I love the deeper meaning of Marvel's most acclaimed productions. Not only does Daredevil: Born Again stoke the ever-burning flames of fan speculation with each episode, such as teasing the reappearance of the fan-favorite Frank Castle, but its handling of deeper, darker themes helps it to stand out from the crowd.

I think Daredevil: Born Again's willingness to lean into the political is part of this. It centers on Wilson Fisk's tenure as New York Mayor, which draws many real-world parallels, and refuses to shy away from the many facets of justice that Daredevil must face. Daredevil: Born Again episode 4 was a stark reminder of these themes, sidestepping action-packed sequences to make way for more cerebral scenes that challenge the real-world status quo. This should have been expected from the jump, as a clue is hidden in the episode's title.

Daredevil: Born Again Episode 4's Title Is A Play On A Latin Phrase

The Phrase Has Been Used Throughout History

Daredevil: Born Again episode 4 is entitled "Sic Semper Systema," a Latin phrase that roughly translates to "Thus Always to the System." At a glance, this feels appropriate for an episode that hones in on legal systems - something in which Foggy placed so much faith that it became character-defining. Sic Semper Systema is modeled, however, on a more commonly used phrase with a meaning that could offer deeper insights into Daredevil: Born Again episode 4. This phrase is "Sic Semper Tyrannis," which translates to "Thus Always to Tyrants."

"Sic Semper Tyrannis" pertains to the inevitable downfall of tyrants and has a long history of being associated with toppling leaders. It is, for example, commonly attributed to Brutus of Ancient Rome, who contributed to the assassination of Julius Caesar. Another notorious assassin, John Wilkes Booth, also shouted the phrase on-stage after killing Abraham Lincoln, a man he considered a tyrant. This history helps to contextualize what Daredevil: Born Again is attempting to communicate with its play on the original phrase, which is perfectly illustrated in the episode.

What Daredevil: Born Again Episode 4's "Sic Semper Systema" Title Actually Means

The Episode Depicts How The System Fails Various Characters

If modeled on the original phrase, "Sic Semper Systema" therefore calls for the downfall of the system in the same way "Sic Semper Tyrannis" does for tyrants. Throughout the episode, Daredevil: Born Again demonstrates how the system fails various people. A prominent example in the episode is Leroy Bradford, the defendant that Matt Murdock is assigned to as a public defender, who was arrested and charged with petty larceny after stealing a box of caramel corn.

Punisher later offers his two cents on the inadequacy of the system by highlighting how, while Bullseye was sentenced to life in prison, it was small recompense for the life he denied Foggy.

When discussing his penalty with Murdock, Bradford effuses about the futility of his situation thanks to being "jerked around by the system." He reveals the last time he got sentenced to 30 days' imprisonment, he missed an SSI appointment and had his benefits cut, which forced him to dumpster-dive to survive and ultimately steal caramel corn to experience some semblance of otherwise inaccessible luxury. He additionally decries how the system is willing to shell out for his incarceration more readily than to provide him with the comparatively paltry sum for food.

The system is further seen to be failing Hector Ayala's niece, Angela Del Toro, who despairs over the fact that her uncle was killed despite Matt keeping him out of jail.

Punisher later offers his two cents on the inadequacy of the system by highlighting how, while Bullseye was sentenced to life in prison, it was small recompense for the life he denied Foggy. Furthermore, the show highlights how well the system works for patently evil characters like Kingpin, who continues to ascend in power while still indulging in his violent criminality. Taken together, the episode's title highlights how the system, not the tyrannical Kingpin, is the true arch-villain of Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again Episode 4's Title Also Has A Connection To The Punisher

"Sic Semper Tyrannis" Was Uttered In The Punisher Season 1

It makes sense that Jon Berthal's Punisher finally emerged in Daredevil: Born Again episode 4, as the episode's title is reflective of a moment in The Punisher season 1, episode 9. Entitled "Front Toward Enemy," terrorist Lewis Wilson utters it during a sinister call-in to a radio show after orchestrating the New York bombings. After being radicalized by the charlatan O'Connor, and suffering from severe PTSD, Wilson's extremism rallies against governmental control as it pertains, in part, to potentially curtailing the US Second Amendment.

Wilson's use of the line on-air helps the Punisher discern his true identity as he recalls the young veteran uttering the same line in a group therapy session. Entitling Daredevil: Born Again episode 4 "Sic Semper Systema" is something of a callback, and it's hard to ignore that this is precisely where Marvel Studios decided to reintroduce Frank Castle. The Punisher's MO is pretty synonymous with the titular phrase and the original, with Castle violently condemning tyranny and rallying against the system as he sees fit.

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