White Tiger's MCU Replacement Is Already Being Set Up And 13 More Daredevil: Born Again Episode 3 Easter Eggs

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Daredevil: Born Again episode 3Daredevil: Born Again episode 3 teases a future replacement for White Tiger in the MCU, alongside a fun collection of more exciting Easter eggs and MCU references. Continuing a new status quo for New York with the election of Mayor Wilson Fisk, rising tensions between the police and vigilantes are continuing to grow in Daredevil: Born Again. To that end, the new episode features some great references to Murdock’s past, the original comics, and the greater MCU.

In episodes of Daredevil: Born Again thus far, Matt Murdock is determined to no longer be Daredevil, following the tragedy of Foggy Nelson’s murder and Murdock nearly killing Bullseye in response. However, Murdock still believes he can help in other ways, primarily as a lawyer, and this currently involves defending Hector Ayala aka White Tiger who is accused of murdering a cop. To that end, here are all the biggest Easter eggs and MCU references we found in Daredevil: Born Again.

The Biggest Easter Egg and References in Daredevil: Born Again episode 3

“The Hollow of his Hand”

Custom image by Felipe Rangel

Bloody Knuckles – Currently, both Matt Murdock and Mayor Fisk have bloody, cut-up knuckles, a key parallel suggesting a reckoning is coming for both men.
Punisher Graffiti – When Cherry comes to take Nicky Torres to court to serve as Murdock and Kirsten’s star witness in the Ayala trial, graffiti of Punisher’s skull logo can be seen on a nearby wall with the word “Triggered”. This was likely done by the supervillain artist known as Muse, who in the comics started creating art inspired by vigilantes such as Punisher, Daredevil, and more.
“A Cure For A Black Eye Is Fast Hands” – When asking Officer Powell about his black eye, he shares that “a cure for a black eye is fast hands”, an old boxing phrase he likely heard from his father Jack Murdock, who was a professional boxer before he was mudered when Matt was still a child.
Pingo Doce – A bus stop ad can be briefly seen for Pingo Doce, the soda made with guarana first seen in 2008’s Incredible Hulk. This was the same soda that got contaminated with Bruce Banner’s blood that Stan Lee drank during his cameo. Pingo Doce is also a drink that can be purchased as Disney Parks’ Avengers Campus.
Hector’s Sister and Niece – During the trial, it’s confirmed that Hector Ayala and his wife had been living with his sister and niece. In the comics, Hector’s niece Angea Del Toro was the second White Tiger who inherited the amulet from Hector after he died. Likewise, Hector’s sister Ava was the third White Tiger in the original comics who inherited the amulet from Angela after she was corrupted by the ninja clan known as The Hand.
White Tiger’s Mask – Surprising Hector, the judge, DA Hochberg, Kirsten McDuffie, and the entire courtroom, Matt Murdock reveals Hector’s identity as White Tiger by showing the court his mask, giving viewers their first real look at the mask in the MCU.
Officer Morales – One of the officers’ reports in favor of White Tiger comes from one Officer Morales. Despite being a common last name, it’s worth noting that Miles Morales’ father is a cop in his alternate universe, and there is a version of Aaron Davis and Miles Morales in the MCU, as confirmed by 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming. Likewise, Jefferson legally changed his name to Morales in recent comics.
“The Mask Doesn’t Make The Man” – During Matt’s arguments speaking to Hector’s character, he makes sure that the jury understands that “the mask doesn’t make the man”. This is a classic sentiment that’s not unlike the lessons Spider-Man learns in Homecoming, as well as the phrase “Anyone can wear the mask” in the Spider-Verse movies. The mask is not what matters. It’s about the person underneath and the good they choose to represent regardless of what they’re wearing.
O’Melveny’s – Following the court victory, Matt shares a bottle of O’Melveny’s with Heather, a tradition he once had with Foggy whenever they’d win a case.
“Juries Get It Wrong…I Should Know” – This comment from Fisk speaks to his own legal troubles and criminal history, suggesting that he was able to avoid prolonged jail time via appeals in the aftermath of Daredevil: Born Again. It’s also been theorized that Fisk took advantage of the chaos created by the Blip to secure his freedom.
Hector’s Fate Darkly Mirrors Comics – Tragically, White Tiger is shot and killed the night he’s released at the end of Daredevil: Born Again episode 3. This mirrors the comics when Hector was found guilty during his trial on the page. Attempting to escape custody, Hector was similarly shot, right as evidence proving his innocence was discovered.
The Punisher’s Logo Continues To Be Co-opted – It certainly looks as though White Tiger was killed by the Punisher. However, it’s already been shown twice that certain cops have tattoos of Punisher’s skull with an upside-down flag, mirroring real life where police officers and certain members of the military have also co-opted Frank Castle’s symbol.
Coquis of Luquillo – During the credits of Daredevil: Born Again episode 3, the coqui tree frogs from Luquillo can be tragically be heard chirping, calling back to Hector’s desire to return to the island beaches and Murdock’s promise that he would.