Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Daredevil: Born Again episode 4Daredevil: Born Againepisode 4 features some major Easter eggs and references alongside The Punisher’s epic return to theMCU. Continuing Matt Murdock’s struggle to resist his darker half as Daredevil, this new episode elevates his frustrations as well as the barely contained rage of Mayor Wilson Fisk. Likewise,Daredevil: Born Againepisode 4 contains some very exciting references both to the greater MCU and the originalDaredevilseries on Netflix.
InDaredevil: Born Againepisode 4, Matt Murdock has lost Hector Ayala aka White Tiger, his client whose innocence he’d just proven in court. With Ayala having been shot by a man appearing to be The Punisher, Murdock conducts a personal investigation that brings him to Frank Castle himself, all while the flaws of the entire legal system are highlighted, making it that much harder for Murdock to resist the life he’s been trying to give up.Here are all the biggest Easter eggs and MCU references we found throughoutDaredevil: Born Again episode 4.
20Sic Semper Systema
A Fitting Title
The title ofDaredevil: Born Againepisode 4 is “Sic Semper Systema, “Latin for “thus always the system”. It’s a fitting title for this new chapter where the legal system itself is most certainly put on trial, and promo posters for the episode were featured with the same phrase across Punisher’s classic skull logo.
Receiving Hector Ayala’s belongings from the coroner,Matt Murdock notably receives both the White Tiger’s mask and amulet, opening the door for the mantle to be taken up by a new hero.
18Angela Del Toro
The Second White Tiger
As a prime example of the above, Murdock is met by Angela Del Toro, Hector’s niece,who is notably the second White Tiger in the original Marvel Comicswho similarly inherits the role following Hector’s trial and murder on the page. As such, the MCU may go down the same route, especially with a Young Avengers project in the works.
17Muse At Work
He’s Already Claiming Victims
Muse is shown on-screen, the serial-killing supervillain artist from the comics whose murals have already been seen in episodes ofDaredevil: Born Againreleased thus far. However, Muse is now seen carrying a body into the subway tunnels, alluding to the most disturbing part of his “creative process”.
A Secretly Dark Memorial
Image via Disney+
A new Muse mural is shown when Leroy Bradford is arrested by two cops, depicting White Tiger’s mask backed by angel wings and tiger eyes, seemingly a memorial to the fallen vigilante (which does track with Muse’s vigilante support in the comics.
15Captain Planet
A Classic Cartoon
After learning about Fisk’s recycling plans for the city from Daniel,BB Urich calls Fisk’s aide “Captain Planet”, confirming that the Hanna-Barbera cartoon and its environmentalist hero do exist in the MCU. Humorously, MCU actor Don Cheadle played a live-action Captain Planet in a 2011 parody short from Funny or Die.
The Good Samaritan
Fisk claims his meeting with Adam had no expression of harm “or ill intent”. Notably,the former Kingpin referred to himself as “The Ill Intent” in Netflix’sDaredevilseason 1when he shared the parable of the Good Samaritan following his initial arrest.
13"Bring on the Blind Justice”
Lady Justice
Taking on Leroy’s case, Bradford makes a joke about Murdock being blind, referencing the common phrase “justice is blind"which is about the idealized objectivity and impartiality of the law, which also connects to the iconography of the blind Lady Justice (whose statue is notably featured in both the opening credits of Netflix’s and Marvel’sDaredevilshows).
12Skrulls
Connecting To A Major MCU Cliffhanger
Leroy claims that a Skrull was impersonating him and stole the caramel corn from the bodega. Matt obviously doesn’t buy it, but it is a good reminder that Skrulls are supposedly still hiding as humans following the cliffhangerat the end of 2023’sSecret Invasion.
It Always Comes in Handy
Hearing Officer Powell’s heartbeat, Murdock uses his senses to determine if the corrupt cop is lying or not about being involved in White Tiger’s death, a classic move from the comics as well as the OGDaredevilseries.
