The Punisher (Season 2)

 

On the surface, The Punisher is a character, and thus show, that I wouldn't be overly interested in. From a superhero perspective, he doesn't have any special powers, per se. He's a violent, and oftentimes murdering vigilante, and in general this character type doesn't appeal to me. However, this show is so well done that he has become one of my favorite Defenders characters. Most of the shows in Netflix's Defenders seasons had better debut seasons when compared to their second season, and this is the case with The Punisher as well. Season 2 just wasn't quite as good as season 1. With that being said, however, it was pretty decent, and better than Luke Cage season 2. 

Season 2 starts with The Punisher trying to separate himself from the events of season 1. He's on a little road trip, but quickly finds himself involved in a violent scene in a bar, where he saves a young woman from a group of attackers. He had become friendly with the bartender, who was killed in the attack. This series of events leads to one of the main plots of the season. From ChatGTP:

1. Frank Castle and Amy Bendix

• Frank meets a teenage girl named Amy Bendix, who’s on the run after witnessing a murder tied to a covert operation.

• Amy is being hunted by professional killers, so Frank takes her under his protection.

• Their relationship grows into a surrogate father-daughter bond, grounding Frank emotionally.

3. John Pilgrim and the Schultz Family

• John Pilgrim, a violent ex–white supremacist turned religious enforcer, is sent by the wealthy Schultz family to silence Amy and protect their political ambitions.

• Pilgrim is torn between his brutal missions and his desire to protect his sick wife and children.

• His path eventually collides violently with Frank’s.

This part of the plot is the more interesting story. Unfortunately, it often takes a back seat to the other main plot, which is a continuation of Frank & Billy Russo's story from season 1. Billy, having his face destroyed by Frank, is now known as "Jigsaw", although I don't remember anyone actually calling him that in the show. Again, from ChatGTP:

2. Billy Russo’s Return as Jigsaw

• After surviving Frank’s brutal attack in season 1, Billy Russo suffers brain damage and memory loss.

• He forms a group of disaffected veterans, while struggling with rage, trauma, and his fractured identity.

• Russo becomes increasingly unstable, plotting revenge on Frank and those he blames for his downfall.

Frank & Billy's story works well in season 1, because it expands on the Punisher's background, first discussed in Daredevil season 2, and explains the background reason behind Frank's family being murdered, and how Frank became the Punisher. Their story is less interesting in season 2 because now that we have had the history explained to us in season 1, all that is left is for them to kill each other. Billy as Jigsaw is unstable at best, and is generally just a crazy character at this point and not all that interesting. He also forms this relationship with his psychiatrist that got a decent amount of screen time and I didn't find it all that believable. 

Frank's story with Amy & John Pilgrim was more intriguing, but unfortunately there were entire episodes where Amy wasn't even in the show. Eventually you learn that John is working with the Schultz family, but they get very little screen time. They are evil people, and when Frank finally kills them, it is somewhat satisfying, but I think it would have been more satisfying if they were featured more and Billy less.

At the end of the day, The Punisher was one of the better Netflix Defenders series shows. While it did suffer from season 2 letdown and seasons that were probably 2 episodes too long, Frank Castle turned out to be a much more complicated character than the psycho killer he's portrayed as (though he is that as well). Jon Bernthal does an excellent job portraying Frank, and his acting adds a lot of depth to the character. For season 2, I just wish there was a little less Billy and a little more John Pilgrim.