Daredevil: Born Again – Art for Art’s Sake review S1 E7

Art for Art’s Sake definitely escalated the action this season with a shocking payoff to the Muse arc while laying the groundwork for Kingpin’s ultimate endgame for dealing with Matt Murdock and his fellow vigilantes.

Matt dropped Angela off at the hospital. She’d lost a lot of blood, but did tell the authorities that Daredevil saved her, which infuriated Kingpin.

Heather walks in on Matt while he’s showing off the blood from his initial fight with Muse. Quick check, Matt’s the blind one in this relationship, right? Heather apparently just noticed all of his scars and bruises. Maybe it’s all that sexy time she’s been having with Matt that’s proven to be enough of a distraction? This time it’s only a temporary avoidance of the issue as she asks if he’s into self-harm.

This seems like a loaded question for Matt as it’s kinda true no matter how he tries to deny it. Having a counselor as a girlfriend is not going to do wonders for Matt in this case. And again, Daredevil shows why a hero actually having a secret identity is actually a good thing based on the various angles it can take the story.  The more people who know, the more complicated Matt’s life becomes.

Take Jerry for instance. He’s not pleased with Daredevil’s return. Matt’s got this defense all set and it’s a dang good one. Matt found Muse in one night. If he wasn’t out there Angela would have made 61. That all sounds good, but Jerry won’t enable Matt. Both guys have their points here, but if Matt can do better and help the police save lives, can’t Jerry help him out too?

Fisk chats with Bash about why Daredevil returned now. This is a delicate thread that if they pull properly, they could get some valuable insight that could have very damaging consequences for Matt. And this is where it’s too bad Fisk already knows Matt’s alter ego as that revelation could have made for a solid season finale bombshell.

Kingpin might have more problems than Matt as Luca is talking to Vanessa about a change in leadership. She coyly asks if he’s asking for her permission or help?

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Art for Art’s Sake has this really great sequence as different characters all come to the same point with regard to Muse. Matt chats with Angela to get some insight on what Mused wanted with her. Meanwhile, Heather sees her next client, Bastian Cooper, that weird guy from the book signing who has to be Muse.

Det. Kim reports her findings to Kingpin after a trip to Muse’s lair and doing some background on Bastian. It’s all lining up as Bastian starts telling Heather the city is finally starting to see him for who he truly is — uh-oh. Worse, Bastian is credited Heather for unlocking something in him that’s allowing his creativity to soar in a way he never imagined. Yeah, using blood for a latex primer certainly is…creative.

While he starts his belabored confession, Bastian’s nose starts bleeding, and he draws the Muse mask. And now he sees that Heather knows him as his true self.

More of Kim’s men are checking out Muse’s lair, which Matt decides is a good idea to do as Daredevil. He feels Muse’s drawings and is able to make out Heather’s face. This was a callback earlier in Art for Art’s Sake when Matt traced over Heather’s face after their morning hookup. And he didn’t even need to use the rain to see her!

In a funny bit, Officer Powell arrives in the lair and Daredevil casually knocks him out with a baton strike. When he awakens, Powell tells Kingpin that facial recognition revealed Muse’s next target is Heather. Annoyed at the thought of having to find a new marriage counselor, Fisk is hot and tells Powell to bring Bastian in.

Now fully dressed as Muse, Bastian starts cutting Heather to get her blood. Heather doesn’t help matters much when she says that anyone who needs a mask is a coward. Muse comes really close to killing her when Daredevil crashes in. Somehow, Muse has managed to tick Matt Murdock off on an immensely personal level with his latest two art subjects.

Outside, Kingpin’s special task force arrives well away from the fracas in the higher office building. Daredevil successfully beats down Muse, but it’s Heather who gets the killing shot. Or shots, shots, shots!

Kingpin immediately starts flipping the narrative commending Sgt. Cole North (Jeremy Isaiah Earl) and the rest of the task force for being the real heroes.

BB puts out a news vlog that witnesses saw Daredevil crash through the office to save Heather. But this time, Daniel calls in a favor to get her to change the story with a very understated, but clear threat. Play ball or get thrown out. There was no Daredevil, just the task force.

Matt and Kirsten are at Heather’s bedside at the hospital when the news report has Fisk and his task force holding up Muse’s mask like they were the ones that accomplished anything.

Vanessa texted Luca with an address and a message that he’s alone. Looks like she’s on Team Luca… or not. Just as Luca drew his gun to take out Fisk he got sniped out quickly by Buck. Fisk barely registered it while he ate his meal. He seemed far more concerned with Vanessa getting a to-go plate. It’s nice to have good help and Buck definitely is good help.

Art for Art’s Sake featured another intricately laid out Daredevil battle, the always sensational character development and the conclusion of one subplot…for now.

Rating: 9 out of 10

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