Frank Castle has returned to screens in appropriately gritty fashion. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has returned to its gritty subplots in recent years due to the resurgence of the heroes who once dominated Marvel TV via Netflix. More mainstream MCU shows like Hawkeye and Echo paved the way for that before Daredevil: Born Again - a revival of the Netflix Daredevil series - made it official.
Jon Bernthal reprised his role in that series before going on to headline The Punisher: One Last Kill. The hard-hitting Disney Plus Special Presentation earned praise from audiences for the way in which it explored Frank's mental health while also setting the stage for him to reclaim his role as a one-man army on the streets of New York City. From the drama to the action, audiences couldn't get enough.
If you found yourself wanting more, here are some TV shows like One Last Kill that you should absolutely watch in the meantime.
Daredevil: Born Agan
The show that made Frank Castle's return to the MCU possible, Daredevil: Born Again is the revival of Netflix's orginal Daredevil series that we had been waiting for. Charlie Cox reprises his role as the Devil of Hell's Kitchen (and his lawyer-by-day alter-ego Matt Murdock) while the cast of the Netflix show sporadically join him throughout the first season, building up to the perfect season 1 finale that sets the stage for a true return to form.
The second season, in particular, is one of the finest things that Marvel Studios has produced in years, recapturing the magic of the original series while also painting a very vivid picture of its own. Although The Punisher isn't in the second season, the events of it all - from Wilson Fisk's corrupt mayoral run to the revolt against the Anti Vigilante Task Force - take place at the same time that One Last Kill does.
Just like One Last Kill (and the original Netflix Marvel shows), Daredevil: Born Again is violent, serious, and thoriughly gripping television. So if you haven't already watched it, get on that!
The Punisher
If you haven't already, now is a good time to go back and watch - or revisit - the original Punisher series. Although One Last Kill is a standalone story it does feature the occasional nod and reference to the show, so here's a reminder that there are indeed 26 episodes of unadulterated Frank Castle action out there that should absolutely be consumed if you are a fan of Jon Bernthal's exhilarating portrayal.
The Netflix series ran for two seasons between 2017 and 2019, with the only reason that it didn't continue being down to the end of the Marvel and Netflix deal. This may have resulted in a lengthy hiatus for the character but it all led to his official return in Daredevil: Born Again all those years later. And the best thing about The Punisher is that, as great as it is, it only serves as the beginning of Frank's journey, showcasing him in all of his unhinged, violent grandeur that Marvel Comics fans have come to expect from him.
Daredevil
If The Punisher: One Last Kill was your first introduction into the world of the grounded, gritty Marvel shows, then you should absolutely take advantage of the vast catalog of shows that exist leading up to that. With that in mind, let us take you all the way back to the beginning and recommend Daredevil.
The first of the Marvel Netflix shows, it ran for three seasons between 2015 and 2018 and is widely considered one of the best comic book and superhero TV shows of all time. Charlie Cox is thrilling as the Devil of Hell's Kitchen while the action is easily the greatest that the genre has ever seen. The show is credited for popularizing single-shot showdowns, with those hallway fights easily among its crowning achievements. And the long-running crime saga involving Wilson Fisk's rise is as edge-of-seat as the MCU has ever been.
Daredevil is also an important point in The Punisher's MCU history as it marks the official debut of Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle, who becomes a major focal point of the show's second season. That makes Daredevil worth the watch for Punisher fans alone!
Reacher
If you'd rather take a break from Marvel and simply dive into an action-packed series in the vein of The Punisher: One Last Kill, then Reacher is the show for you. Starring Alan Ritchson (who is no stranger to the superhero genre due to his previous roles as Aquaman in Smallville and Hawk in Titans), the Prime Video series is based on the Jack Reacher novel series by Lee Child and it has quickly become a phenomenon.
It centers on Ritchson's titular character, who is an ex-military investigator who travels the US seeking out corrupt authorities and criminals, not holding back when it comes to administering his physical brand of justice. I don't think I need to point out the similarities to Frank Castle there, as both characters are essentially hardened vigilantes who don't bat an eyelid when it comes to dishing out hard-hitting forms of punishment.
While Reacher doesn't always go as far as The Punisher, the similar M.O.s make Reacher a great alternative for Punisher fans to watch as they await Frank Castle's return to the MCU.
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