The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has a knack for spreading hints and foreshadowing events with hidden references, and such an intriguing detail was embedded stealthily in the fourth episode of Daredevil: Born Again. This peculiar detail relates to the notorious shape-changers, the Skrulls. The ultimate question, however, is whether this cogent reference is merely a playful hint or a sign of something more formidable in the shadows of Hell’s Kitchen.
The source of this peculiar Skrull mention might bewilder many. It is none other than Matt Murdock’s client, Leroy Bradford, a minor offender held for trivial theft. Interestingly, Bradford justifies his actions by suggesting an alien Skrull could have imitated him to carry out the misconduct. A proposition promptly dismissed by Matt with a dry ‘No.’ Such a subtle interjection stirs the wonder, though – why incorporate a Skrull reference into a narrative predominantly centered around low-level crime scenes?
Unusual references to the Skrulls might make more sense to those immersed in the happenings of the MCU. Skrulls have been disrupting Earth’s hierarchies since their debut in Captain Marvel, demonstrating an uncanny ability to seamlessly blend into human society. The narrative development reached a peak during Secret Invasion, revealing a widespread undercover plot with Skrull agents infiltrating top positions of governance. This plot could potentially be interlinked with Bradford’s theft in New York if one attempts to interpret the underlying symbolism.
Although initially chalked up to be a humorous excuse from Bradford, in the aftermath of Secret Invasion, such a claim weighs in very differently. It opens the room for speculation about the potential presence of Skrulls among society’s outcasts and culprits that Matt defends. Additionally, it raises questions about how the existence of metamorphic aliens could manipulate legal excuses. With Skrulls potentially on-the-loose, who’s to deny the infiltration of Hell’s Kitchen, mirroring what happened to Washington D.C. and London?
In Daredevil: Born Again, the primary influencer isn’t Matt Murdock but Wilson Fisk. Characterized by his thirst for power, Fisk hardly ever misses an opportunity to wield more control. His natural inclination towards manipulation and control has seen him bend the city to his desires. The potential engagement of Skrulls would substantially enhance his power.
Fisk could use shape-shifting Skrulls to achieve various ends, both nefarious and strategic. To remove a potential adversary discreetly, a Skrull could simply take their place. To stave off police involvement, key officials could be replaced with Skrull impostors. As such, the potential scenarios for how Fisk could exploit Skrulls are innumerable and petrifying.
Bonding the narrative of street-crime in Daredevil: Born Again to the larger MCU through Fisk recruiting Skrulls would be an ingenious move. Marvel Comics has previously toyed with the concept of Kingpin collaborating with shape-shifters. This provides an unprecedented opportunity to weave the realistic crime drama of Daredevil: Born Again into the grand tapestry of the Marvel Universe.
As a character, Daredevil excels in uncovering deceit due to his enhanced sensory abilities. He can discern fluctuations in heartbeat patterns, detect subtle facial expressions, and identify slight anomalies. But Skrulls are a different challenge altogether. Their ability to replica appearances, behavior characteristics, voice timbres, and possibly cardiovascular rhythms poses a unique challenge to Matt’s perception.
The existence of Skrulls also poses a distressing possibility: could one of Matt’s trusted allies be a fake? The MCU hasn’t shied away from introducing the ‘this character was a Skrull all along’ twist during Secret Invasion. If Daredevil: Born Again decides to take on even a fraction of this narrative surprise, it could dramatically alter Matt’s life and expectations.
At first inspection, Bradford’s casual Skrull comment can be mistaken as a light-hearted jest aimed at acknowledging the wider MCU. But given Marvel’s uncanny aptitude of crafting major plot pivots from minute details, it prompts curiosity about whether there’s more to this seemingly benign interjection.
Could Bradford’s offhand remark signify the continued presence of Skrulls in New York? Or could it be setting the stage for Fisk’s next big scheme? Perhaps, it’s merely a wry nod to the aftermath of Secret Invasion. Regardless, it’s reflective of Daredevil: Born Again’s potential to expertly mix ordinary moments with implications of a much grander cosmic reality.
With Skrulls possibly still hiding in the shadows – secretly influencing proceedings, it’s safe to state that appearances can be deceiving. Nobody and nothing in this story might be precisely what they appear to be. Because in the dynamic universe of Marvel, the greatest secret always pertains to what’s hidden in plain sight.