Born Again Season 1 Ending & Season 2 Story Explained By Ayelet Zurer

Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS for Daredevil: Born Again episode 9!Ever since the Marvel Cinematic Universe made Netflix’s Daredevil fully canon, Daredevil: Born Again has been able to elevate one of the most established characters in the lore. Marvel Studios’ creative overhaul of Daredevil: Born Again season 1 also took care of the initial recasting of Vanessa Fisk, and the studio thankfully brought Ayelet Zurer back to reprise the character she brought to life in the Netflix series.

While Daredevil: Born Again season 1 explored Mayor Wilson Fisk’s rise to power, the MCU TV show also showcased how Vanessa has been growing her own power in the criminal world, making her one of the most dangerous players in the franchise. One of the big twists that emerged in Daredevil: Born Again episode 8 was the confirmation that it was Vanessa who put the order in to have Foggy Nelson killed.

Things escalated in Daredevil: Born Again episode 9, though, and ScreenRant caught up with Zurer about the fallout of the finale. Zurer broke down Vanessa’s return to the MCU, her season 1 accomplishments, and the new layers that Daredevil: Born Again has added to Vanessa’s personality and her marriage with Kingpin.

Ayelet Zurer Appreciates Vanessa Fisk’s Expansive Role In Daredevil: Born Again

“I Was Scared And Excited”

While Vanessa was instrumental in Netflix’s Daredevil TV show, Daredevil: Born Again has given Zurer more material to work with, making her MCU character elevated in the Matt Murdock series. When asked what some of the most exciting and challenging parts of having a more complex role were, Zurer admitted that it was a mix of excitement while also being nervous, stating that “I was excited. I was scared and excited, because on one hand, I felt like she was a little different than how I remembered her, and I had to go and watch what we had before.”

However, after getting up to speed again on her initial journey as Vanessa, Zurer stated, “I sort of understood where it was going and realized what was driving the driving force for her, I realized that it’s really the same. It’s just the same person, only a little bit mature, older, more successful, maybe. But she’s still the same Vanessa, who loves Wilson so much and is also steaming with anger.”

As Vanessa was also the one to pull the trigger on Adam, Zurer elaborated on how her choices will eventually come to haunt her. “There will be consequences to everything, because that’s the show. Everybody has consequences, but particularly for Vanessa, it’s all about gaining trust this season, for her and Fisk. Because the innate law is that they love each other and they’re intertwined and inseparable. So, it’s going to be heartbreaking to see what she has to do in order to gain trust, but at the same time, it’s inevitable.”

Vanessa’s Role In The Murder Of Foggy Nelson

Is Daredevil’s Best Friend Really Gone?

As fans were finally able to get some answers to who was actually behind the hit on Foggy, Zurer was asked if she has seen some of the online theories that Elden Henson’s character may actually still be alive and if he is, if it would get complicated for Vanessa in any way. “Again, consequences are coming. There are always consequences in the show to everyone, everyone’s actions will have consequences. So it’s inevitable,” Zurer stressed.

Related

I Can’t Believe Daredevil: Born Again Left A Huge Clue About Its Episode 8 Plot Twist In Plain Sight In Episode 1 & I Totally Missed It

Daredevil: Born Again was able to sneak some important details past the audience from the very first episode and honestly, it’s a credit to the show.

The actor added, “I have to say that, when I read about it, I had to put it aside, and I sort of suppressed the fact that Vanessa is involved in this, and I didn’t deal with him until the absolute end. Because I just couldn’t take it. It’s like such a miserable, sad moment to see him gone, and then to have that tie to her somehow.”

Ayelet Zurer On How Vanessa Fisk’s Boss Status May Pose A Threat To Vigilantes

“Power Serves A Purpose For Her”

One of the big parallels in Daredevil: Born Again is how the Disney+ drama has been following Wilson and Vanessa’s respective development as power players. Now that Mayor Fisk has taken his steps forward as a political figure, Vanessa is finding her own power in the criminal world. While fans have seen how dangerous Kingpin can be to Daredevil and other vigilantes and heroes in New York City, Zurer was asked what kind of danger Vanessa will pose to characters like that going forward.

“I think Vanessa does what she does for power, but not just for power,” Zurer said as she elaborated how “power serves a purpose for her. The purpose of power is to feel protected, protect her and him at the same time. He’s going for power because he needs it. He needs the love of the people. He needs more and more. So that’s that’s really different. I think these two approaches are gonna challenge them.”

Ayelet Zurer On Vanessa & Wilson’s Therapy Sessions In Daredevil: Born Again

“Vanessa Got To Say A Lot Of Things About Herself”

One of the biggest arcs in Daredevil: Born Again season 1 is the fact that fans have been getting to see a domestic side of Vanessa and Wilson as they have been going to therapy with Dr. Heather Glenn, who also happens to be Matt’s new girlfriend. Getting to shoot this type of storyline with her fellow Daredevil: Born Again cast members, Vincent D’Onofrio and Margarita Levieva, Zurer said that “these scenes were probably one of my favorite scenes,” while also being asked how things will change now between Vanessa and Heather now that the latter is working directly for Mayor Fisk.

“Because it is so strange to put these people in a situation where they talk about emotions in a very honest way, but in front of someone and not really saying anything, because they’re not the type of people that will air their dirty laundry in front of anyone, but still say a lot, but not say anything. These really crazy scenes were so much fun. And also, Vanessa got to say a lot of things about herself and how she views things, and she expressed it verbally. That was really fun, it’s gonna be interesting to see where this triangle goes.”

Ayelet Zurer On How Season 1 Sets Up Daredevil: Born Again Season 2

“I can’t say much, you know that they’ll kill me…”

As Daredevil: Born Again season 2 is currently underway in production, Zurer was asked if she could give any teases about what fans can look forward to with Vanessa when the series returns in 2026 as part of Phase 6. In true MCU fashion, Zurer couldn’t reveal too much, but promised that the Daredevil: Born Again finale launches a lot of important points in season 2.

“I can’t say much, you know that they’ll kill me,” she laughed. “But I can say that the finale of season 1 definitely launches us into the second season with a lot to take care of, both on a relationship level, and also actions and consequences for actions.“

Why Ayelet Zurer Is In No Hurry To Have Vanessa Appear Outside Of Daredevil: Born Again

“I Can’t See Her Outside Of This World, To Be Honest”

With the Daredevil mythology finally part of the MCU timeline, Zurer was asked if she had any interest in seeing Vanessa clash with other characters outside the world of Daredevil: Born Again. While thinking it through, Zurer asked, “Like who?” while getting the example of Captain America, as Sam Wilson could serve as a political opponent. However, Zurer admitted that “I wouldn’t mind doing any of it,” and shared that if there is any one person on her list that Zurer wants to work more within the MCU, it’s actually with the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen himself.

“I’m enjoying Vanessa so much, and I think there’s so much to investigate. But when I’m asked this question, I always say, I wish I had more with Charlie, because her and Daredevil is such a different dynamic from Vanessa and Matt. it could be really interesting to see what happens there. I can’t see her outside of this world, to be honest.”

Check out our other Daredevil: Born Again interviews:

Daredevil: Born Again

9/10

Release Date

March 4, 2025

Showrunner

Chris Ord

Directors

Michael Cuesta, Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson, Jeffrey Nachmanoff

Writers

Chris Ord

Upcoming MCU Movies