Daredevil recap: Everything you need to know before Born Again

He's joined by a whole host of familiar faces, including Elden Henson as Foggy, Deborah Ann Woll as Karen, Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/The Punisher, and Wilson Bethel as Bullseye.

But what can we expect from those returns?

Showrunner Dario Scardapane has reassured fans about Karen's comeback, at least, telling RadioTimes.com: "I was fortunate enough to work with Deborah Ann Woll in The Punisher.

"I knew when I met with [Marvel] the first time that Karen Page, as a character, as an entity, as part of this world, is super important. So I'm very excited for the fans and everybody to see how that evolves and what's to come.

"Without giving too much away, I could say that if that relationship and if that character matters to you, you will be very satisfied."

But it's been a long time since Netflix's Daredevil was last on our screens and, since then, Matt has been busy, popping up in The Defenders, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and She-Hulk. Kingpin has been much the same, with a prominent role in Echo.

So, before we return to Hell's Kitchen, here's a full recap and everything you need to know before Daredevil: Born Again.

What happened in Daredevil? Full recap

Daredevil season 1 (2015)

Of course, we first met Cox's Matt Murdock in Netflix's Daredevil, which left fans heartbroken when it was cancelled after three seasons.

In season 1, we were introduced to kind-hearted lawyers Murdock and Nelson, who saved an innocent Karen Page from being framed for murder – and then from being murdered herself. With nowhere to go, Karen started to work for Murdock & Nelson and formed a close bond with the pair of them.

An accident in Matt's youth left him blind, but with incredibly heightened senses, leading him to become the vigilante Daredevil. Left disillusioned with how much the law could do to prevent the increasing levels of crime in Hell's Kitchen, he decided to settle scores and save whoever he could himself – but it certainly didn't come without its complications.

The big bad in season 1 was mob boss Wilson Fisk, AKA Kingpin, who kills and orchestrates the death of countless people throughout the season as well as having key figures in the police, media, and government under his thumb. By the end of the season, Fisk and his cronies are finally arrested.

But Fisk has left a trail of death in his wake, including Nelson & Murdock client Elena Cardenas, journalist Ben Urich – and his work isn't done.

Daredevil season 2 (2016)

In season 2, with Fisk in prison, multiple gangs attempt to take control of Hell's Kitchen – but chaos ensues when a vigilante who becomes known as The Punisher starts murdering criminals.

We learn he's a former Marine named Frank Castle, whose family was murdered during a shootout between two gangs – the Irish and the Dogs of Hell. After being apprehended by Daredevil, Castle is soon arrested (with Daredevil letting Sergeant Brett Mahoney take the credit in an attempt to restore public faith in the police).

With Karen and Matt striking up a (brief) romance, Matt is visited by his ex-girlfriend Elektra, who needs help dealing with the Japanese arm of the Roxxon Corporation, who her father had dealings with. Matt agrees to help Elektra investigate the Yakuza. They find out they're both fronts for the ancient group The Hand.

Meanwhile, Nelson & Murdock agrees to represent Castle to help find out what happened to his family – but he refuses to accept a plea deal, pleading not guilty, starting a public trial. Matt is late to the trial due to his dealings as Daredevil and his relationship with Foggy fractures. Taking the stand, Castle wrecks his own defence and is sent to prison, where he meets Fisk.

Fisk uses Castle, getting him to kill another inmate and making false promises about information about his family – but he does arrange for his release from prison.

The final episode sees The Hand taking people Murdock has helped hostage, including Karen. Matt and Elektra fight off The Hand and rescue the hostages, with Castle later offering his help, and Elektra sacrifices herself.

However, the final scenes of the season show Elektra's body being placed into an ancient device, hinting that she could be brought back to life.

Daredevil season 3 (2018)

Season 3 sees an escalating battle between Matt and and Fisk.

Throughout the season, Kingpin had manipulated FBI Special Agent Benjamin "Dex" Poindexter into becoming a Daredevil imposter – but this all comes to a head when it's revealed that Kingpin killed a woman Poindexter cared about.

After a brutal fight between the three of them, Daredevil forces Kingpin to agree to return to prison (to avoid Vanessa, played by Ayelet Zurer, ending up behind bars instead).

Meanwhile, Poindexter suffers a broken back and the final scene shows him undergoing surgery and becoming the comic book villain Bullseye – who is confirmed to return in Born Again.

Aside from that chilling moment, Daredevil season 3 ends on an unexpectedly happy note, with Matt, Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) and Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) agreeing to establish their own law firm.

What happened to Daredevil in The Defenders? (2017)

The next time we catch up with Matt is in 2017's The Defenders, where he's established as a pro bono lawyer, with the series showing him and the team, including Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Danny Rand (Finn Jones), and Luke Cage (Mike Colter) in a battle against The Hand.

After the final battle, it's believed Matt has died, with Foggy and Karen left heartbroken – until a final scene reveals that he's still alive. Unlike Daredevil, The Defenders only lasted for one season and it would be four years before we saw Daredevil back on screens.

What happened to Daredevil in Spider-Man: No Way Home? (2021)

Gasps were heard in cinemas across the world as Matt Murdock made a surprise appearance in one of the MCU's most highly-anticipated movies of all time.

Appearing as Peter Parker's (Tom Holland) lawyer, Matt casually saves Peter from a brick flying through the window – but doesn't reveal his secret, simply saying: "I'm a really good lawyer."

It's a brief cameo, but it does everything it needs to in order to re-integrate Matt back into the MCU.

What happened to Daredevil in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law? (2022)

In the final two episodes of She-Hulk, Daredevil rocks up with a new suit – and it seems he was set up as a love interest for Tatiana Maslany's Jennifer Walters.

After a very meta season finale, the series ends with Matt attending a family barbecue. Happily ever after! Right? Well, until Maya Lopez enters the mix, that is...

What happened to Daredevil and Kingpin in Echo? (2024)

Matt only appears for a brief cameo in Echo, as he's seen fighting Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) in the opening scenes.

But Fisk has a major role, as Maya's adoptive uncle. When Maya discovers he's the man responsible for her father's death, she shoots him in the eye – but, of course, he doesn't die.

After recovering from his injuries, Fisk offers tells her that he will give her his criminal empire if she agrees to return with him to New York. However, she leaves without him.

In revenge, Fisk kidnaps Maya's grandmother Chula and cousin Bonnie, and threatens to kill her family for betraying him. Using her powers, Maya takes Fisk back to a memory of his father beating his mother in an attempt to help him let go of his anger.

A mid-credits scene shows Fisk deciding to run for Mayor of New York City.

Echo is streaming now on Disney Plus. Check out the rest of our Sci-Fi and Fantasy coverage, or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what’s on tonight.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.