What Does Sic Semper Systema Mean in Daredevil: Born Again?

Wondering what the title “Sic Semper Systema” really means in Daredevil: Born Again Episode 4? The cryptic Latin phrase immediately caught viewers’ attention, highlighting deeper themes woven throughout the episode’s narrative. While it seems like a simple stylistic choice, the title reveals a layered commentary on justice, power, and failure.

Here’s what the phrase means, how it connects to real-world history, and why it perfectly captures the system’s role as the true antagonist in the episode.

The meaning of Daredevil: Born Again’s Sic Semper Systema title, explained

The title of Daredevil: Born Again Episode 4, “Sic Semper Systema,” is a modified Latin phrase that translates to “Thus Always to the System.” 

The phrase “Sic Semper Systema” derives from “Sic Semper Tyrannis” (“Thus Always to Tyrants”), famously linked to Brutus and John Wilkes Booth. The altered version shifts the target from tyrants to systemic failure.

The episode shows the system failing individuals. Matt Murdock defends Leroy Bradford, who stole caramel corn after losing benefits due to a prior jail term. Bradford says the system spends more on jailing him than on feeding him. Frank Castle echoes this, stating, “Every day, Bullseye goes to the chow hole, eats his slop… You feel good about that?” criticizing the system’s inadequate justice for Foggy Nelson’s death.

Lewis Wilson used the phrase “Sic Semper Tyrannis” in The Punisher Season 1, Episode 9, during a radio call after orchestrating bombings, expressing anti-government sentiment. This moment establishes a thematic link to Frank Castle’s reintroduction in Episode 4 of Daredevil: Born Again. Castle actively opposes institutional systems, reinforcing the episode title’s connection to his return.

Angela Del Toro claims the police killed her uncle, Hector Ayala, despite Murdock keeping him out of jail. Murdock later discovers a bullet casing marked with the Punisher’s symbol at the crime scene. At the same time, Kingpin continues to rise in political power while engaging in criminal acts, highlighting how the system enables such figures. These events frame the system—not an individual—as the central antagonist in Daredevil: Born Again Episode 4.