The Punisher

Marvel's inexplicable insistence on having 13 episodes per season means this suffers from the same bloat and pacing issues as other Netflix MCU shows, but the revenge storyline here is strong enough to (almost) make up for it, with at least one good bone-crunching, blood-splattering action scene per ep. They know why we're here, so enjoy.

A decent addition to the Marv-have I mentioned how much I hate Iron Fist. They played Tom Waits while the Punisher sledgehamm-seriously, Iron Fist is so bad it almost makes none of these shows worth it. Most episodes were fine even though a rogue subplot stole a couple epis-maybe Finn Jones will fall off a cliff or get in a car crash and we won't have to worry about seeing Iron Fist in anymore of the Netflix Marvel stuff. Iron Fist sucks.

An unhinged man takes a war home with him - his last vestige of home murdered - then brings war to those trying to sell violence in a corporate package solution. It is about revenge, but also about how to keep or tear up friendship/family.

They made the Punisher much less unhinged and psychopathic for his standalone series than he was in Dare Devil, they do this to make him a more relatable and sympathic protagonist but the character loses a lot of what makes him interesting when he becomes so clearly 'the good guy'. There is also a distinct lack of vigilantism. Making all of the action personal strips away the vigilante aspect entirely which is a shame. He could have a least beat up a mugger or something.

Guess it's a good thing Eric Clapton didn't put down the blues guitar after his kid died...

Jon Bernthal deserves so much more recognition as an actor. Incredible screen presence.

Struggles somewhat when the focus drifts away from John Bernthal killing people. There's some cringy flag waving and an odd debate about guns, which could have worked I guess were it not so overtly shoehorned in. That said it's largely a return to some kind of form for the Netlix MCU, even if Iron Fist's shitness still seems to taint everything. Bernthal is great and several of the support cast are pretty good also. It nails the whole dark and moody thing on the head.

I want to cry...! I start watching this, then slowly I notice that I find my iPhone more interesting than this series.... Really?! A whole episode The Punisher keeps this guy sitting in chair and what they do... They talk!!! Backstory after a backstory. There's more action in Bold and the Fucking Beautiful! They could easily cut 15-20 minutes away from every episode. I just couldn't continue after three episodes. Marvel probably spent all their money for Daredevil 'cause that series kicked ass!

It's no masterpiece but its energetic violence driven by simple revenge is pretty heartwarming. If your heart is in your fist, POW!

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