As Fisk moves into swanky new digs amid a public outcry, Matt wrestles with how far he's ready to go to right this wrong. Dex's aim comes into focus.
- And Then What?: When Matt tries to infiltrate the hotel where Fisk is being kept, hallucination!Fisk points out that even if he gets to where he's being held, Matt's only option would be to kill him as he can't take Fisk back to prison.
- Bait the Dog: Dex comes across as quite sympathetic when he's telling his psychologist about his relationship with Julie. The shrink thinks so too, and clears him for duty. Then it turns out that their "relationship" is Dex stalking this woman without her realizing it.
- Both Sides Have a Point: Foggy is incredibly disappointed at DA Blake Tower, who is backing down on trying to take down Fisk and is more concerned with gathering voters for his re-election, however when Blake shoots back that Fisk is under the protection of the FBI, and even if he really wanted to shove Fisk back into his cell where he belongs, there isn't anything much that Blake could've done about it; especially when his hands are tied.
- Cruel to Be Kind: Matt severs ties with Foggy just after revealing himself to be alive to protect him from Fisk. He also tells him not to talk with Karen about it and even steals his wallet from him.
- Danger Takes a Backseat: Daredevil waits for Donovan in the back of his car.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: Protestors outside the Presidential Hotel chant "Lock Fisk up!" and Nadeem dismisses Karen's story as "fake news".
- Exact Words: Julie is just there for Dex, not as his girlfriend, but as someone who is there for him to follow around. Julie also doesn't judge or blame Dex not because she's supportive to him but because she's not in his life to judge or blame him.
- Hallucinations: Throughout the episode, Matt has hallucinations of Fisk, who is taunting him about his weakness and daring him to cross the line to stop him.
- Hated by All: No-one is happy that Fisk has been let out and that FBI agents have been killed protecting him, even though his penthouse is actually bare of any luxuries unlike his Luxury Prison Suite.
- He Who Fights Monsters: Matt frequently struggles with his desire to put an end to Fisk once and for all. Maggie warns him not to become the monster himself.
- He Who Must Not Be Named: The name Wilson Fisk is not uttered in Mitchell's home since his wife was deeply disturbed by Fisk killing Ben and feared for his life.
- Implausible Deniability: Fisk tells his lawyer right in front of the FBI to check for Vanessa. Donovan makes a crappy attempt to explain that Fisk is not implying they know the whereabouts of a wanted fugitive. Fisk then adds that they should keep her safe and the charade is over.
- Internal Reveal:
- Everybody learns about Fisk's release.
- Foggy learns about Matt being alive. Donovan and Fisk learn about Daredevil being back.
- It's All My Fault:
- Nadeem blames himself for the deaths of his fellow agents.
- Foggy still blames himself for Matt's apparent death.
- Invulnerable Knuckles: Averted with Sister Maggie cleaning up Matt's hands after his fight with the FBI.
- Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique: Matt strangles Donovan in his car to get information about Fisk.
- Jerkass Has a Point: While he might be a bit of a dick about it, Mitchell is right about Karen being biased in the Fisk case and possibly causing the New York Bulletin a good deal of credibility loss.
- Janitor Impersonation Infiltration: Subverted; stealing an electricians jacket and entering via a service entrance only gets Matt as far as into the hotel, where a suspicious agent stops him from getting anywhere further than the lobby by demanding his apartment keys.
- Let's You and Him Fight: When Daredevil's interrogation is interrupted by FBI agents entering the Parking Garage, Donovan tells the agents his attacker was an Albanian, forcing Daredevil to fight them.
- Manipulative Bastard: Fisk starts trying to lure Dex, expressing his condolences for the deaths of his colleagues and complimenting him for his skills. Dex doesn't bite yet.
- Missed Him by That Much: Karen ends up missing Matt due to his hallucinations of Fisk causing him to leave the protest site just as she's arriving.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Matt's attempt to interrogate Donovan causes him to end up fighting a bunch of FBI agents and tipping off Fisk that Daredevil has returned.
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: The name of this episode references this trope.
- Pull the Thread: During her investigation into the assaults on the real estate agent and his daughter, Karen discovers the hotel that Fisk is being kept in (that the estate agent used to own) is now owned by serial shell companies represented by Fisk's lawyers.
- Saying Too Much: Mitchell's wife lets the fact slip that she and her husband arranged the dinner as a date for Karen and Jason, Mitchell's nephew, by saying that she and Mitchell were also set up on a date by their editor.
- Shower of Angst: Fisk has one in the opening scene.
- Stalker with a Crush: During a talk with the psychologist, Dex mentions that he has a girlfriend named Julie that helps him cope. Turns out he doesn't. Julie is just a girl he follows around and spies on without her realizing it.
- There Are No Therapists:
- Dex has one who tries to give genuine help, but he just bluffs his way to getting cleared for duty by pretending he works through his issues with a non-existent bartender girlfriend.
- Foggy is advised by Marci to get help, but he can't as that would mean explaining his whole involvement with Daredevil.
- Verbal Tic: This episode introduces us to the phrase Dex's first shrink taught him as a way to bluff through emotional situations. First with a fellow agent upset that one of their colleagues will probably lose the use of his legs following the Albanian ambush, the second time talking with a shrink about how he's dealing with the ambush. "It's hard. It's really hard."
- What the Hell, Hero?: Foggy is naturally pissed off at Matt coming back from the dead only to tell him to stay away from Fisk.
- You Remind Me of X: Mitchell tells Karen that she is just as much of a pain in the ass as Ben, though he took years to become like that.
