Daredevil: Born Again has finally arrived on Disney+, and the first two episodes, “Heaven’s Half Hour” and “Optics,” waste no time throwing fans into the thick of things. These episodes are packed with nods to the original Daredevil series, Marvel’s other television properties, and even potential future storylines from the comics.
Let’s dive into all the Easter eggs you might have missed in the premiere of Daredevil: Born Again.
5A Blast from the Past
Right from the opening scene, Daredevil: Born Again takes fans back to familiar territory. Matt Murdock is seen stepping out of Nelson, Murdock, and Page, the law firm he established with Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) and Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll).
This is a direct continuation from the Daredevil Season 3 finale, “A New Napkin,” proving that Born Again builds upon its predecessor rather than erasing it. Fans of the original series will also recognize Josie’s Bar, the local dive frequented by Matt and his allies. Susan Varon even reprises her role as Josie, adding to the nostalgia.
However, the nostalgia quickly turns to heartbreak. Bullseye (Wilson Bethel) crashes into Josie’s and fatally shoots Foggy, sending Matt into a rage-filled confrontation that results in Bullseye being thrown off the bar’s roof.
This shocking turn of events sets the stage for Matt’s struggle, showing that even his closest relationships are not safe in this new chapter of his story.
4How Do Hawkeye and Echo Tie Into Fisk’s Rise?
While Matt is reeling from his personal tragedy, Fisk has been playing the long game. The series reveals that Fisk’s wife, Vanessa (Ayelet Zurer), has been managing his criminal empire, ensuring its public perception remains squeaky clean.
She is even seen brokering peace between rival gangs – one of which includes the Tracksuit Mafia, last seen in Hawkeye. Fisk’s connection to Hawkeye and Echo is significant.
In Hawkeye, he was revealed as Maya Lopez’s (Alaqua Cox) “uncle,” a figure of authority in her life until she discovered he was responsible for her father’s murder. When she confronted him, she shot him point-blank in the face.
Daredevil: Born Again acknowledges this incident when Matt references Fisk’s past wounds. Maya’s return in Echo saw her use her new powers to force Fisk to confront his trauma, which may have motivated him to seek power through politics.
3Are Spider-Man and The Punisher Returning?
Marvel fans always have their eyes peeled for references to their favorite heroes, and Daredevil: Born Again doesn’t disappoint. In “Optics,” Matt defends Hector Ayala (Kamar de los Reyes), also known as White Tiger in the comics.
However, the bigger Easter eggs come during Fisk’s victory speech, where he indirectly references both Spider-Man and The Punisher.
Fisk dismissively calls Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) “a gun-toting maniac with a skull on his chest,” confirming that Castle is still active in this universe. Additionally, he refers to Spider-Man (Tom Holland) as “a man who dresses in a spider outfit.”
While this may excite Spidey fans, there’s a catch – Marvel Studios and Sony’s deal prevents Holland’s Spider-Man from appearing in Marvel TV shows, meaning his presence will remain in the background for now.
2What’s The Billboard in Times Square About?
One particularly interesting Easter egg appears during Fisk’s mayoral announcement. A billboard for Harlem’s Paradise, the nightclub from Luke Cage, is visible in Times Square.
The last time we saw it, Luke Cage (Mike Colter) had taken control of it, suggesting that his character could still be active and might even play a role in future episodes. These subtle nods hint that Marvel is leaving the door open for the return of more Netflix-era heroes.
1Is Daredevil: Born Again Setting Up the Devil’s Reign Storyline?
While Matt and Fisk strike a tentative truce, it’s clear that things won’t stay peaceful for long. Fisk issues a chilling warning – if Matt dares to put on his Daredevil suit again, he will come after him with full force. More ominously, he declares his intention to rid New York of vigilantes.
This directly sets up the possibility of Born Again adapting Devil’s Reign, a major comic storyline by Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto. In Devil’s Reign, Fisk uses his position as Mayor of New York to outlaw vigilante activity, branding heroes as criminals.
He also enlists the Thunderbolts as his personal enforcers, with U.S. Agent among their ranks. If Born Again follows this arc, it could lead to high-stakes confrontations between Daredevil and some of Marvel’s most dangerous anti-heroes.
Even more exciting In the comics, Fisk eventually leaves office, and none other than Luke Cage takes over as Mayor of New York. Given the Harlem’s Paradise Easter egg, it’s entirely possible that Born Again is planting seeds for Luke Cage’s return.
Final Thoughts
With Daredevil: Born Again currently filming its second season, the first two episodes have laid a thrilling foundation for what’s to come.
With new episodes dropping every Tuesday, the show is proving that it’s not just a reboot – it’s a continuation that respects the past while paving the way for a bold future.
PS: Ever wondered how Daredevil’s powers work despite his visual impairment? We’ve got your back:
About Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again is an upcoming American television series created by Dario Scardapane and Matt Corman & Chris Ord for the streaming service Disney+, based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Daredevil.
It is intended to be the 13th television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Marvel Studios, via its Marvel Television label, sharing continuity with the films of the franchise.
Born Again is a revival and continuation of Daredevil (2015–2018), an earlier series produced by the previous Marvel Television production company and originally released on Netflix. Scardapane serves as showrunner with Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead as lead directors.
Charlie Cox reprises his role as Matt Murdock / Daredevil from Marvel’s Netflix television series and prior Marvel Studios productions, starring alongside Vincent D’Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll, and Michael Gandolfini. Margarita Levieva, Elden Henson, Wilson Bethel, Zabryna Guevara, Nikki M. James, Genneya Walton, Arty Froushan, Clark Johnson, Ayelet Zurer, and Jon Bernthal also star in the first season.
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