Okay Daredevil fans are you ready for a villain who is seriously messing with Matt Murdock's head? Forget Kingpin for a minute because there's a new creep in Hell's Kitchen and his name is Muse. Daredevil: Born Again just introduced this seriously messed up artist and things are about to get bloody literally.
Muse is Not Your Average Baddie: Why This Daredevil Villain is Extra Twisted and Clever
So what makes Muse so different from your run-of-the-mill bad guy? Well for starters he's not just about brute strength or fighting skills. Think of Kingpin and Bullseye those guys are physical threats. Muse is something else entirely. He is more of a mind game villain like the Joker if you are into Batman comparisons.
in the comics Muse is known for being a straight-up serial killer who uses his victim's blood to create these disturbing "art" murals all over the city. Yeah it's as gruesome as it sounds. And Born Again is already hinting at that creepy artistic side with graffiti popping up everywhere featuring Fisk Punisher and White Tiger. Is Muse behind it? Looks like it.
But here is the really freaky part. Muse's powers are tailor-made to mess with Daredevil specifically. Daredevil relies on his super senses right? Well Muse can somehow manipulate senses around him making himself practically invisible to Daredevil's heightened abilities. That is a major problem for our hero. It is not just a physical fight it is a sensory battle and a mental game all rolled into one.
Is Bastian Actually Muse? Fan Theories Explode Over Potential Villain Identity in Daredevil
The show is keeping Muse's identity a secret for now but fans are already playing detective and a big theory is brewing: could Muse actually be Bastian? Remember that kinda weird young guy Bastian who showed up at Heather's book signing in episode 2 ? He seemed troubled and was asking for a therapy appointment.
Some viewers are pointing fingers at Bastian played by actor Hunter Doohan. Why? Well for one thing Doohan is credited in both Episode 2 as Bastian AND Episode 4 even though he is not actually seen in episode 4 when Muse is introduced. Suspicious right?
Plus if you look closely at Muse's eyes in Episode 4 they do look a bit like Bastian's and there are some subtle hints in that book signing scene. When Heather talks about "masks" and "projected personas" the camera even focuses on Bastian. Is it a red herring or a clever clue? Fans are debating!
Adding fuel to the fire Hunter Doohan is known for playing creepy characters before. He was Tyler Galpin in Wednesday who seemed like a nice guy at first but turned out to be a monster. So Doohan has experience playing the nice-guy-turned-psycho role which fits the Muse profile perfectly. Keep your eyes on Bastian he might be more than he seems.
Muse's Mind Games and Mayhem: What to Expect from Daredevil's New Nemesis
What can we expect from Muse as the villain in Born Again? In the comics Muse is pretty much just pure evil without much backstory. But Daredevil shows often add depth to their villains making them more complex and even sympathetic sometimes. Think about Kingpin and Bullseye their backstories are explored making them more than just cardboard cutouts.
So even though comic Muse is just a straight-up killer the show might give Bastian/Muse more layers. Maybe he has a tragic backstory or maybe he is targeting criminals instead of random people. The fact that Bastian asked Heather for therapy suggests there is something more going on beneath the surface. He might even have a twisted sense of wanting to "improve" himself even if it's in a messed up way.
One thing is for sure Muse is going to push Daredevil to his limits not just physically but mentally and emotionally. He is a villain who forces Matt to confront the darkness within himself and question his own sense of justice. And with Muse targeting Angela del Toro it's clear things are about to get even more personal for Daredevil.
Heather in Danger? Muse Threatens to Bring Chaos to Matt Murdock's Personal Life
Speaking of Angela del Toro Muse targeting her is a major red flag. But let's not forget about Heather Matt's new girlfriend. She is a therapist and guess who else is her client? Kingpin himself. And Vanessa. And now potentially Bastian/Muse.
Heather's client list is basically a who's who of Daredevil's rogues gallery! Putting Heather in the middle of all this is a recipe for disaster. Muse could definitely use Heather to get to Daredevil or vice versa. Matt has a bad habit of his loved ones getting caught in the crossfire and Heather might be next on the list.
Matt is already dealing with Foggy's death Hector's murder Wilson Fisk's mayoral power and now a psycho artist killer who can mess with his senses. If anything happens to Heather on top of all that well poor Matt might just completely lose it. Get ready for some seriously intense drama folks because Muse is about to turn Daredevil's world upside down in Born Again.