The Marvel Cinematic Universe isn’t exactly known for its compelling romantic relationships. Most are cut short by tragedy or relegated to subplot status in favor of world-ending stakes. However, ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ flips the script entirely.
It gave us something unexpectedly raw, strangely touching, and profoundly messed up: the twisted but unshakable love between Wilson and Vanessa Fisk. Their bond, equal parts romantic devotion and criminal partnership, is easily the most complex relationship the MCU has ever dared to portray.
Wilson And Vanessa Fisk Might Be The New Power Couple Of The MCU
While Matt Murdock spends most of ‘Born Again’ pushing people away and lying to the one woman trying to understand him, Wilson Fisk does the opposite. He bares himself completely to his wife, even the darkest parts. Their relationship is not sanitized for TV or made to fit a mold of “love redeems evil.” In fact, love intensified their villainy. And yet, it’s that exact refusal to romanticize or dilute their connection that makes it feel so real.
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In a world full of codes and consequences, Vanessa and Wilson’s love thrives precisely because they embrace each other’s monstrosity. Who would’ve guessed ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ would feature multiple marriage counseling sessions, especially with the MCU’s most infamous crime lord? But here we are, watching Wilson Fisk awkwardly navigate therapy with Vanessa, and the result is bizarrely compelling.
The sessions begin as cold, calculated posturing. Vanessa’s disappointment simmers under every glance, and Wilson, well, he’s as emotionally constipated as ever. However, beneath this was a relationship where both partners were fully aware of who the other was and still chose each other. Vanessa isn’t the stereotypical “woman behind the monster.” She’s the monster beside him.
When Wilson returns, he’s not threatened by her success. He’s wounded by her distance, her hurt, and her readiness to continue life without him. Their reconciliation isn’t just romantic, it’s volcanic. Additionally, their therapy sessions reveal a surprising vulnerability in Kingpin. For once, he’s not smashing skulls, he’s asking questions, trying to be better, if only for her.
However, it’s Vanessa who ultimately dictates the terms of their love. She doesn’t need him to change; she just needs him to stop hiding. And when Wilson finally reveals he’s kept her former lover imprisoned for years, rather than killing him in a fit of rage, Vanessa doesn’t recoil. She finishes the job herself, coldly putting a bullet in her ex’s skull. It’s horrifying. It’s twisted. And in their world, it’s romantic.
Despite Their Horrifying History, Wilson And Vanessa Fisk Understand Each Other Completely
What makes the Fisks stand out in a sea of MCU relationships is the sheer depth of their commitment. There are no illusions between them. No lies. No secret identities. They’re equally capable of violence, manipulation, and power plays. However, they’ve chosen to share all of that with one another. Where other couples fall apart under the weight of secrets (Tony and Pepper, Peter and MJ, Stephen and Christine), Wilson and Vanessa thrive on full disclosure.
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Even when the truth is grotesque and horrifying, it’s almost like the two are soulmates with the same idea about violence. Their scenes together are charged with emotional tension. They sit closer with each new conversation. They look at each other a little longer. And when they finally reaffirm their bond, it’s not through a kiss or a grand speech. It’s through murder, followed by an embrace soaked in both blood and relief.
The genius of ‘Born Again’ lies in how it dares to make this relationship feel both unsettling and genuine. The Fisks are villains, no doubt. But they’re villains who have found in each other total understanding. Moreover, their relationship is both terrifying and fascinating. And honestly? No MCU couple has ever matched this level of compatibility and understanding.
