Daredevil: Born Again concluded its inaugural season with an intense escalation in the rivalry between Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio). In a dramatic turn of events, Fisk leveraged his assassination attempt to impose martial law in New York City, while Matt rallied his closest allies to resist the oppressive regime. The final scene of Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 is particularly memorable for its music selection; directors Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson, along with showrunner Dario Scardapane, chose to accompany Matt’s climactic speech with “Everything in Its Right Place” by Radiohead. This choice is profoundly fitting, as it encapsulates both Matt’s tumultuous mental state and the impending stakes for Season 2.
Matt Murdock experiences a profound internal struggle, which is beautifully captured in the lyrics of “Everything in Its Right Place.” Before addressing his friends, he shares a poignant conversation with Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll), expressing his disillusionment with the notion of finding purpose in his role as Daredevil. He reflects on his darker impulses, especially after his violent encounter with Bullseye (Wilson Bethel). “My mistake was thinking I was immune to the darkness,” he confesses softly. The minimalistic lyrics of the song, such as “Yesterday, I woke up sucking a lemon” and “There are two colors in my head,” symbolize the deep-seated turmoil that has been brewing within him since the loss of his ally, Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson). The song also aligns perfectly with the current perilous situation, as Fisk is exacting his revenge for Matt’s resurgence as Daredevil. Yet, Matt remains resolute; he made a vow to dismantle Fisk’s criminal empire, especially now that he knows of Fisk’s intentions to launder money through Red Hook illegally. The pivotal question remains: who will ultimately triumph in this escalating conflict?
The phrase “two colors in my head” serves as a powerful metaphor for Matt’s conflicting identities. At the onset of Daredevil: Born Again, he attempted to suppress his alter ego as Daredevil, focusing solely on his career as a lawyer. However, defending Hector Ayala (Kamar de los Reyes) and rescuing Hector’s niece Angela (Carmilla Rodriguez) from the clutches of the serial killer known as Muse made him realize that he cannot simply abandon his identity as Daredevil. In his stirring speech at the end of the Season 1 finale, titled “Straight to Hell,” Matt declares, “I can’t see my city, but I can feel it. The system isn’t working—it’s rotten, corrupt. But this is our city, not his. And we can take it back together: the weak, the strong, all of us. Resist. Rebel. Rebuild. Because we are the city without fear.” This powerful declaration signifies Matt’s acceptance of both facets of his life, uniting them in his fight against injustice.
Discover How Radiohead’s ‘Everything in Its Right Place’ Mirrors Daredevil’s Journey
The song “Everything in Its Right Place” perfectly encapsulates the essence of Daredevil: Born Again‘s finale, particularly given its historical context. Following the monumental success of their third album, OK Computer, lead vocalist Thom Yorke found himself engulfed by overwhelming pressure. He recounted to Rolling Stone, “I came off at the end of that show, sat in the dressing room, and couldn’t speak. I actually couldn’t speak. People were saying, ‘You all right?’ I knew people were speaking to me. But I couldn’t hear them. And I couldn’t talk. I’d just so had enough.” Yorke turned his turmoil into art, crafting the haunting melody of “Everything in its Right Place,” where he noted that the line “Yesterday I woke up sucking a lemon” was inspired by his sour disposition over several years. Upon its release, the song received mixed reviews, especially from long-time fans accustomed to Radiohead’s earlier sound. Yet, over time, “Everything in Its Right Place” has emerged as a quintessential track from the early 2000s. This artistic transformation parallels Matt Murdock’s own journey of reclaiming his identity as the Man Without Fear in Daredevil: Born Again, making Radiohead’s choice to feature this song in the finale particularly resonant.
Anticipate Elevated Tension in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2, As Promised by Cast and Crew
If the finale “Straight to Hell” left Daredevil fans astounded, the cast and crew are promising that Season 2 will be an exhilarating roller coaster ride, making “Everything in Its Right Place” a foreboding indication of the challenges ahead. Deborah Ann Woll expressed her enthusiasm for the Season 2 scripts, while producer Sana Amanat described the filming experience as akin to being “a kid in a candy shop.” Justin Benson elaborated on the concluding moments where Daredevil begins to assemble a team of allies during an appearance on the Phase Zero podcast. He noted that these scenes were crafted to highlight the arduous journey awaiting the Man Without Fear:
“The dramatic beauty and also just the beauty of the tragedy of the season, and the oddly emotionally satisfying thing about that conclusion, is that the good guys lost. Matt Murdock lost. Fisk won. But in those final moments, you understand just enough that despite the fact…the only one in that room with a costume is [Daredevil]. There’s something beautiful about them being, ‘Yeah, we lost. There’s not a lot of hope, but we’re going to have the grit to say, ‘F*** it,’ and keep going.’ There’s something so satisfying about that.”
Once again, “Everything in Its Right Place” captures the essence of New York’s tumultuous landscape. Although Matt and his friends have faced the bitter taste of defeat, this setback serves only to fuel their determination to confront Fisk. As the stakes heighten in the inevitable confrontation between Matt and Fisk, fans are hopeful that Daredevil: Born Again has even more captivating musical moments in store.
The entire first season of Daredevil: Born Again is currently available for streaming on Disney+.
