Desperate for a legal strategy, Matt outs Hector Ayala as the vigilante White Tiger. He believes it's the only way to sway public opinion back to his side. Cherry successfully got Nicky Torres to court. However, the criminal informant committed perjury on the stand. Matt lost his star witness. Torres was afraid of police retaliation. It's not even clear why the police were beating him up in the first place. That was the whole reason why Hector intervened. It was the right thing to do. Even without his powers, he chose to step forward to help someone in need. As a result, an officer was killed. That started this whole drama. Matt essentially uses it as an argument for why people don't need masks in order to feel heroic. He believes he has made a difference after ending his tenure as Daredevil. He believes the same can be true of Hector. However, the vigilante doesn't battle the same existential crisis. White Tiger revealed who Hector was. It empowered him. This is his identity to its core. That can never go away. This is who he is. He has complete acceptance over that. His identity was shared against his will. Matt was so comfortable doing that. That ultimately gets Hector killed.
The city has strong opinions on Hector Ayala. Some citizens believe he won't get a fair trial. Evidence needs to be presented that prove his guilt. Matt believes in Hector's innocence. His team reluctantly goes along with it. Cherry and Kirsten don't have personalities behind helping Matt achieve his goals in the courtroom. It's difficult when the strategy is going according to plan. When Matt improvises, that causes only more chaos and confusion. He doesn't ask for permission. He just forges ahead. It's the best strategy available. He doesn't consult his client. It's not a meaningful conversation. It's Matt working through his own issues. He needs to save Hector. He felt that way before he knew about his activities at night. That put a strain on Hector's marriage. He always strived to protect his community. The defense lawyers present lots of evidence showing how good and noble he has been. He has saved police officers on a number of occasions too. He was viewed as beneficial and an asset by them. Opinion has shifted. The police put on a show of support for their fallen colleague. Their outrage is righteous. The corruption runs just as deep.
The imagery of the Punisher is rampant amongst the police officers. They view it as a symbol of defiance against an unjust system. They are motivated to take justice into their own hands. That's what occurs after Hector's acquittal. BB doesn't even need to publish Mayor Fisk's words on the matter. Plenty feel the same way he does. They don't see any heroism from those who wear masks. Hector has a target on his back no matter what. He survives jail while his trial is ongoing. The moment he steps out as White Tiger again, he is killed. That's the brutal fate that awaited him. Matt wanted a different outcome. He thought his client could easily change his life after the trial. That was never possible. It suggests that these characters cannot fundamentally change who they are. Matt and Fisk will forever be surrounded by violence. It's unavailable. They chose to do something about it. They played by their own rules. Now, they operate in different systems. The truth of their lives remains the same. That's the inherent tension of this narrative. It suggests that Daredevil had to die in order to be born again. That could be frustrating as the audience waits for Matt to put on the mask once more. That will be even more dangerous now that Fisk builds animosity against masked vigilantes. He's outraged. Yet he also believes in chaos as a way to change the system. He strives for something better. That all remains very cryptic for now.
Vanessa is concerned about how the crime families will respond without her guidance. She was very successful in that role. Everyone prospered. Now, she has had to step aside to fulfill Fisk's new ambitions. He was elected mayor. He has different responsibilities now. He's suppose to confront crime. He's against those who seek to take advantage of this city. That takes a back seat to the tension within his marriage. Vanessa believes she is being punished for cheating. Fisk insists that isn't what he is doing. He no longer sees the world the same way. The things that once gave him power no longer concern him. He made these decisions without consulting her. She gave up everything for him. They are in therapy now to mend their relationship. Of course, their honest conversation occurs before Heather walks into the room. She knows how to get great insights out of people. She also recognizes when to sit back and let others share their stories when they are ready. Matt and Heather already have a charming and relaxed dynamic. One where they appreciate the past without needing to hit the audience over the head with the sentimentality. That's nice. The story is purely just escalating stakes for the inevitable showdown between Matt and Fisk. That's how the narrative always functions. Nothing occurs right now to suggest otherwise. And so, they remain on parallel journeys. They achieve victories. They are aligned in narrative importance. The purpose of it all is still waiting to be revealed. Daredevil's revival should be forthcoming. Matt just isn't as that place. Perhaps Hector's death will change things. He invested in him. Now, that hope is gone. He was victorious but the outcome was futile. Hector was still killed. Fisk will be pleased with that.
