Memento Mori

The long awaited Netflix/Marvel series The Punisher is finally here, and boy does it pack a punch. The last time we saw Frank Castle was at the end of Daredevil Season 2, when he was sniping ninjas from the top of the roof and coming to terms with his family's loss. The latter has stayed the same, but the former has been thrown out the window for a more gritty and realistic vibe.

The series follows Castle, played excellently yet again by Jon Bernthal, as his past grabs hold of him in the form of a tape of the murder of an innocent man that he was involved in. This affects many different characters, and more than fills the thirteen episodes that the show needs to fill.

Not all the story lines are completely relevant or interesting however, and this can sometimes drag the show down. In particular, the storyline following the Homeland Security agent got on my nerves, mostly because it wasn't very well acted by Amber Rose Revah. It's not that she's a terrible actress, it's just that the role seemed miscast, and there were multiple scenes where the character did not seem to live up to its full potential.

However, Revah's character was the only one that seemed annoying or out of place. The majority of the acting was great, especially that of Bernthal as The Punisher, Ben Barnes as Billy Russo, and Daniel Webber as Lewis, who stole every scene that he was a part of.

The reason Webber was so good was because he really embodied what Post Traumatic Stress Disorder puts someone through. The entire time I was cheering for his character, even through all of the terrible things he did. In fact, the same thing could be said about nearly every villainous character, with the obvious exception of Rawlins.

Another great aspect of this show is that it decides not to have a whole bunch of blatant tie-ins to all of the other Marvel shows and movies that are in the same universe. Yes, Karen Page makes a few appearances, but other than that the references are virtually non- existent.

The message that the show sends off is also a big positive. At times it does feel as if it's leaning towards a certain political stance, but for the most part it tells it like it is and without any bias.

I also feel like the show addresses the gun violence in the show and in the world pretty well. It neither justifies it nor completely condemns it, but presents both sides to the audience and leaves it open for the audience to figure out.

The fact that we've finally gotten a great Punisher TV show/movie after all of the mediocre to truly terrible remakes is truly refreshing. Bernthal embodies the character like nobody has before, and gives us the Frank Castle that fans have needed for years. The Punisher Season 1 is right up there with Daredevil Season 2 and Jessica Jones Season 1 for me, and, despite some out-of place story lines, is one of the better Marvel Cinematic Universe works we've seen this year.

I give The Punisher Season 1 a B+.

Very uneven writing. The previous episode earned a rare 9-stars rating from my wife and me. We both cried during the family reunion.

This episode begins with Russo just effortlessly shooting his way to freedom. Like, he doesn't even aim.

Good thing both of Dinah's parents are doctors..

The actors did a great job really they did I never doubted what was going on for a second and that's sooo hard to come by especially in a marvel universe. Please bring back season 3 on Disney.

I was hoping for a lot from this season climax and I got it! It's an electrifying episode, full of real power and drama, and it ends in a satisfying showdown between hero and villain. Good choreography as usual, fine acting and no skimping on the bloodshed. I'm really looking forward to season two at this point...

Wow !! what a journey it has been with Frank Castle over 13 long hours .. each and every episode had that mysterious element that keeps on taunting you to just go ahead and watch the next.

From episode one the plot set a high bar of Drama and Action but it always kept us intrigued with each and every new character a new sub/plot a new secret is unraveled ,, as i said on the premiere this show has been built on a solid ground and it would grow high , so it really did.. maybe for some the story itself would look a copy of what we know of the Punisher .. but believe me it is totally not .. after more than 13 years of the Movie this series just presented it's own original version of Frank Castle and it was a bet won big by Netflix.

Now, yes the plot was solid, the cinematography was high quality, coming to the script, it was really good, but i do believe there was just a couple of episodes right in the middle of the series were a bit slow and could have been cut in the production, but that would make it a 10 episodes show and that is what HBO does, not Netflix .. lol :D

As for the cast, said it before ,so i'm gonna quot myself in here "Jon Bernthal is just one of the most underrated actors on TV,, he was amazing in "Daredevil" which i think made this project come to life ,, but also still remember his unforgettable role in "The Walking Dead" as Shane , my goodness it was full of suspense on both of those previously mentioned roles and here as extension to his story on Daredevil he still preserved that tense present which made the show more suspenseful."

Ben Barnes as Billy and Paul Schulze as Rawlins were just the perfect type of villains and they did really good .. same goes for Ebon Moss-Bachrach as David Lieberman which i only watched him in comedies ,, here it was weird but enlightening in the same time , he's definitely got talent, and sure not forgetting Amber Rose Revah as Agent Madani.

Final thought, don't know if the show will be renewed, like the ending was kinda satisfying for a "Marvel" series.. Honestly i don't know if they really should renew it ,, but if they do i hope they keep it simple and original,., with that many of writers and directors (11 each) i think they will but again still No news of possible renewal so far.