Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 4: “Gloves Off” is a gut-wrenching experience for both viewers and the characters in the Marvel show. The episode featured bits and pieces throughout to help progress background story elements, but its focus is on how Benjamin “Dex” Poindexter/Bullseye fits into the narrative and gets in the way of the Daredevil-Kingpin conflict. He’s a catalyst whose presence triggers unmatched chaos that’s only going to escalate.
With unparalleled action and accumulating intrigue, episode 4 is the peak of season 2 so far.
The Bullseye Content Hits the Mark
Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 4 offers the first legitimate look at where Wilson Bethel’s Benjamin “Dex” Poindexter is in the story — literally and figuratively. The episode opens with a morning montage of sorts, guiding the audience through a typical morning in Dex’s life. He makes breakfast, works out a bit and even feeds the neighbor’s cat.
It’s a stark contrast from where the episode takes viewers from there, because Dex’s diner visit is just a way to lure the Anti-Vigilante Task Force to him. The scene is full of the horrifying violence people expect (and want) from Bullseye in a Daredevil show, but you also can’t help but be terrifingly impressed. From a plastic straw to a lobster claw, Dex can and will turn anything into a weapon. Through the gore of it all, he exudes a charm and genuineness that may not necessarily make you root for him, but you don’t want to root against him.
The thing about Dex now is he truly believes he’s one of the good guys. That’s not to say Dex thinks he’s good from a moral standpoint, but he’s one of the good guys in the sense that he’s against Fisk and the AVTF and on Matt Murdock’s side. But that’s not how Matt sees it. He can’t see Bullseye as one of the good guys, and it’s not even because Bullseye is the one who killed Foggy Nelson. Rather, it’s because Bullseye wants to kill Fisk, which goes against Daredevil’s code and would turn Fisk into a martyr.
Infiltrating Matt Murdock’s Childhood
In Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 2, Dex showed up at Clinton Church, looking for Matt’s mom. It turns out his apartment is so close to the church that he can listen to the church bells and watch the doors being opened every morning. As if that isn’t enough, Fisk is hosting his charity boxing match at Fogwell’s Gym, the gym Matt went to growing up because it’s where his dad trained and boxed.
From a general standpoint, churches are sacred places. In Daredevil stories, there’s a whole extra layer of sacredness to factor in because of how important Catholicism is to Matt’s character. But that sanctity applies to Fogwell’s Gym as well. They’re such crucial institutions for Matt because of how they have shaped him into the person he is today. Those places are home to him. So for both of them to be brought back into the story because of other characters feels sacrilegious. That’s the whole point, though.
Matt is hiding out, trying to gain control and fight back in a battle so clearly set up against him. Hell’s Kitchen might be his home, but he doesn’t have anywhere he belongs right now — not with Fisk as mayor. The fact Matt has to take back his church and his gym just symbolizes his fight to take New York City back from Fisk’s reign.
From Triumph to Terror
Somehow, watching Fisk use his brute force in that charity boxing match is scarier than seeing Bullseye attack people using absurd accuracy and any object he gets his hands on. But that fight was just as ridiculous as it sounded. While BB Urich and Sheila Rivera cringed throughout the event, Daniel Blake maintained his cringey demeanor by fanboy-ing over his boss.
Even if the match was for charity, that wasn’t its true purpose. It did, however, serve as a great showcase for Fisk’s hubris. He won by knockout, and he got exactly what he wanted when Daredevil and Bullseye showed up. Daredevil coming out of hiding should have felt like an extra win. But if it weren’t for that match, then Vanessa never would’ve taken that glass shard to her temple. It doesn’t matter if Fisk sent her away for her safety. He should know by now, especially after having had a taste of what it’s like to be in charge, that she wants in on the power, too.
Vanessa’s injury might have been shocking to watch, but it didn’t feel like a surprise. Even before this episode, the story was building up in a way that made it feel like Vanessa was going to be in trouble. “Gloves Off” just heightened that suspense.
The scary thing is that, as terrifying as Fisk was during the match, he’s bound to get even worse. We all know just how bad Fisk can get if/when Vanessa is in danger or gets hurt.
Other Thoughts on “Gloves Off”:
- Is Dex cooking a fried egg for breakfast supposed to parallel Fisk’s classic omelet from the original Daredevil show?
- How many Daredevil fans are going to order banana milkshakes next time they’re at a diner?
- It’s kind of a bummer that Jack Duquesne isn’t sticking around to help take back the fight, but his reasons are valid, and it’s nice that he’s at least helping financially.
- Seeing Angela Del Toro maintain her boldness and confidence after helping with the prison rescue is great, but we’re still scared for her.
- Kirsten McDuffie being absolutely unfazed and not at all intimidated by the AVTF breaking into her law firm is amazing and admirable.
- So Mr. Charles is a corrupt agent like the CIA’s corrupt director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine? Not a surprise, but his character’s purpose is still unclear.
- Matt going undercover as an AVTF agent is so good!
- Absolutely love seeing the flashback scenes from the original show used!
- Matt’s faith is such a crucial element to his character, so it’s heartwarming to see him back at church praying.
- That poor seminarian at Clinton Church. What’s the chance he knows about Father Lantom…?
- Fisk bobbleheads are one thing, but foam fingers? Really?
- Of course Fisk gets a meaningless championship belt for winning a charity match.
Daredevil: Born Again releases new episodes on Tuesdays at 9 pm ET on Disney+.
