Here’s a *minor, minor spoiler * that happens within the opening scene of the series:
Basically Castle goes on this revenge rampage—which I think kind of chillingly connects to the Las Vegas massacre in a way and or just “too soon”—and when he’s done, he takes off that ridiculous armor he’s wearing that has the Punisher logo on it. He sported that “costume” at the very end of “Daredevil” season two for one brief shot. It’s just unnecessary and total dumb fan service for people that want to see the character in his outfit. Castle offs a cadre of baddies and then throws his costume in the garbage. It’s a great salvo and line in the sand that says: look, this is not a show about costumed super heroes who fight crime at night. It’s really striking and I basically cheered when he junked it right from the jump. It send a message from the jump, this show is going to be (relatively) grounded and realistic compared to heroes in tights. This guy doesn’t have powers, but he’s not even Batman with gadgets and shit. Just his weapons, his skills and experience. He’s a soldier at the end of the day.
Well, back to “people in his path” what’s the plot then? Him just writing wrong and killing people? How is that different from super heroes, really?
Ah, there you go, well, the story is about Frank Castle, grappling with guilt, trying to figure out how to continue his life. The plot is a conspiracy that unveils itself that has to do with his dead family, his ex-special forces buddies and the CIA org that clandestinely greenlit the shady operations in Afghanistan that he was part of in his past. That’s all his backstory. A man, contracted to kill at the behest of the government and then walked away.
How does he stack up against old iterations of the Punisher?
Against Dolph Lundgren, Thomas Jane and Ray Stevenson? Are you kidding? Did you see season two of “Daredevil”? GTFO
Uh, ok, right. How does it connect to season two of “Daredevil,” let’s pretend I saw it.
That’s the thing, it really doesn’t connect which is great. It’s practically a different show. If it weren’t for Karen Page being in it (Deborah Ann Woll, incidentally, perhaps Marvel Netflix’s next best actor after Bernthal), the ex-legal aide turned journalist from the “Daredevil” series, you might not even know its set in the same universe. Instead of shoe horning Marvel/Netflix world-building connections like they did to set up the (awful) “Defenders” show, “The Punisher” is basically a free-standing independent show. Frank Castle lives in the same New York that Daredevil and the rest of those heroes inhabit, but he’s not really part of the world. Frankly, I hope it stays that way. This version of the character could never be part of “The Defenders.” It’s shocking enough as it is that the Punisher worked within the framework of Daredevil because this guy basically just mows people down. He’s a lone wolf as it is. Here’s my message once again Marvel: keep The Punisher separate and his own thing. You’ll be doing yourself a huge favor.
Who else is on the show besides Deborah Ann Woll?
Ebon Moss-Bachrach from “Girls,” the oxy-addicted ex-boyfriend of Marnie, is basically the second lead character of the show. He plays David Lieberman who was the character Micro in the comics. He’s a former NSA analyst gone underground and his family thinks he’s dead. I don’t wanna say too much about the character, but let’s just say that Frank and he eventually realize they have mutual enemies.
Also on the show is Ben Barnes who plays a guy who was Castle’s best friend in the U.S. Special Forces. He now runs a private military corporation and is a big slick dick. Amber Rose Revah plays an Iranian-American Department of Homeland Security agent, once stationed in Afghanistan, and she’s basically the law that’s hunting Castle which could get a little predictable considering she’s probably going to end up as the Misty Knight character of the show (the cop trying to take down “Luke Cage” who eventually ends up on his side). Jaime Ray Newman plays Sarah Lieberman, Micro’s wife who has a fairly prominent role on the show as the kind of damsel in distress (which is also a bit problematic) and a basically unrecognizable C. Thomas Howell has a pretty awesome, and very memorable cameo on the show.
So you’re in and you recommend it.
Yes. I’m possibly grading it on a curve because as I’ve stated many times now, the rest of the Marvel shows are largely pretty terrible, but this one is much better; easily Marvel’s best show so far. I’ve seen half the season; that’s how many episodes they gave to press, but it’s impressive just based on that. Again, Jon Bernthal is an excellent actor and I’d say by and large he’s too good for that universe.
Anything else?
Not really. Just that Marvel/Netflix is finally doing something right and they should learn a lesson about the casting here and anti-super hero storyline. It’s a compelling ride and audiences frustrated with the Marvel shows thus far should be pleasantly pleased. If it connects like I think it will expect the hype to quickly turn into overpraise, but hey, good on them for finally getting it right.
“The Punisher” debuts on Netflix on November 17.
