Alright Daredevil fans episode 3 of Daredevil: Born Again has landed on Disney+ and things are getting intense in Hell's Kitchen. After a killer two-episode premiere we're diving deeper into Matt Murdock's world. But is this episode a knockout punch or a bit of a cooldown? Let's break it down.
Episode 3: Legal Battles and Loss - White Tiger's Fate Takes a Shocking Turn
IGN's review of episode 3 points out that things do slow down a bit after the action-packed start. This week the focus is on Hector Ayala’s trial. Yep White Tiger is in deep legal trouble and Matt Murdock is on the case. Now courtroom drama isn't always the most thrilling thing especially in a superhero show. But Daredevil: Born Again tries to make it work.
The episode is heavy on legal twists and turns with Matt arguing for a vigilante which is pretty meta when you think about it. The performances are still top-notch everyone is bringing their A-game. However if you're tuning in for Daredevil kicking butt in the suit well you might be a little disappointed. Daredevil himself is MIA in this episode.
Despite the lack of superhero action episode 3 does some important groundwork. It builds a complicated and kinda dangerous relationship between Matt and the police force. And the ending? Woah. IGN says it's a "jaw-dropping ending" that really sticks with you. Even if you know White Tiger's comic book history the way it plays out in the show is still shocking.
Poor Hector Ayala man. The episode really makes you feel the loss of him not just as White Tiger but as a person. Actor Kamar de los Reyes apparently delivers an emotional opening monologue that's surprisingly moving. Then BAM the episode ends with White Tiger getting assassinated. Brutal. And get this the killer is wearing a Punisher logo. Talk about adding fuel to the fire.
Matt Murdock's Moral Crossroads: Will White Tiger's Death Push Him Back to Daredevil?
Episode 3 puts Matt in a tough spot. Talking to Hector and seeing his case seems to make Matt think about his own vigilante days as Daredevil. He seems to be trying to be content just being a lawyer helping people in court. But is that really Matt Murdock? Probably not.
IGN's review asks the big question: will White Tiger's violent and unfair death be enough to make Matt put the Daredevil suit back on? It sure looks that way. They point out that Matt keeps fidgeting with his broken Daredevil horn throughout the episode. That's a pretty strong hint right there.
Now Matt's courtroom tactics in this episode are... questionable. IGN calls them "reckless and theatrical" even for Matt Murdock. They question if it makes sense for him to out Ayala as White Tiger in court even to win the case. Matt knows better than anyone how dangerous it is to reveal a hero's secret identity. Hello that's like Superhero Rule #1! And remember Mayor Fisk is out there making vigilantes look like public enemy number one. Even the judge calls Matt out for being a hypocrite which is pretty harsh.
There's also a weird side plot with Nicky Torres a witness who suddenly flakes out. It's not really explained why or how someone got to him while he was supposedly in witness protection. So yeah the courtroom stuff might be a little shaky but it definitely sets up some major conflicts to come.
Kingpin's Mayoral Struggles and The Punisher's Shadow Looms Large
Wilson Fisk aka Kingpin is also dealing with his own stuff in episode 3. His relationship with Vanessa is still rocky and his old crime buddies are making it hard for him to go legit as mayor. The police chief was right it seems "Once a thug always a thug."
Being mayor is changing Fisk though. He used to feel like Kingpin made him the most powerful guy around but now he sees crime lords as just "petty squabbling vermin." Sound familiar? It's like Matt and Fisk are in parallel places both thinking they've moved on but neither can really escape who they are deep down.
And then there's The Punisher. His presence keeps growing in Born Again. We see more cops with Punisher skull tattoos and now White Tiger's killer is rocking the skull logo too. IGN speculates that these guys are just copycats and Frank Castle himself probably has nothing to do with them. Fingers crossed that Punisher makes a grand entrance soon and sets things straight. He is not going to be happy about people using his symbol for their own messed up agendas.
Meet the Daredevil: Born Again Cast: Familiar Faces Return to Hell's Kitchen
One of the coolest things about Daredevil: Born Again is the return of so many actors from the original Netflix Daredevil series. People Magazine has a great rundown of who's back and who's new.
Of course Charlie Cox is back as Matt Murdock/Daredevil. It's been ten years since he first put on the suit on Netflix and he's ready for round two. He even told People that he thought the Daredevil story was over for good so this reboot was a total surprise to him. Apparently Vincent D'Onofrio who plays Kingpin kept telling him it wasn't over and D'Onofrio was right!
Speaking of Vincent D'Onofrio he's back as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin too. He even joked on The Kelly Clarkson Show that Kingpin is still "crazy" and that Born Again is basically "Daredevil Season 4" with the same darkness and brutality as before.
But wait there's more! Deborah Ann Woll is back as Karen Page Matt's best friend and Elden Henson returns as Foggy Nelson his law partner and best pal. It really feels like the band is getting back together.
Wilson Bethel is also reprising his role as Bullseye aka Benjamin "Dex" Poindexter. Bullseye was added to the show after some creative changes and Bethel is stoked to be back. And get hyped Punisher fans Jon Bernthal is back as Frank Castle aka The Punisher himself! Bernthal says if you liked the old show you'll love this one and that they are taking it "a step further."
There are some new faces too. Margarita Levieva is playing Heather Glenn Matt's new love interest. She says Born Again is "grittier and darker" than the Netflix series and really dives into "human psychology." Genneya Walton is joining as BB Ulrich a young reporter in NYC. She even manifested this role apparently writing in her phone years ago that she wanted to be in the Marvel Universe. Talk about dreams coming true.
When to Watch Daredevil: Born Again Episodes on Disney+
Ready to tune in? CNET has the episode release schedule for Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+. Episodes 1 and 2 premiered together on March 4th. Episode 3 dropped on Tuesday March 11th. New episodes are coming out every Tuesday at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT.
Season 1 will have nine episodes total. But here's a twist the story is actually being split into two parts so there will be a Season 2 later on with more episodes. If you want to catch up on the original three seasons of Daredevil on Netflix they are all now streaming on Disney+.
Here is the episode release schedule we know so far:
- Episodes 1 & 2: March 4
- Episode 3: March 11
- New episodes Tuesdays on Disney+
Daredevil: Born Again Viewership - Is It a Hit for Disney+?
So is Daredevil: Born Again a hit for Disney+? Forbes reports that Disney actually released some early viewership numbers which is not something they usually do unless they want to brag a little. Apparently the premiere episode drew 7.5 million viewers.
Is that good? Well it sounds good but Forbes puts it into context. Disney is calling it their "biggest Disney+ premiere of the year so far" but we are only a couple of months into 2025 and there hasn't been a huge amount of competition yet.
Compared to other Marvel shows and Star Wars shows Daredevil: Born Again's numbers are solid but not record-breaking. Forbes points out that shows like Loki WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier had bigger premieres according to some third-party data. However Daredevil: Born Again is rated MA which means it's aimed at a more mature audience and might naturally have a slightly smaller viewership than more general audience MCU shows.
The good news is that Daredevil: Born Again is already greenlit for two full seasons. So even if the initial numbers are not earth-shattering Disney seems to be in it for the long haul. This could also mean good things for other Netflix-era Marvel characters like Jessica Jones and Punisher maybe getting their own revivals down the line.
Daredevil: Born Again - Key Episode 3 Takeaways
- White Tiger's Shocking Fate: Hector Ayala/White Tiger is tragically assassinated at the end of Episode 3.
- Matt Murdock's Moral Dilemma: Matt grapples with his vigilante past and the limits of the legal system.
- Kingpin's Shifting Power: Wilson Fisk faces challenges as mayor and is haunted by his criminal past.
- Punisher Tease: The Punisher's symbol appears hinting at Frank Castle's possible arrival.
- Episode 3 Tone: More courtroom drama less superhero action compared to the premiere episodes.
- Solid Viewership Numbers: Daredevil: Born Again had a decent premiere viewership on Disney+ though not record-breaking.
- Future Seasons Secured: The show is already greenlit for two seasons indicating Disney's commitment.