Daredevil: Born Again – Episode 4: Sic Semper Systema – Those Latvian references, explained

In Daredevil: Born Again, some things are easy to miss—like that Skrull reference. Others are practically waving a giant neon sign in your face, waiting for you to connect the dots.

Episode 4, titled "Sic Semper Systema," of Daredevil: Born Again drops not one but multiple references to Latvia, a name that, for any hardcore Marvel fan, immediately rings a bell. Why?

Because in the comics, Latveria, the infamous homeland of Doctor Doom, is a fictional Eastern European country heavily inspired by real-world Latvia.

So when this episode places Kingpin inside a Latvian heritage center and introduces a District Attorney of Latvian descent, it’s not just worldbuilding. It’s a statement.

But what exactly is it trying to say?

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Fisk and the Latvian heritage – Just another business front?

Wilson Fisk isn’t a man who does things on a whim. Every handshake, every meeting, and every location he steps into serves a purpose. So why does Episode 4 of Daredevil: Born Again go out of its way to show him at a Latvian heritage center?

On the surface, it could be nothing more than a subtle nod to New York’s real-life Latvian-American community. But with Fisk, nothing is ever just “on the surface.” The scene lingers on him, making sure we notice where he is. The question is, why? Then, the song "We Built This City" in Latvian! Hold your thoughts for a minute there.

(Video via YouTube/IdolSyn)

Historically, Fisk has never been tied to Latvia or Latveria in the comics. But he has been known to strike deals with dangerous, powerful figures outside the U.S.—including Victor Von Doom himself.

And that’s what makes this even more unsettling. Latvia isn’t just a name-drop in this episode; it’s embedded in the atmosphere. A heritage center, a DA, a song—"small" details that, on their own, might seem irrelevant. But together? They paint a picture of something bigger, something calculated. If this isn’t foreshadowing, it’s one hell of a red herring.

If this is more than just a throwaway location, could it be setting up something bigger? A connection between Kingpin’s empire and a certain iron-fisted ruler?

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The DA is Latvian – A small detail or something bigger?

Another blink-and-you-miss-it detail: the District Attorney Matt interacts with is of Latvian descent.

Again, this isn’t some throwaway name or random backstory. It’s mentioned. It’s made clear. And in a show where every detail has weight, that’s worth noting.

Could this be another thread leading to a larger, unseen influence? Is someone pulling the strings from behind the scenes? Or is this simply a sign that Latvia—both real and fictional—has a role to play in the MCU’s ever-expanding puzzle?

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Latvia, Latveria, and the road to Doctor Doom

Here’s where things get interesting.

Latveria—Doctor Doom’s homeland—has yet to appear in the MCU, but Marvel has been laying breadcrumbs for a while now. A reference to Von Doom in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever suggested that Latveria already exists in this universe, quietly waiting in the background. With Fantastic Four officially set to debut, Doom’s arrival isn’t just a possibility—it’s a certainty.

And then there’s the bigger picture. Fisk and Doom have crossed paths before in the comics, two men who understand power, control, and how to shape the world to their will. But it’s not just Daredevil: Born Again and Fantastic Four teasing Doom’s influence.

Avengers: Doomsday is already on the horizon.

Doom isn’t just another villain—he’s an endgame-level threat, the kind of character who doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. Marvel has been slowly weaving his presence into the MCU, setting the stage for the moment he finally steps into the light.

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Coincidence or foreshadowing?

Marvel rarely does anything without a reason.

Is Daredevil: Born Again simply grounding itself in real-world details, making Hell’s Kitchen feel even more authentic? Or is this a strategic move to place Latvia in the audience’s mind before something bigger unfolds?

Either way, one thing is clear: the Latvian references aren’t just there to look pretty.

They’re a breadcrumb trail. A big one.

And sooner or later, we’re going to see where it leads.