Episode Three: "The Hollow of His Hand"
Although the episode belongs to “Daredevil: Born Again” (2025), “The Hollow of His Hand” very well could be an episode of “Law & Order” (1990-). Here, Matthew Murdock (Charlie Cox) defends Hector Ayala (Kamar de los Reyes) in a court filled with corrupt NYPD officers and a jury convinced he is guilty of murder.
Viewers have yet to see Murdock put on the mantle of Daredevil. It’s a bold decision that works exceptionally well for a television show all about seeing Murdock (& Cox) portray the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen. The best superheroes are the ones that are still captivating to witness onscreen or in a comic book outside of their hero persona.
Part of that charm comes from Cox’s talent as an actor and the screenwriter's sharp writing. The episode is also the best-written and paced episode in the show and never loses its rhythm.
The episode also features a small, yet memorable performance from De los Reyes, who sadly passed away Dec. 24, 2023, at the age of 56 due to cancer. His last credited roles were this and in the videogame “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” (2024). For how little screen time he has, he pours his heart and soul into his performance.
Most of this episode is in the courtroom, but it does occasionally shift focus to Wilson Fisk/Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio) and Vanessa (Ayelet Zurer). Their marriage is still strained, and they challenge each other constantly with how they should do business with lower crime gangs as well as Fisk’s tenure as mayor.
What this show does well is showing Fisk as a true co-star. “Daredevil: Born Again” may be Murdock’s show, but Fisk still is pulling his weight. By the end, viewers are inching closer to seeing Murdock and Fisk becoming their old selves.
Episode Four: "Sic Semper Systema"
The title for this episode translates to “thus always to the system.” In traditional Latin, it’s translated as, “thus always to the tyrants.” Murdock is inching closer to becoming Daredevil again, especially after the shocking demise of White Tiger.
He doesn’t want to go back to his old ways, but the legal system and those who control it in their tyrannical approach throw innocent people into the gutter each passing day. It’s an internal battle fans of the character love to see unfold.
Fisk also experiences his own troubles. His plans to improve New York City’s ports face several obstacles, one of which includes his protégé Daniel Blade (Michael Gandolfini) drunkenly leaking information of Fisk being a union buster to BB Urich (Genneya Walton).
Blade takes accountability for his action and apologizes to Fisk, expressing his loyalty to him as well. Fisk accepts his apology but warns him that it will be the last of him if he ever does anything like this again. The dynamic between Fisk and Blade is interesting because it mirrors something viewers haven’t seen since season one of the original series.
Fisk sees his younger self in Blade and Blade’s respect for Fisk is on the same level as a son would for his father. Blade doesn’t just believe in what Fisk is doing, he truly thinks Fisk is the hero New York needs and not a masked vigilante or the Avengers.
Fisk gaining that loyalty from someone of such a young age pleases him, and it is intriguing to see how their relationship will grow until the end of the season.
The episode also features the return of the fan-favorite Frank Castle/The Punisher (Jon Bernthal). Murdock goes to ask him why cops are using his symbol, which Castle doesn’t have an answer for. Before Murdock leaves, Castle berates him for not being Daredevil and not taking lethal action after Bullseye (Wilson Bethel) murdered Foggy (Elden Henson).
The two have an emotional back-and-forth argument taken right out of the second season of “Daredevil” (2015-2018) when these two initially met. Cox and Bernthal are acting giants in this scene. Like Fisk and Blade, viewers will be on the edge of their seats for when Murdock and Castle team up in the coming episodes.
