Did Daredevil: Born Again ever address the blip in the MCU? Details revealed

Daredevil: Born Again, the new Disney+ series based on Matt Murdock, outright references the Blip—the tragic incident in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) during which half the population disappeared and eventually came back. Although the show is realistic and open to non-MCU fans, it doesn't downplay the implications of Avengers: Endgame.

The Blip's effects are threaded throughout the narrative, influencing characters' motivations, the social fabric of the city, and emerging new threats. As an instance, the main character, Officer Connor Powell, is shown to have been missing during the Blip, and his activities during this time inform his behaviors and affiliations.

The show investigates how New York City and its inhabitants have transformed as a reaction to the trauma and disruption generated by the Blip, skillfully weaving this significant MCU occurrence into its storytelling without eclipsing its primary themes or characters.

How Daredevil: Born Again deals with the Blip

Daredevil: Born Again does not utilize the Blip as a plot point but nods to it in character histories and the altered climate of the city. Officer Connor Powell's unavailability during the Blip is specifically noted, which shows how the occurrence shattered lives and careers.

The series demonstrates that the unexpectedness of the Blip left citizens exposed, precipitating a cultural change in which individuals craved firmer, more authoritative leaders. This was an atmosphere where Wilson Fisk, or Kingpin, was able to accrue power by presenting himself as a guardian in a city that was still trying to recover from the effects of the Blip.

The show also addresses the psychological effects of the Blip. Matt Murdock and Frank Castle are portrayed struggling with barriers to communication and trauma, which are blamed on the confusion and disruption caused by the disappearance and return of half the population.

The effects of the Blip go beyond physical absence to include emotional and mental health issues, affecting relationships and development.

The Blip's impact on crime and authority

Daredevil: Born Again examines how the Blip resulted in an increase in lawlessness and a reassertion of institutional control by groups such as the NYPD. The series implies that the anarchy before and after the Blip provided room for villains and corrupt politicians to take power.

Officer Powell, for instance, is a central character in Wilson Fisk's Anti-Vigilante Task Force, utilizing the post-Blip power vacuum to condone aggressive tactics and a hard-line stance towards justice. The series draws parallels between the fictional Blip and the real world, using events like the social reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the real-world communities looked for stability and guidance in chaotic times, New York City in the MCU looks toward characters like Fisk for stability. This public turnaround is both portrayed as a response to trauma and the accelerant of the ascendancy of authoritarianism by those in authority.

Connections to the wider MCU and future implications

Although Daredevil: Born Again has a largely standalone story, it does not forget its position in the larger MCU. The series features brief references to the Snap and mentions of other characters and occurrences to maintain continuity with the overall universe.

For example, the lack of specific characters, including Foggy Nelson and Karen Page, is tangentially tied to the civil unrest caused by the Blip, which disrupted lines of communication and changed interpersonal relationships. The show also leaves open questions regarding New York's heroes and villains of the future.

The Blip's trauma and instability have a lasting impact, influencing the motivations of both heroes and villains. Daredevil: Born Again suggests the battle for power and stability in the city is far from over and that figures like Powell and Fisk will be major players in seasons to come. The story admits that even though the Blip is a bygone experience, its effects still impact the MCU's changing world.

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Watch Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+ now.

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