10 Years Later, Marvel Studios Can Finally Fix Netflix’s Most-Wasted MCU Hero (No, Not Iron Fist)

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The Hand, a mysterious ninja group that caused trouble for Daredevil in the Netflix series, might not be gone for good. They were central to the plot of Daredevil Season 2 and The Defenders, and brought magical elements into the story that some fans didn’t enjoy.

Rumors indicate that the villainous group known as The Hand will be back in Season 3 of Daredevil: Born Again. According to sources, they’ll be involved when the show premieres in March 2027. This could provide an opportunity to improve a major weakness of the original Daredevil series on Netflix: the storyline for Elektra. While Elodie Yung played Elektra Natchios in both Daredevil Season 2 and The Defenders, her character’s story was complicated by confusing supernatural elements that didn’t fully connect with audiences.

As a fan, Elektra’s comeback always felt like a matter of time. Her history is so connected to The Hand, it just wouldn’t feel right to see them back without her. Plus, I’m really hoping Marvel Studios uses this as a chance to finally improve on some of the issues people had with her portrayal in the second season of Daredevil – it’s been almost 10 years since that premiered, back in March 2016, and I think they can really nail it this time.

What Went Wrong With Elektra in Daredevil Season 2?

Season 2 of Daredevil is often seen as having two distinct parts. The first half, focusing on The Punisher, was highly acclaimed for its realistic and character-focused storytelling. Jon Bernthal’s portrayal of Frank Castle quickly became popular with viewers, and the disagreements between his character and Matt Murdock resulted in some of the show’s strongest episodes.

The latter part of the series introduced Elektra, Matt’s ex-girlfriend and a highly skilled assassin trained by Stick, alongside the storyline of The Hand and the Black Sky. Although actress Elodie Yung gave a compelling performance, this plot felt less engaging and somewhat disjointed compared to the story involving the Punisher.

The show dedicated a lot of time to developing Elektra’s role as the Black Sky, a key figure for The Hand, but it didn’t fully explain what that meant or why it was important. While The Hand treated the Black Sky as both a leader and a powerful tool, the show never clarified how this power actually worked.

The problem wasn’t with the actress playing Elektra. She brought a lot to the role – charisma, a sense of danger, and real emotional complexity. She and Charlie Cox had great chemistry, creating believable romantic tension, and her action scenes were well-done. The issue was with the story itself and how it handled her character.

The show often ignored Elektra’s own choices and focused instead on confusing, supernatural themes. Characters constantly discussed whether she was meant to become the Black Sky, but never clearly explained what that actually meant. While others – The Hand, Stick, and Matt – all had their own agendas for her, Elektra’s personal goals were consistently overlooked and she became a pawn in their plans.

The idea of ‘Black Sky’ first appeared in the first season of Daredevil, when Stick killed a child connected to The Hand. The show didn’t clearly explain what Black Sky meant, and this lack of explanation caused confusion that continued in later seasons of Daredevil and the miniseries The Defenders.

In Season 2 of Daredevil, Elektra was revealed to be the Black Sky, hinting at a special power or fate. The Hand tried to turn her into their leader, but Stick trained her to fight against this predetermined path. Sadly, the season concluded with Elektra’s death during a fight with Nobu and The Hand, after which they placed her body in a mysterious sarcophagus.

The story continued in The Defenders, where the villainous organization known as The Hand brought Elektra back to life. They wiped her memory and turned her into a powerful weapon under the command of Alexandra, played by Sigourney Weaver. The series showed Elektra as incredibly strong, quick, and tough – she was even able to defeat all four of the Defenders in a fight.

As much as I enjoyed The Defenders, I always felt like they dropped the ball with Elektra. They showed she was incredibly skilled and strong, but never really told us what made her special beyond that. Alexandra kept talking about her being some kind of chosen weapon, a vessel for something, but it was all vague. They teased this idea of demonic forces or mystical powers, but never actually committed to explaining what those were. It felt like a missed opportunity to really delve into her character and her origins.

Viewers were confused by the unclear explanation of Elektra’s abilities and her importance to the story. While The Hand presented the Black Sky as central to their plans, what it could actually do remained a mystery throughout both seasons of Daredevil and The Defenders. The show’s magical aspects didn’t feel as fleshed out as the realistic crime drama that made Daredevil so popular.

Elektra Deserves Better in the MCU 

Elektra Natchios is one of Marvel’s most intriguing characters. Created by Frank Miller in 1981, she first appeared as Daredevil’s complicated former partner. Her role changes depending on the story, sometimes acting as a deadly assassin, a romantic interest, or even a helpful ally.

I have to say, the new Netflix series really nailed Elektra’s complexity. She wasn’t just a fighter; she liked fighting, and the actress, Yung, beautifully showed us that internal struggle. It wasn’t a simple case of good versus evil; she was genuinely walking a tightrope between hero and villain. Yung portrayed her as someone dangerous, absolutely, but also someone deeply sympathetic – a product of her harsh upbringing and rigorous training, and ultimately, unable to fully escape who she was always meant to be.

As a big fan of Elektra, I always felt that when the story focused too much on her being a weapon for The Hand, it really missed the point of what made her such a compelling character. She’s at her best when she’s driving the plot, even if she’s making questionable or downright bad decisions. That whole ‘Black Sky’ arc, honestly, felt like it took away her free will, turning her into just a puppet for some bigger, mystical power – and that just didn’t do her justice.

In the last few episodes of The Defenders, Elektra worked to regain control of her own life. As her memories returned, she distanced herself from both Alexandra and Stick, determined to make her own choices. She ultimately killed Alexandra and briefly teamed up with Matt Murdock. The series concluded with Elektra and Matt trapped under the rubble of a collapsing building.

Honestly, that storyline had so much potential, but it felt like they crammed everything into too few episodes. With only eight in total, The Defenders just didn’t give Elektra’s transformation enough breathing room. We saw her start to break free from being a weapon controlled by others, but it was frustrating because the show ended before we really got to see who she became after escaping Alexandra’s influence. It felt incomplete, you know?

How Daredevil: Born Again Can Fix Elektra 

Reviving The Hand in Daredevil: Born Again Season 3 allows Marvel Studios to reimagine Elektra and fully explore her abilities. With a larger budget and a focused approach, the series can now tell her story with improved visuals and a more defined direction.

Marvel Studios needs to clearly explain what the ‘Black Sky’ actually is. Is it demonic possession, special powers, or something related to fate? Viewers deserve clear answers. The previous Marvel/Netflix series suffered from unclear origins and explanations. The MCU has a chance to improve things by setting firm rules and boundaries for its mystical elements.

Next, give Elektra back her independence. She’s a much stronger character when she’s making her own decisions, instead of just being a tool for someone else. The Born Again storyline offers a great opportunity to show her actively using and mastering her Black Sky abilities, taking control instead of being controlled by them.

Next, it would be compelling to see what’s happening with Elektra and Matt Murdock now. After Daredevil Season 3 showed Matt lived through the events of The Defenders, Elektra could also have secretly survived and spent years recovering. A reunion between them would be especially powerful, given that both have faced death and come back.

Fourth, Elektra needs her own compelling reasons for acting, separate from her connection to Matt. She should have her own goals, struggles, and a journey of personal growth. For example, she could be tracking down the last leaders of The Hand, trying to stop them from bringing back more Black Skies, or operating as a freelancer guided by her own sense of right and wrong.

Born Again is showing promise in learning from past issues with Netflix’s Marvel shows. The first season successfully blended the Kingpin into the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe while staying true to the original series. Season 2 is bringing back Jessica Jones, and may include other heroes from The Defenders team. A potential third season could finish bringing the old Netflix characters into the MCU by giving Elektra a satisfying redemption arc.

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2026-03-22 00:44