The latest episode of Daredevil: Born Again just made television history. Episode 4 of Season 2, titled “Gloves Off,” dropped on Disney+ on April 7, 2026, and within hours, it climbed to the top of IMDb ratings. The episode now holds a stunning 9.6/10 score, making it the highest-rated episode of any MCU series on Disney+ to date.
The previous record holder was the Loki Season 2 finale “Glorious Purpose,” which had a 9.5 rating. That episode showed Tom Hiddleston‘s character becoming the God of Stories. But Daredevil: Born Again just pushed past it with a gritty, street-level story that fans have been waiting for.
Bullseye Steals the Show With a Brutal Diner Opening
The episode starts with Benjamin Poindexter, played by Wilson Bethel, living a quiet life under the fake name “Tony.” He shares a friendly moment with his neighbor and enjoys a milkshake at a local diner. But the peace does not last long.
Poindexter calls the police with a fake tip that Frank Castle, also known as The Punisher, is at the diner with a weapon. When the Anti-Vigilante Task Force arrives, Bullseye takes them all down using spoons, knives, and anything he can find on the tables. He kills every officer without showing any emotion. Before leaving, he tells the scared customers, “Oh, don’t worry, I’m one of the good guys”.
Fans on social media went wild for the character. One viewer wrote, “Bullseye is so goated bro,” while another called him “one of the best and most interesting characters in the entire MCU”. The opening scene alone showed how dangerous and unstable Dex has become.
Matt Murdock Faces Hard Truths While Building His Team
Charlie Cox returns as Matt Murdock, who continues to gather allies to take down Wilson Fisk. He asks Jack Duquesne, also known as Swordsman and played by Tony Dalton, to join their fight. Jack turns him down but leaves his phone number just in case they really need him. He tells Matt that Daredevil has become a symbol of hope, not just a hero.
Angela Del Toro, played by Camila Rodriguez, now carries the White Tiger amulet. She asks Karen Page, played by Deborah Ann Woll, to let her help in the fight. Matt agrees but questions if she truly understands the responsibility that comes with the power. She fires back with, “Are you?” showing she is ready for the battle ahead.
The Evidence Against Fisk Gets Destroyed
The missing first mate Christofi Savva, played by Yorgos Karamihos, shows up at Karen’s door. He tells Matt and Karen the truth about the Northern Star ship. The boat was carrying illegal weapons, and Mayor Fisk gave the direct order to sink it if anyone tried to board.
Christofi agrees to record a video testimony stating that the Kingpin and Mayor Fisk are the same person. This evidence could have finally brought down Fisk’s entire operation. But later in the episode, Buck Cashman, played by Arty Froushan, intercepts the US Marshals moving Christofi and kills everyone, including the first mate. Fisk made sure there were no loose ends.
The Charity Boxing Match Turns Into a Bloodbath
Wilson Fisk, played by Vincent D’Onofrio, organized a charity boxing match at Fogwell’s Gym. He sent Vanessa, played by Ayelet Zurer, away to meet with Governor McCaffrey, played by Lili Taylor, to keep her safe. The Governor admitted she does not like how Fisk uses his power but agreed to support both Mayor and Mrs. Fisk together.
Vanessa returned to the gym anyway to watch her husband fight. Fisk easily overpowered his opponent, a boxer with a 30-2 record. He was about to finish the fight when Vanessa walked in. He got distracted and took a punch but quickly recovered and knocked out his opponent to win the championship belt.
Then everything went wrong. Bullseye attacked the gym, killing over a dozen AVTF officers with terrifying accuracy. He threw a glass souvenir of Fisk standing over New York City toward the ring. Vanessa managed to shoot Bullseye in the stomach. Fisk smashed the glass object with his championship belt. But a small sharp piece of glass flew into Vanessa’s temple.
She collapsed in the ring with blood pouring down her white dress. Daredevil showed up and tackled Bullseye through a window to the street below, allowing Dex to escape. Fisk screamed for an ambulance as his wife lay bleeding in the ring.
Vanessa’s Fate Remains Unknown
The episode did not confirm whether Vanessa dies. The final shot showed her still blinking and breathing, but the injury looks very serious. A piece of glass pierced her temple. Even if she survives, she could face major brain damage or memory loss. This would actually match her comic book story, where Vanessa had amnesia when she first met Wilson Fisk.
Vincent D’Onofrio appeared to confirm the worst in a Screen Rant interview.
“The repercussions of her death and what it’s done to him begins the third season.” – Vincent D’Onofrio
But executive producer Sana Amanat responded to that statement with a simple “Or is it?” leaving fans guessing about what comes next.
Showrunner Dario Scardapane also spoke about how this changes Fisk.
“There’s no checks and balances now. What humanized this lonely, scary man, at least in one way isn’t there anymore. So all bets are off.” – Dario Scardapane, Showrunner
D’Onofrio added that the attack will add to Fisk’s rage in a major way. He said Fisk is “not thinking completely clear” and that viewers will see a version of the character they have never seen before.
How the Episode Compares to Other MCU Shows
The 9.6 rating puts Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 4 at the very top of the list for MCU Disney+ shows. The previous top episodes included:
- Loki Season 2 Episode 6 “Glorious Purpose” – 9.5
- Loki Season 1 Episode 4 “The Nexus Event” – 9.0
- Agatha All Along Episode 7 “Death’s Hand in Mine” – 9.0
- WandaVision Episode 8 “Previously On” – 8.9
The original Netflix Daredevil series also had some highly rated episodes. The Season 3 finale reached a 9.6 as well. But among shows that launched directly on Disney+, “Gloves Off” now stands alone at the top.
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Where to Watch and What Comes Next
Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 4 is now streaming on Disney+. New episodes come out every Tuesday at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET. A Disney+ subscription costs $11.99 per month with ads or $18.99 per month without ads.
For viewers outside the United States, the episode dropped on April 8 at 2 a.m. BST (United Kingdom), 3 a.m. CEST (Europe), 6:30 a.m. IST (India), 10 a.m. JST (Japan), and 12 p.m. AET (Australia).
Episode 5, titled “The Grand Design,” will release on April 14, 2026. Scardapane teased that this episode takes the story somewhere unexpected. He called it “something new under the sun”. The season finale is scheduled for May 5, 2026.
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