Is Daredevil: Born Again’s finale loaded with hidden Marvel easter eggs? Episode 9 ties together deep-cut comic callbacks, returning villains, and thematic nods to major storylines across the MCU. From Secret Empire parallels to a revived Avocados at Law joke, the episode weaves past and present into its darkest chapter yet.
Here’s a breakdown of the biggest easter eggs and Marvel connections in the Season 1 finale.
The episode references Special Agent Ray Nadeem, who was killed by Bullseye in Season 3 of Daredevil. Vanessa Fisk explains that revelations about FBI corruption—specifically involving Nadeem and Wilson Fisk—allowed Bullseye to secure an early release from prison, continuing a storyline from the original Netflix series.
Vanessa and Wilson Fisk’s criminal operation hinges on the Red Hook Charter, a historic legal document from 1855 that designates the port as a free trade zone exempt from taxes and tariffs. Fisk uses this loophole to launder billions through the port under the guise of urban revitalization.
Wilson Fisk wears a bloodstained shirt that mirrors a visual motif tied to Muse, a villain from earlier in the series. Both characters appear with a red blotch on their chest, symbolizing the link between Fisk’s control and Muse’s chaos.
The blackout orchestrated by Mayor Fisk draws a direct visual and thematic reference to Secret Empire #0, where Hydra’s Captain America used Darkforce energy to plunge Manhattan into darkness. In Born Again, the blackout enables targeted violence and mass control through Fisk’s task force.
The episode confirms Officer Cole North as the person who executed Hector Ayala, the White Tiger. Frank Castle recognizes the customized Punisher bullet casing at the murder scene, exposing the Anti-Vigilante Task Force’s involvement in Ayala’s death.
The Avocados at Law nameplate reappears, referencing a joke from the original Daredevil series where a drunken Foggy Nelson mispronounced “abogados” (Spanish for lawyers). The sign symbolizes Matt and Foggy’s early days as partners.
The soundtrack includes multiple symbolic tracks. “Storm Cloud Rising” by the Florida Mass Choir opens the episode. “Killing Me Softly With His Song” by the Fugees plays during Buck Cashman’s attempted assassination of Matt. The finale ends with “Everything in Its Right Place” by Radiohead.