That DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN Cliffhanger Probably Isn't Who It Looks Like, So Who Is It?

That DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN Cliffhanger Probably Isn't Who It Looks Like, So Who Is It?

Whoever that killer was at the end of episode three clearly is an impersonation, so what is the true identity of the murderer that left us on a cliffhanger?

Editorial Opinion
By ChandlerMcniel - Mar 13, 2025 10:03 AM EST
Filed Under: Daredevil

Episode three of Daredevil: Born Again is a courtroom drama instead of a straight up superhero action show that succeeds in its goal of further outlining the differences in public opinion towards vigilantes. The episode ends on a cliffhanger and a tease, that very obviously isn't who the episode wants us to think it is. 

SPOILERS BELOW.

Episode three takes place almost exclusively in a courtroom as Matt Murdock defends Hector Ayala, the White Tiger. After all the effort Matt and Cherry went through to keep their star witness, Nicky Torres, a confidential informant that the cops were beating on when Hector intervened, safe, he ends up going against them. We don't know exactly why. Either someone got to him and intimidated him, or being in the room with all those cops who will definitely not be his friends afterwards spooked him. At that point, again, after all the effort Matt went through to hide the fact that Hector is White Tiger as he thought the jury would hate him for it, he decides it's now his only defense and reveals to the jury that Hector White White Tiger. Matt uses it to his advantage and the jury finds Hector not guilty on all accounts. 

However, there are some who are not happy with the verdict. All the officers, some of which have Punisher tattoos, seemed to be unhappy with it. It's unknown if every cop in the room is crooked, but they all at least seem to believe Hector Ayala killed their comrade. 

There's one man in particular that is very much unhappy with the verdict: Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin and Mayor of New York. He tells BB Urich of the BB Report how unhappy he is with the verdict and that it was a “miscarriage of justice”. Clearly, he wants to do something about it.

The scene cuts to Hector Ayala donning his White Tiger suit and then just sort of taking a stroll through the city, something I found very strange. Why is he just walking around on the sidewalk? Is that how vigilantes look for crime? Put on a white suit that makes them stick out like a sore thumb, then go for a stroll hoping to find some criminals? Anyway, that's beside the point. Hector is shot in the head execution style, then the person who shot him walks at the camera revealing a Punisher logo on what seems to be body armor. 

There's no way that's The Punisher. I'm not sure if the show wants us to think that's Frank Castle, but the first thing I said after The episode was, “Well, that's not him.” If it's not The Punisher, who is it? 

The cut from Fisk to the scene in which Ayala dies makes me think it could be someone Fisk hired to impersonate The Punisher. This would make sense as Fisk is waging a war against vigilantes in New York. Setting up The Punisher to take the fall for a murder of a vigilante that is moderately well liked accomplishes two things: it takes a vigilante off the streets and demonizes another. This very well may be Fisk's doing, but there’s another option that makes more sense within the story being told. 

It's entirely possible that Hector Ayala's death has nothing to do with Wilson Fisk and his killer is a rogue NYPD officer taking up the mantle of The Punisher. As many cops in the city seem to be idolizing The Punisher, one of them could go out of their way to fully realize their idolatry and become “The Punisher”. The officers seem to hate vigilantes except when it comes to Frank Castle as they appreciate and want to adopt his specific brand of brutal judgement. We may even see more than one “Punisher” as the police force morphs into a much more terrifying version of itself. 

Another possible identity for the fake Punisher is the villain Muse who was featured in the trailers for Daredevil: Born Again several times, but is a character we are yet to see. For those that don’t know, Muse is a relatively new Daredevil comics villain introduced in 2016 by Charels Soule and Ron Garney. Muse is an incredibly violent character who kills several Inhumans in his debut and sets them up like pieces of artwork. Muse also has superhuman strength, speed, and agility which makes him a tough villain. On top of that, his powers are designed to make him someone Daredevil specifically can’t fight. His body acts as a strange black hole for sensory information meaning it’s nearly impossible for Daredevil to fight him. Technically, he can be seen, but he can move faster than the human eye can comprehend, so he’s still difficult to see. If Muse is impersonating the Punisher, it will be a tough fight for Daredevil which may lead him to enlisting Frank Castle. 

Ultimately, I believe the most likely identity for the fake Punisher is an NYPD officer taking up the mantle for himself. Who do you think the killer is? Let me know in the comments!

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Gmoney84
Gmoney84 - 3/13/2025, 10:06 AM
It’s neck tattoo guy!!
AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 3/13/2025, 10:08 AM
The killer was the cop that arrested him and tried several times to kill the witness. Punisher will show up to take justice on that officer and those using his name as a means to harm innocents
RolandD
RolandD - 3/13/2025, 11:25 AM
@AgentofSH1ELD - that’s what I thought although I still think there could be a Fisk connection.
AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 3/13/2025, 12:37 PM
@RolandD - maybe they want you to think fisk has a connection because of his past but in reality he really is just trying to get rid of all the vigilantes.
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 3/13/2025, 10:09 AM
Rumor is It’s definitely Fisks inside guy. I mean mister E suit guy that’s doing his dirty work.
Titan417
Titan417 - 3/13/2025, 10:14 AM
It’s daredevils girlfriend. Plus, does the punisher have an army or something. I noticed several times punisher symbol came up, like a tattoo. Just wondering
Killuminatic
Killuminatic - 3/13/2025, 10:55 AM
@Titan417 - Watch and find out whether it’s the Punsiher’s army😉…
Deklipz
Deklipz - 3/13/2025, 11:00 AM
@Titan417 - have you not read any of the articles discussing this? It’s literally addressed in the article you’re commenting on.
RolandD
RolandD - 3/13/2025, 11:26 AM
@Titan417 - also, there are cups in real life that have adopted the Punisher symbol. I don’t think Frank is a fan of them.
RedFury
RedFury - 3/13/2025, 10:15 AM
It's probably not that dirty cop, as it would be a bit obvious. But I honestly do hope it's him so Frank can blow him away! That dude needs to go!
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/13/2025, 10:18 AM
@RedFury - yeah , doubt that it’s that one specifically since there seems to be a crew of them but I hope Frank kills every last one of them
RedFury
RedFury - 3/13/2025, 10:27 AM
@TheVisionary25 - it's going to be such a satisfying watch seeing Frank take to to them 😆
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/13/2025, 10:29 AM
@RedFury - yep , hope so
Huskers
Huskers - 3/13/2025, 10:18 AM
I don’t understand how Hector was taken out so easily at point blank range because he was wearing the amulet. That’s supposed to enhance his senses and give him supernatural abilities.
Killuminatic
Killuminatic - 3/13/2025, 10:56 AM
@Huskers - Think they were just trying to go for shock value and gave him something undignified, raw and realistic, regardless of his enhanced abilities.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 3/13/2025, 1:47 PM
@Huskers - bad writing.
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 3/13/2025, 10:27 AM
it was clearly Mephisto
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 3/13/2025, 11:18 AM
@harryba11zack - yes.
User Comment Image
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/13/2025, 10:29 AM
I don’t think it’s Fisk being behind the killing in order to further his anti-vigilante agenda but likely just a member of that crew of dirty Punisher idolizing cops that Hector came to have beef with…

I do wonder if these cops are anti vigilante then why idolize the Punisher who is that aswell?.

I’m thinking it might be because they like his particular brand if justice , he doesn’t hide his face and maybe even Franks military background (though I think Hector had one too).
ChandlerMcniel
ChandlerMcniel - 3/13/2025, 10:59 AM
@TheVisionary25 - I've thought the same exact thing.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 3/13/2025, 10:30 AM
I think it's irrelevant who it is. The show clearly wants you to think it's the cop that arrested him - but honestly, it does not matter. Punisher will show up and kill whoever this person is so the mystery is devalued because it's not going to lead anywhere.
Lokiwasright
Lokiwasright - 3/13/2025, 10:41 AM
It's strawberry short cake
Nomis929
Nomis929 - 3/13/2025, 10:46 AM
Foggy Nelson.

He really been recovering and traiinng all this time waiting for his revenge.
GirshwinDavies
GirshwinDavies - 3/13/2025, 11:22 AM
It's Hank LaGoom, from DanSantamo Bay
DocSpock
DocSpock - 3/13/2025, 11:29 AM

I think Vanessa sent him.

DocSpock
DocSpock - 3/13/2025, 11:31 AM

Ultimately, like Hollyweird does, they will make the white cops all horrible racist bad guys looking to kill minorities.

Panderers gotta pander.
Slotherin
Slotherin - 3/13/2025, 6:50 PM
@DocSpock - nothing so far indicated any overt racism or even that all the white cops are bad guys.
If I recall correctly, one of the guys with a skull on his neck looked like he could be Latino.
Slotherin
Slotherin - 3/13/2025, 6:51 PM
@DocSpock - while he was said to be retiring at the start of the show, the guy driving the decoy van and helping to hide Nicky was white...
SATW42
SATW42 - 3/13/2025, 11:41 AM
I originally wasn't sold on Fisk being behind the killing, but the more I think about it, he probably 100 percent was. Even though on face value it would seem hypocritical to hire vigilantes to take out vigilantes, it perfectly plays into the conversation he had with vanessa about causing chaos.
RolandD
RolandD - 3/13/2025, 1:37 PM
@SATW42 - I agree, but if that’s the case, it wasn’t a vigilante he hired. It was a crook of some kind. There’s no hypocrisy here except for the fact that he says he’s for law and order. That’s where the hypocrisy is.
SATW42
SATW42 - 3/13/2025, 2:08 PM
@RolandD - oooooh, so not an actual one of Punishers wrongful "followers" but Fisk hired someone to look like that so if it was seen people would think it was cops who did it. I like that
RolandD
RolandD - 3/13/2025, 4:02 PM
@SATW42 - Or maybe to think it was the Punisher. One vigilante gone and one blamed for it.
CBMSTAR
CBMSTAR - 3/13/2025, 1:47 PM
My condolences to the actor who played the role who passed away in real life. He did a great job on the show. I wonder if there will be another White Tiger and don,t recall the assassin taking the amulet from the body.
SATW42
SATW42 - 3/13/2025, 2:10 PM
@CBMSTAR - I think there was a shot purposefully showing the amulet and there was so much focus on it that I'm sure someone is picking up the mantle. To the point where the city will think he's a ghost or something
Slotherin
Slotherin - 3/13/2025, 6:47 PM
@CBMSTAR - they definitely didn't bring in his sister and niece for nothing.
dragon316
dragon316 - 3/13/2025, 4:04 PM
I have feeling I may not like daredevil reborn again mostly takes place in court what I read so far more court less action at she hulk hood mix of it when first season is done I will check out give it chance
Slotherin
Slotherin - 3/13/2025, 6:53 PM
I don't think it's Punisher but I also am not going to assume we actually find out or need to know who it is past it just not being Frank.

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