Daredevil Jon Bernthal IS Frank Castle / The Punisher! - Part 1

[Drz]

This was pretty much the perfect season 1 of Punisher, it had everything you wanted from a Punisher show.

 

[Matt]

The prison fight was amazing. The only flaw with it, rather than have the Kingpin let Frank out of prison, Frank should've emerged from the tear gas dressed in the riot gear and walked out.

 

[chamber-music]

I like that they showed Frank's love of Dogs and coffee.

What I loved about Beranthal's Punisher was that FINALLY, FINALLY the Punisher is written with some damn personality. I've been saying for years that the reason why Punisher's comics don't sell well is because the writers refuse to write Frank with any personality, motivation or character arc. They just write him as a mindless, killing machine and while that may be cool to read for a couple of issues, no one is going to want to follow a character that has no character journey.

I always knew there was a way to write Frank in a way where he retains his dark, stoic nature but still give him a personality that you could sympathize with and root for. Beranthal's Punisher is the Punisher I've been waiting for. I would like to see him written more like this in the comics.

There are Punisher comics in which he displays personality and isn't stoic all the time but stoic Punisher is the default setting of the character in the eyes of some writers.

I don't think The Punisher is a character you feel sympathy for beyond what happened to his family. You usually root for the Punisher in the comics because the people he goes after are awful violent criminals that often can't be brought to justice due to corruption or fear of reprisal.

Frank has plenty of motivation in the comics. There are stories in which he tries to stop terrorists, rescue kidnapped people and so on.

The old nineties Punisher comics had Frank d would do research, surveillance and go undercover with targets before he killed them.

Jon is perfect as the character! no doubt.

I however doesn't like the complexity with his origin story. .they added some much more elements to his origin story. its frankly confusing. Blacksmith? his old marine pals? way too much stuff.

There are a few Punisher stories about his former military buddies and commanding officers being crooked criminals.

Ray Schoonover is from Punisher War Journal. The Punisher: Return to Big Nothing Graphic novel also features Frank's former superior Sgt. Gorman who turns out to be a corrupt criminal smuggling drugs and guns to the U.S.

 

[Loki882]

My two complaints would be:

Spoiler

the "reveal" about Frank's CO was cliché "drama' TV writing at it's most blatant. And it makes Frank's backstory more convoluted than it needs to be imo. And his appearance in the finale felt wonky/shoehorned in. Don't tease us with the three of them teaming up against the Hand, if you're not actually going to do that, it's just cheap.

Other than that, excellent.

 

[GREEN =w= DAY]

2 episodes to go for me this season, but Jon Bernthal is badass as Punisher

really hope he gets his own spinoff series and it would be cool to see him pop up in a Marvel film down the line

 

[Doctor Jones]

Bernthal as Frank may have been my favorite thing about this season. He got some of the best scenes. My God, was he badass. With some great lines too. I just kept cheering whenever he was kicking ass. The first four episodes (where he kills the Irishmen even when captured, he JUST KEPT GOING), the prison fight, his fight with Fisk, the cafe fight.

Episode one even had the best ending. Perfect reveal of him. "Bang."

 

[TheVileOne]

My two complaints would be:

Spoiler

the "reveal" about Frank's CO was cliché "drama' TV writing at it's most blatant. And it makes Frank's backstory more convoluted than it needs to be imo. And his appearance in the finale felt wonky/shoehorned in. Don't tease us with the three of them teaming up against the Hand, if you're not actually going to do that, it's just cheap.

Other than that, excellent.

Spoiler

Interestingly enough Schoonover was a cocaine smuggler and dealer in the comics and had a storyline with The Punisher. But I think the problem is that they didn't really make it all come together that well at the end. It was anti-climactic IMHO.

 

[third3ye]

All I gotta say is, Bernthal better get an Emmy nod. He completely nailed that graveyard scene. Lookin forward to the spinoff announcement, pretty much a done deal I'd say.

 

[writer0327]

I would love to see a Punisher spinoff series, or even just a mini series like the Defenders, 7 episodes. I'm not sure what else you could do with it, but Bernthal's entire portrayal of Frank Castle seems just a waste for what amounts to a supporting character for one series.

 

[Hotwire]

And to think, when Jon was cast, there were lots of naysayers. They seem to have vanished.

 

[Dr. Evil]

And to think, when Jon was cast, there were lots of naysayers. They seem to have vanished.

Yep. Some criticized Marvel for casting Frank Grillo in the wrong role.

 

[ernesth100]

Frank Castle played Jon Berthnal to a T, perfect casting on Marvel part.

 

[Drizzle]

Bernthal as Frank may have been my favorite thing about this season. He got some of the best scenes. My God, was he badass. With some great lines too. I just kept cheering whenever he was kicking ass. The first four episodes (where he kills the Irishmen even when captured, he JUST KEPT GOING), the prison fight, his fight with Fisk, the cafe fight.

Episode one even had the best ending. Perfect reveal of him. "Bang."

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[BLACKOUT]When the Colonel had Karen at gunpoint in Episode 12 and she turned on the car and "Shining Star" started playing, I knew Frank was close by and about to bring some pain. [/BLACKOUT]

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

Great characterization of The Punisher, great lines and acting. I cheered for him in each scenes he kicked ass, well, he kicked ass in every scenes physically and emotionally.

 

[Golgo-13]

Love the shot of him on the roof in full 'skull' get up.

I woudn't be surprised if due to the overwhelming reception to Bernthal's portrayal of Castle, Netflix and co are considering a Punisher solo tv show or movie.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[BLACKOUT]When the Colonel had Karen at gunpoint in Episode 12 and she turned on the car and "Shining Star" started playing, I knew Frank was close by and about to bring some pain. [/BLACKOUT]

Yeah, that was a nice little touch. And the truck crash was just very cool and very Frank. He had some of the best lines. One of his last being, "I'm already dead" where he sealed his fate. Frank had a great arc in this season. Him realizing that his war will never end and how he doesn't want others to be like him, even when Daredevil is willing to make a concession to do it Frank's way.

 

[JC00]

I woudn't be surprised if due to the overwhelming reception to Bernthal's portrayal of Castle, Netflix and co are considering a Punisher solo tv show or movie.

Pretty sure they've been considering it for a few months

 

[ernesth100]

I mean I feel like it's inevitable. Punisher Series is probably coming to Netflix soon. At this point it feels like Netflix is the only place that can do characters like Punisher and DD any justice.

 

[Herolee10]

I honestly wonder, do you guys think that Frank could have taken on and defeat Wilson Fisk back when Fisk was still in power in Season 1?

 

[Spider-Who?]

Bernthal killed it. I was excited when I first heard his casting, but he really just exceeded my expectations. Credit must also be given to the writers as well. They captured the character wonderfully. He was an absolute force of nature in the show and I loved how *everyone* was scared of him.

His appearance in the last episode was really weak though. I expected his "official" reveal to be far more exhilarating then it actually was. Oh well. In any case I'm really hoping he comes back next season or gets his own show.

 

[The Apocalypse]

I thought the season had just the perfect amount of Punisher while not taking away from Daredevil himself. Episode 3 and 4 were just perfect and his chemistry with Karen was great. I loved every scene those two shared. Can't wait to see more of him.

 

[Drizzle]

I honestly wonder, do you guys think that Frank could have taken on and defeat Wilson Fisk back when Fisk was still in power in Season 1?

Most likely.

 

[Fumardude]

So what was his final kill count?

 

[Drizzle]

So what was his final kill count?

I'd say it was at least 50.

 

[KillerMcQueen]

Bernthal killed it. I was excited when I first heard his casting, but he really just exceeded my expectations. Credit must also be given to the writers as well. They captured the character wonderfully. He was an absolute force of nature in the show and I loved how *everyone* was scared of him.

His appearance in the last episode was really weak though. I expected his "official" reveal to be far more exhilarating then it actually was. Oh well. In any case I'm really hoping he comes back next season or gets his own show.

Would've been nice to have the skull reveal happen either shortly after his escape or when he took out Blacksmith, so that the reveal could coincide with something a bit more personal for the character.