10 Biggest Easter Eggs, MCU References, and Netflix Nods in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, Episode 5

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Daredevil: Born Again season 2, episode 5

Daredevil: Born Again season 2, episode 5 is truly a remarkable episode of television from start to finish. Additionally, there are some great callbacks to the very first season of Netflix’s Daredevil as viewers are shown the “Grand Design”, an incredibly fitting title for the new episode. Here are the biggest and best Easter eggs, MCU reference, and Netflix nods we found in Daredevil: Born Again season 2, episode 5.

The Biggest And Best Easter Eggs and MCU References In Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, Episode 5

Grand Design — The title of Daredevil: Born Again season 2, episode 5 couldn’t be better, seeing as how the entire episode deals with the greater plan in motion in various ways for multiple, both in the past and present.

Likewise, the “Grand Design” title also ties incredibly well with Matt Murdock’s eulogy for Father Lantam at the end of Netflix’s Daredevil season 3, when he describes God’s plans and his Grand Design as a beautiful tapestry which mankind only ever gets to see from the back, offering us only a glimpse of the true beauty God has in the works on the other side.

Fisk And Vanessa On The Beach — The episode opens with Wilson Fisk and Vanessa walking barefoot on the beach, connecting to their previous conversation in Daredevil: Born Again season 2, episode 4 (where Fisk admitted he hated the feeling of sand in his toes).

The Origins Of Rabbit in A Snowstorm — This episode also features some major flashbacks to the events before and during Netflix’s Daredevil season 1, beginning with the reveal that Vanessa chose to display the iconic “Rabbit in a Snowstorm” painting against the wishes of her boss, believing that she could sell the painting several times more than its original worth (which of course, she does to her future husband).

“Even The Best Avocados” — The flashback to Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson opens with Foggy making a joke about the duo being Avocados, confirming that this new flashback takes place after the beloved Avocados at Law joke made in the original Netflix series, but still just prior to the events of the first season and the start of their own firm.

Wesley Returns — Actor Toby Leonard Moore returns as Fisk’s original right-hand mand Wesley for this episode’s brand-new flashback sequences. Although Fisk wanted to turn to Bitcoin to diversify and launder his criminal empire’s growing funds, Wesley convinces Fisk to turn to art, a decision that leads to Fisk’s first meeting with Vanessa (“Grand Design”). In the original Netflix series, Wesley was shot and killed by Karen Page in the first season.

Night Nurse — Attempting to save Bullseye’s life in spite of everything he’s done, Daredevil mentions a nurse who can help. This is no doubt Claire Temple aka The Night Nurse.

Played by Rosario Dawson, Claire appeared in multiple Marvel shows during the Netflix era. Seeing as how Dawson is still very much involved with Disney playing Ahsoka Tano in the Star Wars franchise, it would certainly be exciting to see a future cameo appearance.

Buck’s Origins With Fisk Revealed — The flashbacks to the events before and during Daredevil season 1 reveal that Buck Cashman was originally hired as a hit man by Wesley for Fisk years prior, explaining how Buck would eventually come to be Fisk’s new right-hand man in the MCU’s present with Daredevil: Born Again.

Murdock & Nelson — The flashbacks also reveal that Matt and Foggy’s firm was originally going to be called Murdock & Nelson, only for Matt to be inspired by Foggy’s act of mercy helping Lionel “The Lion” McCoy and deciding that their firm should be called Nelson & Murdock instead.

Likewise, it’s Foggy who also inspires Daredevil in the present to not leave Bullseye behind for the AVTF, choosing to extend the same mercy even when it’d literally be so easy to walk away.

Fisk’s Cufflinks — Footage from Netflix’s Daredevil season 1 is reused to show Fisk and Vanessa’s first meeting in the art gallery in front of the “Rabbit In A Snowstorm” painting. This includes a key shot of Fisk’s cuff links, the same cuff links his abusive father wore before Wilson killed him as a boy.

Ocean Waves — Tragically, we hear ocean waves as Daredevil: Born Again season 2, episode 5 closes with the ending credits, connecting to Fisk and Vanessa’s happier times on the beach, contrasting with Fisk’s incredibly heartbreaking loss of Vanessa in the present.

New episodes of Daredevil: Born Again season 2 release Tuesday nights on Disney+ from Marvel Studios.