Daredevil: Born Again stages nostalgic death for fan favourite character – and the consequences could be dire

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Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again has unexpectedly removed a beloved character, which will likely create more significant challenges and risks for Matt Murdock and those who support him.

The latest episode, “The Grand Design,” begins immediately after the shocking events of last week. Vanessa (Ayelet Zurer), Wilson Fisk’s wife, was seriously injured when Bullseye hit her with a projectile.

After being injured during her husband’s amateur boxing event, it wasn’t clear if we’d see the character again later in the season. Many viewers wondered if this was the end of her story.

Dario Scardapane, the showrunner, felt a key character deserved a more impactful death than what was originally planned, especially considering their importance to Daredevil’s story across both Netflix and Disney+.

The fifth episode of season 2 gives Vanessa a touching farewell, adding new layers to her character and showing she was far more strategic and determined than previously thought throughout the Marvel storyline.

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This episode centers around Vanessa as she experiences a dreamlike state, seemingly under anesthesia. This allows the story to revisit key moments from her past, and surprisingly brings back characters Foggy Nelson and James Wesley, who were previously believed to be dead, through a series of flashbacks.

The scene introduces Vanessa as she begins her job at an art gallery. There, she meets Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) and reveals her surprisingly dismissive opinion of a minimalist white painting called ‘Rabbit in a Snow Storm’ – a piece she’ll eventually sell to her future husband.

I was rewatching Daredevil the other day, and there’s this amazing exchange in episode three that really stuck with me. Vanessa explains to Fisk how people question the price of art, specifically simple white paintings. She says it’s not about the artist, the technique, or even the art itself, but purely about the emotional impact it has on the viewer. It’s a beautiful way to think about art, and honestly, a lot of things in life – it’s all about how it makes you feel.

A recent flashback reveals a new perspective on the sales pitch. Vanessa privately tells her boss that the painting is deeply unsatisfying and questions why anyone would actually purchase it.

Considering how effectively Born Again showed Vanessa as a capable and ruthless criminal leader, it’s clear she was just as cold-blooded and strategic as her well-known accomplice.

Zurer truly shines in the role, giving Vanessa a captivating mix of strength and mystery. Her chemistry with D’Onofrio’s Kingpin created one of the most interesting love stories we’ve seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Fans strongly reacted against the planned changes to the Daredevil series and the recasting of the actor, demonstrating how much they valued her performance in the original Netflix show.

Sandrine Holt, known for her work on shows like The Expanse and Your Friends and Neighbours, replaced Vanessa in a casting decision that, according to actress Juliette Zurer, always seemed unclear to her (as reported by TVLine).

During production, plans changed unexpectedly. This was due to internal changes, and it led to Steve Scardapane, who previously worked on The Punisher, taking over as the head of Born Again.

Knowing what happened behind the scenes, the episode ‘The Grand Design’ feels like a heartfelt tribute to both Vanessa and Zurer, especially leading up to Zurer’s touching final scene.

Near the episode’s conclusion, Vanessa appears to have survived her surgery and will likely remain with Fisk. However, she soon begins to exhibit signs of brain damage, including memory problems.

Vanessa died suddenly, collapsing in front of her husband just moments after they’d dared to hope she was recovering. Understandably, he was completely heartbroken.

This moment feels reminiscent of Aunt May’s heartbreaking death in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Like her, this character is initially unaware of how seriously they’re hurt, and their condition quickly worsens.

Okay, so losing Vanessa really throws Fisk. It’s like the only thing that was holding him back from completely losing it was gone. Remember how she talked to the governor, Marge McCaffrey, in the last episode? She basically laid out how Fisk needed her to stay grounded, and now that she’s gone, all bets are off. He’s totally unmoored now, and honestly, it’s pretty scary to watch.

This raises a frightening question: what could he do now that he has absolutely nothing to lose?

The next few weeks will reveal how Daredevil: Born Again wraps up its second season – a new trailer suggests things are about to get chaotic. You can watch it here:

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New episodes of Daredevil: Born Again are released on Disney+ (UK) every Wednesday. You can subscribe to Disney+ for as little as £5.99 per month.

Don’t miss Daredevil: Born Again! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV suggestions, articles, and more.

Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about television and streaming drama and comedy for TopMob. Before that, he contributed to Starburst Magazine, hosted the Winter King Podcast on ITVX, and earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-04-15 07:05