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in: Daredevil: Born Again Episodes

Optics

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"These first few days are critical. Optics are gonna matter."
―Sheila Rivera to Wilson Fisk

Optics is the second episode of the first season of Daredevil: Born Again.

Synopsis[]

Matt Murdock gets a new client who's more than he claims to be. Fisk learns the power of optics.

Plot[]

Hector Ayala arrested

Wilson Fisk addresses the people of New York City, prioritizing the city's ongoing issues and claims that they do not need the likes of Punisher, Spider-Man and Daredevil to add to it. Meanwhile, Hector Ayala goes to the subway and witnesses Nicky Torres being harassed and beaten by Connor Powell and Kel Shanahan. Alaya jumps in to protect Torres, giving him a chance to run away, and fights the two attackers, although it ends up with Shanahan accidentally falling onto the tracks and being hit by a train. Powell then reveals that the two were the New York City Police Department and arrests Ayala on the spot.

Fisk looks out his office window

Sheila Rivera presents Fisk with his new duties as the mayor, while Fisk himself recalls his father and the political aspirations he used to have. Rivera explains that optics will be critical for him in the first few days, being important to whether or not his anti-vigilante agenda would pan out, considering how the public is viewing him. Fisk says that he is used to being a target of public scorn but Rivera points out that Vanessa Fisk not being a part of the narrative can potentially hurt Fisk in the long run. Fisk replies that both he and Vanessa have important work to do, telling Rivera to give his wife some leeway.

Matt Murdock meets Hector Ayala

Coming to the 15th Precinct Police Station for work, Matt Murdock overhears Ayala being pressured and subjected to brutality in the interrogation room. Murdock comes to check on Ayala, who is being accused of killing a police officer, but Ayala insists that it was an accident and he was trying to help out a person in danger. Murdock asks Ayala if that was the whole story, hearing on his heartbeat and confirming for himself that Ayala is telling the truth. Although Ayala says that he cannot afford Murdock's services, he still insists on representing him and promises that Ayala is in the good hands.

Mayor Fisk solves road issue

On the way to Brooklyn, Fisk gets advises from his associates, but their car gets stuck in the traffic. Fisk gets out to check on what is going on and upon seeing a big hole on the road, he calls out to the DOT foreman at the scene. Fisk tells him to stop everything and fill out the hole, granting him with all the permission he might need, drawing attention from the onlookers. Being filmed, Fisk uses the situation to get more public support as the mayor who gets things done.

Kirsten and Cherry

Murdock fills in Kirsten McDuffie and Cherry on Ayala's case and his intention to represent Ayala, although both of them are agaisnt the idea. McDuffie claims that their firm cannot handle such a serious case with their current workload, but Murdock does not budge and insists that Ayala needs their help. Cherry says that Ayala is being viewed as a cop killer and representing him would be siding against the entire police force, however Murdock manages to convince McDuffie to take up the case. Murdock asks Cherry to speak with Ayala's wife and find the witness from the subway, while also mentioning that something about Ayala's story does not track.

Murdock & McDuffie Defend Hector Ayala

Murdock and McDuffie attend the court hearing with Ayala, being witnessed by numerous police officers and prosecuted by Benjamin Hochberg. Hochberg starts off by requesting for Ayala to be remanded without bail and Judge Jerry Cooper grants the motion instantly. Murdock tries to chime in and points out at Ayala's military record and his place in his community, but Cooper ignores him, due to the severity of Ayala's charges.

BB Urich

BB Urich, who has been reporting on Fisk and his campaign, acquaints herself with Daniel Blake and gets a private audience with Fisk at the New York City Hall. Fisk voices his appreciation, as Urich was one of the first journalists who took his campaign seriously, and finds out that she is Ben Urich's niece. Urich says that she tried to look into Fisk and found out that Commissioner Phil Gallo is set to retire from the police, which could lead to the force also quitting in protest. Urich then tries to inquire about Vanessa, but Fisk ends the meeting and Urich has to leave.

Heather Glenn at the Inkwell

Heather Glenn presents her new book Live Without Fear: A Guide to Confronting Trauma at the Inkwell Gathering Space, where she hosts meet-and-greet and gets approached by Buck Cashman.

Gallo and Kingpin

Fisk attends the funeral of Shanahan, where he meets with Gallo who openly voices his disdain of Fisk, having full knowledge of his past crimes. Gallo says that he cannot understand why would Fisk give up his criminal empire to become the mayor and have less power and money. Fisk asks how would they fix the issue at hand, but Gallo has no intention to cooperate, making it clear that he only wants Fisk out of the office. Gallo claims that Fisk is not a mayor who loves his city but only a criminal desperate for public approval and it is too late for him to turn.

Cherry finds White Tiger Suit

McDuffie and Cherry come to talk to Soledad Ayala and tell her that it was necessary for her to be present at her husband's trial. Soledad asks McDuffie to be honest about Ayala's chances in court, to which Cherry replies that the potential killing of a police officer puts him in a dire situation. He adds that Murdock and McDuffie are the best lawyers he knew and McDuffie insists on Soledad being present, although she still has her doubts about her husband. While they talk, Cherry goes to pick Ayala's suit for the trial but instead finds the White Tiger Suit and the Amulet of Power.

Matt Murdock Prison Phone Call

Murdock goes on a date with Glenn but it soon gets interrupted by Cherry who calls Murdock and informs him of what he found at Ayala's house. Murdock heads over to Rikers Island, frustrated at Ayala for neglecting to mention his double life as a vigilante. Ayala says that he was not wearing a suit during the incident so it should not be relevant but Murdock does not share that notion. Ayala tells Murdock that without Daredevil, the streets are left unprotected, so he felt that he needed to step up. Murdock remarks that the prosecution will eventually find out and it would put Ayala's case in a much less favorable light, while also noticing that Ayala is being subjected to beatings by both co-inmates and guards.

Gallo tenders his resignation

At the City Hall, Fisk holds a meeting with Gallo, who officially submits his retirement notice, knowing that with the police being understaffed, Fisk would be in trouble. However, Fisk then lets Gallo know that he knows more about him than Gallo expected, and shows the picture of his wife and son, indirectly threatening him. Fisk then rejects all of the proposition for the police and forces Gallo to stay on his position.

Judge Jerry's Chambers

With Ayala's vigilantism being uncovered, Murdock and Hochberg meet with Cooper at his office, and Murdock requests for Ayala's secret identity as White Tiget being kept out of the record. He claims that it has no relevance to the case and would only make jurors unfairly biased, but Hochberg objects and claims that Ayala's vigilantism suggests a pattern of behavior. Cooper ultimately sides with Murdock and rules for any evidence related to White Tiger being not discussed in court, to Hochberg's frustration.

Cherry speaks to Matt

Murdock and Cherry discuss the progress on the case, although Cherry still had no luck finding the witness who could exonerate Ayala and testify in his support. Cherry suggests that the case is hitting close to home for Murdock because of his own vigilante past but Murdock replies that it is about Ayala and not him. He insists that Ayala is telling the truth, but Cherry points out that it does not mean much if they cannot prove it in court. Murdock then decides to take it into his own hands and tails Powell, who is also looking for the witness.

Wilson and Vanessa

Glenn is approached by the Fisks for a couple therapy, so she asks the two what drove them to seek her counseling. Vanessa replies that when Fisk disappeared from their business, she had to take over and Fisk explains that he survived a run-in with the vigilante, which made it very difficult for him to stay connected to his wife at the time. Vanessa tells Glenn that the business thrived under her management but she does not know how to feel now that her husband is back, and Fisk adds that he does not want to lose his wife.

Matt attacked by Powell

Listening on Powell with his enhanced hearing, Murdock finds out where the witness is hiding and rushes over there before the police, alerting Cherry as well. Murdock gets to Torres and explains to him that he is the only one who can help Ayala to escape conviction, but Torres is too scared to go against the police. Murdock hears the police officers approaching and gets Torres to escape and find Cherry, while he stays in the apartment and gets found by Powell and Williams. They assault Murdock and Powell even suggests to kill him, but then Murdock stops holding back and brutally beats them.

Cast[]

Main Cast:

Guest Stars:

Appearances[]

Locations[]

Events[]

Items[]

Concepts[]

To be added

Vehicles[]

To be added

Sentient Species[]

Creatures[]

Organizations[]

Mentioned[]

Music[]

Song title Artist Location(s)
Cashmere TENTS
Amazing Grace De Wolfe Music
El Party Xcelencia
Get Free The Vines End Credits.

Trivia[]

  • This episode opens with an epitaph for Kamar de los Reyes, the actor who portrayed Hector Ayala/White Tiger and passed away in December 2023.
  • The bulk of this episode retains material from the original shoot of Daredevil: Born Again, which resulted in original head writers Matt Corman and Chris Ord being credited as the writers for this episode while original director Michael Cuesta received directorial credit.
    • Jeffrey Nachmanoff, who directed the original third and fourth episodes, footage of which was primarily used for the reworked fourth and fifth episodes, also had some of his directed footage featured in this episode.[1]
    • Dario Scardapane also wrote additional scenes for the episode during the series' creative overhaul.
  • Johnny M. Wu and Charlie Hudson III are credited in this episode despite not actually being in it; Wu instead appeared in the third episode while Hudson appeared in the fourth episode. Their crediting in this episode may be due to their scenes being cut, or because their scenes that were used in future episodes may have been intended for this episode and therefore were contractually obligated to be credited.

Behind the Scenes[]

References[]

The Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Optics.
  1. ↑ Daredevil Director Reveals Punisher, Kingpin Insights (Jeffrey Nachmanoff Episode 4 Interview)
  2. ↑ Daredevil Director Reveals Punisher, Kingpin Insights (Jeffrey Nachmanoff Episode 4 Interview)
  3. ↑ ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Directors on Their Successful Series Revamp and Season 2’s “Resistance Tale”
  4. ↑ Heather Glenn The Inkwell Book Signing - 2024 Reshoot BTs
  5. ↑ Daredevil Director on White Tiger & Matt Murdock (Michael Cuesta | Ep. 2 & 3)
  6. ↑ Marvel Television's Daredevil: Born Again | Special Look | Disney+

External Links[]

Season One Heaven's Half Hour • Optics • The Hollow of His Hand • Sic Semper Systema • With Interest • Excessive Force • Art for Art's Sake • Isle of Joy • Straight to Hell
Season Two To be added
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