‘The Punisher’ Is Netflix’s Most Gruesome Marvel Interpretation yet

Des Delgadillo

It took a string of lackluster film adaptations treading water, but it finally happened: Marvel’s gun-toting anti-hero, “The Punisher,” has a live action property worth watching. The latest in a line of binge-worthy comic book chaos from Netflix, the 13-episode series follows ex-Marine Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) as he unearths more clues about the death of his family, sending the expert marksman down a twisted trail that leads deeper than he could have ever imagined. Gore is always just around the bend in Netflix’s grittiest Marvel interpretation yet, a production that, despite its lack of actual superhuman abilities, more than holds its own in its dark corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

With Bernthal’s take on The Punisher comes a new life for the controversial ex-Marine turned vengeful vigilante. He might have all the precision and bravado of the last two film adaptations, but Bernthal manages to play Frank Castle with just the right measure of humanity, giving viewers a reason to get invested in what could have very easily become just another antiquated anti-hero archetype. It’s that very humanity that takes center-stage in Netflix’s standalone series, “The Punisher,” an exceedingly violent installment in a suite of MCU offerings that makes up for every dull moment with a constant barrage of bullets and splattering brains. Most importantly, though, “The Punisher” ultimately tells the story of veterans and their harrowing quest for re-integration.

Originally presented as a veteran of the Vietnam war in his 1974 comic book debut, Frank Castle soon grew to be a symbol around which many disenfranchised veterans could rally. Updated for modern viewers, Bernthal’s Castle served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and his past is grizzly enough to make even the most hardened of hearts ache with empathy. It’s a history that refuses to leave the ex-Marine in peace, with unit-mate David “Micro” Lieberman (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) spying Castle on a surveillance camera and taking extraordinary measures to keep tabs on the gunman. Couple Castle and Lieberman’s conflict with Homeland Security suit Dinah Madani’s (Amber Rose Revah) quest for the truth, or a support group of diverse veterans trying to carve out a new life, and what initially feels like a series of unrelated cases form a complicated web of deceit connected to one faithful tour of duty involving all of our protagonists.

It might not come as a surprise, but the biggest takeaway from this iteration of “The Punisher” is just how gruesome it turns out to be. From the devastatingly lifelike snaps and cracks of breaking bones to the unsettling gore that accompanies most fight scenes, violence definitely serves as this series’ cornerstone. It’s certainly not for everyone, and it’s easy to understand why this focus on brutality might repel some casual viewers.

Violence aside, “The Punisher” often runs the risk of plodding along a bit too leisurely, with long stretches that feel important but not enough to keep a viewer rooted to the spot. It’s even easier than usual to call it quits at an episode’s supposedly suspenseful end. It’s true that good things come to those who wait, but with so many options available on Netflix, is patience really a virtue the network’s trusting its customers to possess?

Ultimately, “The Punisher” standalone series connects because of its relevance to a modern climate, with the specters of domestic surveillance, national security and war crimes rearing their heads throughout the series, “The Punisher” might be the grittiest interpretation of a Marvel stalwart in Netflix’s catalogue yet.
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“The Punisher” premieres Nov. 17 on Netflix.