After starring in Daredevil season two as he desperately hopes to avenge the murder of his family, The Punisher got his own Netflix series and has returned, this January, for a second season. However, this time, with the people responsible for the brutal death of his wife and children punished in a violent and exceptionally brutal way, Frank starts this season off in a mellow but reasonably happy place. The new series explores the idea of the innate violence in Frank and whether he can truly exist without returning to conflict. It sees the return of Billy Russo, although this time he is more psychotic than ever; who’d have thought it? Alongside new additional characters such as Amy and Pilgrim, who were both intriguingly interesting to watch and learn about.
The Punisher season two delves into the fact that there is no universe in which Frank Castle doesn’t put his skull vest on, picks up a gun and give us the violence we all cringe at but love to watch. Even me, someone who can’t stand graphic scenes involving gore. This season also explores and questions who exactly the villain is. Is a man who kills murderers that have targeted innocent people just as much of a villain as those he kills? Through exploring this, fans get to see Castle at breaking point as he believes he’s killed three innocent women. It was heart-breaking and despite thinking I had grown past sobbing at fictional characters, the scenes with Castle and Daredevil’s Karen Page had tears rolling down my face.
And then there were the new characters. John Pilgrim played by Josh Steward presents viewers with a devout Christian who sets off to hunt Castle and Amy with the view that he is doing it in the name of God. Despite the very slow introduction to this character, the season eventually sees him become just as badass and just as powerful as Castle. It was brutal in every way.
And finally, there was the introduction of Giorgia Whigham as Amy Bendix, a kid who has lost all her family, finds herself mixed up in blackmail and so much trouble that she can’t see the light. But what really made this character was her friendship with Frank. Starting off the season attempting to escape him, the season ends with this bitter-sweet duo that is reminiscent of a father and his daughter. It’s truly beautiful to watch.
Season two of The Punisher was as brilliant and over the top with violence and gore as season one, if not even better, and if it gets cancelled you will find my Netflix subscription down the drain as this is a show that has potential to continue on for quite some time.