Born Again Episode 8’s Game-Changing Plot Twist Was Actually Teased In The Original Netflix Show
Daredevil: Born Again continues to reshape the Marvel TV landscape with bold choices that tie back to its predecessor in increasingly complex ways, especially after the shock reveal in episode 8. The revival series in the MCU timeline retained several key elements from the Netflix original, including its stellar cast and tone. One other aspect carried over into Daredevil: Born Again was seeded in the original series, which came to the surface during episode 8’s surprise ending.
Daredevil: Born Again episode 8 delivers a shocking revelation that reframes the central tragedy of this new series. For much of the season, Matt Murdock operated under the belief that Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin, orchestrated the murder of his closest friend, Foggy Nelson. However, episode 8 reveals a different truth: it wasn’t Fisk who ordered the hit – it was his wife, Vanessa Fisk. This twist recalls elements established in the original Netflix show.
Daredevil Teased Vanessa Would Become Part Of New York’s Criminal Underworld Long Before Daredevil: Born Again
Vanessa Has Been Slowly Entering Fisk’s Criminal World
While shocking, Vanessa’s role in Foggy’s murder doesn’t come completely out of left field – far from it. Her journey from outsider to potential crime boss was subtly but clearly foreshadowed across multiple seasons of the original Netflix Daredevil show. From her very first appearance, Vanessa has been calm, observant, and unnervingly accepting of Fisk’s violent lifestyle. Her love story with Fisk isn’t so much about redemption as it is about shared darkness.
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One of the most striking aspects of Vanessa’s early characterization is how quickly she acclimates to the truth about Fisk. When he reveals his criminal ties and brutal methods, Vanessa doesn’t run – she leans in. Unlike most characters who discover the extent of Fisk’s violence and recoil, Vanessa processes it with alarming ease. She’s curious, pragmatic, and even supportive.
In Daredevil season 1, Vanessa doesn’t just tolerate Fisk’s brutality – she seems to admire his conviction. And as the show progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that she doesn’t merely want to be his partner in romance, but also in power. By season 3, the idea that Vanessa could be the true mastermind behind certain decisions starts to feel more than plausible – it feels inevitable.
Daredevil Season 3 Made The Prospect Of Vanessa Becoming A New Kingpin More Than Possible
Vanessa Actively Entered Fisk’s Criminal Empire In Daredevil Season 3
Image via Disney+
The real turning point for Vanessa’s arc comes in Daredevil season 3. After being kept in hiding due to threats against her life, she finally returns in the latter half of the season – and immediately wants in. No longer content to watch from the sidelines, Vanessa asks Fisk to let her in on the inner workings of his criminal empire. She doesn’t shy away from the blood on his hands – she wants to understand how the whole machine works.
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It’s a moment that fundamentally changes the nature of their relationship. Vanessa isn’t just his weakness anymore; she’s his consigliere. When Ray Nadeem is murdered, Vanessa doesn’t merely accept it – she comments on how clean the kill was, a small but disturbing note that underscores her comfort with lethal efficiency.
Vanessa’s calm demeanor, composed strategy, and eagerness to participate are all clues that she could be just as dangerous as Fisk, if not more so. She sees the bigger picture, unclouded by emotional outbursts or bouts of rage. If Fisk is a blunt instrument, Vanessa is a scalpel – quieter, subtler, but equally deadly.
Daredevil’s Trajectory With Vanessa’s Arc Means Daredevil: Born Again’s Twist Makes Perfect Sense For The Overarching Marvel Story
Vanessa Was Behind Foggy Nelson’s Assassination
Image via Disney+
Daredevil: Born Again’s Vanessa twist might feel shocking on first watch, but when viewed through the lens of her original arc, it fits disturbingly well. By giving Vanessa agency in Foggy’s murder, the show doesn’t betray her character – it completes a transformation that’s been building since season 1. This version of Vanessa isn’t a Lady Macbeth archetype who pushes her husband to act – she’s evolved into a queenpin in her own right.
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Born Again recognizes that the seeds were always there: her calm around violence, her hunger for power, and her ability to strategize in morally gray territory. While Fisk may still be the face of criminality in New York, Vanessa’s decision to send Bullseye after Foggy cements her as someone just as capable of pulling the strings. She’s perhaps even more dangerous because of how quietly she does it.
With this revelation in Daredevil: Born Again, the MCU opens the door to a much broader interpretation of power dynamics in its street-level stories. Vanessa isn’t just Kingpin’s wife anymore. She’s the future of his empire – and maybe the one who’s always been steering the wheel.
