Who Really Pulled the Trigger on White Tiger in Daredevil: Born Again?

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In Episode 3 of Daredevil: Born Again, we witnessed an intense courtroom showdown, where the core question was: Are masked vigilantes true heroes or merely troubled individuals seeking violent satisfaction? Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), who plays the role of a lawyer, took on the defense of Hector Ayala (Kama de los Reyes), also known as the White Tiger, a vigilante crimefighter accused of murdering an NYPD officer. As the trial unfolded, Matt found himself equally personally and professionally invested in proving the righteousness of masked heroes. The verdict, when it came, was particularly crushing due to his strong emotional stake in the case.

WARNING: SPOILERS FOLLOW!

In “The Hollow of His Hand,” Matt changes direction on Hector’s defense strategy, as his initial move fails. The secret informant Hector had saved from corrupt cops succumbs to police pressure and testifies against them, incriminating the officers who were attacking him. As a result, Matt is compelled to contradict his previous argument made to the judge by publicly revealing that Hector is actually White Tiger in the courtroom.

Despite being questionable, the approach proves effective: The court listens to testimonies from those saved by the White Tiger throughout the years, creating an image of a hero whose sole purpose was to assist others. It’s a gamble, but it pays off handsomely: Hector is cleared of murder charges and walks out of jail as a free man. Regrettably, what should have been a triumphant new chapter for the White Tiger ends abruptly in tragedy: the same night following the trial, while patrolling as the White Tiger, Hector is fatally shot by an unidentified gunman, who was observed wearing The Punisher’s emblem on his black tactical equipment.

In this version, I’ve aimed to maintain the original meaning and tone while using simpler and more natural language.

Daredevil: Who Really Killed White Tiger?

In the opening episodes of “Daredevil: Born Again,” the broader narrative sets up a renewed examination of vigilantism in superheroes, as the character Wilson Fisk, now serving as Mayor, claims to be introducing a fresh phase of law and order in New York City – one that doesn’t require street-level heroes such as White Tiger, Daredevil, or Spider-Man. However, given Fisk’s past history (as fans of Netflix’s “Daredevil” are aware), there’s a strong suspicion that the order he seeks isn’t in line with what most would define as heroic values, and figures like White Tiger aren’t the type Fisk will tolerate.

Viewing the incident where White Tiger was ambushed and killed, contrasted with Fisk’s firm opposition towards vigilantism during his interview with B.B. Urich (Genneya Walton), suggests it may not be a mere coincidence. It appears as though Fisk could have been the one who authorized the example to be made of Hector.

Concerning the identity of the one who fired the shot that hit White Tiger, it’s evident that the sight of the Punisher’s emblem on the shooter’s vest is a false lead; Marvel enthusiasts are aware that Jon Bernthal’s character, Frank Castle/Punisher, will appear in the storyline. Many might even speculate that the Punisher is responsible for the killing. However, “Born Again” has been careful to emphasize that there exists a group of corrupt cops within the NYPD who have adopted the Punisher logo as their secret symbol; we also know that there’s a faction of officers determined to ensure Hector Ayala never walks free again – if he ever manages to walk at all. It’s challenging to imagine they would let a “not guilty” verdict deter them from seeking retribution.

A crucial aspect that remains unclear is whether Wilson Fisk, if at all, has some connection with the corrupt police officers of the NYPD. The current series, “Daredevil: Born Again,” has largely maintained the illusion of Fisk attempting to lead an honest life through his new political role as mayor. However, in just three episodes, we’ve observed Fisk maneuvering in both the political and criminal spheres, and exerting subtle blackmail over Commissioner Gallo (Michael Gaston) to keep him compliant. In contrast, by this point in the original Netflix “Daredevil” series, we had already witnessed Fisk brutally crushing a man’s head with a car door!

It’s clear that White Tiger’s death came unexpectedly and was incredibly jarring, and if it was indeed Fisk who ordered the hit, then his lack of direct involvement in the chaos is merely a technicality. Fisk understands the impact Hector’s death will have on Matt Murdock, potentially sparking him to reemerge as Daredevil. The question now arises: will Daredevil’s return pose a challenge for Fisk? Or will it play perfectly into Kingpin’s plans.

Daredevil: Born Again is streaming on Disney+.

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2025-03-12 23:41