Recap: ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2 Episode 4, ‘Gloves Off’
Holy cow! Episode four of “Daredevil: Born Again” season two was explosive. Not in the literal sense (though this season has had its share of that, too), but I did say “Wow” out loud at the end of the episode. Even if you read this recap, you shouldn’t miss this episode if you’re a fan.
Warning: Spoilers ahead!
A Day in the Life: Bullseye/Benjamin Poindexter
The episode opens to the tune of “A New York State of Mind” by the incredible Billy Joel, while we watch Poindexter (Wilson Bethel) start his day with breakfast, making the bed (sharp corners), exercise, and even feeding a cat. The lady next door says, “You’re such a nice boy,” with a smile. He tosses a coin in the beggar’s cup. He’s super friendly when he orders a milkshake in a diner. Then things take a turn.
Poindexter makes a call to the AVTF and says that Frank Castle is in the diner where he, himself, is sitting. It didn’t take long to realize his plan. As soon as the officers walk in the doors, he pulls on his mask, and Bullseye is in the house. Those AVTF agents don’t stand a chance, and not one of them walks back out. And that’s all before the intro.
The Escapees & Heroes
Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll), and Angela (Camila Rodriguez) brought the rescued AVTF prisoners, including Jacques Duquesne (Tony Dalton), to their safehouse. Karen is recording testimony from the escaped prisoners. And Daredevil tries to convince Duquesne to stay and help. He refuses, though he’s given Karen “an account number” to use for whatever they need. Before leaving, he says,
“You don’t realize it do you? You’re not a hero. You’re a symbol now. Hope, for an entire city.”
They need to get the SD card with the recordings to BB Urich. Angela volunteers and, though Karen is reluctant, she makes a convincing argument. Daredevil asks if she understands the responsibility of wearing the White Tiger pendant. Finally, Christofi Savva, the first mate of the Northern Star, has found them. He says that he’s come to help.
He knows what was on the ship. He says that the paperwork that protected them was signed by “Vasillias tou Enklimatos,” which is translated to “The Kingpin.” A lawyer needs to take his statement, so Karen says they need to bring the lawyer to him. The AVTF will all be at the fight. Daredevil realizes it’s a trap for Bullseye.
The Kingpin and His Queen
The scene in the Fisk bedroom is striking with the color choices. Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) wears his usual pure white suit, while Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer) wears a blood-red dress. It’s a fascinating bit of foreshadowing for what is to come later. Kingpin doesn’t want his wife at the boxing match. She wants to be there. When the scene ends, it seems she’s going to follow his request and go to Albany. But it’s pretty clear that the lady will do what she wants. Melancholy music plays as the camera shifts to a framed photo of the couple.
Wilson Fisk is also angry about leaks in his organization. He’s ranting at Buck Cashman when Mr. Charles (Matthew Lillard) makes another appearance. He wants to know why the weapons are still there and not getting delivered as arranged. Fisk doesn’t like being talked to the way Mr. Charles does. In the end, Fisk has the upper hand this time. But will he always?
Vanessa Fisk meets with the governor (Lili Taylor). The governor doesn’t trust her husband. She doesn’t like the way he runs things. The governor says she can’t back Mayor Fisk, but she “can back Mayor and Mrs. Fisk.”
The Lawyer
The AVTF trashes Kirsten McDuffie’s (Nikki M. James) office looking for Duquesne, but, of course, she has no idea where he is. The AVTF officer tells her to “say hi” to Matt Murdock for him.
Karen approaches McDuffie, who wants to know where Murdock is. Karen won’t say, but does tell her that he’s safe. She’s reluctant, but McDuffie agrees to help. She goes to meet Savva. And he tells her everything while Karen records the testimony. U.S. Marshals come to escort him and keep him safe. But this loose end is tied up by Buck Cashman, who was meant to be at the fight.
Daredevil & Bullseye
Murdock disguises himself as an AVTF officer to search the scene of Bullseye’s latest attack. He finds a saint’s token that points him to his childhood church. The young seminarian who spoke to Poindexter gives him the information he needs, but only after he says he won’t kill Poindexter.
Daredevil hates Poindexter for the death of Foggy Nelson. But Poindexter plans to “even the scales” by killing Wilson Fisk.
The Benefit Boxing Match
Angela completes her part of the mission and hands the SD card over to a friend who approaches BB (Genneya Walton) outside the gym. He behaves like a fan and asks for a selfie to give him the opportunity to slip her the SD card.
Before the fight begins, we see an important object in the hands of Daniel Blake (Michael Gandolfini). It’s a small glass sculpture of the city, with a bust of Fisk at its center. The crowd is split between cheering for and booing Fisk.
Wilson Fisk is huge next to the professional boxer. And we already know how uncommonly strong the man is. This fight is one-sided from the start as blood flies from each of Fisk’s blows on his opponent. It’s brutal. And, news that Christofi is dead seems to give the Kingpin even more drive as he pounds into the other man. Then Vanessa walks in, wearing a purely white dress, and he finishes the fight with several blows that drop his opponent. Kingpin won, but is the other man even alive?
Vanessa climbs into the ring with him, and Fisk urgently tells her that she needs to go, but it’s already too late. Bullseye is there, and he starts killing AVTF officers on his way to Fisk. That glass sculpture we saw earlier is on the floor, and Bullseye slides his foot under it, kicking it up and snatching it out of the air. Vanessa shoots Bullseye. He throws the sculpture at Fisk, who deflects with the massive championship belt. It shatters.
Daredevil charges into the fight and pulls Bullseye out just as Fisk is about to finish him off. Fisk bellows, “Go get them. Now!” The AVTF officers rush out after them.
Vanessa says, “Wilson.” She turns her head, and there’s a shard of glass in her temple. She collapses. Red blood soaks the front of her dress. Fisk yells for someone to get an ambulance. He screams in rage.
What’s Next for “Daredevil?”
Vanessa was the one person who could exert any kind of control over her husband. Without her, I imagine the brutality will only get worse. Though he was the one who shattered the glass that killed her, he’ll blame Bullseye, and probably Daredevil, too. He wasn’t merciful before, and now he’ll be uncontrolled.
Also, consider that the governor will no longer back him without Vanessa at his side. And though Christofi Savva is dead, his testimony still exists. There are also the recordings of the rescued prisoners. These are surely going to make it to the public through BB Urich.
More by Michelle Kitz: https://linktr.ee/michellekitz
