Tensions explode in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 7, “The Hateful Darkness,” as the fight against Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) becomes more public — and far more dangerous.

With Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) facing trial under Fisk’s anti-vigilante crackdown, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) is forced to make difficult choices both inside and outside the courtroom. Meanwhile, Fisk tightens his grip on everyone around him, while old allies and enemies are pushed toward violent decisions. And Benjamin Poindexter (Wilson Bethel) is given one final chance at redemption.

Here’s a full recap of everything that happens in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 7.

Karen becomes Fisk’s public target

The episode opens in the aftermath of the violent crackdown outside City Hall. Blood stains the steps of City Hall, candles and personal belongings remain scattered across the ground, and Matt—back in the Daredevil suit—moves through the streets, listening carefully as the city reacts.

Meanwhile, Karen Page is processed by police and taken to a holding cell. Wilson Fisk visits her personally. He accuses Karen of helping destroy everything he is trying to build, calling her the accomplice of a “deranged vigilante” and framing her as a criminal disguised as a hero. Fisk insists that while the public may see her as heroic, he sees only chaos and disobedience.

Karen refuses to back down. She tells him she has never seen him scared before—and that she likes it. The comment hits a nerve. Fisk reaches through the bars, grabs her by the throat, and tightens his grip before coldly reminding her that this is about “order.”

Karen fires back, telling him he went too far the night before and that both she and the city know it. Before leaving, Fisk tells her she has one phone call and warns her to choose carefully.

Jessica uncovers Fisk’s next move

Elsewhere, Jessica Jones pays Charles a very personal visit. She confronts him over the armed men sent to her house while her daughter Danielle was inside. Charles claims they were only meant to warn her to back off, not hurt her child, but Jessica makes it clear that if he ever comes near her daughter again, she will kill him.

Charles reveals something even bigger: Governor McCaffrey is trying to remove Fisk from power, and Fisk may be preparing to stop her permanently. Jessica takes this information to Matt. Though neither of them fully trusts Charles, the warning makes sense—McCaffrey is the one person with the power to revoke Fisk’s Freeport charter and truly damage his operation.

They meet Cherry on another rooftop, where he updates Matt on Karen’s situation. She has been officially booked and is being fast-tracked into vigilante court. Cherry warns Matt that breaking her out would only prove Fisk right and turn Matt into exactly what Fisk wants him to be.

Jessica makes it clear she can’t stay. She came to deal with Charles and needs to return home to Danielle. Before leaving, she gives Matt one final warning: Fisk will not stop unless someone stops him first.

Matt makes a dangerous deal with Bullseye

Back at the hideout, Matt releases Benjamin Poindexter (Wilson Bethel), giving him what may be his only chance at redemption. Matt tells Dex exactly how he feels—he hates him for Foggy Nelson and for every innocent life he destroyed. Part of him wants to kill him. Another part believes he needs to forgive him.

This is not about saving Dex. It is about protecting others. Matt offers him one final opportunity to do something good—to balance the scales, even slightly. Dex accepts, though he makes no promises about who he is capable of being.

Matt secretly reaches Karen

Karen is later visited by Brett Mahoney (Royce Johnson), who quietly helps her out of her cell long enough for her to meet Matt. Waiting in the shadows, Matt and Karen finally reunite, embracing after everything that has happened.

Karen tells him Fisk visited her and that something is changing—he is planning something bigger. She believes he is preparing to destroy them publicly and permanently. Matt agrees. Fisk is losing the city, and he knows it. That means he will use the court to humiliate Karen and make the public celebrate it.

Matt reveals that stopping Fisk may require crossing lines neither of them expected. Karen immediately understands what he means—and tells him no. She refuses to let him go that far. The emotional tension between them breaks, and they kiss before Karen returns to her cell.

The trial begins — and lawyer Matt Murdock is back

Karen arrives at court beside Kirsten McDuffie as cameras and reporters fill the room. District Attorney Hochberg opens aggressively, presenting Karen as a criminal responsible for aiding terrorism, violence, and the collapse of public order.

Kirsten responds by reframing the entire question: what is a vigilante? Is a vigilante someone who breaks the law for personal justice—or the last resort when a broken system can no longer provide justice at all?

Before the trial can continue, Kirsten makes a surprise move. Matt Murdock walks into the courtroom. After being missing, he returns publicly as Karen’s co-counsel, taking his place beside her as the press erupts around them. Fisk watches the news from his office and is clearly furious.

Matt immediately turns the courtroom against the Anti-Vigilante Task Force. He questions Powell directly about the Task Force’s mission and who created both the force and its operating rules. The answer is Fisk.

Kirsten follows by exposing the absurdity of heavily armed officers claiming they were only performing a “welfare check” at Matt’s apartment. She pushes harder, directly raising questions about Hector Ayala and Fisk’s broader abuse of power. Watching the trial unfold, Governor McCaffrey realizes the moment has come. She calls the Attorney General and orders the suspension paperwork to move forward.

Bullseye saves the Governor

At the same time, Governor McCaffrey is attacked inside her home by an assassin attempting to strangle her. Before he can finish the job, blades strike him from the shadows.

Bullseye appears. Without saying much, Dex silently saves the governor, giving Matt exactly what he asked for: one genuinely good act. He leaves smiling as police cars arrive.

Heather turns on Karen

Heather later visits Karen in prison under the pretense of a clinical evaluation. Instead, the conversation becomes deeply personal and increasingly hostile.

Karen deliberately pushes Heather, talking about loving a man who is emotionally inaccessible and dangerous. Heather quickly turns the session into an attack, bringing up Karen’s murder of James Wesley and questioning whether Matt truly knows who Karen is.

She also digs into Karen’s past with Frank Castle, her father, and her brother, weaponizing every wound she can find. Karen pushes back until Heather finally loses control and slaps her. But Karen barely reacts—almost daring her to do worse.

Buck makes his move

The episode ends with multiple lives hanging in the balance. Matt prays alone in church. Karen lies awake in her cell. Fisk sits alone with his grief. Jessica Jones enters the church and approaches Matt—setting the stage for whatever comes next.

Meanwhile, Daniel approaches Buck, who asks where BB is, but Daniel says nothing. Earlier, Daniel told BB to disappear and go where Buck can’t find her. When Daniel refuses to fully cooperate, Buck brutally beats him. Then, Buck points a gun at Daniel, but seems to hesitate. In the end, he shoots Daniel.