ENTERTAINMENT
Judge. Jury. Executioner.
REVIEW: “The Punisher” is not exactly your average superhero story.
By Jessica Eusebio | The Mirror Staff
September 12, 2017
He may or may not be a superhero.
Marvel Television and Netflix recently released “The Punisher” and it has been one of Marvel’s most dark and brutal television series to date.
Adapted from Marvel Comics, the series was created by Steve Lightfoot, known for his work on “No Angels” and “Hannibal.”
“The Punisher” stars Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/The Punisher, Amber Rose Revah as Agent Dinah Madani, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as David Lieberman/Micro, Ben Barnes as Billy Russo, and Paul Schulze as Rawlins.
The series takes place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the franchise that includes previous films and shows, such as “The Avengers” and “Daredevil.”
Making his first appearance in the second season of “Daredevil” in 2016, Jon Bernthal returns as Marine veteran Frank Castle, who is driven to seek revenge on those responsible for the death of his wife and children as the gun-wielding vigilante, the Punisher.
When he discovers a military conspiracy connected to the death of his family, Castle partners up with former NSA analyst, Micro, to uncover the truth.
The dark and serious tone complements the show’s storyline.
The season deals with the aspects of loss and post-traumatic stress disorder as well as politics, all important features in the comic book series.
Throughout the season, the protagonist is seen mourning over the loss of his wife and children, causing him to unleash his brutal persona. The show remarkably addresses the emotional trauma resulting from the loss of a loved one and the varying methods of coping displayed by each of the characters.
In addition to his recurring nightmares of his family, Castle, including many other veterans in the show, are seen struggling with PTSD, which is realistically portrayed in today’s society.
These characters are clearly affected by their time in warfare which unveils the struggles that they face when returning home and conforming to civilian life. The show exhibits the realism of how the country deals with this issue.
The political issues “The Punisher” explores includes military service and gun violence. These issues are heavily integrated in today’s current events from the many mass shootings and gun control debates that have been arising.
Unlike the previous film adaptations of the comic book character, Netflix successfully fulfills fans’ desperate need of an accurate representation of Frank Castle.
Actor Jon Bernthal delivers a powerful performance portraying as the iconically fierce vigilante. He managed to capture the complexity associated with Castle’s character, which former actors Dolph Lundgren (1989), Thomas Jane (2004), and Ray Stevenson (2008) failed to achieve.
The cinematography captures the graphic and brutal scenes in excellent detail. The action sequences are overwhelmingly violent and gory, but extremely brief compared to the action scenes in the preceding Marvel Netflix shows, such as “Jessica Jones” and “Luke Cage.”
For some audiences, the highlight of the show is the chemistry between the fan-favorite duo, the Punisher and Micro. Their partnership develops throughout the show into a brotherly bond based on trust, offering a refreshing respite from the dark and serious tone.
However, not all shows are perfect, and “The Punisher” is no exception.
Audiences may feel that the season is seemingly endless—longer than its 13-hour duration.
The plot, more dull than complicated, feels dragged throughout the 13 episodes. Viewers are constantly reminded of Castle’s backstory within the extensively boring dialogue between characters.
“The Punisher” won fans over with an accurate portrayal of the white skull vigilante with perfect casting, artistic cinematography, and outstanding character development and interactions. The series is also praised for addressing current political and social issues. However, the season is still slow-paced with a weak plot.
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