The Punisher episode 8 review: Cold Steel

Reviewing episode 8 of The Punisher, titled “Cold Steel.”

The latest episode of The Punisher, “Cold Steel” opens with none other than company man, Billy Russo, creaming his hair with gel and dressing up to the nines in a suit to an ambiguous visit in a medical center.

Russo approaches his mother, who is lying on the hospital bed. He inspects how the doctors have been treating her remarking, “Good. They’re cleaning your teeth. I pay ‘em extra for that.” Russo converses with her more confessing having a tough week dealing with Frank Castle, his security and private military company, ANVIL, amongst everything else that has been happening as of late.

Further along the discussion, there is a waft of resentment towards his mother, who is clearly a drug addict who has treated Russo poorly as a child. Russo was forced into group homes due to neglect, so he intends to “return the favor,” removing the sheet to unveil his mom is strapped on the bed with restraints. He proceeds to inject her with a sedative drug and leaves, saying that he will be coming back.

At the secret hideout, Castle and David Lieberman, otherwise known as “Micro”, find out who “Agent Orange” is from information gathered from the military base last episode. It is recently promoted Director of Covert Operations for the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) William “Bill” Rawlins III. Rawlins is birthed in a family in captains of industry, Micro is fearful of how powerful a figure this person and the fact he was the founder of an illegally sanctioned death squad alongside Colonel Ray Schoonover is even more terrifying. Castle assures Micro that the FBI and CIA are not after them as they were no reports of Castle being in Kentucky back in episode 5 or the military base last episode except for Colonel Morty Bennett, who was killed in a safe house by Russo.

Suddenly, the feed that is recording the Lieberman family is down and Micro urges Castle to go and have a look for their protection.

Cutting to Agent Dinah Madani and Russo copulating in the shower, they appear in the next room in the bedroom down to barely any clothes. Madani and Russo admire both of their battle scars as the Homeland Security agent comments “All those battle scars and not one on this pretty face.” One of the scars that Madani comments on, Russo explains his childhood being part of the system. As Madani dresses, she grows concern and a fond over Russo sharing a tragic story, which involves Russo being involved in an incident where he was a victim of attempted rape.

At the Lieberman household, Castle meets up with David’s wife, Sarah, for a routine check. Castle hands Sarah some Peony flowers. They engage in thought-provoking and innocent-like discussion over a glass of wine. Sarah is having a tough time as a single mother with Zach and Leo. Meanwhile, Madani catches up with her partner, Sam Stein, who has a lead on Castle through a tip from an anonymous merchant – dubbed Jack DeLeon – by Stein, who is an arms dealer. Castle listens over Sarah’s concerns over her children, then comments that “Pete” as Castle is under the moniker of never spoke about his wife to which he replies she is gone.

It is at this point Micro is able to get the recording back and he observes the both of them speaking over drinks and what leads to an awkward kiss Sarah makes to Castle. When he returns to the hideout, Castle finds Micro in a drunken stupor after he cannot bear the thought of having to watch his ally wooing his wife (unintentionally of course).

Stein and Madani are planning a decoy operation, which catches the attention of both Director Rawlins and Russo – involving Castle – however, the operation goes south and there is a major casualty.

The Good:

So far, The Punisher allows us to take a step back when the action begins to subside for the concurrent progression of this storyline. Even though, by now, we know this Netflix series is nowhere on the level of Jessica Jones, the greatest parts of that series were the character moments. This episode is riddled with them, for a brief moment, you begin to ask yourself ‘Am I really watching Punisher or something else?’ 

 Again, the core action was finite, even more so but the ruggedness, creepy and unsettling vibes are still present. The dialogue in this episode will get back to, but on the cuff the timing is sharp and the key interactions between the characters; Castle and Sarah; her son Zach; Madani and Russo; Madani and Stein emotes tenderness and to another extent smug.

Antonio Campos, the director of this episode, manages everything with subtlety and is no stranger to the crude. His credentials as a Cannes and Sundance filmmaker with Simon Killer and the crime-drama The Sinner shows his knack for this work.

The Bad:

 A consistent problem with this show is the pacing, although this episode does not beat you down with exposition, the problems are with the character of Rawlins. The weight of his threat does not match up with Russo, who steal his thunder away from him by far.

Rawlins is barely seen enough in this episode to really warrant the danger he poses to Castle and Micro including anyone who gets in his way. Another problem linked with this is the setup of the climactic gunfight is daunting.

Highlights:

• Micro has a game plan that Castle and he disagree on. Madani is his golden nugget of truth.
• Russo demonstrates a complexity that makes you feel sorry for him but at the same time wishing he gets whatever is due he deserves.
• The Lieberman family are in a mess. Sarah and Zach are deeply affected by David’s absence.
• Russo’s utterance of the line ‘Who’s pretty now?’ foreshadows his eventual fall from grace and the mastermind he is destined to be.
• This episode marks the death of one of our supporting cast.

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Stay tuned for more episode reviews of The Punisher.