Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Daredevil: Born Again season 1, episode 8.Marveldirectors Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson reveal whatDaredevil: Born Againepisode 8’s final shot really means and their original idea for the ending.Daredevil: Born Againepisode 8’s final scenehas been one of the most dramatic moments inMatt Murdock’s ten-year MCU history. Wilson Fisk’s black-tie event endangers Heather Glenn, gives Matt an opportunity to discover valuable information about Wilson Fisk’s shady operations, leads Matt to discoverwho really had Foggy Nelson killed, and allows Bullseye to shoot Fisk in front of everyone. Most importantly, Matt Murdock puts his life on the line to save Wilson Fisk.
In an interview withBrandon Davis,Daredevil: Born Againdirectors Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson explain how they reached the idea of ending episode 8 on a vibrant red shot of a dying Matt Murdock.According to Moorhead, their original idea was to tilt the camera up to show"religious iconography"as a metaphor of"Matt’s soul leaving his body.“Since the shot was logistically unfeasible, Moorhead and Benson chose to play with the lighting, connecting episode 8 toDaredevil: Born Againepisode 1’s final shot, where the red lighting consumes Matt Murdock as he defies Wilson Fisk. Read Moorhead’s full explanation below:
“What we wanted to do was have the camera pull out from Matt and Heather and then slowly tilt up into the sky and up on the ceiling there would be some kind of religious iconography on the copola above the dance. It would kind of give this impression of Matt’s soul leaving his body, but also this idea of him having committed this act of defending his worst enemy now gives him the grace that he felt like he lost in episode 1; kind of saying like he is Daredevil and he’s not lost the privilege anymore.
Logistics prevented that, because if you tilted up you’d see a bunch of movie lights. But we realized there’s actually an even better idea here by using this language that we’ve established with the blue lights. We can do that same idea with these flashing red lights, which we also had in episode 1. Then we can have this image that is kind of like this upside down mirror image where he’s on the floor and the blood that’s pushing towards the camera kind of reminds you of the wages of this thing that he’s done.”
What The Daredevil: Born Again Episode 8 Directors' Final Shot Comments Mean
Matt Murdock Shows His True Colors When Saving Wilson Fisk
Knowing the mayor invited Heather Glenn to intimidate him, Matt Murdock is angrier at Wilson Fisk than ever during the ball inDaredevil: Born Againepisode 8, and the realization that Vanessa Fisk ordered the hit on Foggy Nelson only made Matt lose his temper more. Yet, right when Matt is ready to attack Fisk verbally or physically, Bullseye’s sniper shot convinces Matt to change his mind and save Fisk.Matt Murdock’s split-second decision to save Wilson Fisk encapsulates Daredevil’s moral compass. Regardless of Fisk’s actions and history, Matt sacrifices his wellbeing to avoid an untimely death.
Why The Punisher Has Been Missing From Most of Daredevil: Born Again
Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle hasn’t returned since his Daredevil: Born Again episode 4, and his absence may have an interesting explanation.
Daredevil: Born Again’sblue and red lighting is a new addition to its characters' lore.Benjamin Poindexter’s blue lighting seems to kick in when his Bullseye alter ego awakens, and Matt Murdock’s red lighting appears when he lets out his Daredevil persona. At the end ofDaredevil: Born Againepisode 1, the red lighting symbolizes Matt Murdock’s wish to wear the Daredevil cowl again to confront Wilson Fisk. At the end ofDaredevil: Born Againepisode 8, the same red lighting represents Daredevil’s selflessness.
Our Take On The Daredevil: Born Again Episode 8 Directors' Final Shot Comments
Daredevil: Born Again Lighting Game Is A Nice Evolution Of Netflix’s Daredevil Cinematography
Daredevil has been associated with red lighting and set design since the very beginning, and Netflix’sDaredevilseason 3 used blue hues for most of Benjamin Poindexter’s scenes, as a nod to Bullseye’s classic blue comic book costume.Daredevil: Born Againcould have used the same approach, but directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead decided to go one step beyond and double down on the red and blue colors to underscore Matt Murdock and Benjamin Poindexter’s Daredevil and Bullseye alter egos. If not inDaredevil: Born Againepisode 9, Daredevil and Bullseye’s feud could evolve inDaredevil: Born Againseason 2.
