduled visitor,” and it’s Luca (Patrick Murney), head of one of the five families. He isn’t happy having to pay $1.8 million to a rival mafia family, especially as he never got the diamond from the bank robbery in the previous episodeOpens in a new tab. All of this is to pay restitution for the killing at Red Hook, and Fisk reminds him he must follow orders. Luca tells Fisk he can “shove that 1.8 up his ass.” Fisk informs him that 1.8 has now turned into 2.8 million. The 1.8 goes to fellow mafia boss Victor, and the rest goes to him directly. Luca spits out “You’re out of the game, old man. Stay out of it.” This clearly gets very under Wilson’s skin big time, and he’s ready to pop. The mayor is giving way to the mob boss inside of him.
The next morning, a New York City sanitation worker who has been tasked with getting rid of Muse’s various murals around the city, reveals that after a chemical analysis, he discovered that the paint was so stubborn to come off because it’s made partially from human blood. Fisk now realizes there’s a serial killer at large, and he has to be the one to take care of it. He adamantly doesn’t want the police to reveal there’s a killer on the loose, mainly because it makes him look bad. Even though alerting the public could literally save lives. Once again, Fisk is only thinking of himself and how he looks.
White Tiger’s Niece Calls Matt Out (And She’s Right)
At Murdock & McDuffie, Hector Ayala’s niece AngelaOpens in a new tab (Camila Rodriguez) comes to see Matt. Angela informs Matt that her uncle was investigating missing people, and died before he could find them. She tells Matt someone needs to finish her uncle’s investigation. She’s pieced together that the missing vanished near the old Q Line, which was shut down years earlier. Matt says he’s just a lawyer, she needs to go to the police for help. Angela reminds him that cops killed her uncle, and she’s never going to them for help. When Matt asks “What do you want me to do about it?” Angela retorts with “How about literally anything?” She leaves Matt’s office, realizing she’s on her own. This is one more punch in the gut for Matt, who knows that as Daredevil, he absolutely can do something about it, but has chosen not to.
Muse Takes Two More Victims
Police Chief Gallo informs Mayor Fisk that the DNA profiles show that Muse’s paint involves at least 60 different victims. This constitutes a major failure on the part of the mayor’s office, and his promise to keep the city safe. That night, two female fans approach Muse as he paints another mural, and he attacks and kills both women. Gouging their eyes out, he leaves their bodies for the police to find. Knowing that his “art” has caught the attention of the authorities, he’s flaunting it now.
Daredevil: Born Again’s Mini-Hawkeye Crossover
Wilson informs Vanessa (Ayelet Zurer) that Luca came to visit him in his office, showing him disrespect. The whole thing is an emasculating reminder that his wife was better at being a criminal Kingpin than he ever was. Later, at a fundraising gala, Fisk meets with many of the old money families of New York, whom he needs for their financial support for his redevelopment plans. Among the attendees is Jack Duquesne (Tony Dalton), who Marvel fans might remember from HawkeyeOpens in a new tab. He was Kate Bishop’s mother’s rich boyfriend, who put his sword fighting skills to good use in that series’ final episode. Now we know since the events of that series, he’s continued being a vigilante, as properly become the Swordsman. He makes vague threats to Fisk at the party, suggesting that without the elites and their money, he’s nothing. Another blow to Wilson’s fragile ego.
Matt Murdock Learns About New York’s New Serial Killer
Cherry the P.I. (Clark Johnson) visits Matt in his office, and tells him that although it’s not public knowledge yet, there’s a new serial killer in the city. In fact, it’s a murderer with as many as 60 victims. Cherry tries to beg Matt to let this one go, and let the police handle it. But Matt knows he can’t sit idly by while innocents are dying. That same night, at the mayor’s party, Daniel Blake (Michael Gandolfini) pulls Fisk aside and shows him the bodies of the two new Muse victims. Muse left them right under one of his art pieces, taunting the police, who he now knows are on to him.
Mayor Fisk Creates His Own Private Militia
In the mayor’s office, Police Chief Gallo (Michael Gaston) begs Fisk for more officers to take down Muse. Instead, Fisk tells him he’s to put together a special task force, made of cops hand selected by him. The chief realizes that every cop in this task force that Wilson wants is corrupt. Or at the very least, has had major discipline issues. Fisk offers to oversee this task force personally, and the next morning, he meets with them. He tells them all they are now founding members of his anti-vigilante task force, and “this city is yours.” He riles them up, essentially giving them impunity to act outside the law to find Muse.
The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen Returns at Last
At the old train tracks, Angela goes searching for the killer, not even realizing it’s Muse. As Matt does research on the abandoned train tracks online, Angela’s aunt call him. She tells him that Angela has gone missing, and not knowing where else to turn. Matt struggles with what to do next, and calls 911…before hanging up the phone and saying “F*** it.” He gets the Daredevil costume out at lastOpens in a new tab, and heads to the train tracks where Angela went missing. Muse has already caught her, and takes her unconscious body to his lair. He lays her out on a table, and we see the hanging bodies of several of his other victims
Daredevil vs. Muse (Round 1?)
He begins to drain Angela of blood. Not long after, Muse hears something approaching, and we see Daredevil come out of the shadows and beat the crap out of him. Still, Matt is a little rusty at the vigilante game, and Muse holds his own. Whoever this serial killer really is, he’s clearly well-trained in fighting, if he can keep up with Daredevil. This fight happens while Angela is being slowly bled to death. Matt finally chokes Muse long enough for him to pass out, just as Angela’s heart stops. He chooses to revive Angela and lets Muse get awayOpens in a new tab, despite knowing that Muse will kill others now that he’s escaped. But he can’t allow himself to let Angela die.
Fisk Pummels His Prisoner, Reverting to Type
Fisk goes down to his basement where he has Vanessa’s lover Adam locked up. He comes down with an ax, giving us serious Jack Torrance in The Shining vibesOpens in a new tab. Wilson says that he thinks Vanessa would want him to let Adam go, but he doesn’t think he can. He throws Adam the ax, giving him a chance to defend himself. In a rage, Adam attacks Fisk with the ax, but the mayor easily overpowers him. Fisk throws Adam around the room, and pummels him, right in front of his beloved painting “Rabbit in a Snowstorm.” Fisk begins screaming “Mine!!” Which we assume is a reference to Vanessa. At the same time, a few miles apart, both Fisk and Murdock give in to their true selves. Fisk is a brutal, territorial animal, and Matt is the heroic yet perpetually rage-filled man.
What happens now that Daredevil is back on the city streets? Will Fisk blow another gasket? And will Daredevil catch Muse and stop more murders? We’ll find out as Daredevil: Born Again continues its first season.
