The penultimate hour of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 dropped on April 28, 2026, bringing back the version of Matt Murdock that fans have been missing for weeks. Episode 7, titled “The Hateful Darkness,” gives viewers the long-awaited return of Matt Murdock as a lawyer, a role that took a backseat for most of this season. While Season 2 showed plenty of Daredevil in action, the courtroom drama side of the character was largely absent until now.
The 44-minute episode picks up exactly where Episode 6 left off, with Karen Page in serious trouble after being arrested by Powell during the violent protest. The episode ties up several hanging storylines while setting up a brutal season finale scheduled for May 5, 2026.
Matt Murdock Finally Returns as a Lawyer
For the first time in several episodes, viewers see Charlie Cox put on the lawyer hat rather than the mask. Matt Murdock enters the courtroom as co-counsel alongside Kirsten McDuffie to defend Karen Page against vigilante charges. The trial grabs the city’s attention, exactly as the episode’s official logline promised.
Matt and Kirsten try hard to get the charges dropped, but the court adjourns without a resolution. As they prepare to leave, they notice AVTF officers refusing to exit the courtroom. The situation turns violent when AVTF officers ambush Matt and Kirsten in the courthouse parking lot. Matt gets shot in the leg during the attack and seeks refuge inside a nearby church, where he prays for help.
This church scene carries heavy emotional weight. Matt, wounded and desperate, asks God for assistance. The answer comes quickly when Jessica Jones enters the building, setting up a team-up that fans have wanted to see since her return was confirmed.
Kingpin Shows His True Colors in Karen’s Prison Cell
The episode opens with Wilson Fisk getting ready while Karen sits in a prison cell. Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin visits Karen personally, seemingly trying to push her into contacting Matt so he can draw Daredevil out. But Karen refuses to back down. She tells Fisk she can see the fear in him, a powerful moment that shows Karen Page is not someone who breaks easily.
Fisk has become more dangerous than ever since Vanessa Fisk’s death in Episode 6. The mayor’s mask is gone, and the old Kingpin cruelty has returned in full force. This episode shows Fisk planning to kill Governor Marge McCaffrey after she started withdrawing her support. Mr. Charles informs Jessica Jones about this plan, and she passes the information to Daredevil.
Wilson Bethel’s Bullseye, also known as Poindexter, gets released by Matt and given a mission. Matt tasks him with protecting the governor. Dex succeeds by killing the assassin sent to take out McCaffrey as she works on the suspension papers. Matt’s line to Dex as he sends him out the door cuts deep: “Go. Disappear. Die. I don’t care.”
A Familiar Face Returns From the Netflix Days
Royce Johnson returns as Detective Brett Mahoney in this episode, marking his first appearance since 2018’s Daredevil Season 3. Brett was a regular presence across the original Netflix Marvel series, showing up not just in Daredevil but also in Jessica Jones and several episodes of The Punisher.
Brett works at the precinct where Karen is held and takes her out of her cell to meet Daredevil. The reunion gives longtime fans a moment of connection to the Netflix era, which ended seven years ago. Karen sits in custody wearing an NYPD t-shirt, a direct callback to the original Daredevil series opening sequence.
The episode also brings back another familiar element. The show confirms that Luke Cage is Danielle’s father and is currently overseas. Mr. Charles tells Jessica that the CIA has Luke working for them overseas. This confirms that Cage is alive and operating outside New York, possibly as part of a different team. His absence from Season 2 now makes sense, and the door remains open for his return.
Daniel Blake Dies After Choosing to Do the Right Thing
Michael Gandolfini’s character Daniel Blake meets his end in Episode 7. Daniel discovers the flash drive in BB Urich’s pocket, exposing her as the “City Without Fear” leaker who has been releasing information against Fisk. He originally planned to hand BB over to Buck Cashman, played by Arty Froushan, but changes his mind at the last moment when BB begs him not to.
Daniel tells BB to hide somewhere even he does not know. Then he visits Buck and tries to protect BB, only to get violently beaten. The interrogation ends with Buck fatally shooting Daniel. Gandolfini learned about the character’s death in October 2025 after the episode was reworked. The actor told his co-stars Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Arty Froushan first about the change.
“I love Daniel, but it’s so right. Where else is he gonna go?” – Michael Gandolfini on his character’s death in Episode 7
Arty Froushan, who plays Buck, revealed to Variety that the original plan kept Daniel alive. Buck was supposed to lie to Fisk about killing him. But the showrunners changed the ending, adding a gunshot flare and blood on the floor after filming wrapped.
Heather Glenn Slaps Karen Page in a Tense Therapy Session
Heather Glenn’s storyline takes a dark turn in this episode. Margarita Levieva’s character has been set up for a fall throughout Season 2, with set images from Season 3 suggesting she may become Muse. In Episode 7, Fisk gives Heather the second earring belonging to Vanessa that she took in the previous episode.
Heather visits the prison to conduct a psychological evaluation on Karen, requested by District Attorney Hochberg. The session turns nasty quickly. Karen refuses to take the test and drops a bomb. She reveals that Vanessa had Foggy killed. This information changes everything about how viewers understand the death that pushed Matt to retire as Daredevil.
The conversation becomes more confrontational. Heather ends up slapping Karen hard. Behind Heather, viewers can see Muse in a glass reflection, hinting at what is coming for her character. The scene shows that Karen’s refusal to stay quiet keeps putting her in danger, but she refuses to stop speaking the truth.
Global Release Information for Episode 7
Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 7 premiered on April 28, 2026, at 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT in the United States. Here is when viewers around the world could watch the episode:
- USA (East Coast) – April 28, 2026 at 9:00 PM ET
- USA (West Coast) – April 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM PT
- Canada – April 28, 2026 at 9:00 PM ET
- United Kingdom – April 29, 2026 at 2:00 AM BST
- Germany – April 29, 2026 at 3:00 AM CEST
- UAE – April 29, 2026 at 5:00 AM GST
- India – April 29, 2026 at 6:30 AM IST
- Australia – April 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM AET
The episode runs for 44 minutes and is available exclusively on Disney+ with a subscription. Season 2 has received positive reviews, holding a 90% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, with many praising the sharper writing and stronger momentum compared to the first season.
What Happened Inside the Courtroom and After
The trial sequence forms the emotional core of Episode 7. Karen is initially represented by Kirsten McDuffie, but Matt Murdock enters as co-counsel. The audience does not see the scene where Matt reveals to Kirsten that he has been alive and hiding. Some critics noted this felt like a missing piece.
Matt and Kirsten argue to get the charges dropped, but the court adjourns. As they try to leave, AVTF officers block their exit. Cherry and fellow resistance police officers provide protection, but the parking lot ambush still happens. Matt gets shot in the leg and crawls into a church.
The church scene intercuts with Daniel’s final moments. Buck kills Daniel as Matt prays for help. Then Jessica Jones shows up. The editing choice to show both events at the same time creates a powerful effect. Matt gets the help he asked for, but Daniel gets none.
Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones has a bigger role in this episode than in Episode 6. She confronts Mr. Charles about the gunmen sent to her house. Charles reveals they were only meant to intimidate, not kill. He also confirms he is Jessica’s only link to Luke Cage, implying that Jessica cannot just walk away from this arrangement.
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Final Episode Coming Next Week
Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 ends with Episode 8, titled “The Southern Cross,” arriving on May 5, 2026. The finale will air on Disney+ at the same time as previous episodes, 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT in the United States. After the season ends, The Punisher: One Last Kill special follows on May 12, 2026.
The walls are closing in on Fisk. His attempt to kill Governor McCaffrey failed. The AVTF attacked a lawyer outside a courthouse. Karen Page knows Vanessa ordered Foggy’s death. Matt Murdock has a bullet in his leg and is hiding in a church. Season 2 has built toward a brutal finish, and Episode 7 set every piece on the board for an explosive finale.
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