Daredevil: Born Again, episode 8 review… Bullseye returns, secrets explode, and Matt finds no peace on the "Isle of Joy"

Daredevil: Born Again reaches a savage and amazing peak in its eighth episode, “Isle of Joy.” While its name suggests otherwise, this is a painful hour that brings to light many emotional issues, restores long-awaited feelings, and presents one of the greatest plot twists in the history of Marvel television.

This episode did not only showcase a turning point in the storyline, “Isle of Joy" captures and displays the essence of finely tuned tension, trauma and truth. It is crafted so well, I struggled to believe this was not the final episode of the season. The impact it has is astonishing as it lifts every storyline it encounters along the way.

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Bullseye is back, and his escape is vintage Daredevil brutality

The spectacular comeback of Wilson Bethel’s Bullseye in “Isle of Joy” had been expected. Marvel seems to never fall short of unnerving their audience with characters like Benjamin Poindexter who made his debut in Daredevil Season 3.

Portrayed as a man with no morals and surgical precision, Poindexter has established roots as a ruthless villain. His presence in Born Again proves he has kept his unrivaled intensity.

This episode marks another one for the unhinged as Bullseye’s prison break scene is nothing short of ingenious. It features a chilling touch that only Bullseye can portray.

The sheer chaos of his character can be portrayed in his guard-killing scene - sending a clear reminder that Bullseye is indeed returning. The twisted side of his madness is also represented in his meticulous manipulation of a stolen uniform which serves as a reminder of his calculating insanity.

Bullseye’s portrayal isn’t solely that of a villain, but of savagery that addresses downfall. When Matt captures Dex, he unleashes unfiltered raw rage, smashing his head into a table filled with relentless grief. To anyone else, this might come across as a brutal fight, but Bullseye’s character narrative gives it a whole new meaning.

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Muse’s shadow still lingers over Heather Glenn

Even if the arc of Muse concluded last week, “Isle of Joy,” remarkably deals with the emotional aftermath using Heather Glenn. After her kidnapping and psychological torture, Heather’s view of the world is deeply altered and she no longer sees Daredevil as a hero. Her saying “Muse and Daredevil are the same” is harsh — but far from being untrue.

This is the kind of moral complexity that Born Again excels at. Struggling with her own demons, Heather’s voice gives exposure to Matt’s ultimate dilemma and compels the audience to question the gap between justice and obsession. The amount of lives he saves as Daredevil may be blameless, but at what expense to himself and everyone in his inner circle?

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Vanessa Fisk: Queenpin revealed

An explosion of a spectacle is “Isle of Joy's” final act which uncovers who is Foggy Nelson’s murderer.

Wilson Fisk became a household name weeks prior to the episode’s air date, but his mark was nowhere to be found in the final teaser trailer. When Matt reveals that Vanessa set everything up and used Bullseye to kill Foggy, the heart of the season shifts dramatically.

Ayelet Zurer shines for the first time and boy was it worth it. Vanessa no longer merely sticks as Fisk’s wife, but rather his counterpart - dangerously powerful. The shift to a calculating ruthless criminal figure who commands respect and does not hesitate to shed blood deepens the complexity of the Devil and the King.

The interplay between Matt and Vanessa is sharp and frantic. No drama, no tears. Just a succinct statement, and only one statement. Yes. She does understand what is coming her way. The revelation is still hanging when, to everyone’s shock, Bullseye arrives yet again, gun at the ready.

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Daredevil Saves the Devil — A twist no one saw coming

In the most shocking moment of the episode, we see Matt Murdock take a bullet for Kingpin. Process that for a moment. Bullseye tries to kill Fisk in the presence of important people like Vanessa and Heather, but it is Matt who moves first to cover the man who had previously ruined his life. That is not an act of a hero. That is doing it for the sake of having a plan.

Footsteps accompany a purposeful gait to find first steps. Matt's goal is to capture her, but not before putting her through trial. Not letting Bullseye, or the havoc he brings, take away that option is the key intention. It's not letting Fisk go free. That would mean forsaking vengeance, surrendering everything else, and embracing justice.

This moment crystallizes Matt's core conflict and makes him accept the essence of the battle, in its totality, unconditional surrender, while letting the shadows consume him.

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Final verdict

I'll have to give this episode a 9.5/10⭐

“Isle of Joy” is as good as it gets for Daredevil: Born Again; it is thematically deep, narratively adventurous, and heartwrenchingly sincere. Everything is in place for a bombshell showdown with Bullseye free, Vanessa’s safety compromised, and Matt balancing on the razor-edge of justice and vengeance.

If anything has been proven, it’s that Born Again captures the essence of not shying away from putting its characters — or the viewers — through intense scrutiny, steep dilemmas, and bold decisions, which is incredibly fascinating.

Episode 8: “Isle of Joy,” is an unforgettable penultimate installment that may be a masterpiece in storytelling, containing iconic bursts of action from Daredevil, shocking revelations, and deep, relatable components that will keep the audience breathless for the entire hour. Let us move on to the finale, which promises even more chaos, emotional twists, and powerful confrontations in Marvel’s most daring series yet.