Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Daredevil: Born Again episode 4.The Punisher has finally returned to screens as ofDaredevil: Born Againepisode 4, but his return looks quite different with the context of his role in the original NetflixMarvelshow in mind.Daredevil: Born Againepisode 4answered some major questions for the series only a few weeks into its run, including the matter ofwho the mysterious Adam isthat Vanessa and Kingpin talked about previously, and where the Punisher has been lurking following the end of his role inDaredevilandThe Punisher, especially given Kingpin’s new anti-vigilante legislation inthe MCU timeline.
While Frank Castle’s return is exciting, it’s also a matter that raises new questions for the franchise going forward, especially since Charlie Cox’s Daredevil and Jon Bernthal’s Punisher have several hours of on-screen history together from the originalDaredevilitself. This history already adds some considerable dimension to the Marvel duo’s reunion on-screen, and paints an interesting picture of what their future interactions and shared stories may end up looking like in bothDaredevil: Born Againand otherupcoming MCU releases.
Daredevil: Born Again’s Punisher Return Shows Frank Castle & Matt Murdock Know One Another, But Doesn’t Delve Into Their History
Daredevil: Born Againintroduces the Punisher into the Disney+ show towards the end of this chapter of the story, with Matt Murdock searching him out after finding the Punisher logo embossed on the bullet that killed his prior legal client and fellow vigilante Hector Ayala.Frank Castle debuts in dramatic fashion by first attacking Matt on sight before realizing who it is, calling those who use his logo “bulls**t fanboys”, and then pushing Murdock to admit that he’s struggling with Foggy’s deathand wants Castle’s “permission” to go down a violent path.
While this gives viewers all the context they really need for the scene - and, indeed, to understand Castle and Murdock’s tricky relationship, since the two spend the entire sequence at best lightly antagonizing one another - it also glides over much of the duo’s on-screen history. Save for details like the two clearly already knowing one another, and calling Matt “Red” in reference to the nickname he coined for Daredevil in the original Netflix show, there’s little reference to what came before for the pair, other than they clearly have a pre-established dynamic.
The Original Daredevil Show Saw Castle & Murdock Go From Enemies To Reluctant Allies
Jon Bernthal’s Punisher was first introduced into the Netflix Marvel world inDaredevilseason 2, being a central character throughout this section of the series before going on to have his ownThe Punishershow for two seasons. With Frank Castle hunting down the gangs who were involved in the death of his family, and Daredevil trying to stop his onslaught, the early episodes of season 2 put the pair against one another in dramatic fashion, asCastle’s first interaction with Daredevil is shooting him point-blank in the head- a move that damages his helmet, but leaves Murdock himself intact.
Though the pair are by no means friends when they first interact - and indeed, the Punisher attempts to double down and have Daredevil admit he is willing to kill and that his moral objections are just idealistic by threatening to kill an innocent unless Daredevil kills him - the level of antagonism between them changes as season 2 unfolds. In fact, an odd bond forms between the two over the course of the story, as they connect over the hardships of being a vigilante and the grief that motivated them both to take on the role.
Daredevil consistently attempts to help the Punisher despite Castle’s bloodthirsty endeavors and previous violent treatment of him, leading Murdock to become Castle’s lawyer when the gun-toting vigilante is arrested, partially as he begins to suspect more is afoot. This turns out to be correct, and the Punisher ends his role inDaredevilseason 2 by killing his former Marine commander - who turned out to be complicit in the deaths of Castle’s family - and then paying Daredevil back by helping him deal with the Hand’s ninjas when they go to kill him in the season 2 finale.
Daredevil’s Past With Punisher Makes Their Daredevil: Born Again Reunion All The More Interesting
While Frank Castle did save Daredevil in theDaredevilseason 2 finale,Daredevil: Born Againshows their ideological conflict is still very much ongoing, as the Punisher makes it clear that he still considers Murdock’s goals and methods naive. Knowing that the Punisher has stepped up to help Matt before makes their conflict more engaging, and indeed, the Punisher’s anger looks to be partially based on theirDaredevilinteractions, as to the Punisher it likely seems Murdock is taking on impossible odds once again, just as he did before Castle stepped in to assist at the end of season 2.
Similarly,Castle’s anger about Matt not acknowledging Foggy’s death or name to him feels very different knowing that the Punisher did meet Foggy, as Nelson was his public defender alongside Murdock inDaredevilseason 2 - and indeed, was the one who carried the Castle trial itself when Daredevil ended up occupied with vigilante work. Given Foggy publicly defended Frank and argued about his family being failed by the justice system during this time, it isn’t surprising that Castle would consider Foggy’s killer remaining alive its own miscarriage of justice, and blame Daredevil accordingly.
Without this context, the interaction can easily look more like the Punisher simply being gruff, as the personal aspects of their conflict can only be lightly touched upon without bringing up all of these past events. With them in mind, however, Frank’s story begins to look more volatile, as it’s possible he’s taken a lot of more Daredevil’s actions personally - especially with the added context that Castle ended up killing his own former best friend Billy Russo at the end ofThe Punisherseason 2 after he’d gone too far as a villain, and thus may well resent Murdock because he associates the two situations.
All this serves to both further explain and further emotionally charge Daredevil and the Punisher’s reunion inDaredevil: Born Again, and make the prospect of future meetings between the two seem like they could just as easily see the pair team up as they could see them end up physically fighting each other. With Kingpin’s anti-vigilante legislation set up to escalate and Daredevil looking set to once again don his suit, it seems Frank and Matt may need each other’s help more than ever - though whether they can overcome their differences to do so may be the bigger question.
Daredevil: Born Againepisode 5 & 6 are set to release on March, 25, 2025.
