Marvel’s The Punisher: Early reviews and reactions are in from critics
The Punisher is set for release on Friday, Nov. 17. What are the early reactions to
The Defenders has come and gone, since the announcement of The Punisher as a solo TV series on Netflix, fans were hyped as Jon Bernthal’s depiction of Frank Castle on Daredevil season two was arguably the biggest highlight to have come from that show.
With the gory spin–off due for a worldwide premiere on Netflix this Friday, 17th Nov, the first wave of reviews have come out from a number of media outlets. Digital Spy, the UK based entertainment news site under Hearst Magazines UK, made the report.
The Punisher centers on ex-Lieutenant of the United States Marine Corps, Castle, who assumed the identity of the pale white skull of death bearing vigilante after the brutal murder of his family. It follows sometime after Daredevil’s sophomore season as he stumbles on a larger conspiracy beyond what had been afflicted onto those he lost dearly.
So far, reviews have been mixed to positive and have emphasized that the series while not being a Jessica Jones, has a place deemed high to call its own. It has received a 76% certified fresh rating on the aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes stating:
"“A rocky start can’t keep The Punisher from pushing the boundaries of Marvel’s TV universe with a fresh take on the comics-derived action-thriller.”"
Below are some reviews from available outlets:
Variety
"“Bernthal’s Frank Castle seems to have wrapped himself in these forces because he doesn’t trust anyone else to have the power to wield them – and at the same time, because he is so broken by his own tragedy, he is a protagonist who commits violence while understanding how that violence creates trauma. It makes for a charged, destabilizing, dynamic and one that Bernthal inhabits with skillful aplomb.”"
The Wrap
"“I almost want to declare the existence of this Punisher show a miracle… And aside from a few appearances by Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) and a couple cameos by very minor characters from other shows, it really does just go its own way.And thank the Lord for that, because I like watching legitimately good TV shows. And The Punisher, somehow, is legitimately good.”"
Others have been a bit less kind – and more critical.
Uproxx
"“As has unfortunately been the case with Daredevil and the Marvel shows that followed it, Punisher has many more episodes than story to fill them with. Though Netflix provided critics with the whole first season in advance, I ran out of patience after six episodes; they featured enough material to justify three episodes and probably two.”"
The Hollywood Reporter
"“The Punisher has moments of excitement, moments of bracing violence and a well-cast star at the centre. It’s also tedious for long stretches, and when it comes to plot details, astoundingly forgettable. The gun stuff is just an unpleasant caper.”"
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Other media outlets that have reviewed the show including Digital Spy were Forbes, Games Radar, IGN, IndieWire and others.