7 Years Later, Jon Bernthal’s 26-Episode Crime Thriller Is Finding New Life on Streaming

The Punisher has been a difficult character to crack in Marvel Comics adaptations because the notion of a vigilante gunslinger is no longer as novel or as appealing as it was when Frank Castle debuted. Three different actors have portrayed Castle in live-action films, and each portrayal failed, despite the talent of their stars; these films ranged from being completely ignorant of the character’s real-world ramifications to being trapped in a generic revenge-thriller formula. The one spark of hope that fans of the Punisher earned after years of disappointment was in the second season of Netflix’s Daredevil, in which Jon Bernthal’s version of Castle appeared as a nemesis-turned-ally of Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox). While Daredevil suggested that Castle might be best utilized as a supporting character, The Punisher does justice to the source material with a modernized, emotional, and surprisingly timely approach to his complex mythology.

Although the fundamentals of Castle’s backstory were laid out in Daredevil, The Punisher offers a partial origin story through flashbacks that is necessary, given that it wasn’t nailed in any of the previous film interpretations. However, Castle is trapped in the present because he is haunted by the loss of his family, which has caused him to retreat into being a solemn recluse hunting down the criminals that murdered his loved ones. The hardest step Castle has to take is finding a new purpose after vengeance, as he does not feel that justice has been served by his bloodlust. Bernthal gives a damaged, multifaceted performance that highlights Castle’s struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, and the two-season show delves into the societal evils that shaped his cynical perspective.

Netflix’s ‘The Punisher’ Reinvents Frank Castle

Although Daredevil had already indicated it, The Punisher confirms that Bernthal was born to play Castle because he understands the sadness and intensity that cause him to be constantly under strain. Bernthal’s Castle is just as obsessed with vengeance as the character is in most comic book depictions, but his fixation has become an addiction because of how in flux his moral code is; having concluded that anyone guilty of committing crimes similar to those made against his family deserves to be punished, Castle has set himself up on an unquenchable quest for revenge that will never be completed. Since the show picks up after Daredevil Season 2, which itself featured Castle already established as an anti-hero, there is no pleasure or spark within the routine that he has committed himself to. Castle works best as a character when he is grizzled and indigent, and The Punisher draws him out of repetition with a newfound mystery that links to his past.

The Punisher finds a clever way to explore Castle’s history in the military because it introduces the character of Billy Russo, a former member of his Force Recon team, played by Ben Barnes. Russo represents an alternative to Castle who initially seems to be better adjusted because he leads a recovery group for fellow veterans and has found new work as a private contractor; however, this masks an insidious lie that Russo has used to hide his guilt, as he has not been made to suffer as Castle has. That The Punisher is a series, and not a film, gives it more time to take a sincere look at veterans’ issues that Bernthal undoubtedly takes seriously, and it also makes an effort to question gun control tactics during a time in which mass shooting incidents are sadly all too common. In addition to acknowledging why Castle’s fatalistic techniques are ultimately not helpful, The Punisher examines how easy it is for vulnerable young men, especially veterans with mental health issues, to be seduced into joining radical groups that promote violence and hate speech.

‘The Punisher’ Is Marvel at Its Grittiest and Most Psychological

Bernthal has the presence to carry The Punisher on its shoulders, but the show has a surprisingly stacked ensemble that ensures it is more than just a solo adventure. Bernthal has been a longtime friend and collaborator with Ebon Moss-Bachrach, whose role as Ben Grimm in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was predated by his performance in The Punisher as the former NSA analyst David Lieberman, who goes by the codename “Mirco.” Lieberman is a veteran of a different sort who has also been denied the opportunity to connect with his family, which sparks parallels with Castle. It’s compelling to have another hero with a different skill set, and the real-life friendship between Bernthal and Moss-Bachrach makes their onscreen chemistry all the more authentic and adds a healthy amount of humor to an otherwise dark show.

Although many of the Netflix Marvel shows struggled as they went along because they had to connect to one another, The Punisher maintains a degree of quality throughout and justifies the episode count for each season. It even gets a boost of momentum in its second season thanks to the addition of Giorgia Whigham as Amy Bendix, a drifter who becomes a surrogate daughter for Castle. It’s also among the most dynamic streaming shows in terms of action, as the brutal, unglamorized brawls couldn’t be more different than the elegant choreography in Daredevil. It has been exciting to see Bernthal expand upon the character with his most recent appearances in the MCU, but The Punisher remains the most riveting and exhilarating depiction of the character on screen.