Episode eight of Daredevil: Born Again wrapped up season 2 on Tuesday on Disney Plus, giving us one of Marvel’s deadliest TV episodes to date. If you thought Kingpin/Fisk couldn’t get any more depraved, you thought wrong. 

Tuesday’s season finale brought closure while unlocking a potentially interesting future for the series and the MCU. Unfolding as a violent, politically-charged storyline mirroring real-world events, this entire eight-episode run turned just about everyone into a fighter of some kind. It also reintroduced plenty of familiar faces (and voices) like Jessica Jones, Brett Mahoney and others. 

Throughout the show, Matt leaned on his faith, questioning his own conscience, and delving into morality and justice through conversations with Karen, Jessica or even Dex. Heading into the finale, Daredevil’s nursing a gunshot wound in his leg, Karen’s deep into her trial, Jessica wants to help and Fisk is more desperate than ever.  

Let’s get into the biggest moments from the finale’s ending and how these threads may connect for season 3 and the larger MCU. 

Warning: There’s nothing but spoilers ahead for Daredevil: Born Again, so avoid reading if you haven’t watched every episode. There were no post-credits or mid-credits scenes to gab about, but there was a scene worthy of this meme. 

Luke Cage!

Did you almost scream, “Sweet Christmas!” too? No matter what word slipped out, you need a prerequisite course in Netflix’s live-action Marvel shows to really get where this is going. Luke Cage is on the scene, y’all, and it’s exciting.

Jessica and Luke had a short romantic relationship that played out across episodes of Jessica Jones and The Defenders, but nothing in the Netflix series indicated they were expecting a daughter. We meet Danielle for the first time in this season of Daredevil: Born Again, and it’s clear she hasn’t seen her father in a long time.

Because there was a short conversation in episode 7 between Charles and Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) that hinted at a blast from the past, where Charles said he was the only one who could connect her to him. Him being Luke (played by Mike Colter). All she — and we – learned in the penultimate episode was that he’s been working overseas. 

The last time we saw him, he’d taken over the Paradise nightclub and was dubbed as Harlem’s protector and sheriff. But here in his reunion with Jessica and his daughter, he says, “Work was different over there.” It sounds like he’s been doing something for the CIA, or at least worked under Charles. 

In the comics, Luke ran for mayor and set out to clean up the city after Fisk’s reign. That storyline is also tied to the anti-vigilante laws Fisk put in place, making Luke Cage’s on-screen debut in tonight’s finale a prime setup for a season 3 plot that could bring The Defenders — and Angel del Toro’s White Tiger — together. 

We know Colter went viral after photos with him, Ritter and Finn Jones (who played Danny Rand in Iron Fist and The Defenders) were posted online, fueling speculation that a Defenders reunion is coming. And because he also has a history with the Avengers in the comics, we may also get a little backstory on exactly where he’s been, who he’s been with (maybe Shang-Chi or the New Avengers?) or where the MCU could be going. What we do know, is that Alias Investigations may be back up and running. 

Fisk out, Sheila in

Some fans predicted this would happen, and lo and behold, it’s come to fruition. Sheila is in charge now after Fisk’s public killing spree, endless string of crimes and beach bum-style exile. 

Sheila flaked out sometimes when it came to upholding integrity, choosing to be one of Fisk’s lackeys to stay alive, so we’ll see how strong a leader she’ll be moving forward. This is important because actor Zabryna Guevara has confirmed that her character is indeed in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. In the trailer, she’s seen handing Spidey a key to the city. 

Welcome to the MCU, Sheila. Don’t betray anyone else like you did with Commissioner Gallo. 

Dex, the CIA and MCU

There’s a brief shot of Charles on an airplane, with Dex/Bullseye sitting next to him. Dex seemed like he wanted a redemptive arc as Born Again episodes closed out, but now it looks like he’s been recruited to work with Charles and the CIA. Remember when Charles got someone important on the phone back in episode 1? That someone was Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, CIA director in the MCU and covert leader of the Thunderbolts.

In the comics, Bullseye has ties to the Thunderbolts (aka the New Avengers) or whatever you want to call them, and he still engages in criminal activities. There’s also a comic book run where he’s rolling with the heroic Avengers. No telling where his story will go yet, but don’t be surprised if Dex/Bullseye pops up in another Marvel movie before we see him in a TV show again. 

Daredevil’s arrest

It didn’t take long for Daredevil’s deeds to catch up with him after Matt revealed himself to be the Red Devil in court, and his arrest proved that. In his jail cell, he smiled as the episode ended, signaling that he’s not worried about what’s next, so fans shouldn’t be, either. Not much to unpack here, but we’ll have to wait for season 3 (or The Punisher’s May 12 TV special) to see what happens when Daredevil is the defendant. Until then, let the speculation begin.