Daredevil: Born Again introduces a major change that sets up a darker role for this pivotal character

Ayelet Zurer as Vanessa Fisk in Daredevil: Born Again | Image Source: Marvel Entertainment
Ayelet Zurer as Vanessa Fisk in Daredevil: Born Again | Image Source: YouTube/Marvel Entertainment

As Daredevil: Born Again has streamed three episodes on Disney+, viewers have noticed a major change to Vanessa's character. In the first half of the first episode, the Kingpin stops an argument between two heads of New York crime families. However, the Kingpin here is not Wilson Fisk but Vanessa Fisk. This change comes out of nowhere, but it keeps the show interesting.

Vanessa Marianna (later Fisk) was introduced in the first season of the original Netflix series as the love interest of Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, who is the head of New York's underworld. In the Season 1 finale, Wilson sends her somewhere safe while Daredevil apprehends him himself. While mentioned in the second season, she isn't seen in that season but returns in the third season.

While she seems nice enough in the first season, Vanessa takes a darker turn in the third season and joins Fisk in his criminal activities. This turn in that season rather sets up her role as the Kingpin in Daredevil: Born Again.


Vanessa's Daredevil: Born Again turn was teased back in Season 3

As stated earlier Zurer's Vanessa did not appear in Season 2 of the original Netflix show. She returned in Episode 12 of Daredevil Season 3, where she convinced Wilson to let her be a part of his criminal empire. Once she joins Wilson, Vanessa orders Benjamin Poindexter (who was still loyal to the Kingpin) to kill FBI agent, Rahul "Ray" Nadeem.

However, the tables turn on Wilson and Vanessa in the next episode, which is also the Season 3 finale. Poindexter learns that Wilson had Julie, the former's "Northstar" killed and as revenge, he tries to murder Vanessa after her wedding to Wilson Fisk. But Daredevil saves her life and Wilson breaks Poindexter's spine. Then Daredevil and Wilson Fisk resume their fight in which Matt bests Fisk but refuses to kill him.

Matt also blackmails Fisk by threatening to out Vanessa as the mastermind behind Nadeem's death. Intimidated, Fisk convinces Matt to keep that a secret in exchange for Karen Page and Foggy Nelson's life and freedom. He is sent back to prison at the concluding moments of Season 3, thus separating the couple. Later, we don't see Vanessa until the first episode of Daredevil: Born Again.

When we meet Vanessa in Episode 1 of Born Again, she runs a criminal empire, once headed by Wilson Fisk. Wilson, on the other hand, is no longer interested in being the head of the entire New York City's underworld. Rather, he wants to appear clean to run for the mayor, an election he manages to win. He also informs her that he is aware of her past with someone named Adam.

These differences have put a strain on their relationship and marriage. Therefore, he and Vanessa are attending couples' therapy where their therapist is none other than Matt Murdock's current love interest Heather Glenn.

Her darker and villainous role is a rather welcoming change by the showrunners of Daredevil: Born Again where Vanessa and her son, Richard Fisk, are more or less victims of Wilson Fisk's actions as a criminal. This change brings a new shade to the character which isn't seen in the source material.


Catch Ayelet Zurer's interpretation of Vanessa Fisk in Daredevil: Born Again, which is currently streaming on Dinsey+.

Edited by Amey Mirashi
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