What About Grace?
Peace in Times of Conflict
The two seasons of Daredevil: Born Again reach deeply into the psyche of those we call heroes and villains. Season One brought us baptisms of violence that created the rebirth of Daredevil and of Kingpin. Season Two digs into the inevitable descent of Mayor Fisk into running New York City as the crime boss, Kingpin. But, as with much of the Marvel Defenders story lines, there is no true good/bad divide in Daredevil: Born Again. The boundary between hero and villain is quite permeable and our heroes often acknowledge their own evil acts.
Amid the fan service of characters such as The Punisher and Jessica Jones making appearances, the story this season has been relevant. So relevant that many complained that Disney was going overboard. Much like Andor, people saw real life reflected in fiction. Mayor Fisk’s Anti Vigilante Task Force (AVTF) feels familiar. Their tactics, secrecy, and mandate from on high reflect the experience many Americans have of ICE and Customs and Border Patrol. But rather than think on the reality of why these fictional stories seem familiar, the complaints came. Conviction often does that to people.
Disney is not leaning into a narrative. No, the fact is that authoritarianism looks much the same regardless of location, universe, or timeline. Those who wield authoritarian power use any means necessary to hold that power. The law is not a barrier to holding power for those who have no regard for law. So Mayor Fisk looks like any authoritarian holder of power and believes he is not only above the law, but the sole authority on what constitutes law.
The tragic twist is that Fisk truly loves New York City and his tactics, while misguided, are ultimately his way of showing love. Matt Murdoch/Daredevil also loves the city. But he believes in a different way of living. One that embraces freedom, but punishes those who harm others. The two are entwined in an epic struggle over what constitutes safety for the city.
The season builds toward a confrontation. First in the courtroom where Murdoch sacrifices his secret by revealing he is Daredevil so that he can use the legal system to defeat Fisk. It is a selfless act of love for it is also the only way to save the woman he loves. His revelation disarms Fisk’s threats and leads to the fall of Fisk as the city turns against the once popular mayor.
But no Daredevil story ends this easily. No, Kingpin rises to his fullness and chooses to meet the people of the city coming for him full on. While Daredevil and Jessica Jones meet Fisk’s AVTF. We get the ultimate long hall fight shot that Daredevil is known for. Only this time it is two shots. Daredevil and his allies fighting through the gauntlet of AVTF agents while Fisk rampages through regular people seeking his downfall.
Blood, violence, death, and destruction ensue with Fisk ultimately meeting an overwhelming force. But Daredevil stops the crowd from killing Fisk. There is no need to use the tool of violence. It is the climactic scene in which Daredevil and Kingpin come face to face with the reality that the struggle is over for them both. Kingpin’s grief has been carrying his rage and it is all he thinks he has left.
Daredevil implores Kingpin to take a deal offered to leave the city freely. But that is too much for Kingpin.
This is your so-called retribution? It means nothing to me.
What about grace?
No, no, no, no. You are not allowed to offer that to me!
...
We have the opportunity to give [the city] peace. That’s grace.
It is this moment when the fullness of Daredevil’s faith is on display. Grace. That’s the only answer to counter the violence. He knows that grace is the only answer because anything else will only continue the death and lack of peace. It is a second sacrifice. The giving over of retribution for peace.
When that scene hit and Daredevil asked “what about grace?” I was hit hard. This was the true climax. Retribution is no way to bring peace. Hatred cannot be defeated with violence or retributive action. Only grace and the peace that comes through grace can end hatred. It is a kenotic act for a city the two antagonists love dearly. It is the only way to save the city and themselves.
I kept wondering how different our world would be if we started giving one another a little grace. It takes a hefty dose of humility and a willingness to truly love in order to extend grace. It takes just as mush to reach out and graso that grace and allow it to envelop us in merciful peace. Is it easy? Not at all, but it is oh so worth it.
What about grace?