The Punisher has had a few live action depictions, going back to the Dolph Lundgren movie of 1989 (which I haven't seen). The 2004 Thomas Jane and 2008 Ray Stevenson films weren't well received but still had some love from fans. Between the two, I always loved the Thomas Jane version, but I can see why some preferred Stevenson. But in my view, all prior versions are moot to some degree since the character had arrived in the Marvel Cinematic Universe last year in season two of Daredevil, played by Jon Bernthal. While I viewed his arc in that season to be Frank Castle's journey to becoming the Punisher we all know, and we'd see that in his own series. Well, after the less than stellar outings of Iron Fist and the Defenders, the Punisher closes out the year by returning to the standard set by the Marvel Netflix series when it began with Daredevil and Jessica Jones.
With the spotlight now shined on him, Jon Bernthal's portrayal of Frank Castle has helped make this version become my favorite of the character, similar to what the MCU did with Hawkeye for me. What makes me love this Punisher is that there's more depth to him compared to other versions I've seen. Most of the time, Frank's shown to have been a normal guy with some firearm training until the day his family was killed, and afterwards, he seemed to have transformed into an emotionless unstoppable killing machine. Frank's emotions can show through, but he usually keeps the same demeanor. What sets Bernthal's depiction apart is that he has a wide range of emotions, helping you connect with him more. You can also sense an internal struggle with him, that he doesn't want to care about others or let them in, fearing that he'll lose them at some point too. Despite that though, there are moments where Frank's actions can make him unlikeable, a promise that was made by those working on the show prior to its premiere; I think that further sets him apart by not making him an all around hero. The show also features flashbacks of Frank's past that not only add some resonance to his storyline in Daredevil, but they also show that Frank's mind and body had already been through hell even before his family was killed; that was just the tipping point. Finally, while in Daredevil, they showed he could take a beating as well as deliver one, that doesn't really change here. Similar to how Daredevil was portrayed in his first season, Frank is shown to be just a man that can still kick ass, but he's not invincible; I will note that Frank does have training compared to Matt, but he's more adept to weapons than hand-to-hand combat.
That brings me to the action of the series, which is probably the best I've seen from a Marvel Netflix show since season one of Daredevil. The realistic brutality that helped set Daredevil apart from everything else from the MCU at that point is what helps the Punisher stand out now, and that brutality is expectedly elevated considering the character in focus. What definitely sets Punisher apart is the gun violence; sometimes the shots are unexpected, which can make some feel uneasy after the fact, but considering the apparently unresolvable gun control debate, that's probably a good thing. From the construction site massacre in the first episode to the carousel fight in the finale, you'll be rooting for Frank and maybe get a little queasy at the same time.
Like most of the other Marvel Netflix series, it has this way of making you either care or feel something for every character, no matter how minor. From Micro and his family to Lewis Wilson to Sam Stein, when something happens to a character, an emotion will rise out of you. Of the two characters that also stood out, it was Karen Page and Billy Russo.
Karen and Frank had formed a connection back in Daredevil, and it's grown more in his own series. I don't know if I'd fully support a Frank/Karen ship, but the chemistry between the two really makes it believable. It would definitely be an "opposites attract" relationship, where they shouldn't have feelings for each other but can't help themselves.
Those familiar with Billy Russo in the comics know about his villainous alter-ego, but in this adaptation, he's portrayed as Frank's friend who served with him in the military. As we watch this character throughout this series portrayed by Ben Barnes, we see him as a very likable guy, and it can make even those familiar with the character forget about his villainous nature until it shows itself, and then he becomes quite scary. That's what makes him a great adversary for Frank as he gets his comeuppance that sets up his likely return next season.
Overall, the Punisher delivers a wild ride and a version of the character all fans can enjoy. It's the right mix of a bad ass hero we can connect to like the 2004 film with the bloody violence seen in 2008's "War Zone" (except not to laughable levels). It ranks up there with Jessica Jones and Daredevil as the best to come from the Marvel Netflix series with a return to realism the line needed to pick things up again. Here's hoping we can get a winning streak going again with next year's seasons of Jessica Jones, Daredevil, and Luke Cage.
