Warning: This article contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again.
I’m getting major Maria Hill flashbacks after the premiere ofDaredevil: Born Again, and I’m very worried that theMCUmight repeatSecret Invasion’sbiggest mistakes. After making cameo appearances and being teased in several recent MCU projects, Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock finally came back for a solo adventure inDaredevil: Born Again, which premiered on March 4. I foundBorn Again’sdouble-premiereto be exhilarating, but the opening moments of episode 1, “Heaven’s Half Hour,” made me worried about the handling of one important character’s unfortunate fate.
Charlie Cox returned inDaredevil: Born Againafter showing up inSpider-Man: No Way Home, She-Hulk: Attorney at LawandEcho.Born Againis already far more intense, violent and emotionally raw than any of Matt Murdock’s previous adventures, however, and this was the case from the first moments of the series' premiere. I was surprised to seeDaredevil: Born Againcopy one majorevent from 2023’sSecret Invasion, and I really hope Marvel Studios doesn’t repeat one of the Phase 5 series' biggest mistakes again, two years later.
Daredevil: Born Again Repeated Secret Invasion’s Tragic Premiere Death Trick
Both Born Again & Secret Invasion Featured A Death In Their Premieres
Back in the premiere episode of 2023’sSecret Invasion, “Resurrection,” MCU veteran and beloved former SHIELD agentMaria Hill was killed by the Skrull Gravikshortly after he detonated bombs in Vossoyedineniye Square on Unity Day. Cobie Smulders was a fan-favorite fixture in the MCU, so I was shocked to see her killed inSecret Invasion’spremiere, and Marvel has just made my surprise even more prevalent.WhileSecret Invasion’spremiere ended with a major death,Daredevil: Born Again’sfirst episode opened with one, as Elden Henson’s Foggy Nelson met his tragic demise.
Elden Henson was confirmed to be reprising his role ofFranklin “Foggy” Nelson from Netflix’sDaredevilseriesafterDaredevil: Born Again’screative overhaul in 2023. I was very excited to see him return as Matt Murdock’s law partner and best friend, but I can’t believe that Marvel Studios killed him off within the first 15 minutes ofBorn Again.Foggy was killed by Bullseye, with Wilson Bethel also reprising his role, and he died in Karen Page’s arms, Deborah Ann Woll delivering an emotional performance. I just hope Marvel doesn’t waste this major death.
I Hope Foggy’s Death Means Something In Daredevil: Born Again
Foggy Nelson’s Daredevil: Born Again Death Is Truly Shocking
I still have real problems with how Marvel Studios handled Maria Hill’s death inSecret Invasion. Her demise should have had a huge impact onSamuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury, spurring him on to take down the Skrull rebellion, kill Gravik and then remain on Earth to clear up any loyalists to Gravik and ensure the world’s safety. However,Marvel made Maria Hill’s death practically meaningless. Fury sent G’iah to fight Gravik in his place before simply leaving Earth again, so he basically had no hand in ending the Skrull rebellion, and did not pay homage to Hill whatsoever.
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I desperately hope that Marvel Studios avoids repeating this horrible trend withFoggy Nelson inDaredevil: Born Again. Foggy’s death needs to have a monumental impact on Matt Murdock that persists throughout the series and in any future storyline that Daredevil finds himself in. Foggy and Matt have been friends since college, so the former’s death cannot simply be forgotten.We’ve already seen Foggy’s death cause Murdock to retire as Daredevil, but since he’ll soon don the horns again, Foggy’s demise needs to inform his every decision.
I’m Still Holding Out Hope For Redemption For Maria Hill After Secret Invasion
Maria Hill Can Still Get Justice Despite Her Death In Secret Invasion
FollowingDaredevil: Born Again’sdouble-premiere and its handling of Foggy’s death, I have hope that his loss will have much more prevalence inBorn Againthan Maria Hill’s did inSecret Invasion. Even so, this doesn’t solve the mistakes that Marvel made with Maria Hill, but I am still holding out for Smulder’s MCU veteran to get redemption.There are many ways that I could see Marvel redeeming Maria Hill, whether by bringing her back into the MCU or by simply paying respect to hermore thanSecret Invasionbothered to.
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Now deep in the Multiverse Saga, the MCU could easily debut a variant of Maria Hill, perhaps one filling her SHIELD Director role from Marvel Comics. Maria Hill’s death could also, by some magic of Marvel, be reversed - this happened many times in the Defenders Saga, and Nick Fury already pulled this off with Phil Coulson inAgents of SHIELD, though this isn’t considered canon to the MCU’s main timeline.Whatever the case may be, I hope Maria Hill gets some justice in the MCU, just as I’m sure Foggy Nelson will inDaredevil: Born Again.
New episodes ofDaredevil: Born Againrelease every Tuesday at 6pm PT/9pm ET on Disney+.
