This was really, really, really, really good. And I say that a a Punisher lover (hes in my top 5 fav characters and Ennis stuff is some of the best comics ever IMO).
I know a lot of Punisher fanatics didn't love it because Frank was more human than Jason Vorhees but it worked because when that flip switched... he was classic Punisher. Humanizing him just a touch worked. Everything was in character for him IMO. some punisher fans also hate the fact he was almost Jason Bourne esque aka dealing with spooks and CIA and not gangsters but its happened in the comics before and I think 13 issues of frank mowing down mobsters would have been a bit... boring.
It avoided the "omg this is way too long" syndrome that a lot of other netflix shows had because, for once, all the supporting characters were interesting and well acted. Even Page, who I generally hated in Daredevil, was useful here. There was no "annoying sister from JJ" or "froggy stfu and die" or everyting about iron fist lol or others
The only time I was ever bored was when they focused on the crazy kid a touch too long sometimes. I think he was needed to compare and contrast that kid to Frank but, did feel a bit overlong at times. I think I would have rather sacrificed some of that and gotten more into Curtis background or more into Frank in the Marines or more into even just watching Frank murder all the cartels some more lol. But, nitpicking really.
Punisher just fits in this format. Beranthal was great. I still think Ray Stevenson in War Zone is the most comic accurate Punisher but Beranthal is a much better frank castle IMO.
Castle's arc from DDS2 through this show is the best story in the Netflix Marvel world so far. and im pissed he didn't at least get one episode to show up in Defenders and murder ninjas lol. It would have been perfect for him to show up in the restaurant scene, mow down a town of ninjas, say "thats twice now Red" and just leave lol.
anywho, if I had to rank the shows now, i'd prolly go
Punisher
DDS1
Cage
Defenders
DDS2
Jessica Jones (kilgrave stuff was great, everything else was terrible)
Iron Fist (this show has no redeeming qualities)
