Okay, this is coming a tad late, considering The Punisher was dropped on Netflix November last year. But I just got to (finally!) complete the 13 episodes, so here we are.
First off, the fact that it took me so long to complete is quite baffling... because The Punisher is arguably the best of all the Marvel Netflix series! And considering how much I a fan I am of Jessica Jones and Daredevil, that’s really saying something. I honestly do not know how the writers managed to do what they did with the character we had already seen in Daredevil Season 2. I mean, in that series, his story was pretty much concluded with the death of his nemesis the Blacksmith. There was only the tiniest cliffhanger – a white disk with the word ‘Micro’ scribbled on it – to indicate there was more to tell.
The story was remarkable. There were no single continuity errors to clash with Frank Castle’s previous appearance in Daredevil. In fact, the Punisher series served to explain more of the character in such a way that many of his actions in Daredevil can now be fully understood. The seamless way with which the plot continues from Daredevil is splendid – as far as the world is concerned, Frank Castle is dead. And then, it goes ahead to, once again, wrap his story up tight. The question is, will it really be the end this time? Or will the punisher return?
The best part of the series is the realness of its characters. This is not a superhero story. There are no super-sensory blind ninjas and super strong sarcastic chicks. Yeah, it’s the world of the Avengers, but that world is far away from Frank’s. Efforts to connect them both are minimal, and it works for the show. The characters are relatable. Even the bad guys are understandable, which is, yes, pretty much a trope these days. However, the Punisher is different. Frank is the good guy, but he has so much darkness one has to wonder sometimes. This is not a world of black and white. This is a world of gray and more gray.
The actors play the roles with such perfection, it’s impossible not to feel anything for the characters. No wonder the series had to be delayed due to the various mass shootings in the U.S. last year... it’s easy to see how that could have been a problem, especially with theme of truth and U.S. intelligence, and gun-laws.
As for the action scenes? Oh my Lawd!!! There are no words to describe the awesomeness!
Good one, Marvel. You’ve released yet another awesome, mind-blowing series. Keep it up!
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