REVIEW: The Punisher Season 1
After what seemed like endless pushbacks, The Punisher finally returns as a Netflix series. Can what was clearly the bright side of Daredevil season two stand on its own for thirteen episodes? That internal groan you hear in your head is not wholly unwarranted but after the truly devastating solo series Iron Fist, The Punisher, I’m happy to say, is far from a disappointment.
Don’t mistake my ambivalence for thinking this show is bad. There are plenty of things to enjoy about the series for the casual fan. Most obviously, the action sequences. While there are fewer scenes than one would expect from a show about the freaking Punisher of all people, there are still the blood, gut-busting moments that he made known in Daredevil. And plenty of guns.
Jon Bernthal once again shines as Frank Castle, being one of the best cast Marvel roles in recent memory including that of the films. The show delves into his character as it explores the effects of his family’s death on his psyche, and we can’t help but follow him all the way through it. The guy is truly a psychopath as he feels little remorse for killing people he feels deserve it, but you can’t help but root for the guy. It speaks to the character sure, but it most definitely speaks to the performance. Even at this point, he can make the gruff anti-hero role look fresh.
The other characters though less memorable at least carry their weight in the show as well. In particular, Micro makes his debut and has a very unique and entertaining chemistry with Castle. Not only that, but he also manages to have a backstory besides being the guy in the chair. Who knew those things were still possible? Dinah Madani the FBI agent is not a terrible addition as she ironically becomes the love interest to the bad guy and tries to avenger her friends in her own way. Curtis doesn’t deserve anything that happens to him. Karen Page gets a brief role. Finally, though he’s no Kingpin or Kilgrave, Billy Russo is surprisingly compelling to watch as a villain. It’s a very decent universe.
As for the plot, it sadly suffers from the flaws of all the other Netflix shows in feeling just a tad too long. That includes strung-out episodes and story lines that could have ultimately been left out with no issues. Since the other shows have suffered from this, it’s not necessarily problem with The Punisher alone, but it takes away my enjoyment of the series which means it gets a mention here. Face it, the crazed veteran while relevant to Frank’s theme adds nothing to the overall plot, and we already have little substance to work with surrounding Frank’s vengeance.
That being said, the plot that we do work with is probably the most grounded of all the Marvel shows. With the grit and nary a mention of zombie ninjas, one could be forgiven for thinking this is just a regular drama with a few extra bullets. That element can make the episodes feel a little dreary at times, but it’s also a nice change of pace in the midst of things like Thor: Ragnorak ruling the box office. There’s nothing wrong with either type, just that it’s good to have a variety.
However, if we’re getting into variety, this series is still probably not the best of the Defender lineup shows. Other shows had some bigger strides like Daredevil, more compelling storylines like Jessica Jones, or a clearer style like Luke Cage. To its credit, though, the series is still original, which is something I value even if it’s not always successful. The character of Frank Castle along is still worthy of being placed next to the other heroes. Except Iron Fist. Frank blows him out of the water.
As for where we are now with the character, it’s surprisingly the more poignant of endings for these Netflix shows. The Punisher is now a soldier without a war which is almost as tragic as Frank’s story in the first place. Reflecting on all the fight scenes, blood spilled, and extensive plot surrounding this guy, I’m just as tired and worried as he is. I’ve gone on in other shows about the uselessness of some stories and wondering the general purpose of things, but very rarely have I seen a show directly address it happening. It’s strangely deep, which helps the series stick out in my mind.
If you were a fan of The Punisher before, you’ll definitely enjoy this series edition. Even if you weren’t the biggest fan of the character, you might still find a drama that is surprisingly deeper and more interesting to watch than recent shows would have you believe. Go ahead and get your violent fix with The Punisher.
