3 AM

A great start to the series, setting up the vibe and the characters. I like the decision to start the series after the punisher has avenged his family. Sets up the series for an interesting dynamic. Great acting, love the performance by Jon Bernthal.

When Jon Bernthal donned the skull on his body vest during the end of Daredevil S2, it was clear or I hoped we would get a spin-off series, my brother and I hoped. What did we get? One great crime show. The series explores the title character's grief and violence, and was filmed in New York City. Thus begins my review for "3AM" which was directed by Tom Shankland and written by Steve Lightfoot (The showrunner), I think it's worth noting how he wrote episodes for the tv show Hannibal. Tom Shankland's mise-en-scene and use of aesthetics were incredible and one of the episode's highlights. What this episode does brilliantly is how it goes into the psyche of Frank Castle, the PTSD he goes through after the death of his family. It's one of the show and episode's strengths, how the plot focuses both on him and veterans. Although the pacing takes a hurt, I think the filmmaker integrated the flashbacks which causes Frank to remember his family or whatever comes to mind, it's how minds work. I myself find myself having flashbacks of traumatic events. The filmmaking aspects here are the director's aesthetics along with editing, and the acting! Jon Bernthal sells every scene like he did in the second season of Daredevil, he stole the show there and shines as much here when his character gets more time to shine. The show is both a Conspiracy thriller and crime drama, along with action.

The episode's premise: Former Marine Frank Castle takes the law into his own hands while struggling to come to terms with his traumatic past.

Let me dig into the supporting characters a bit: Ebon Moss-Bachrach as David Lieberman / Micro: A former NSA analyst who assists Castle after faking his death. Regarding Micro's relationship with Castle, Moss-Bachrach said, "We have found ourselves with common enemies and it's a marriage of convenience." Then there is Ben Barnes as Billy Russo: Castle's former best friend from when they served in Force Recon together. Russo runs Anvil, a private military corporation. Amber Rose Revah as Dinah Madani: An Iranian-American DHS Special Agent, stationed in Afghanistan, who returns to New York City for an investigation that leads her to cross paths with Castle. Revah noted that Madani "sees herself as American - that's what her being is, that's what she wants to protect, that's why she does what she does." As Madani is not based on a character from the comics, Revah's "research was based more on Homeland and what it's like for those people, and the logical processes the character would be going through." Daniel Webber as Lewis Wilson, Paul Schulze as William Rawlins III, Jason R. Moore as Curtis Hoyle: A friend of Castle, one of the few people who knows he is alive and former U. S. Navy SARC, who became the leader of a therapy group after losing the lower part of his left leg in combat. Also Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page who appeared heavily in Castle's arc in Daredevil's second season.

I remember how surprised I was of the route they took with the show, how I expected a lot of action with Frank Castle as The Punisher, instead we got this intelligently written and thematic show which is just the perfect way to write a show like this. Seeing endless killing and action doesn't work quite well as you might hope for. As this episode of The Punisher, Frank Castle isn't the only perspective character as the vast amount of well written supporting characters is on both sides but mostly for Castle. Amber Rose Revah as Dinah Madani is the right choice for a secondary protagonist, regarding the conspiracy thriller aspect of the show. The first episode is a slow burn, all about setting up Frank Castle's life after 6 months after the second season of Daredevil, how he got help faking his own death. He's a simple construction worker and we get introduced to all characters through him, either personally or on paper. Frank Castle gets pulled into the vigilante business when a fellow construction worker gets into something criminal and he's such an innocent really. The violence and action is saved to the episode's ending, same with the appearance of Micro.

Final thoughts: I couldn't see them shooting this series in another city than New York City (it's set in NY after all), something to be said to the other series in 'The Defenders Universe' as well. Yet it needs to be said again. It makes it so much easier to get immersed into the show and episode, from the accents and locations, to the characters that exist in the city. So why is the episode called "3AM"? Because of how Castle has nightmares every single night and wakes up at 3 am. Tom Shankland's direction and visual storytelling were on point, perfect for this kind of story, directing the actors with such greatness. Steve Lightfoot's screenplay is too great, it's grounded and it's right for a show like The Punisher. Highlights were Jon Bernthal's spectacular performance, the two action sequences at the end where one had great choreography and the other was visually stunning with the muzzle flashes lighting up the room. I found the pacing to be a little bit weak though, all in all a superb episode of television which has you on the edge of your seat. The Punisher's first episode holds up today as it did in 2017.

This episode is really good like the acting is not over the top and it's realistic to believe. Since I'm a fan of Thomas Janes Punisher, John Berthial did a really good job like he's tied with Thomas Jane and is better than Ray Stevensons. The story to this episode flow really smooth and good concept. I thought about reviewing the episode first than review the T.V show. One of the best time so go ahead, watch it.

I suggest this show to everyone. Brutal, Dark and just perfect. Everyone should watch this. If you loved him in the second season of DareDevil, you will love him even more in his own show. So much story and a lot of action and chaos. Really wish he could have been apart of The Defenders, but it's still great.

That was honestly awesome. The rage this man portrays on screen is truly terrifying to see given the context of the characters back story. I loved this start.