Warning: This article contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again episode 1 & 2.
Daredevil: Born Againbegins with the death of a majorMarvel Universecharacter, and some details from the scene make the tragedy even harder to swallow.Daredevil: Born Againepisode 1 & 2, and I found seeing how things have evolved with Matt, Karen, and Foggy to be genuinely heartbreaking given what transpires. The new MCU series truly dives into its character and the repercussions of death in a way I hadn’t expected to see in the franchise, setting a new standard for how tragedy can be confronted in superhero media.
Death in the MCU in a complex thing, as manyMCU characters have returned from death, and this is also a common occurrence in the comics. With this in mind, it is often difficult to see the stakes of some of these superhero stories. However, by using a time jump, and firmly establishing how this death influenced Matt Murdock and his relationships with others, the MCU has crafted a tragic and believable story with great depth, and the weight of the show’s opening death can be felt in a wide variety of ways already.
Karen’s Reaction To Bullseye’s Fall In Daredevil: Born Again Adds More Heartbreak
Karen Page Is Unable To Deal With The Possibility Of Matt’s Death
In the beginning of episode 1 ofBorn Again,Foggy is shot and killedby Bullseye. In the fallout of this event, Matt is furious, and winds up pushing Bullseye from the roof of a building. In a post shared toX, a user commented on how, during this moment, Karen has an emotional reaction even before knowing what has occurred with the rooftop fight.She hears a body thud to the ground behind her, but hesitates, as if terrified of what she is going to find. This emotion adds some complexity to the moment that is not initially apparent.
This reading suggests thatKaren may have hesitated to turn around because she feared that she had lost Matt as well, since she would no doubt be less concerned about Bullseye. Seeing how Deborah Ann Woll played the scene with deep emotion helps to solidify this, as it’s clear the events of this tragedy are already so heavy that the prospect of losing another person who is so dear to Karen would be insurmountable. Indeed, the idea that she hesitates because she cannot bear the possibility that Matt has also been lost wrenches even more heartache from the tragic moment.
Why Foggy Dies In Daredevil: Born Again
Foggy Nelson Does Not Survive The First Episode Of Born Again
Foggy Nelson was an important character in the Netflix series, and his death was always planned to be part of the new show. It was originally supposed to be offscreen, but when Dario Scardapane was brought in as showrunner, changes were made to highlight this moment further and to show it. In an interview withScreenRant’s Liam Crowley, Scardapane discussed the importance of this moment, noting that the"loss has to be felt, and that loss has to be an earthquake.“This moment allowed the show to become something different from its Netflix precursor.
Strangely,Foggy has been confirmed to return in season 2despite dying. It is unclear how this will occur, but Scardapane did suggest this in his conversation withScreenRant, saying"He’s too important of a character, and you will continue to feel his presence. It’s not the last of him, is all we’re going to say.“This suggests that there are significant plans for the character to follow, although it remains to be seen how this will manifest. I would guess Foggy would appear in flashbacks, although it is possible that he could be brought back to life somehow.
Daredevil: Born Againhas only begun, and I believe it is already among the strongest and most emotional programs in the MCU. With such well-developed characters like Foggy Nelson and Karen Page available, the show has made some interesting choices about the paths for those characters.I am devastated to have lost Foggy Nelson already, and that Karen Page has experienced so much loss and trauma,but I am impressed by the efficacy ofDaredevil: Born Again’s storytelling, and what it sets up for the future.
