As the release of Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+ gets closer, it is important to remember where Matt Murdock was before his return. The Defenders miniseries brought together Marvel’s Netflix heroes for one big event. After that, Daredevil came back for a third season in 2018, which seemed like the end of his story.
Ironically, the season adapted the same Born Again storyline that the new series takes its name from. Although this was not the last time Charlie Cox appeared as Matt Murdock—he later returned in Spider-Man: No Way Home—it was the final chapter for a long time.
Daredevil Season 3 Shows Matt Murdock’s Struggles
After the explosion at the end of The Defenders, people assumed Matt Murdock was dead. His friends, Karen Page and Foggy Nelson, still had hope, but as time passed, they began to doubt.
Matt barely survived the blast that killed Elektra. A group of nuns found him, and Sister Maggie Grace took care of him. She had been a mentor to him in childhood, and she tried to restore his strength and faith.
Matt had lost confidence in his beliefs because of everything he had been through. Maggie told him that life is like a woven pattern—it may seem random and messy at first, but from another view, it forms a meaningful design. However, Matt’s healing was interrupted by a shocking truth.
Maggie was actually his mother. She had fallen in love with Matt’s father, Jack Murdock, and gave birth to Matt. But guilt and post-partum depression made her return to the Church instead of raising him. At first, Matt felt betrayed, but over time, he understood and forgave her.
Matt’s mind was also affected by his past battles. When he became Daredevil again, he wore the black outfit from Season 1 instead of his usual suit. He returned to the streets with one goal—taking down Wilson Fisk. His anger made him consider breaking his code and killing Kingpin once and for all.
Also Read: ‘Daredevil’ Season 1 Ending Explained: The Battle Against Kingpin and a Broken Friendship
Kingpin Returns Stronger Than Ever
After the events of Season 2, Wilson Fisk made a deal with the FBI to protect Vanessa, his love. In return, the Bureau placed him in a luxurious penthouse instead of a regular prison. When someone tried to assassinate him, Special Agent Benjamin “Dex” Poindexter saved his life. Fisk saw potential in Dex and slowly manipulated him into becoming a ruthless weapon.
Fisk told Dex that only he could understand his violent tendencies without judging him. Soon, Fisk ordered him to wear a Daredevil suit and attack people, making the public believe the real Daredevil had turned into a murderer. Dex stormed the New York Bulletin, killing many people and going after Karen.
Meanwhile, Matt had returned as Daredevil and stopped Dex before he could harm Karen. She had helped expose Fisk in Season 1 and even killed his ally, James Wesley.
Matt knew Karen was in danger, so he took her to the church where he had been hiding. But Dex followed them. He and Matt fought again, but this time, their battle had a tragic outcome. Father Lantom, Matt’s mentor, sacrificed himself to protect them.
At the same time, FBI agent Ray Nadeem discovered that Fisk controlled the Bureau from the shadows. When he tried to stop it, he was blackmailed into working for him instead. After his family was threatened, he had no choice but to testify against Fisk in court.
Matt and Foggy represented him, but before long, Fisk had him killed. However, before his death, Nadeem recorded a video confession, which Karen shared online. Soon, the public finally saw Fisk for what he really was.
Daredevil’s Final Battle and the Choice That Changed Everything
In the final episode, A New Napkin, Matt decided to end Fisk’s reign for good. Enraged by Nadeem’s death and the corruption in the system, he stormed Fisk’s penthouse on his wedding day. However, he was not the only one seeking revenge.
Dex had learned that Fisk had caused the death of the woman he loved. He arrived first, hoping to kill him, but Fisk overpowered him, leaving him badly injured. In the last moments of the season, doctors performed an experimental spinal surgery on Dex. His eyes reflected a familiar symbol—hinting that he would become Bullseye.
Then, Daredevil faced Kingpin in a brutal fight. Even though his anger burned inside him, Matt held onto his faith and refused to kill Fisk. Instead, he made a deal. He revealed his identity to Fisk and told him he would spend the rest of his life in prison.
But if Fisk agreed to go quietly and never harm Karen and Foggy, Matt would make sure Vanessa stayed out of jail. Since Fisk had no other choice, he accepted. The war between Daredevil and Kingpin ended.
At Father Lantom’s funeral, Matt gave a speech about what it truly means to be a “Man Without Fear.” This moment, along with Fisk’s defeat, brought Matt, Foggy, and Karen back together.
Throughout the season, they had tried to convince Matt to stop being Daredevil and return to his normal life. Finally, he was ready. The three of them even considered reopening their law firm under a new name—Nelson, Murdock, & Page.
Matt Murdock’s journey in Daredevil Season 3 was filled with challenges, loss, and redemption. He struggled with his faith, discovered shocking truths about his past, and faced his greatest enemy once again. Wilson Fisk manipulated the system, turning an FBI agent into a deadly weapon, but in the end, justice prevailed.
Matt’s final battle proved that he is more than just a vigilante—he is a man guided by his principles. With Fisk behind bars and his friendships restored, Matt was ready for a new beginning. However, his story is far from over, and Daredevil: Born Again promises even more.
Although Daredevil ended with a powerful final season, Matt Murdock’s story is far from over. He and his allies will return in Daredevil: Born Again.
Also Read: ‘Daredevil’ Season 2 Ending Explained: Matt Murdock Faces Ninjas, Love, and The Punisher
