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With Daredevil Born Again hitting Disney + on March 4, there’s a lot to catch up on if you haven’t watched seasons 1-3.
But Nerd Initiative has got you covered with a cheat sheet of sorts, outlining the important details to know heading into this new hero’s rebirth!
Season 1
Season 1 follows Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) as he fights crime in Hell’s Kitchen, New York. By day, Matt runs a fledgling law firm with his best friend, Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson), and their secretary-turned-investigator Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll). By night, he dons a black mask and takes to the streets as a vigilante.
Matt was gifted great powers and heightened senses years ago in a chemical accident, which blinded him, but allows his to sense and react in ways that are astonishing.
Meanwhile, Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio), a powerful crime lord presenting himself as a philanthropist aiming to “save” Hell’s Kitchen, lurks in the background of season 1. Behind the scenes, Fisk controls the city’s criminal enterprises, working with corrupt cops, politicians, and the Russian, Japanese, and Chinese crime syndicates. His romantic relationship with art dealer Vanessa Marianna (Ayelet Zurer) humanizes him but also fuels his violent ambition.
You also find out more about his background and drive as the season progresses!
Matt’s path crosses with Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson), a nurse who treats his wounds and becomes a confidant. Throughout the season, Matt struggles with his moral boundaries, questioning how far he should go to stop Fisk without becoming like him.
Karen, refusing to let corruption slide, digs into Fisk’s finances with reporter Ben Urich (Vondie Curtis-Hall). Their investigation exposes Fisk’s money laundering operation through the construction company Confederated Global, but it comes at a cost—Fisk murders Urich in a chilling moment that underscores his ruthlessness.
In the season finale, after Fisk is arrested but escapes custody, Matt finally dons the iconic red Daredevil suit, designed by Melvin Potter, and confronts Fisk in a brutal showdown. Matt defeats Fisk, who is arrested once more, ending his reign—at least for now.
Season 2
Season 2 picks up after Fisk’s downfall, with Matt balancing his life as a lawyer and the vigilante protector of Hell’s Kitchen. However, new threats emerge, forcing Matt to question his role as Daredevil and the cost of his crusade.
A brutal new player arrives in the city—Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal), also known as The Punisher. Unlike Daredevil, Castle wages a one-man war on crime, executing criminals instead of capturing them. His rampage draws the attention of law enforcement and Matt’s law firm, leading to a high-profile court case where Matt and Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) defend Frank. During the trial, Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) develops empathy for Frank, uncovering a conspiracy involving the massacre of his family. However, Frank is convicted after a rigged trial and sent to Ryker’s Island, where he comes face-to-face with Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio), who manipulates him into eliminating rival gang leaders before allowing his escape.
Meanwhile, Matt’s ex-lover Elektra Natchios (Élodie Yung) returns, pulling him into a deeper war. She is connected to The Hand, a secretive and powerful ninja clan that seeks to unleash an ancient force known as the Black Sky. Stick (Scott Glenn), Matt’s former mentor, reveals Elektra is the Black Sky, a living weapon meant to lead The Hand. Torn between his feelings for Elektra and his duty to stop The Hand, Matt fights alongside her against their forces.
As The Hand’s influence grows, Matt and Elektra battle Nobu, the clan’s leader, leading to Elektra’s tragic death. In the season’s final moments, The Hand recovers her body, teasing her resurrection. Matt, now isolated from Foggy and Karen, decides to reveal his Daredevil identity to Karen, in a shocking twist.
Season 3
Daredevil Season 3 picks up after the events of The Defenders, with Matt aka Daredevil presumed dead after the collapse of Midland Circle. Gravely injured, he recuperates in Father Lantom’s church, questioning his faith and identity. Believing Matt Murdock to be gone, he embraces his vigilante persona as Daredevil, operating without moral restraint.
Meanwhile, Fisk strikes a deal with the FBI to secure his release from prison under house arrest. Manipulating Agent Benjamin “Dex” Poindexter (Wilson Bethel), a skilled but unstable marksman, Fisk grooms Dex into becoming a false Daredevil to tarnish Matt’s reputation. Dex’s descent into villainy sets the stage for his transformation into Bullseye.
Meanwhile, Karen continues her investigation into Fisk, uncovering the extent of his influence over law enforcement and politics. Foggy runs for district attorney, hoping to challenge Fisk through legal means. Both struggle to reconcile their belief in the system while Matt loses faith in it entirely.
A key subplot reveals Fisk’s control over Dex stems from exploiting the agent’s traumatic childhood and mental instability. Dex, donning the Daredevil suit, kills innocents, including Father Lantom, intensifying Matt’s rage. Matt contemplates killing Fisk but ultimately spares him, forcing him into prison under the threat of exposing Vanessa as an accomplice.
The season ends with Fisk imprisoned once more, Dex undergoing experimental surgery to repair his spine (hinting at his full Bullseye transformation), and Matt reconciling with Foggy and Karen. They decide to restart their law firm, embracing both the legal and vigilante sides of justice. Season 3 closes the chapter on Matt’s internal struggle, affirming his commitment to being Daredevil without crossing the line he once considered.
