Wooza! That’s the word I use when intensity is dialled up to the max. This can be applied to good coffee, a good steak, and what I would say is one of Marvel’s best offerings on Netflix to date: producer Steve Lightfoot’s The Punisher.

Our collective minds were blown asunder when Jon Bernthal stepped into the role of Frank Castle, aka, The Punisher, back in season 2 of Daredevil. Arguably the best part of the season, he brought an intensity that many characters in Marvel lack. A coiled rage lay pretty close to the surface that, when unleashed, would release the hounds of war on anyone in his way. And I mean anyone. Not too many sh*ts were given to those on the receiving end of Frank’s justice – which I am glad to say has been addressed in his own debut series.

Staring alongside Bernthal is Ebon Moss-Bachrach as David Lieberman (Micro), a former NSA analyst who assists Castle. At first, I wasn’t convinced at the choice but man was I wrong! Some fantastic scenes between these very opposite characters allow for some a few moments of lightness in a very heavy show. That said there are also some rather intense moments.

Amber Rose Revah as Dinah Madani is just pure awesome. A strong female lead who, thanks to some good writing, doesn’t lean too heavily on her character’s Iranian past. Ben Barnes plays Billy Russo, a former special agent who is also Castle’s best friend and gets a few moments to steal scenes with his character’s charming yet ruthless personality. Deborah Ann Woll also returns as reporter Karen Page in a role that helps link past events we have seen with the current.

As the title of this post suggests this series is intense. It explores Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in a respectful way – while also looking at regret, betrayal and how friendship and family can redeem someone on the wrong path. Be warned too though that it is violent. Really, really violent. There is a level of gun-worship that in today’s climate can’t really go unnoticed, to the point where the first official trailer was delayed due to the tragic events that took place in Las Vegas. With the main character that has no superpowers and no cape, Castle stands out as the most realistic, and broken, of our anti-heroes. I highly recommend it. Here is what I had to say.

I’d love to know what you thought of The Punisher. What I have seen so far on social media is very positive, which I am really happy about. I believe there are a few more series coming our way with a guy who has rage issues that could scare a big, green, giant.

Last Updated: November 23, 2017

Marvel's The Punisher
The Punisher will not be for everybody. Even when compared with the serious topics brought up in Jessica Jones, The Punisher hits closer to home because it isn't veiled behind a screen of superpower fiction. It is brutal in its approach, at times unrelenting in its violence but because it is handled in such a careful way it's sitting at the top of Marvel’s Netflix offerings.
8.0

24 Comments

  1. Great review, brilliant title, also digging the star-rating feature on the thumbnail!
    Can’t wait to watch.

    Reply

  2. Captain JJ

    November 23, 2017 at 13:16

    Really enjoying the show. One of the best from Netflix Marvel.

    Reply

  3. Alien Emperor Trevor

    November 23, 2017 at 13:25

    That inane babbling goes on for nearly 16 minutes? Hard pass. 😀

    Reply

    • Captain JJ

      November 23, 2017 at 13:48

      oh wait, were we supposed to click on the video too?

      Reply

    • For the Emperor!

      November 23, 2017 at 14:11

      New drinking game – each time he says “ummm” you take a shot! Bottle will be empty at 10 minute mark 😛

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        November 23, 2017 at 14:17

        HAHA! You try making a vid with not one edit 😛

        Reply

        • For the Emperor!

          November 23, 2017 at 14:20

          Lol, I have a face for radio 😛

          Reply

        • For the Emperor!

          November 23, 2017 at 14:22

          I had to say it though, because it reminded me of How I met your Mother

          Reply

  4. Craig Lotter

    November 23, 2017 at 13:33

    Nice review! On a different note though – Do you guys ever proofread anything that is posted here? The two or three little characters out of place in this piece feel a bit jarring.

    Reply

    • RinceThis

      November 23, 2017 at 14:19

      eish where? Looks okay from the CMS

      Reply

      • Craig Lotter

        November 23, 2017 at 15:14

        Examples in the text above:
        “Marvell’s best offerings”
        “lean to0 heavily”

        Reply

  5. For the Emperor!

    November 23, 2017 at 14:07

    The series has some really strong performances. And it makes you care about MOST of the characters, even some villains! My score is 9/10 for this show 🙂

    Reply

    • For the Emperor!

      November 23, 2017 at 14:23

      Read some of the lower end Metacritic reviews – hogwash is all I can say 🙂

      Reply

  6. ReverendFunk

    November 23, 2017 at 14:51

    Series starts with a slow burn and really explodes at the end. Just Jon Bernthal’s gorilla screams are enought to make me watch this series.

    Reply

    • RinceThis

      November 24, 2017 at 12:17

      Gods, he scares the hell out of me man

      Reply

  7. Craig "CrAiGiSh" Dodd

    November 24, 2017 at 09:10

    Enjoying it at the moment 🙂

    Reply

  8. Unavengedavo

    November 24, 2017 at 10:44

    We planned on binge watching it in one go, even moved the TV to the bed room for it. But it was so intense and violent that we literally had to take breaks and watch other stuff in between.

    It was brilliant, and by far my favourite Marvel/Netflix series!

    Reply

  9. Yondaime

    November 24, 2017 at 11:34

    I’ve already watched this and my mind was completely blown. This definitely deserves a watch. Awesome review. Plus Madani..Hot Damn!!

    Reply

  10. Frans J Smit

    November 27, 2017 at 11:07

    Binge watched it over 2 days. Loved it, love how real it is and the way things play out. All thumbs up from me

    Reply

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