Netflix announce season two of Marvel's 'The Punisher' FREE now for the biggest moments from morning TV SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow for the biggest moments from morning TV When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. The Punisher season one had a lot of strengths to it. Frank Castle (played by Jon Bernthal) worked through a thoughtful and action-packed narrative which created an enjoyable show - despite its few problems. Punisher season two welcomes Frank Castle back to the front-and-centre after he seemed to find peace in the final moments of season one. And viewers find him travelling the USA in the first episode of season two attempting to enjoy the rest of his life. But it doesn’t take long for him to become enthralled in a brutal bar fight when Amy Bendix (Giorgia Whigham) is attacked by a team of specialist military assassins. This quick event thrusts Frank back into the world of organised crime, and provides perhaps one of the show’s best fight scenes. And throughout the 13 episodes of Punisher season two the precision and choreography of each fight scene stands out as the best pieces of the show. Unfortunately, that is where much of Punisher’s enjoyment is contained. Once again Jon Bernthal brings a brutal ferocity to his role, and it truly feels unleashed during the small number of bloody set-piece fist fights scattered throughout the season. It’s no surprise Jon’s incredible physical performance takes on new life in this season - much like the first season - the surprise follows during the rest of his acting. The Punisher season 2 Review: Frank Castle goes up against Jigsaw in the new season Unfortunately, the fight scenes are where much of The Punisher’s enjoyment is contained The Punisher Season 2 Review Jon brings the thoughtful stiff-upper-lip acting which shone through in season one, but he hasn’t got much to work with. While Frank was working through the loss of his wife and children in season one, season two sees him tossed into a fight that isn’t his. He forces himself to feel responsible for Amy once she (reluctantly) explains her harrowing situation - but Frank goes on to tell many other characters that he didn’t know why he was involved. Amy saunters through the show under-utilised and overwritten. For every good scene she gives with stories of her past life, she takes another away with her nonsensical decisions. Thankfully, Jon and Amy share some emotional scenes during their story’s conclusion, allowing each of the actors to showcase their roles’ idiosyncrasies. But while half of Frank’s time is taken up by fighting and running away from John Pilgrim (Josh Stewart) - who is tracking down Amy for a reason not disclosed for what feels like hours - the other half is dedicated by tracking down Billy Russo (Ben Barnes). The Punisher season 2 Review: Jon Bernthal reprises his role as Frank Castle The Punisher season 2 Review: Amy Bendix is initially interesting, but quickly falls flat Billy was traumatised in the final moments of Punisher season one when Frank disfigured his face on broken glass. Due to the trauma his body also sustained, Billy has lost all memory of being involved in the death of Frank’s family - as well as the heinous things he did to other characters in season one. Billy’s ubiquitous memory loss leaves Dinah Madani’s (Amber Rose Revah) story feeling a little stretched. Billy eventually (sort of) takes up the mantle of Jigsaw, and begins killing and robbing once again, with the help of some local veterans. Despite his vengeance against Frank being built up a lot in the first five episodes, Billy’s final stretch of story doesn’t really amount to anything. The Punisher season 2 Review: John Pilgrim is one of the strongest antagonists in the show The Punisher season 2 Review: Billy Russo becomes Jigsaw in season 2, but it doesn't last long<doc-sep>Netflix and Marvel’s The Punisher is back for its second season, but perhaps the biggest currently surrounding the series is the question of whether season two will also be the show’s last. Over the past year, many of Netflix’s Marvel series — namely Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and most recently Daredevil — have been canceled. That’s despite the fact that Luke Cage’s last season was pretty good, and Daredevil’s was enjoyable. (Iron Fist’s was an improvement on its dismal first season, but the show ultimately didn’t last long enough to ever really turn things around.) Join the Vox Video Lab Go behind the scenes. Chat with creators. Support Vox video. Become a member of the Vox Video Lab on YouTube today. (Heads up: You might be asked to sign in to Google first.) The presumed reason for the cancelations isn’t quality or lack of interest (Netflix is famously very stingy with its viewing data, but Marvel’s Netflix shows have always had a vocal core fanbase). Rather, Disney, Marvel’s parent company, is planning to launch a streaming service of its own later this year — where it is expected to host its own original Marvel shows. Many people believe Netflix is jettisoning its Marvel catalog because the shows, which are produced by Marvel TV and ABC Studios, will be moving to Disney’s service in the future. This is also in keeping with Netflix’s recent moves to focus more on creating original programming whose rights it controls 100 percent. Thus, The Punisher season two might very well the last we see of the series, at least until Disney’s streaming service is online. So is it any good? Rating: 2.5 out of 5 vox-mark vox-mark vox-mark vox-mark vox-mark In short, it’s a mixed bag. The show’s signature fight scenes are still fantastic, as is the Punisher himself, Jon Bernthal. But something seemed to go wrong in the writers’ room this go-round, and even with a new dynamic that changes Frank’s life, there are still some stories in play that might have been better wrapped up in season one. If this really is the end of The Punisher — at least for now — watching season two, for me, gave a feeling more like relief than sadness over something I’m going to miss. Here are five things to know about the new episodes. 1) If you like The Last of Us or Logan, you might like The Punisher season two The Punisher’s second season relies on an age-old storyline about a tough, cold hero who, through some turn of events, takes a vulnerable youngster under his wing and vows to protect them at all costs. In this case, Frank Castle (Bernthal), for one reason or another, feels compelled to protect a young girl named Amy (Giorgia Whigham) who, for one reason or another, is in desperate need for protection. He’s supposed to be gruff and soulless, and yet she brings out the softness and vulnerability in him. She’s supposed to be sweet and relatively innocent (well, at least not as grizzled as Frank), but he brings out the toughness in her. Marvel’s comic books have played with this dynamic in stories featuring X-Men’s Wolverine and his “tough dad” relationship to Jubilee and Kitty Pryde, as well in stories featuring Cable and Hope Summers. Fox’s 2017 film Logan was an adaptation of those types of Wolverine stories. Other examples include Iron Man and Spider-Man’s relationship in recent Marvel movies like Spider-Man: Homecoming and Avengers: Infinity War, and the central relationship of 2013’s award-winning video game The Last of Us. Being familiar with those works made me appreciate what The Punisher is going for in season two, and initially got me interested in Frank and Amy’s partnership. But as the episodes unfolded, I found myself thinking that the works I mentioned above all did a better job of establishing a relationship that I wanted to see through to the end, via their writing and execution of their characters’ interactions with one another. With that said, there is a moment in The Punisher season two in which Amy pulls bullets out of Frank’s butt, and I don’t think I’ve seen that done in any television show in recent memory (though I’m more than willing to be proven wrong). 2) Frank Castle is a father again In the first season of The Punisher, we witnessed everything that Frank lost. We saw his prewar life, and what a nice man he used to be. The difference became even more stark when we saw what a cold man he became after losing everything. But by the end of that season, it felt like Frank had hit rock bottom, and was on his way back to being human again. Season two sees Frank in a better mental state, and picks up in a somewhat more pleasant place (precisely how pleasant depends on your feelings toward Michigan). In doing so, it adds a new layer of tension to the show, as it makes the audience hold their breath to see if some new event will plunge Frank back into darkness. Amy’s presence also factors in, as she essentially becomes his new child and his new family of sorts, and he doesn’t want to lose her like the family he’s already loved and lost. 3) Some of season two’s writing is lacking In The Punisher season one, Agent Dinah Madani (Amber Rose Revah) might have been the worst Homeland Security officer on television. She was thoroughly duped by Billy Russo, the season’s main villain, and had something of an anti-Midas touch, as any stakeout or plan she was involved in would end in death and disarray. Season two sees Madani continue her losing streak, which mainly consists of her not being able to control Frank even though she says he shouldn’t be allowed to run loose and impart his vigilante justice on everyone he deems unworthy. And fine, I understand that in the world of Marvel stories, law enforcement has to be somewhat shoddy, because if authorities were always excellent at their jobs, there would be no need for superheroes. But in addition to not letting her be a very good Homeland Security officer, the writers this season have really phoned it in with Madani. Her character only exists to tell viewers everything she is feeling and everything she did or is about to do. At one point, she asks another character, “I am a smart, strong woman, why would I do something like that?” If “a smart, strong woman” is how the writers see Madana and want to portray her, she needs better dialogue, for starters. She also needs to have moments where she acts like a “smart, strong, woman” so we’re more inclined to believe her — her season two storyline where she becomes infatuated with Billy Russo doesn’t do her any favors. 4) Billy Russo is still The Punisher’s main villain While the first episode of The Punisher season two introduces a creepy, chilly new Christian zealot villain, Russo (Ben Barnes) is still the show’s primary baddie. That’s largely due to Russo’s emotional connection to Frank — he could have helped save Frank’s family and was Frank’s best friend at one point in their lives. The new villain, John Pilgrim (Josh Stewart), doesn’t have that same deep relationship with Frank, and while frightening, becomes more of a terrifying afterthought than a compelling villain. We catch up to Russo trying to recover his memories after the head trauma he suffered at the conclusion of season one. His face is scarred (the way he interacts with other characters on the show seems to indicate it’s horrific, but in reality the scars look like stylish and sexy), and he’s working with a therapist to stitch together everything that’s happened and explain why Frank Castle lives in his nightmares. This season we ask: Can Billy start over again? Given his mental reset, will he return to his evil ways? Are Billy and Frank ever going to forgive one another? Does Billy? deserve another shot at redemption? Billy, like Madani, is forced to utter some poor, heavy-handed lines to convey these thoughts. But it’s a testament to Barnes’s ability as an actor and the thoughtfulness paid to Billy and Frank’s relationship in The Punisher’s first season, that some of them actually work. 5) Once again, The Punisher doesn’t scrimp on violence. And it’s very beautiful violence. In 2017, Marvel delayed the release of The Punisher’s first season because of the mass shooting in Las Vegas where at least 50 people were killed. And because gun violence in America is inescapable, it’s understandable that a show so heavy on gun violence, might turn some viewers off. But with that said, shows like The Punisher and movies like John Wick (and its sequel) — which have been lauded and appreciated for their creative shootouts and fight scenes — have started a conversation about how we view gun violence in art. At what point does gun violence in art turn into bad taste? Is it just a matter of timing? Can a viewer appreciate the art of a fight sequence or chase scene if the scene is reliant on guns? And perhaps more pertinently, what separates art from indulgence? Is there a clear line between them? It feels strange saying this, but I think I was able to appreciate the fight sequence work in The Punisher more in season two because I knew what to expect, and because its zealot villain makes it feel more heightened than season one. Additionally, I watched it at a time when there hadn’t just been a news cycle about a major episode of gun violence in America (whereas when I screened season one, the Las Vegas shooting had just occurred). I definitely recognize that other viewers reactions may vary. But for as meandering the season is, for the viewers who are looking for action and who can view the show’s violence as art with more distance from reality, The Punisher’s fight scenes and gun-slinging are top-notch. The action is bloody, brutal, and beautiful its own special kind of way. We get to see Frank hurt people in a variety of ways in a variety of settings: bars, bar bathrooms, bar dance floors, cars, gyms, trailers, and affluent white people’s homes, to name a few. Each one of those scenes is thoughtfully choreographed with regard to space, movement, sound, and energy. The fight sequences hold your interest, surprising with something new. And none of them — even a particularly tricky one that involves people shooting at each other through a wall — disappoints.<doc-sep>
The Punisher season 2 starts with some tender moments and ends with blood and violence. After finally avenging his family’s death and stopping Rawlins and Russo on The Punisher, Frank Castle could finally be at peace. He went to a meeting to help with the memories from his time at war and it seemed like Frank was going to have a fresh start with a new life. We all know that wasn’t going to last too long. Frank’s life isn’t supposed to be good and there will never be any real closure. He will always mourn his family and he’s always going to have the urge to protect the innocent and hurt the wicked. Season 2 of The Punisher is going to be the first time we’ve seen the Punisher is a setting that has nothing to do with anything except him doing his job. Welcome back, Frank. Let’s see what happens to you now. Setting the stage early We knew that The Punisher was going to be violent. However, if you had any doubts going in the first two minutes took care of that. The first thing we see is Frank sweaty with blood all over his face driving while being chased. The camera pans over to a woman in the passenger with a scared and shocked look on her face. They’re cut off by a car and three people exit the vehicle and tell Frank and the woman to get out. Frank opens the window, shoots and kills them and drives in reverse taking out the car behind them. It’s important to set the stage for a movie or show early. In Logan, the first fight scene let the audience know that this isn’t the Wolverine we’ve seen in the previous movies. For The Punisher, this was letting us know that Frank Castle hasn’t changed. If you’re in his crosshairs, it means you’re guilty and will be punished. This opening immediately gives people hope for the season because Punisher fans will be getting exactly what they want. Frank acting happy is weirdly good In typical fashion, Frank ends up stopping a bully. He prevented a drunk idiot from hurting a bartender named Beth from trying to do her job. While she said she didn’t need his help, Frank said, “Maybe I don’t like a**-holes.” Beth laughed and after some small talk and casual flirting, she ended up inviting Frank back at her place. The two end up talking, sharing a connection, and having sex. Despite seeing Frank being relaxed and normal in season 1 it still looks weird. But it’s also a good thing. Frank isn’t known for his kind words or doing anything that resembles normal. Not even halfway through the first episode and Frank developed a connection he wouldn’t normally have. Frank even talked about his wife and kids dying and smiled later on. We’re seeing evolution. Frank can’t be monotone and heartless in every scene. The show would be terrible. The times he shared with Micro’s family was awkward because was living a lie knowing Micro’s family thought he was dead. Now, it looks like Frank won’t be as reserved as he was in the previous season and in the comic books. At least as of now. Old habits die bloody hard Frank is back at the bar where he met Beth and it looks like Frank is happy. That means something bad is about to happen. There’s a young girl trying to unload something and get out of whatever she signed up for (which is probably illegal). In comes some hired goons to take her out. Frank immediately sees them looking around and awkwardly trying to fit in. He knows this can only mean trouble. He notices they are following the girl and he goes after them and beats the snot out of them in the first real fight scene of the season. You can’t take the military out of the man. Frank will always pick up on odd things no matter how long he’s been out of the military. Froe example, the two times he was at the bar, Frank always kept his eye on the door. Old habit of where an ambush would come from. If not for this, he wouldn’t have noticed what was going on and the girl would have died in the bathroom. Frank got into a full-on bar fight with the henchmen after that. While they were good, Frank is the Punisher.