Spoiler Alert: This recap contains details from the season finale of Disney+’s Daredevil: Born Again “Straight to Hell”

In the season finale of Daredevil: Born Again, New York City faces more challenges than just tariffs on Madison Avenue; it’s now under martial law, imposed immediately by Mayor Fisk, or rather, Mayor Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio).

While he’s not proposing to build a wall from New Jersey, he’s serious about his stance: No more vigilantes. This has been his mantra all season. His task force is patrolling the streets, enforcing an 8 PM curfew to ensure his message is clear.

After attempting to avoid confrontation with Fisk due to the death of Foggy (Elden Henson), Daredevil, also known as Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), is determined to reclaim the city from Fisk and his glamorous wife, Vanessa (Ayelet Zurer). Their plans to transform the Red Hook port into a lawless city-state for money laundering and other illicit activities cannot go unchecked.

Key Takeaways from the Season Finale

Here are some critical insights from the finale, directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, and penned by Heather Bellson and showrunner Dario Scardapane:

—Daredevil survives. Despite being shot in the chest while protecting Fisk, he manages to escape from the hospital and return to his apartment.

—Bullseye is on the loose. After shooting Matt, Bullseye (Wilson Bethel) is revealed to have been released from a mental hospital by Vanessa to eliminate Foggy and his client, Benjamin Cafaro, aka Dumb Benny. Vanessa explains to Bullseye, “The case he’s involved with could expose some of my business practices. You excel at this type of work. That’s why I sought you out.”

—Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, makes his return. As expected, with Fisk sending Buck to eliminate Matt after he took a bullet for him, Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) arrives to protect Matt at his apartment. Despite being outnumbered by a police force sent to kill Matt, Frank and Matt manage to overpower them. The last remaining thug, Cole North (Jeremy Isaiah Earl), is revealed to have killed Hector Ayala. While Frank wants revenge, Matt insists on restraint, leading to a heated argument until a grenade interrupts their confrontation.

—Matt and Karen’s feelings linger. Karen sends Frank to protect Matt while he recovers in the hospital. Matt admits to hearing their heartbeats together, feeling a tinge of jealousy. However, Karen reassures him that her heart belongs to Matt, encouraging him to continue fighting, reminding him that Foggy would want him to do so.

—Luke Cage makes a comeback. The commissioner spots Luke getting into his SUV and remarks on how long it’s been since he was a rookie. Luke (Mike Colter) responds, “Yeah, a long time ago.” The commissioner notices the fresh Punisher tattoo on his neck and questions his involvement with the task force. Luke replies, “The mayor recruited me. Just trying to survive.” What’s Luke’s strategy against Fisk? He certainly seems to be aligning himself with the right side of history.

—The Commissioner meets his end. After persistently nagging Fisk, Gallo (Michael Gaston) finds himself with a crushed skull at the hands of the Mayor.

—Trust issues arise. We’re not referring to you, BB Urich (Genneya Walton), the Marvel reporter poised to expose Fisk in the media. Instead, it’s Dr. Heather Glenn (Margarita Levieva) who underestimates Matt’s concerns about Mayor Fisk. This therapist, blinded by her own biases, is appointed by Fisk as the Commissioner of Mental Health, suggesting that the city will need therapy after the chaos of martial law and vigilante suppression. Looking ahead to Season 2, it seems unlikely that Matt and Heather’s relationship will end well. Heather, take note: good guys wear red, not like Alex from Clockwork Orange, a nod to Fisk’s blood-stained attire after the shooting.

You can beat him up, but you can’t lock him up. The finale hints that while Frank Castle/Punisher is incarcerated in the Red Hook jail run by Fisk (with Tony Dalton’s Jack Duquesne aka Swordsman nearby), he has no intention of staying put. After clashing with the Mayor’s anti-vigilante task force, Frank finds himself in a cell. However, he cleverly manages to turn the tables on a guard, setting the stage for an upcoming The Punisher special from Marvel Studios, co-written by Jon Bernthal and directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green.

Daredevil may not have built this city, but he certainly embodies the spirit of its citizens. In a poignant voiceover at the episode’s conclusion, he reflects on the state of NYC under Fisk’s rule: “I can’t see my city. But I can feel it. The system isn’t working. It’s rotten, corrupt. But this is our city. Not His. And we can take it back together. The weak… the strong… all of us… resist, rebel, rebuild. Because we are the city. Without fear.” With Season 2 currently in production, the stakes are higher than ever.