This article contains
spoilers
For “Daredevil: Born Again,” Season 1, Episode 9.
When “Daredevil” was still produced by Netflix and before the broader Defenders Saga had even begun to take shape in the minds of Marvel Television executives, Vincent D’Onofrio’s character of Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin, emerged as one of the most chilling antagonists in live-action Marvel history. The depth D’Onofrio brought to this burgeoning criminal mastermind—a restrained yet tormented figure whose subtle tics hint at the turmoil lurking behind his composed exterior—was instantly captivating. Moreover, the series vividly depicted Kingpin’s brutality with graphic intensity, adding another layer to viewers’ fascination.
One of the most infamous instances from Fisk’s history occurred during “Daredevil” Season 1, Episode 4, called “In the Blood.” In this episode, Fisk brutally kills Russian gangster Anatoly Ranshakov (voiced by Gideon Emery) by smashing his head against a car door multiple times. This intensely graphic moment remains among the goriest deaths in Marvel television shows. It appears that “Daredevil: Born Again” has taken notice of this infamy because the climax of its first-season finale goes beyond merely matching but actively outdoes this shocking act.
The assassination of Kingpin’s character via his car door in Daredevil’s first season stands among the most brutal scenes in Marvel’s live-action adaptations and is cited in “ Born Again” as evidence of Wilson Fisk’s terrifying nature. Nonetheless, the concluding episode of the “Born Again” season surpasses even this harrowing event with a demise so shocking it seems pulled from a nightmare.
The well-known “The Viper and the Mountain” duel from “Game of Thrones.”
Here, Kingpin slowly and
extremely
He graphically crushes his longtime rival Commissioner Gallo’s head using only his hands, stunning his shocked henchmen into amazement.
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The bone-crunching scene serves as a reminder of Kingpin’s daunting power and merciless nature.
The camera dedicates ample screen time to showcasing poor Gallo’s plight along with the audience’s utter shock, surpassing even the most violent scenes from “Daredevil” Season 1 where they kicked down a car door. This depiction rivals the brutality seen when the Mountain, played by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, squashes Oberyn Martell’s skull, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, in “Game of Thrones.” Despite Kingpin typically being depicted as relatively realistic compared to such fantastical violence, this sequence aligns well with Wilson Fisk’s established capabilities, making it just as awe-inspiring as it is terrifying.
Due to Kingpin’s relatively restrained behavior in “Echo,” it’s easy to overlook the incredible feats of power and resilience he demonstrated in “Daredevil” and “Hawkeye.” His imposing physique conceals a force capable of punching through solid walls, effortlessly tossing seasoned fighters around like dolls, and lifting grown men with just one arm. In Season 3 Episode 2 of “Daredevil,” titled “Please,” when someone stabs him in the abdomen as he lifts an unusually heavy load, he merely reacts by flinging both the weights and his attacker onto the floor without much effort.
The “Born Again” finale’s revelation that Kingpin is both able and willing to physically crush an enemy is an efficient confirmation that he’s a world-class strongman as well as a criminal mastermind.
“Daredevil: Born Again” season 1 has missed storyline opportunities
during its run and occasionally comes across as something of an
admirable salvage job
. Still, by highlighting
Daredevil/Matt Murdock’s massive weaknesses
and Kingpin’s strengths, it certainly knows how to create tension between the two arch enemies.
“Daredevil: Born Again” season 1 is streaming on Disney+.
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original article on SlashFilm
.
