Episode 2 of "Daredevil: Born Again" kicks off on New Year's Day, with Wilson Fisk delivering a resounding speech to the city. He warns them that they are perched precariously on a powder keg, outlining his vision to transform New York into a police-controlled utopia, void of vigilantes such as the Punisher and Spider-Man. While he tirelessly campaigns, his assistant, Sheila, underscores the significance of this groundwork. It's a make-or-break endeavor to set the tone for his mayoral tenure. However, a rift is brewing between the city's traditional voters and Vanessa, who seems to be defying the established narrative. Fisk acknowledges the need to mend fences with his wife, but the underlying friction poses a potential threat to his aspirations.
Deviating from the conventional playbook of past mayors, Fisk exemplifies this by bypassing bureaucratic hurdles to swiftly fill a pothole. Meanwhile, Matt Murdock eavesdrops on a commotion at the police station, originating from an interrogation room where Hector Ayala, alias White Tiger, one of the superheroes featured on CCTV cameras in the previous episode, is being detained. Earlier, Ayala had been involved in a scuffle with officers on the subway, and when one officer was hit by a train, Ayala was falsely framed as public enemy number one. The officers, corrupt and manipulating the system, had framed him for a crime he didn't commit – trying to intervene in what appeared to be a mugging.
Matt recognizes that Ayala is keeping his superhero identity a secret, but the injustice of the case piques his interest, compelling him to take it on personally. However, his decision to intervene in such a contentious case, especially against someone accused of killing a cop, draws unwanted attention. The police are none too pleased with his involvement. Unfortunately, during the preliminary hearing, things unravel swiftly. The judge promptly disregards Matt's input and sides with the prosecution, setting the stage for a trial.
Amidst this turmoil, we encounter BB, a spirited young journalist whose uncle is Ben Urich, a renowned journalist for his integrity and a pivotal character from the original "Daredevil" series. Convinced that there's a deeper story involving Fisk, given the police's tight-lipped stance on his past extracurricular activities, BB is determined to uncover the truth. Furthermore, the impending retirement of Police Commissioner Gallo, coinciding with Fisk's ascension to mayor, sets off alarm bells in her mind.
Regrettably, if such an occurrence should materialize, it would plunge Fisk into a quandary, for we are well-aware that the officers remain steadfast in their solidarity and will ultimately stage a mutiny against him by withdrawing their support. The moment he forfeits the loyalty of the police, he risks forfeiting the city itself. Amidst this turmoil, Fisk makes an appearance to confront Gallo, who coincides to be attending Vance's (the deceased policeman's) funeral. Gallo spares no expletives, branding Fisk as a monster and a brute. Clearly, he is in no conciliatory mood, yet this entire spectacle might provoke the Kingpin to reach his breaking point.
Later, Gallo storms into the Mayor's Office and slams his resignation onto the desk. However, the seasoned Kingpin emerges from the shadows, wielding blackmail material as a threat; if Gallo refuses to cooperate, his wife and son will suffer fatal consequences. Reluctantly, Gallo yields but warns Fisk to be cautious about his desires.
Matt delves deeper into the case and discovers that his client is none other than White Tiger. Unwavering in his conviction, Matt believes that the people are in dire need of a hero, and he is merely doing what is morally right. This is indeed a formidable case, compounded by the fact that Ayala is incarcerated at Riker's Island, which is no small challenge. The duration of his resistance remains uncertain.
Matt presents his argument to the judge, promptly mentioning White Tiger and emphasizing that his identity as a superhero is irrelevant to the case, as he was neither wearing his costume nor endowed with special powers at the time of the incident. The judge concurs, marking a minor victory that could potentially swing the case in Matt's favor.
Concurrently, Vanessa and Wilson Fisk attend couple's therapy, supervised by none other than Heather. Vanessa recounts how, following Wilson's departure, she took charge of the business and nurtured it into a thriving enterprise. Profits soared, and everything seemed to be on an upward trajectory. However, their personal life? It was far from fulfilling.
As the episode draws to a close, Matt arrives to confront Nicky Torres, a pivotal witness in the Hector Ayala saga whom Cherry had meticulously tracked down. Torres witnessed the crucial events firsthand, but the clock is ticking perilously. When Matt reaches Torres' apartment, he urges the young man out through the fire escape in haste, as Powell, the dodgy cop entangled in the subway fiasco, makes his way over with sinister intentions to eliminate this vital testimony.
Upon confronting Matt, Powell, with a Punisher tattoo brazenly displayed on his forearm, pins him against the wall. Matt allows himself to be brutalized, feigning submission as the tension mounts. However, when one of them aims a gun at his temple, Matt's resolve shatters. With a burst of adrenaline, he wards off both assailants, felling them unconscious. The apartment is now marred by splatters of blood, some of which belong to Matt, and he roars defiantly to the heavens above.
