WARNING: This review contains SPOILERS for Daredevil: Born Again episode 9.
Since its first episode, Daredevil: Born Again has followed its two main characters -- Wilson Fisk and Matt Murdock -- on a slow-burn journey back toward their true selves, but somehow, evolved. In the beginning, Fisk was a rage-filled antagonist determined to keep physical violence out of his so-named business practices. Murdock began a broken man filled with guilt over his desire to hurt people in response to his crushing grief.
And in the series' -- season's? -- graphic, revelation-fueled finale, both characters arrive exactly where they are meant to be. Fisk, fed up with using his cover as city mayor to hide his thirst for destruction, finally snaps. Violence between two unaccompanied men is one thing. But this level of cruelty in front of an occupied room, though purposeful, is another unforgivable sin entirely.
Murdock's discovery of the true motive behind Foggy's murder ends up playing second to his revelation of self -- with the help of an old friend, though, and not Heather, but perhaps that's a battle for the future. Violence in response to rage, after all, is not the way to beat Fisk -- maybe you can't fight a villain using his own tried-and-true tricks. To put himself in danger, he realizes, is a choice best made strategically. Now is not the time. A victory of this magnitude cannot be achieved by running headfirst into the enemy, as Matt in a so-called former life might have done. "Born Again" indeed.
Waiting until the finale to reveal the reason behind Foggy's death was the right choice. Much of this series thus far has thrived on its ability to slowly unravel a web of mysteries, unsure how each one connects to the other until the very end. Hardly anticlimactic, though we knew from the start that the Fisks were Bad People Doing Shady Things. Heartbreaking, even more so, that Foggy was murdered not because he was in the wrong, but simply because he was good at his job -- and likely had no idea what filing his motion would lead to.
The large scale of Fisk's corruption magnifies further as New York City's lights go dark. Gotta love a good metaphor, shadowy deals and all that. Clearly Marvel is trying to leave the door open for another season, or a Punisher revival (skip those credits, you won't regret it), or both. Oh no, I'm going to have to rewatch Punisher too? It's a tragedy ...
One true sign of a well-crafted show is that its main players, no matter how established in a particular universe, always find ways to grow beyond what they were before. Murdock was always going to put that Daredevil suit back on for good, but it's different this time. Avenging a friend comes in many forms, no matter the mask.