Arguably one of the best fully fleshed dimensional portrayals from Marvel's legendary roaster of Anti-heroes. The running theme is he's brooding and drenched in melancholy; he is the marvel equivalent of Batman, who shares a despairing focal point that became the catalyst of his whole journey.
Spring boarding off the events of season two of Marvel's Netflix's Daredevil, the world believes Frank Castle is dead, he has stayed off the grid for over a year, until a former NSA employee who believed to be a dead and a traitor to is country brings Frank out of the shadows to clear his own name and solve the mystery of Frank's family's demise. Frank Castle the punisher is synonymous with violence and guns, the series takes the approach of trauma caused by violence and the impact it has on many people, including war veterans, families, and the people who struggle to prevent and protect. This comes at a time when the previous administration had issues of real transparency.
Edward Snowden, and big brother or the government does not have the people's best interest in mind. The series skirts around the theme of a clandestine sec of government beyond reproach. If you are looking for the Punisher to shoot a bunch of bad guys each episode in homicidal rage, this series is not that. Its a discussion of cause and effect, trauma, gun violence, and the people it adversely affects.
In Marvel, heroes distance themselves or disagree with the methods of the Punisher as it works contrary to their own ideology. The one character who shares the common denominator would be DC's Batman, a brooding hero driven on a fool's errand to eradicate and stop all crime. The clear difference is that of Batman does not kill. This series has no opposing character to challenge the moral efficacy of one Frank Castle. In fact, Frank is allowed to be Frank and chooses who to right the wrongs he deems necessary. This series is the journey of what put Frank on his path, and self examines; should you get all the answers, should you right all the wrongs, at the end of the journey will you find self resolution.
Loss of Family is what creates the Punisher, an intangible loss or separation from family drives the character Micro, the loss of her bureau partner in a horrific torturous act drives Agent Madoni, The answer all three seek are bundled under the same organization and Frank is the key to getting the answers and resolve what they all desperately need. Is Frank to blame for some of the fall out, or did he cause the course of events indirectly by his own actions, or is it the greed of men, and the mysterious agent Orange, will agent Orange be a focal point to find the answers they all need.
The show is 13 episodes and heavy on dialogue and topical discussion, the discussions vary, and the use of flashbacks are-a-plenty, they all impede the flow and urgency and becomes daunting for the audience. The show would serve better as 10 episodes and cutting out unnecessary banter or details that frivolously gets explored. The character of Lewis provides the other side of the coin to Frank. A war veteran suffering PTSD, and from his feelings of betrayal from the country, he becomes a domestic terrorist. The show provides counseling, open discussions, family members trying to cope or not understanding, in interesting ways for Lewis. The journey of Frank and Lewis are completely separate and do eventually collide, I wonder could Lewis' storyline be completely removed to give more focus on Frank's journey, and would it serve us the audience better.
I believe it would, but I also understand it denies us counter arguments, and depicts the shades of grey when opposing a character like the punisher in a world of violence in the real world, like in high schools, or with gangs. The end cannot justify the means, but understanding, prevention, finding out the root cause, and holding discussions and most importantly learning is the message behind the conclusion of this 13 episode drama.
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