Warning! This article contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again episode 3.Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle a.k.a. The Punisher seems to have killed a major MCU character in Daredevil: Born Again episode 3, but there may be more to this crime than the series lets on. Daredevil: Born Again episode 3 focuses on Hector Ayala’s trial, which Matt Murdock manages to turn in his favor. Against all odds, Hector Ayala a.k.a. the White Tiger is acquitted, and Matt Murdock helps one vigilante clear his name in the public eye. Unfortunately, Matt and Hector’s victory is short-lived.
The fate of all New York City vigilantes and superheroes is at stake in Daredevil: Born Again, as Wilson Fisk is employing his newfound political power to wage war on any individual who wears a mask to fight crime. Fisk knows that Matt Murdock won’t stop his crusade for justice despite abandoning his Daredevil persona, but he isn’t expecting Matt to be so effective at delivering justice as a regular lawyer. Defending Hector Ayala proves to be quite the challenge for Matt, but his decision to out Ayala as the vigilante White Tiger turns the case around.
Did Punisher Really Just Kill White Tiger In Daredevil: Born Again?
A Mysterious Character Might Be Impersonating The Punisher
Hector Ayala puts on his White Tiger costume and mask to fight crime again shortly after being acquitted. However, a stranger intercepts him and shoots him in the head, killing him immediately. This individual’s identity isn’t revealed in Daredevil: Born Again episode 3, but there’s a detail that provides a hint at his identity: he sports a Punisher skull on his chest. As of Daredevil: Born Again episode 3’s release, it seems as though Frank Castle a.k.a. the Punisher has returned to kill the White Tiger.
The Punisher has no reason to kill a fellow vigilante. Frank Castle only targets criminals who hurt people in some way, not vigilantes who break the law in order to defend innocent lives. Frank spent three seasons of his own series, Netflix’s The Punisher, hunting down truly malicious individuals and gangs, and he was last seen gunning down an entire criminal organization after turning down an offer to work with the CIA. While there’s a small chance the Punisher has killed the White Tiger to satisfy his own twisted sense of justice, Frank Castle is likely on Hector Ayala’s side while the latter is on trial.
Daredevil: Born Again Just Realized Punisher’s New Nightmare
The Punisher’s Imagery Has Been Misused In Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again‘s first three episodes reveal that the police force’s most corrupt and trigger-happy officers have gotten tattoos of the Punisher’s iconic skull emblem. Frank Castle designed the Punisher’s skull as a symbol of justice, but dishonorable police officers appear to have misunderstood its original meaning and transformed the skull into a symbol of unchecked authority. Instead of killing criminals who have become untouchable by the law, these corrupt police officers may murder and brutalize suspects without due process.
Taking the Punisher emblem’s new meaning into account, it’s likely that the mysterious individual who kills the White Tiger in Daredevil: Born Again episode 3 is a Punisher impersonator, or at least an unrelated criminal inspired by the original Punisher. Either way, whoever killed the White Tiger must be resentful over Hector Ayala’s acquittal. Since corrupt police officers aren’t able to lock up Hector Ayala through legal means, killing him in cold blood must have been their last resort to get rid of a vigilante and probably send a message while they’re at it.
Who Actually Killed White Tiger?
Daredevil: Born Again Episode 3 Suggests Wilson Fisk Is Involved In Hector Ayala’s Murder
Daredevil: Born Again episode 3 confirms that Wilson and Vanessa Fisk’s influence is still active in New York’s criminal underbelly. Besides, Wilson Fisk’s bloodied knuckles suggest that he’s taking matters into his own hands again. After Hector Ayala is acquitted, a visibly bothered Wilson Fisk calls BB Urich for a statement and divulges his promise to end the threat of vigilantism, calling the results of Hector Ayala’s trial “a miscarriage of justice”. White Tiger’s murder the same night might not be a coincidence.
Benjamin Poindexter could have external connections who keep wreaking havoc while he’s unavailable to do so himself
Frank Castle, Wilson Fisk, and the dirty cops who may want revenge for Hector Ayala’s acquittal are the three most likely culprits behind White Tiger’s murder at this point. However, there are at least two other options. Daredevil: Born Again‘s Muse hasn’t made his existence known yet, and he could make a game-changing debut by impersonating the Punisher to murder White Tiger. Although he’s behind bars, Benjamin Poindexter could have external connections who keep wreaking havoc while he’s unavailable to do so himself.
Daredevil: Born Again
9/10
- Release Date
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March 4, 2025
- Showrunner
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Chris Ord
- Directors
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Michael Cuesta, Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson, Jeffrey Nachmanoff
- Writers
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Chris Ord
