Daredevil: Born Again Recap: The Predator and the Prey

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Occasionally during the initial season of “Daredevil: Born Again“, there’s been a sense of internal conflict. This might be due to the significant creative shift that turned a lighter procedural into a more serialized drama reminiscent of the original Netflix series. For instance, the self-contained hostage situation in “With Interest” seems to align with the earlier version of the show, and elements from this phase persist even in episodes with a more complex plot. As per showrunner Dario Scardapane, only the first episode, the last two, and those directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead are entirely new.

In other words, ‘Isle of Joy’ is the initial installment since the debut that embodies entirely the new direction for the series, and it clearly shows. While it isn’t a stark contrast, Benson and Moorhead introduce an elevated level of visual style and creativity to the show, as evidenced by the recurring blue theme associated with Dex throughout this episode, starting with the blue rose in the opening scene.

Additionally, there’s a lot happening currently, and the energy feels positive. The main event this week is the Black and White Ball to honor the Red Hook port-rejuvenation project, and a significant portion of it revolves around establishing various characters who will eventually clash dramatically at the climax. Fisk and Vanessa appear to be in better spirits after dealing with the inconvenience of Luca, and Vanessa is even expressing her lingering annoyances to him, perhaps due to Heather’s therapy. Surprisingly, Fisk’s revelation about his big Adam secret to his wife is what solidifies their reconciliation. She’s angry for a moment, but eventually, this act shows his love in a twisted manner, proving that he didn’t kill her lover as promised. It was Vanessa who made the final move, which shouldn’t have come as a shock. With this, Fisk swears never to leave her again, and some lost trust is restored.

Matt and Fisk have mainly gone about their separate lives following their intense encounter in the premiere, monitoring each other stealthily but not engaging directly. However, in “Isle of Joy,” their lives intersect once more. When Matt discovers that Heather has been invited to a ball by Buck, he becomes aware that Fisk is one of her clients. Sharing his worries only intensifies the growing animosity between them.

It’s reasonable for Heather to feel guilt over Muse’s death, but it’s challenging to empathize with her during her disagreements with Matt, despite some points she may have on her side. While Matt is indeed deceiving her and lacks a valid explanation for that, he’s the character we are emotionally invested in. In response to Heather criticizing Daredevil and Muse as immature characters hiding behind masks, one might think, “Well, Daredevil is my own underdeveloped hero hiding behind a mask.” Heather’s criticism doesn’t make her particularly likable, and her ignorance about Matt’s double identity suggests she may be struggling to keep up.

Currently, Matt is under a lot of pressure and his annoyance surfaces during a discussion with a client accused of defrauding teachers who has previously been under enhanced supervision. In a confidential conversation with Kirsten, Matt expresses that their actions won’t have any lasting impact. It was Kirsten who informed him that Dex had been transferred to general population despite his special housing status due to Fisk’s intervention. During a closed visit to Josie (and another stern warning from Cherry, who is starting to appear monotonous), Matt recalls that on the night Foggy died, he felt certain he was going to win a significant upcoming case. There seems to be some underlying scheme at play, someone trying to suppress Foggy. However, a meeting with Dex doesn’t provide any insights into Fisk’s potential involvement as Dex refuses to cooperate without an escape plan from prison.

In an ironic twist, Matt’s decision to brutally assault Dex by slamming his head on the table ends up providing Dex with a chance to flee. After being sewn up, Dex demonstrates his remarkable shooting skills by firing a bullet point-blank into a guard’s eye. He then uses a pair of medical scissors to take the lives of that guard and a doctor. Subsequently, Dex manages to blend in with other guards and board a bus, all while plotting to assassinate the mayor with the very ball they are transporting.

The occasion promises to be an anxious gathering, given the underlying tension, and it becomes even more so due to a few complicating factors. To begin with, Matt’s tardiness as Heather’s guest makes him miss crucial parts of their conversation, instead finding himself eavesdropping on Fisk’s secret discussions with Jack Duquesne. It appears that Fisk is blackmailing Duquesne for backing on the Red Hook project by threatening to unveil his Swordsman alter ego. Meanwhile, Matt struggles to convince Heather about the mayor and his wife’s dubious intentions, but his attempts fall flat since he’s not entirely forthcoming with her.

When Matt steps onto the dance floor with the Fisks, it’s there that he experiences a significant epiphany: Vanessa, not her husband, was responsible for setting up Foggy for some unknown reason. He musters courage to interrupt their dance and accuse her, and she seems to confirm this with her response about Heather being unaware of Matt’s Daredevil persona. Before they can delve deeper into the matter or before Fisk could expose Matt’s secret to Heather, Matt hears Dex’s gunfire from the balcony. Once again, Matt places himself in harm’s way and shields Fisk, saving his life. Oh brother, Matt. You simply can’t resist being a hero, can you?

Although “Isle of Joy” isn’t flawless, it seems to be playing out as intended in the style of Daredevil: Born Again. It’s raising the tension for every character ahead of next week’s finale. For instance, BB Urich has her own secret motive this episode; she’s already aware of a potential link between Fisk and her uncle Ben’s demise, which is why she’s pursuing him initially. She’s one more player determined to bring down the Kingpin, and Commissioner Gallo might prove useful, given his knowledge about the anti-vigilante task force. As Matt and the Fisks prepare for battle, there are numerous factors at play. We haven’t even touched on characters like Frank Castle and Karen Page. Now we’re really getting into it!

Devil in the Details

Matt discerned, from the selection of Foggy’s last beverage, that he was prematurely toasting his victory.

In a different phrasing, Fisk instructs Powell to “watch over” an individual photographing his gathering with Jack, and in response to Gallo’s conflicting order, Powell plunges the man’s hand into hot oil. Surely, this Powell fellow is quite the character, isn’t he?

As a cinephile, I’m excited about Daniel’s new role as deputy mayor for communications! It’s great to see him climbing the ranks, even though he’s got a bit of a shady reputation. However, his persistent attempts at staying close to BB have me wondering if perhaps their friendship isn’t what it seems. I used to think he’d be the one to betray her trust, but now I can’t help but question whether the tables might turn instead.

Lately, I’ve become accustomed to seeing Katherine LaNasa on The Pitt. So, it feels a bit strange now to see her playing the role of Artemis on this new series.

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2025-04-09 17:54