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The Punisher Review

The Punisher Official Poster

*Season 1

I’ve got to admit that the Punisher – Frank Castle - is one of the very top alluring characters by Marvel. The Punisher is not your typical hero or villain, he’s just a man driven by will and determination to seek revenge for his family that was taken away from him abruptly for nothing other doing what he was convinced was his job. He’s that anti-hero character that you’ll not approve of 100%! He’s brutal, vicious, unwavering, straightforward, determined and with an invincible will. Jon Bernthal who plays Frank Castle did a marvelous job portraying him; he didn’t only make him relatable and believable, but he also made the character his very own. Bernthal admitted that if he wasn’t a husband and a father himself, he wouldn’t have been able to fully understand and grasp the consequences of losing the only people you’d happily give your life for their own sake. As a soldier, Castle got deceived and turned into a hitman, and thus he ended up paying for the crimes he committed unknowingly back then during his service.

Frank Castle & Karen Page at the court

The Marvel x Netflix show of the Punisher is in fact that good that I watched the first season two times in a row. The performance of Jon Bernthal is so raw and original; he made Frank Castle the beast every criminal should fear. And although his 'shocking' methods, approaches and tactics aren’t approved and supported by many people, he simply gets things done; he finishes the job and terminates criminals for good.

I watched the second season of Daredevil solely for the character of the Punisher. Matt Murdock is quite the opposite to Frank Castle. He believes in second chances and allowing criminals the opportunity to fix their lives and choose another path. But Frank comes across as a man with a vision; he targets hopeless cases, criminals who have committed terrible things and unforgiveable deeds. He knows they’ll be back to their criminal behavior once he sets them free. ‘’You hit them and they get back up, I hit them and they stay down’’ is what he said to Murdock explaining to him that giving a second chance to a criminal who isn’t even looking for redemption is just not correct! It’s wrong.

Daredevil Season 2

And that’s why Karen Page believes that Frank Castle isn’t what the newspapers portray him to be. I mean he refuses to use PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – as an excuse to avoid prison because it would be shameful of him to utilize such a serious condition whilst other people truly suffer from it. He’s no blunt instrument nor an aimless weapon. He’s a powerful man, with unimaginable capabilities driven by loss, rage and grief.

The people looking for Castle in season 1, specifically Lieberman and Madani, know that he can help them not only with the information he’s got but also with his mindset and unbeatable willpower. He helps David Lieberman reunite with his family, and he aids Dinah Madani to identify who’s really responsible for the death of her work partners. Castle is clearly a valuable asset to many people. He’s more than valuable to Karen Page who - straightforwardly - saw right through him grasping the fact that he’s not just a loose killer, but he’s a man robbed of his loved ones taking out his inexhaustible anger and rage on criminals and gangs. 

Castle in Season 1 Episode 1

The Punisher Season 1 - Frank with his children

Primarily, I was drawn to the storyline and the portrayal of Billy Russo – played by Ben Barnes who made Russo such a hated, disgusting character in both seasons. Unlike Frank, he betrays friends, uses people, and kills innocents; he has no honor and no regard to anything in life in general, and that what made him give away Frank’s family to the enemy. Russo is his self’s antagonist; he wants it all: fame, position and money. But eventually he loses everything to Frank’s relentless determination.

Frank Castle & Billy Russo

The portrayal of the relation between Frank and Karen is so soft and touching. They care about each other deeply; and although they try hard to keep their feelings at bay, they can’t help but worry about the whereabouts and safety of one another. Frank isn’t allowing himself to move on nor overcome what happened to his family even after acquiring his revenge. And Karen is keeping her distance for his own sake but she also wants to see an ‘’after’’ for him. In the comics, Karen and Frank never crossed paths which makes the beautiful bond portrayed on screen the sole result of the talent of Jon Bernthal and Deborah Ann Woll. Both actors managed to make opposites attract for whilst Frank is brutal and driven, Karen is soft, wise and subtle.

Frank Castle & Karen Page

Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page

And I can't forget about the astounding score of the series – by Tyler Bates - that added to the emotional impact, intensity and gruesome of the scenes, especially the final two episodes of season 1. The OST ''Frank's Choice'' is a masterpiece. Finally, I have to stress on how the superb portrayal of Castle by Jon Bernthal made the character of the Punisher on a whole other level of uniqueness and originality. Bernthal is the epitome of how an actor can fully devote himself to a character that their essences eventually, deeply intersect. Castle is simply no Captain America nor Daredevil! He’s a man of his own with a moral code and undeviating determination. He’s the man you don’t want to mess with.

 

Frank Castle - The Punisher Season 1 Ep. 1

The Punisher - Daredevil Season 2