The third episode of Daredevil: Born Again, titled The Hollow of His Hand, dials up the tension and stakes in a way that is both riveting and deeply unsettling. It’s an episode that expertly juggles the political machinations of Wilson Fisk, the legal battles of Matt Murdock, and the ever-present chaos that threatens to consume Hell’s Kitchen. By the time the credits roll, the world of Daredevil feels more volatile than ever, delivering a gut punch that lingers long after the final scene.
At the heart of this episode is the gang war brewing in Fisk’s absence. With his old associates clawing at his former territories, Vanessa attempts to stabilise the situation through Buck Cashman, while Fisk himself remains coldly indifferent, believing the criminals will simply eliminate each other. This detached, strategic cruelty is classic Fisk, and Vincent D’Onofrio continues to bring an eerie restraint to the character that makes him all the more terrifying.
Meanwhile, Matt Murdock is locked in a moral and legal struggle that tests his convictions like never before. His case defending Hector Ayala, the White Tiger, is one of the most compelling courtroom sequences in the Daredevil franchise. Matt’s initial resistance to exposing Hector’s identity crumbles under the weight of necessity, leading to a dramatic moment in open court that turns the tide. The episode captures the suffocating nature of the justice system—how even when the truth is on your side, power structures and intimidation tactics can threaten to bury it. The victory feels earned, but there’s a lingering sense that something is about to go terribly wrong.
And indeed, it does. Fisk’s public denouncement of the verdict solidifies his anti-vigilante stance, setting the stage for the next phase of his rule. But the real shock comes in the final moments: Hector, finally free to patrol as White Tiger, is brutally murdered by an unknown assailant wearing a Punisher emblem. It’s a devastating, almost nihilistic ending that reaffirms Daredevil: Born Again’s commitment to high-stakes storytelling. It also raises an immediate question—who is behind the mask? Is this Frank Castle himself, or has someone else taken up his insignia? Either way, it’s clear that Hell’s Kitchen is only growing darker.
The Hollow of His Hand is a powerhouse episode that highlights the fragility of justice in a city teetering on the edge. It’s thrilling, tragic, and filled with expertly crafted performances. If the first two episodes laid the foundation for Born Again, this is the episode that smashes through it, leaving us scrambling to see where the pieces land next.
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