DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN Episode 3 Explores The Weight of Secret Identities and It's Great Storytelling

Daredevil: Born Again is making really cool and interesting choices with Matt Murdock’s story, and Episode 3, “The Hollow of His Hand”, tells a great story in why the secret identity, a trope Marvel has mostly abandoned, still carries real weight. While there wasn’t much action, in this episode, I absolutley loved the storytelling.Charlie Cox’s Matt is no longer the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen, having stepped away from vigilantism after the death of Foggy Nelson. Instead, he’s putting all his energy into the legal system, defending those failed by it. That brings us to Hector Ayala (Kamar De Los Reyes), a man accused of murdering a cop, and the crux of this episode’s powerful message.For the past 17 years, the MCU has mostly treated secret identities as unnecessary baggage. It started with Tony Stark’s iconic “I am Iron Man” declaration, setting the precedent that most heroes wouldn’t hide behind masks. Thor never needed one. Bruce Banner was always known. Even Black Panther shed his secret identity the moment he stepped onto the world stage. Marvel traded the classic double-life tension for different storytelling opportunities, like the public’s hero worship in Ms. Marvel or Thor’s goofy fan interactions in Ragnarok, but a great story element was lost in the process.Episode 3 of Daredevil brings that all into focus, though. Defending Ayala, Matt uncovers a system rigged against him. The police want him dead and buried, and the case is stacked with corruption. With no other options, Matt makes a risky move… revealing that Ayala is actually White Tiger, a vigilante who has spent years fighting to protect his community. It’s a dangerous choice, but it shifts the trial’s perspective.Instead of a supposed murderer, Ayala is now framed as a hero, someone who took on the fight the system ignored.This moment lands hard because Daredevil: Born Again understands what masks truly mean. Unlike Avengers backed by government resources or literal gods, street-level heroes are vulnerable. They take on corruption, and corruption fights back. A mask isn’t just a costume, it’s survival. While Matt’s argument in court is about clearing Ayala’s name, it’s also a recognition that secret identities aren’t about deception but protection for those who stand alone against powerful enemies.And then comes the gut punch. Despite Matt’s victory, Ayala, now exposed, doesn’t get a triumphant return to the streets. Instead, he’s assassinated, executed by someone wearing the Punisher logo. It’s a moment that left me floored.It’s a brutal reminder of what’s at stake when anonymity is lost. Iron Man had his wealth. Thor had his immortality. But White Tiger? He had his mask. Once it was gone, so was his safety.The MCU has only touched on the consequences of identity exposure a few times. Spider-Man: No Way Home showed how disastrous it was for Peter Parker, forcing him to erase himself from everyone’s memory just to survive.Ms. Marvel played with the idea in a more lighthearted way, while Moon Knight had its own unique spin. But Daredevil: Born Again hits different. It treats the secret identity not as a trope from the comics but as a harsh reality in a world where heroes without shields or super-suits are the most at risk.This is one of the reasons why Daredevil: Born Again is such an interesting and compelling series. It incorporates a core element of superhero storytelling that the MCU left behind.

Mar 12, 2025 - 21:59

DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN Episode 3 Explores The Weight of Secret Identities and It's Great Storytelling

Daredevil: Born Again is making really cool and interesting choices with Matt Murdock’s story, and Episode 3, “The Hollow of His Hand”, tells a great story in why the secret identity, a trope Marvel has mostly abandoned, still carries real weight. While there wasn’t much action, in this episode, I absolutley loved the storytelling.

Charlie Cox’s Matt is no longer the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen, having stepped away from vigilantism after the death of Foggy Nelson. Instead, he’s putting all his energy into the legal system, defending those failed by it.

That brings us to Hector Ayala (Kamar De Los Reyes), a man accused of murdering a cop, and the crux of this episode’s powerful message.

For the past 17 years, the MCU has mostly treated secret identities as unnecessary baggage. It started with Tony Stark’s iconic “I am Iron Man” declaration, setting the precedent that most heroes wouldn’t hide behind masks.

Thor never needed one. Bruce Banner was always known. Even Black Panther shed his secret identity the moment he stepped onto the world stage. Marvel traded the classic double-life tension for different storytelling opportunities, like the public’s hero worship in Ms. Marvel or Thor’s goofy fan interactions in Ragnarok, but a great story element was lost in the process.

Episode 3 of Daredevil brings that all into focus, though. Defending Ayala, Matt uncovers a system rigged against him. The police want him dead and buried, and the case is stacked with corruption.

With no other options, Matt makes a risky move… revealing that Ayala is actually White Tiger, a vigilante who has spent years fighting to protect his community. It’s a dangerous choice, but it shifts the trial’s perspective.

Instead of a supposed murderer, Ayala is now framed as a hero, someone who took on the fight the system ignored.

This moment lands hard because Daredevil: Born Again understands what masks truly mean. Unlike Avengers backed by government resources or literal gods, street-level heroes are vulnerable. They take on corruption, and corruption fights back.

A mask isn’t just a costume, it’s survival. While Matt’s argument in court is about clearing Ayala’s name, it’s also a recognition that secret identities aren’t about deception but protection for those who stand alone against powerful enemies.

And then comes the gut punch. Despite Matt’s victory, Ayala, now exposed, doesn’t get a triumphant return to the streets. Instead, he’s assassinated, executed by someone wearing the Punisher logo. It’s a moment that left me floored.

It’s a brutal reminder of what’s at stake when anonymity is lost. Iron Man had his wealth. Thor had his immortality. But White Tiger? He had his mask. Once it was gone, so was his safety.

The MCU has only touched on the consequences of identity exposure a few times. Spider-Man: No Way Home showed how disastrous it was for Peter Parker, forcing him to erase himself from everyone’s memory just to survive.

Ms. Marvel played with the idea in a more lighthearted way, while Moon Knight had its own unique spin. But Daredevil: Born Again hits different. It treats the secret identity not as a trope from the comics but as a harsh reality in a world where heroes without shields or super-suits are the most at risk.

This is one of the reasons why Daredevil: Born Again is such an interesting and compelling series. It incorporates a core element of superhero storytelling that the MCU left behind.