The resistance against Mayor Wilson Fisk’s totalitarian regime in New York City is finally shaping up into a legitimate movement in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, Episode 6 “Requiem.” From major plot points to minor storylines, this episode packs in a lot of scenes to set up how everything will come together in the end.
It shows the aftermath of Vanessa Fisk’s death and how her passing is affecting everyone, from Fisk to NYC residents. No matter whose side of the battle one is on, they’re all fired up and have their reasons for fighting back.
Welcome Back, Jessica Jones
Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 6 features the long-awaited return of Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones. She is first brought into the story when the CIA, under the orders of Matthew Lillard’s Mr. Charles, shows up at her suburban house with guns and other weapons to attack her. The biggest problem, though? Jessica’s daughter, Danielle, is at home playing and thinks the grenade thrown into the house is a toy.
As terrifying as it was to watch Danielle frolick around with a live grenade, seeing Jessica be a mom was such a heartwarming sight. It helps fill in some gaps about what she has been up to since we last saw her in Season 3 of her titular Marvel series. Who the father of her child is remains to be revealed, but comics fans will know. But this is what makes her return bittersweet. She has seemingly moved on past her life of crime-fighting and vigilantism and is focused on living a low-key life and raising her daughter. It’s an effective and emotional way to bring her back into the forefront of danger.
Although exciting, Jessica’s presence was far from the most thrilling part of the episode. But that’s because of how much the narrative built up. Jessica’s scenes were more so teasers of what’s to come with her — not only in the rest of this season but moving ahead.
Matt Murdock versus Love and Hate
This episode tackles a lot of conflicts in a short time, with the season nearing its end. But two of them take significant turns: the obvious battle between Matt and Fisk and the obvious (in a different way) clash between Karen and Matt.
The literal fight between Matt and Fisk is a clever callback to the Daredevil Season 3 finale, when the “Rabbit in a Snowstorm” painting is first damaged by Fisk’s blood. The painting suffers further harm in the rivals’ latest physical altercation. What’s especially telling about the painting being ruined further is how it represents the ongoing feud between the two men.
Instead of protecting what the city and people Matt and Fisk cherish, they’re hurting them more by feeding into their hate for each other. Now, the same has happened with the painting. His grief over Vanessa’s death is still incredibly fresh, and that painting will bring him closer to her. And yet he doesn’t care enough about it when he decides to throw Matt into the wall, ripping up the painting.
Placing Dex in between Matt and Karen (literally and figuratively) escalated their inevitable fight about murder and morality. Karen makes a good point that Matt’s insistence on keeping bad guys like Fisk alive is ultimately doing more harm than anything else. But he also doesn’t want Karen to carry the additional burden of being responsible for taking Dex’s life — or anyone else’s, because that’ll harm her, too. That notion’s what drives him to talk to Fisk.
Even so, if their fight prompted him to talk to Fisk, Matt changing his stance is unlikely. After all, while trying to talk things through with Fisk, Matt is also making the choice to not protect the protestors from the AVTF. But that’s the thing about being a hero. Daredevil, like so many other superheroes, have to make tough choices and can’t do everything. He has to try at least to appeal to Fisk in hopes of ending their feud, because that’s the root of the larger battle.
Resist and Rebel
Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 has teased at this movement against Fisk and the totalitarian, occupation-like rule his mayorship has placed New York in. But it isn’t until this episode that the resistance has truly felt real.
Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, Episodes 2 and 3 set up this grand-scale battle with Jack Duquesne’s trial and the prison rescue, but the show shifted to more intimate focuses in following episodes. It’s nice to see how those acute focal points work with the more general narratives to culminate into this big event — all of which has evolved from Matt and Fisk’s storied war with each other.
Vanessa’s death is this catalytic last straw for not just the rebellion but all around. The steps of City Hall transforming into a memorial for NYC’s first lady prompted protestors. Then, it became the perfect setting for Karen to project the witness account videos for those imprisoned by Fisk’s AVTF.
Beyond the benefit of sharing the truth, the video compilation is also a wonderful reminder of who Karen is. She had been kind of sidelined lately, but the “Resist and Rebel” video message highlights her role and importance. Matt going out and fighting is important for stopping Fisk and the AVTF, but Karen’s commitment to the truth will empower others to join the fight.
Other Thoughts on Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, Episode 6
- That poor doctor!!!
- Marvel really wasted no time showing just how brutal Fisk has become in the wake of Vanessa’s death.
- Wow, Jessica Jones really moved to the suburbs.
- Danielle playing with a grenade had me stressed OUT.
- But also, major kudos to JJ for handling that situation with Danielle in SUCH a calm manner. Truly amazing.
- Daniel Blake, you would be so lost without Buck Cashman’s help.
- Mr. Charles has yet to prove why he is worth being an actual character and not just a generic detail that connects the story to the CIA and larger-scale government corruption.
- Matt and Jessica’s conversation implies that they keep in touch a decent amount, and that’s rather heartwarming!
- Having superpowers that go on and off unexpectedly seems so tough to deal with, and it’s so disappointing that JJ’s powers stopped working when she was fighting Powell!
- What is Heather doing in the Fisks’ bedroom? Why is she stealing Vanessa’s ring? And what the heck is this scene between Heather and Buck…?
- Dex saying “Hello, Karen” was an absolutely essential callback!
- Is that Mitchell Ellison that BB Urich was going to text?!
- Powell killing Saunders and then blaming vigilantes? Yeah, he continues to be THE WORST.
- Honestly, not even scared for Karen, even if Powell is the one who caught her, because she can hold her own!
Daredevil: Born Again releases new episodes on Tuesdays at 9 pm ET on Disney+.
