I firmly believe Karen’s return in Daredevil: Born Again was too little, too late

Disclaimer: This article solely reflects the author's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.

The Daredevil: Born Again finale streamed on Disney+ on April 15, 2025. The thrilling finale is filled with shocking moments and even some fan-favorite reunions, and that includes not only Matt and Frank Castle's reunion and team-up. It also includes the reunion of Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock and Karen Page, played by actress Deborah Ann Woll, who reprises her role from the original Netflix series.

The finale, titled "Straight to Hell," reveals that Karen had called Frank Castle to help out Matt, as Ben Poindexter had escaped prison. Her return felt nice because a lot of viewers, including me, were feeling her absence since the very first episode of Daredevil: Born Again.

I feel that Deborah Ann Woll's Karen Page was underutilized in Daredevil: Born Again:

Daredevil: Born Again Episode 1 opens with Karen Page, Foggy Nelson, and Matt Murdock heading towards Josie's Bar to celebrate Police Detective Cherry's retirement. However, this celebratory night is cut short because of a tragedy in which Benjamin Poindexter/Bullseye kills Foggy Nelson. A distraught Karen leaves New York for San Francisco after losing one of her best friends.

Meanwhile, Matt Murdock retired his vigilante alter ego and focused on being a lawyer by opening a law firm with Kirsten McDuffie. Before the finale, we see Karen only in the first act of the first Born Again episode, when she visits the courtroom for Ben Poindexter's sentencing hearing. After that, we directly see her in the Daredevil: Born Again finale, with very few hints towards her.

This is why I feel that the show wasted her character, because the previous three seasons of the Netflix series equally featured her. But that doesn't mean that Born Again Season 1 is bad. Just that the series can do more with Karen in the upcoming second season, which is currently being filmed. As the closing moments of the finale suggest, Deborah Ann Woll's Karen Page may have a larger role in Born Again Season 2.

Karen is a part of Matt's army as shown in the conclusion of Daredevil: Born Again finale:

The Born Again finale ended with Fisk successfully banning vigilantes and declaring martial law in New York. Matt has assembled a small army of his own to bring down Fisk's oppressive regime and his anti-vigilante task force. This army consists of Angie Kim, Cherry, a couple of unnamed police officers, Josie, and even Karen.

Karen can handle herself with a gun, but her strength is undoubtedly her investigative skills. Thus, she can employ her journalistic skills to help Matt end Mayor Wilson Fisk's oppressive regime in Born Again Season 2. Furthermore, if the other Netflix Marvel heroes like Jessica Jones were to join Matt's army in the second season, Karen might have someone who can help her with the investigation.

"In Marvel Television’s 'Daredevil: Born Again', Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer with heightened abilities, is fighting for justice through his bustling law firm, while former mob boss Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) pursues his own political endeavors in New York. When their past identities begin to emerge, both men find themselves on an inevitable collision course."

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Do you think Karen Page was in Daredevil: Born Again Season 1? Let us know.

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