MOVIE NEWS – Daredevil: Born Again is proving to be a triumphant return for Marvel Television with each new episode, and the latest installment, Sic Semper Systema, continues the trend. The highlight of episode four was undoubtedly the return of Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle, better known as the Punisher. Originally introduced in the second season of Netflix’s Daredevil series, Bernthal’s return signals that Born Again isn’t just about bringing back Matt Murdock, but also reviving beloved street-level heroes like Frank Castle. Fans couldn’t be more excited.

Episode four of Daredevil: Born Again follows Matt Murdock as he investigates a violent vigilante impersonating the Punisher, who has been implicated in the murder of Hector Ayala, also known as White Tiger. Prior to his death, Matt had successfully defended Hector in court, clearing him of a murder charge involving an NYPD officer. However, the third episode concluded with Hector’s shocking death. Now, Matt comes face-to-face with the man who originally inspired this brutal brand of justice: Frank Castle. The tense and emotional confrontation served as a stark reminder of what made the original Daredevil series so compelling.

Following the episode’s release on Disney+, fans flooded social media with praise. Even though Frank Castle and Matt Murdock shared only a brief moment on screen, it was enough to reignite excitement over their dynamic. One fan on X (formerly Twitter) declared, “Cox and Bernthal just delivered another masterpiece of a scene together.” Overall, viewers seem to agree that this latest episode of Born Again has successfully recaptured the tone and energy that made Marvel Television a success in the first place.

‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Brings Fans Right Back to Hell’s Kitchen

Many reactions online emphasized how much Matt and Frank’s conversation in this episode mirrored their earlier interactions in the Netflix series. As one X user enthusiastically put it: “Disney just gave us a Netflix-level Daredevil-Punisher conversation inside the MCU.” The intense scene was reminiscent of the rooftop standoff from Daredevil Season 2, where Frank Castle tried to push Daredevil to cross the line and take a life.

A major theme in Born Again revolves around Matt’s internal struggle, as he resists donning the Daredevil suit again following the tragic death of his best friend, Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson). His lingering guilt over nearly killing Bullseye ties into Frank Castle’s role in the series, as Frank embodies the ruthless side of justice that Matt continuously tries to reject.

Jon Bernthal’s return to the MCU as the Punisher wasn’t just a one-off cameo—it was accompanied by the announcement of a standalone Marvel Special Presentation focusing on Frank Castle. Bernthal has already hinted that the project will explore the darker, psychological depths of the character, something that has always resonated with fans. Given the overwhelmingly positive response to his first appearance in Daredevil: Born Again, audiences can look forward to even more of Frank Castle as the series progresses.

Source: MovieWeb