Punisher season 2 spoilers
so I’m trying to give season 2 as much of a chance (despite the comedy skeleton mask and scuffed Mennonite) as I can but it’s really just not coming together, I mean look at this
that’s supposed to be Jigsaw (they even do like a dramatic musical sting on the reveal), I know because people constantly call Billy Russo by his full name (which is Billy Russo) when talking about him so we know they’re talking about Billy Russo who is Jigsaw (real name Billy Russo). I don’t know if the makeup artist was late that day but that literally looks like ass, it looks like someone threw a bottle of rigid collodion in a squirt gun and called it a day, this is what Jigsaw (Billy Russo) is mean to look like
he’s supposed to look like a gross patchwork of skin, he’s supposed to be horrific, even the movie tried
it’s just again feeling like the Netflix shows don’t actually want to be about comic books, I don’t care that Jigsaw (who’s name is Billy Russo) couldn’t exist in real life, he’s supposed to be weird and over the top because that’s what Punisher comics are, not 13 hour soap operas, also I’m 7 episodes in and Punisher finally put his skull on for the first time this season
I have watched the whole show at this point and -no spoilers- I am reasonably satisfied. This was, exactly like you said, an attempt at drawing in a larger audience. This will also probably be the end of the Punisher on Netflix. Watch all of it. Don’t think of it as Garth Ennis’s character on tv. Don’t think of it as the movie versions either. This is a long form character study, told over the course of 26 episodes, plus his “origin story” in Daredevil Season 2.
The best part of this show is the “soap opera” aspect of it. The way that Frank interacts with the people around him. The way the girl mentions in literally every episode that Frank is doing what he does because he likes doing it.
I saw a review on buzzfeed or something that criticized the show for glorifying violence and making Frank Castle too much of a fascist gun nut. I almost laughed out loud. It was a clear case of “no shit, dumbass: the Punisher is not a very good person and he is not a good role model.” That is what makes him interesting. That is what sets him apart from the other Marvel Netflix heroes. Matt, Jessica, Luke, and Danny are all trying to be heroes. Each has their reasons, and each is doing their best to be a good person. Frank is actively trying to be better and more effective at killing more people. This is a dark, ugly character and the soap opera aspect of it is how that is shown on the screen.
Watch the show. Pay attention to what people say about Frank and about Billy. Season 2 is not the best of the Netflix Marvel shows, but it is very well written and it will keep you watching.
Also, the first season was criticized for being too slow on the build up and not violent enough. Season 2 makes up for that in a big way, starting at about 35 minutes into the first episode, and every single one after it is just as brutal and violent. He wears the skull vest later on in the series - episode 7 sounds about right- but he definitely kills quite a few people before you see the skull.