Daredevil: Born Again shocks with major character death in episode 1

**Warning: Major spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again episode 1.**

In just eight short minutes, the world of Daredevil underwent a transformative shift as depicted in its latest Disney Plus series, Daredevil: Born Again. This significant change was brought about by the tragic demise of Foggy Nelson, portrayed by Elden Henson.

As a dedicated fan myself, I must admit that some astute viewers may have guessed it before the release, given the scarce glimpses we got of Henson in the series. However, there’s no denying that this move, with its shock value and boldness, still took me by surprise. It might even be a daring step too far.

How came about this situation? It seems that Foggy found himself unwittingly ensnared due to his benevolent character, attracted by a client in apparent distress – unbeknownst to him, this person was actually assisting Benjamin ‘Dex’ Pointdexter, better known as Bullseye.

When Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) departs, he later regrets his decision, hurrying back once he understands his friend is in peril. However, upon his return, it’s already too late.

With a bullet striking his chest, delivered by Bullseye, Foggy finds himself among approximately a dozen fatalities. Desperately pleading, Karen (played by Deborah Ann Woll) implores him to stay alive, but tragically, her efforts prove fruitless.

It’s surprising how swiftly Foggy met his end in Daredevil, and the series is now grappling with a dilemma: can it maintain its emotional core without Foggy?

From the start of the Netflix series, Foggy has served as Matt’s moral compass, ensuring he stays responsible, discouraging him from overstepping boundaries, and maintaining his connection to reality.

While Matt was away, risking his life as Daredevil, it was primarily Foggy who kept his life afloat. He stood in for him in court, deceived those close to him to safeguard his identity, and even rescued him from numerous perils on several instances.

Fundamentally, Foggy played an essential role in Matt’s character evolution and progression across the original series, serving as a connection to his real-world existence. On numerous occasions when Matt found himself in peril or teetering on the edge during his Daredevil exploits, we have witnessed Foggy intervening at just the right instance – frequently unaware of it – and rescuing him from trouble.

Without Foggy’s presence, what can prevent Matt (from straying away from his path)? Of course, such a development will lead to thrilling action scenes, as confirmed by the showrunner Dario Scardapane, who assures us that the series will maintain its gritty violence and somber mood. Yet, we need a contrasting element – an indication of goodness in the world. But with Foggy gone, where could that source be found?

In the course of his adult life, Foggy served as a surrogate family for Matt – a void he’d long felt, from their college days, to embarking on business ventures together, and even through their bitter disagreements, especially when Foggy found out that Matt was Daredevil. Throughout these times, Foggy, portrayed by Deborah Ann Woll, have symbolically and at times literally given Matt a reason to stand up and battle. However, what is there left for him to defend now?

Not only did Foggy affect Matt significantly, but his influence extended to the entire show. One of Daredevil’s standout qualities lies in its portrayal of deeply human characters, and Foggy might have been the most striking example of this.

In a world brimming with vigilantes, superheroes, villains, ninjas, and even hints of the extraordinary, Foggy played a crucial role as a source of comedic relief. Yet, he wasn’t perfect – he had flaws like selfishness, greed, and single-mindedness. However, these imperfections made him seem like a genuine person you might encounter on the bustling streets of New York City.

It’s likely that other characters will take over the roles previously filled by Foggy, but Karen can’t shoulder this responsibility alone because her partnership with Matt isn’t as effective without Foggy. Moreover, the first two episodes have demonstrated a growing tension in their relationship since Foggy’s demise.

Episode 1 of Born Again introduces fresh personalities like Kirsten McDuffie (Nikki M James) and new love interest Heather Glenn (Margarita Levieva, but at this early stage, it’s challenging for viewers to develop affection for these newcomers or consider them as potential replacements for one of the show’s beloved characters with a long-standing presence.

This doesn’t mean the show can’t bounce back – on the contrary, there are still seven episodes left, and with so much room for unexpected events, it’s quite plausible that we’ll find ourselves delighted by what transpires.

It’s important to acknowledge that the creators had to find a motivation for Matt, the main character, to don his Daredevil persona once more in order to revive him for us in the series. However, killing off such a central figure carries a significant amount of risk.

Time alone will reveal if this situation is one that the Man Without Fear, along with the series itself, can endure.

2025-03-05 09:01

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