The Punisher Season 2 (Review)

Ah the Punisher, the TV series that combines the thrills and chills of John Wick meeting Jack Ryan into what is easily one of the most brutal, yet satisfying, shows out there. When Jon Bernthal first came on to the scene in Daredevil S2, I think we were all enamored by, not only his presence, but just how much he allowed himself to BECOME this very character. He was fantastic then, and I think most agree, was the best part of S2 of Daredevil. Dude was so good, he got a S1 of his own show, which I think we all agree was the right thing to do.

Getting right into it, the best parts of S1, are still the best parts of S2. The action is still top notch, even taking it up one notch in some ways, and of course, Jon as Frank Castle is still the best casting of a Marvel character since Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson or Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark. The guy is just unbelievable, and if this is his last season, I'll be quite saddened by it. Some of the side characters are just as, if not better, then some of the side characters from the first season. Agent Madani and Brent Mahoney make a return, Curtis too, as well as Karen Page for a brief moment later on. However, most of the side characters are brand new. While some excelled like Giorgia Whigham as a character named Amy, or Josh Stewart as Pilgrim, some were kind of wasted like the Schultz's played by the great Corbin Bernsen and Annette O'Toole, or some of the characters early on like Beth played by Alexa Davalos. Some either didn't get enough time on screen, or were slightly fleshed out, never to be heard from again. I'd say if that's S2's biggest problem. But we'll get to that in a minute.

For the most part, S2 is structured fairly well, not leaving too much on the table, as well as not wasting too much. That doesn't mean it doesn't though. See, with S1, it was near perfect, much like Daredevil S1. You got to be introduced to a "main" villain, which got far more time to flesh out because of Frank's introduction and backstory being fleshed out in S2 of Daredevil. We had some government twists, we had some backstabs, and we had some cover ups. S1's really only flaw was that it felt a bit too long, not really utilizing it's 13 episode format to it's fullest, much like Daredevil S1. Stretching some plot points and stories a bit too far. S3 of Daredevil actually did a really good job of actually finally figuring this out, and to me, so far, is the only season of any of these shows to really do so. I was hoping S2 of the Punisher would do the same, but sadly it didn't. Some plot points ended abruptly, while others carried on a bit too long. This doesn't ruin the show, or the season, it just saddens me that they might not get a S3 to rectify that like Daredevil did.

In this season, instead of the government coming after Castle and the gang, it's a rich family with powerful connections. Now this could work, if done right, seeing as the previous season utilized a government official with connections into most of our very lives. It was scary, because it was a man, and his goofy gang, taking on the American government, trying to prove not only his innocence, but that the government was guilty of something that they denied. Now while I understand the significance of how rich people are buying up our government, and I did actually like that part of the story, I felt like it was underwhelming, because much like S2 of Daredevil, there were just too many moving parts. What do I mean by that? Well if you didn't hear, Billy Russo also makes a reappearance as well. This time though, he is a loose interpretation of Jigsaw. Now don't get me wrong, I felt like Billy's story and focus was actually well done. It was one of the stronger points not named Frank or Amy in this season. Hands down. To dig deeper into his childhood, his broken psyche, and the man who becomes, no matter what intervention happens, was great. Him fighting with Frank, and having some of the encounters he did was fantastic and nail biting.

Which for me was really the most positive takeaway this season, the fist fights, and the shoot outs. There are some that just get ridiculously brutal, putting S1's to shame sometimes, but honestly, they were just so well choregraphed and well done, they are far more of a joy, resulting in a "WOAH!" than a "Ew!". So with the focus being mainly on Russo, it detracts a bit from John Pilgrim and the Schultz's. They aren't bad characters, I just don't feel like they had the opportunities that Russo did to really flesh out. You were given a few reasons to hate them, sure, but not much more then that. You felt a bit for John, as you learn quickly he has a sick wife, waiting on him to get home. You learn he lived a much darker life before he found religion, but I didn't feel like the dove into it enough. Using mostly vague terms and stories to try and paint a picture, that required a bit more precision. If they could have focused on Pilgrim, maybe even in a season all of his own, like they did Russo in this season, they really could have had something. For those that didn't know, Pilgrim actually is a loose adaption of The Mennonite, a character that was brought in briefly to fight Frank back in the early 2010's. When the dude was on the screen, and in one particular fight sequence that might have been one of the most brutal in the entire season, I was hooked. But they didn't flesh out his backstory enough to really warrant as much emotion as it should have actually induced.

Amy this season, was kind of the Micro of last season. I'm glad she was here own person though. I felt like Amy was even better than Micro, simply because there was an even deeper emotional connection between her and Frank. Just like in the comics, Amy is viewed like Frank's daughter, Lisa. The dude would do anything for her, even when she doesn't want to play nice. Frank has her back, and she has his. Their relationship was definitely one of, if not the strongest part of S2.

I also loved seeing where Madani was after the events of S1. Seeing her broken psyche match up in certain ways with Russo's was also some of the stronger points and writing in S2. She actually remembered it all, while Russo was clawing in the dark to try and remember something. Both of them were scarred by Frank after S1, but both of them have far different relationships with Castle though too. But once again, this leads to my biggest regret with this season. While the stronger writing and focus was on trying to recapture Billy Russo, it would break it up with slightly weaker stuff relating to Pilgrim and the Schultz's. Pilgrim was fairly fleshed out, but compared to Russo, he was the Carpet in Aladdin. I will stick by that both characters could have worked together, but I would have loved to see them in separate seasons before that, to let them breathe. That's why S2 of The Punisher is very much like S2 of Daredevil. Most will agree it didn't work as well as S1 or S3 because they tried to do too much, and it's like they didn't have enough episodes, compared to S1, when they were stretching some things too much.

This doesn't mean I don't love S2 of the Punisher, it's still rock solid, but it's clearly better in some way, and worse in others.

One other plot line, as I don't want to reveal too much, but it is something that kind of explains a bit more in what I'm saying, is that towards the end of the season, there is a moment when both us as the audience, and Frank as a character are to believe he did something wrong. Something that goes against his code. While it was a good idea, and I loved what they were trying to do, what should have last maybe a couple of episodes, literally only takes place in one episode and feels totally rushed. If you've seen S2, or you wind up seeing it, you'll know exactly the episode I'm talking about. It could have had much more grand ideas come from it, having a deeper character depth moment for Frank, yet they wrap it up so quick, it just becomes an afterthought instead.

So I'm going to wrap this up. I felt like I touched on a few of the things I genuinely loved, and some that I didn't, and if I sounds like I'm being harsh on the season, you'll be surprised then by my rating as I'm going to give it a...

8/10

A grade just below what I gave the first season. I felt like this season still did a lot right, even if they made some of the same mistakes Daredevil made with it's S2. It's still highly enjoyable. There is some great moments between Amy and Frank, Madani and Russo, and there is still plenty of tension through out the season. I feel like it's definitely worth checking out. Did you watch it yet, if so, what did you think of Season 2 of The Punisher? What would like to have see going forward if we had a chance at a Season 3? Let me know anywhere this is posted, or in one of the comment sections here on my blog, and I'll talk to you guys later.