Daredevil: Born Again’s fourth episode deals with the aftermath of Hector Ayala’s tragic and very untimely death. Matt Murdock begins to dig into what is happening and discovers a major clue that leads him to an old frenemy in the city. Of course, that friend is none other than the Punisher, once again played brilliantly by Jon Bernthal. He’s back, bearded, and bolder than ever. Here’s how and why the Punisher shows up in Daredevil: Born Again.
Matt is reeling with sadness and guilt over Hector’s death. Hector’s niece even challenges him, saying he is doing nothing to help her uncle. So, Matt goes out to the murder scene and finds a piece of key evidence that investigators did not see. It is a bullet casing with the Punisher symbol on it. In the previous episode, we saw the killer wearing a Punisher vest. But it was pretty obvious that Frank had no reason to kill Hector. We also know that he has a bunch of cop fanboys who inexplicably idolize him while also claiming to hate people who take the law into their own hands.
Matt goes to a nondescript area of the city and into a presumably abandoned building’s basement. He enters the manager’s office and that manager happens to be Frank Castle. Frank comes running at him like a man who looks like he just escaped hell, causing Matt to yell out his name so he will stop. The Punisher wants to know why Matt is paying him an impromptu visit. Matt tells Frank about the shooting and the bullet casing, to which Frank scoffs and says “Bunch of bullsh*t fanboys, huh?” Gotta love this unintentionally funny dude and his one-liners.
He wants to know what the shooting has to do with him and Matt replies that he could use what he has in his bunker to be of service. Frank hilariously asks “Red” if he is of service and calls him out for “prancing around the city in a Halloween costume” and beating up people. Predictably, they begin a verbal spar where they just insult each other. Frank says he doesn’t have time for Matt’s “candy a** hero s**t” and believes that Matt came for his permission to really hurt them. He challenges Matt and rightly points out that Matt is full of guilt and shame and darkness. Frank presses Matt about Foggy’s death, calling him a coward for not admitting that he didn’t do anything about it. Matt smacks Frank in retaliation and quickly apologizes, but Frank says it is the first honest thing he’s done.
Will the Punisher Return to Daredevil: Born Again?
Jon Bernthal and Charlie Cox are just absolute magic together onscreen. The way that Frank digs at Matt’s emotional core and pushes him in ways that no one else can is always something to witness. They are simply two different sides of the same trauma-ridden coin. By the time Matt leaves, he is in tears and it looks like Frank is rather pensive too.
We know it won’t be the last time we see the Punisher on Daredevil: Born Again. There are images of Jon Bernthal with the vest on and rockin’ Frank’s classic “I’m murdering again” haircut. Honestly, the long hair and beard are a vibe but one cannot question Frank Castle’s choice. He will certainly want to go after those who are using his Punisher symbol in vain. Let’s see how he ties into Matt’s story and continues to build his own this season.
Content shared from nerdist.com.