Fumbled opportunity
I have seen a lot of frustration amongst this sub about Bernthal’s Punisher rarely being suited up. I think, outside of just the MCU watering down traditional comic style suits in general, there is (from what i understand) some squeamishness at Disney around the logo and groups who have co-opted it in real life politics these days. I was very excited at the start of DD:BA S1 because it seemed like they were setting up a great opportunity to make a statement about exactly that, in a way that “reclaims” the logo and denounces some of its more questionable associations. Having Frank aggressively and publicly dismantle the task force for wearing his logo and being corrupt, and further, to shame them for idolizing him, would have been really cool to see. Not to mention, it would be in keeping with who Frank is. Instead, it was a half measure that ended abruptly and was never revisited, which is really disappointing and unfortunate.
I think Bernthal is a great Punisher, but I’ve also noticed he has some influential social media veterans in his ear (Nick Koumalatsos, former Raider, in the opening scene with Curt, and Cody Alford, former Raider, guy he stabs with the pen). I think sometimes he wants to do right by those guys and tell a veterans story, but it ends up not quite being Frank’s story*.* I respect what he’s trying to do, and it is cool in its own right that he takes Frank’s Marine Corps background to heart, but it takes things in generalized Veteran PTSD territory that clashes with past Frank from Netflix. All I could think during the opening scenes of him drinking, popping pills, and wallowing was “i’m not crazy. i know what i did, i know who i am.” That’s the essence of Frank that i feel was lost by letting the AVTF storyline go unfinished and in how the special opened up. Not to mention, the definitive declaration about the skull and who it belongs to.
On the bright side, i think we’ll see him with the skull on a lot more in Spiderman. Thanks for reading.