'Daredevil: Born Again' Just Broke Our Hearts With Another Shocking Death

Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again Episode 3.

Daredevil: Born Again’s latest episode, “The Hollow of His Hand,” gives us a fascinating return to the courtroom forMatt (Charlie Cox)as he defends Hector Ayala (Kamar de los Reyes) against the false charges of murdering a police officer. The parallels between Matt’s Daredevil and Hector’s White Tiger — how they both approach being a vigilante and the differences, or lack thereof — offer a thoroughly engaging exploration of Matt’s inner conflict. When Hector’s verdict is read out, andhe is declared “not guilty” on all counts, there is a huge sense of relief, like we were watching a loved one of our own be found innocent. When Matt declared that “sometimes” the system works, there is no other way to describe it other than feeling good to see that we can place trust in the institutions designed to protect us.

Kamar de los Reyes as Hector Ayala in his White Tiger costume sitting on his bed in Daredevil: Born Again.

While arguably being a subplot for the season, Hector and his trial have been the beating heart ofDaredevil: Born Againso far, which is very much needed following the death ofFoggy Nelson (EldenHenson), who most would agree filled this role previously. Therefore, when Hector is executed out of nowhere by a mysterious individual wearingThe Punisher’s (Jon Bernthal)skull logo,it is a heartbreaking gut punch. Not only is there a more tragic context when considering the real-world circumstances surrounding the actor, Kamar de los Reyes, but the saddest moment of Hector’s death actually comes after the credits roll.

‘Daredevil: Born Again’s Credits Play the Same Song Hector Described to Matt

Following Hector’s death, the frogs that sing in the credits are the same coqui that he describes in the opening scene between him and Matt in the prison cell.Hector tells Matt that tourists in hishometown in Puerto Ricofind the noises annoying, but that he and the locals knew it meant home, with Hector even calling the song “magic,” which could relate tohis “magical amulet” that gave him powersand clearly had some connection to nature. Ultimately, though, what is most important about this coqui song is that it represents freedom.

This scene is not only powerful because it shows a wrongfully imprisoned man desperate for freedom just so he can see home again, but also because of how it can relate to Matt. Hector doesn’t describe what this beach looks like, instead telling Matt audio details. Because of this, we immediately see a connection between Hector and Matt as they feel things on the same wavelength, andthe song during the credits provides asensory portrayal of freedom that perhaps Matt himself imaginedwhen Hector told him the story. This leads to what can now be viewed as a tragic irony when Matt tells Hector he will see his home again, and this kind of unfulfilled promise reflects how, while Matt is desperate to do the right thing, he is not ultimately in control of everyone’s fate.

Genneya Walton as BB Urich from Daredevil: Born Again

The fact we hear this audio after Hector’s death makes it almost feel like this was as close to freedom as Hector could be following the trial, as he was never going to live a normal life after that. After Matt reveals that he is the White Tiger, the ex-vigilante tells Hector to stop, and Hector relates this request to asking him to stop breathing. In this way, White Tiger serves as an effective contrast between Matt and Hector, as he shows the almost never-ending cycle of being a vigilante and the pain that comes with it. However,Hector’s argument that it is always about doing the right thing may sway Mattin coming episodes. Being a vigilante didn’t get Hector into trouble; he was atarget for the police, no matter his history or innocence.

Who Is BB Urich in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’?

And what’s her connection to Ben Urich again?

Kamar de los Reyes’ Passing Makes Hector’s Death in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ More Tragic

Perhaps the reason this death is doubly gut-wrenching is because Reyes passed away in 2023 from cancer. An actor’s death can make a performance of theirs transcend to cult-like status, likeHeath Ledger’s role inThe Dark Knight. In this episode, Reyes excels at playing Hector with an earnestness that can’t be doubted when he celebrates the not-guilty verdict. Later, when he puts on the costume and looks in the mirror,Reyes plays the scene with weight, his eyes seemingly pondering how this verdict hasn’t prevented the inevitability of his death, as he will always be on the police’s radar.

With theextensive reshootsthat had already taken place onDaredevil: Born Again, it could have resulted in a scenario where Hector’s story ended a different way, and awkward edits could have meant our emotional connection to him was different. Instead, despite entire episodes being rewritten, Hector’s character arc seems to remain intact, offering the most emotional moment of the season so far. By sticking to the original story the writers wanted to tell, and not trying to guess how the public would react, Reyes' performance as Hector will linger in the memories of all who watched this episode ofDaredevil: Born Again. The character’s ability to unknowingly forge a unique bond with Matt as a fellow vigilante while giving us a clear sense of his longing for homemade him the season’s emotional linchpin. In the end, Hector’s arc in this episode, surrounding his trial and release, showcases how vigilantes deal with an immense risk at all times.

New episodes ofDaredevil: Born Againare released weekly on Disney+.