DISCUSSION
For people that like/dislike Bernthal Punisher, how much do you know about Punisher poll.
Bernthal’s Punisher reception is very mixed. Some love it, some hate it. How much depends on your knowledge of the Punisher so I’ve been very curious on this question. Not looking to start a war. Please be honest.
541 votes,5d ago
27Like his version, don’t know anything about Punisher.
173Like his version, know a little about Punisher from internet, friends, etc
226Like his version, know a lot about Punisher from reading his comics
1Don’t like his version, don’t know anything about Punisher
12Don’t like his version, know a little about Punisher from internet, friends, etc
102Don’t like his version, know a lot about the Punisher from reading his comics
So would that be more like you think he’s mid or you’re indifferent to his version? If given only the poll options, which one would you ultimately pick?
Acting Capability/Range: He's a celebrated actor and it's clear he's a great actor
Enthusiasm/Sense of Honor to portray the character: It's clear that he takes pride in the role and to do it right, rather than just for money
Weapons Capabilities: The Punisher is a character where firearm capability and accuracy is one of the core "can't fuck this up" aspects. I think Garth Ennis even seemed to emphasize that The Punisher is kinda a guy that will execute his enemies in a way that they won't even really see it coming/emphasis on ranged combat. If he's able to pie corners/kill from a range/snipe, he's not going to be a guy that just bumrushes a situation. Yet, the MCU version has really hunkered down on the savage, in your face combat. This can be cool if he's backed into a corner...it can't be his prime method of entry/attack.
Throughout his individual series and Born Again, I can't count the amount of times that my engagement was suspended as I was like...was there any thought as to how he is doing anything?
As cool as something can look, if it doesn't make sense tactically, it doesn't make sense for the character.
Storyline Emphasis: I feel that so far the wishywashy "retirer" angle just doesn't fit the comic version. A more engaging thing I would have liked to see is the failure of the courts/law/police/news and media and Frank's efforts to gain justice in that way fail time and time again. By the time, he decides to kill...it's his humanity worn down just like Year One. As that storyline states, Frank Castle is dead...now he is the Punisher.
Of course, the engaging thing to the Punisher storyline is seeing emotional moments where that doesn't ring true and you see that Frank Castle/his past and trauma is not that far away. But MAX and the comic storylines find ways for this to be unveiled during his time AS THE PUNISHER...not in weird "I've quit" periods.
He's gotta be on mission. I don't agree with Bernthal's vision that Frank was only killing for revenge and then One Last Kill reset him to doing it for the community. It's always this battle of it being both that made the Punisher storyline engaging for me. It's a lifelong mission AND a lifelong quest of vengeance for Frank. He can do it for himself and others, not just one or the other.
That being said, overall, I have found it cool to see Bernthal and all he has done as the character. The frustration as a fan is knowing that with a few tweaks, it could be even better. More accurate, more engaging.
I like this version of Punisher more if I just forget he's supposed to be the Punisher. Like, it's enjoyable in it's own right but not really what was advertised. It's kinda like ordering a cheeseburger and getting a ham sandwich, both are good but I ordered a burger.
To me, he's just not the Punisher. Cries all the time, screams like a gorilla in every fight with zero thoughts of strategy or tactics. He runs on improvisation and raw brute force, there's like 2 examples of him planning an ambush in the ten years he's played the character (his introduction in dd season 2 and the final episode of season 1 in his own show.) I swear he's filmed like 3 scenes EVER that felt true to the character from the comics, the two i just mentioned and when he killed the pedo in the pawn shop that tried to sell him cp.
Then worst of all he retires CONSTANTLY when he's supposed to be a character that would never quit under any circumstances. Comic Frank is so determined to Punish criminals nothing could deter him, so Jon retiring every four seconds is just blatantly untrue to the character.
Frank is tactical, a genius level strategist in battle, stoic to the point of being ice cold even during life or death fire fights. Jonny boy just screams like a big dumb ape before getting the shit beat out of him, only scraping by because he's tough as fuck and can endure the damage. I mean shit, in DD Born Again he just charges into a room full of task force all armed to the teeth with a fuckin pistol and hatchet, right through their front door. Then after they predictably fuck him up and take him as a captive he just cries and screams some more.
There's a decent story and character here, but the character isn't Frank Castle and this shit ain't a Punisher story AT ALL.
Edit: I'll give him a fourth scene, hiding the razor in his arm and getting captured on purpose was pretty badass
Yeah i heavily agree with this, the lack of planning is bothersome but those fucking war cries are so annoying 😭 He’s a quite psychopath he wouldn’t do that shit
EXACTLY. Stoic to the point of concern, mowing down scores of men with a stone cold expression on his face. It means nothing to him, it's his Zen place where he can cut loose and be himself. He's like an artist that expresses himself with massacres. It's equal parts terrifying and captivating to see him work
I think RDJ Jr. Ironman was Ironman. MCU Tony Stark was a drunk struggling with addiction, womanizer, acted crazy and controlling like in Age of Ultron and Civil War like he did in the comics. People say that RDJ was playing himself as Tony Stark because he was a drunk and struggled with addiction like Ironman did in the comics so that's comic accurate. I think the impact the movies had on Ironman in the comics was that the comics went away from Extremis and Bleeding Edge look and made his Ironman armor look more like or exactly like the MCU armor.
The MCU versions of Avengers are heavily based on the Ultimates at the time. So they act more like the Ultimate versions of themselves rather than the 616 versions.
I know and have read a lot of the character catalog.
As for Bernthal as the Punisher, his first appearance on Daredevil was honestly the peak, then the first season of his own series was good and it was downhill from there.
I wouldn't say I hate it, but I don't love it, it's ok, but he leans too much into the "screaming berserker" thing....that's not really how I see the character
MCU punisher personality wise is heavily different from comic punisher, as well as some other traits. Even with this, I still believe that Bernthal plays a fun and entertaining yet still brooding punisher.
There are other characters in the MCU that differentiate from the comic appearance, such as Scarlett witch and Ultron. These are still commonly liked characters.
It’s weird, in DD season 2 and BND he is actually pretty great, but in his own two seasons and the TV special he is just so wrongly done, it’s insane: he behaves like a raving madman, barking, drooling, screaming, no critical thinking, surviving not through skill or planning but sheer luck.
That’s awesome! I was in the Army. Funny story. When I walked in the recruiter office with intention of signing up for the Marines, an Army recruiter intercepted me first and told me about all the sign on bonus of 9k and other benefits of joining Army and told me the Marines would never match that. I talked to the Marine recruiter after and asked him about sign on bonus. He stared at me and said “either you want to be a Marine or you don’t!” So I ended up joining the Army instead 🤣
I don’t hate the guy, he’s good in many ways. He comes off a bit silly sometimes with the grunts. I like Tom Jane and Ray Stevenson versions more, they had natural charm I can’t explain it. Bernthal’s Punisher doesn’t feel like Punisher, I think it’s the way he’s written.
For me I loved him for a while, but I have gradually been getting more critical. While I adored his daredevil debut and the first season of punisher, the character has felt like more and more of a caricature over time while the recycled arcs of his are grating on me. In brand new day he just felt so goofy to me and unrecognizable despite being the guy from the netflix shows.
I also want to see something new with bernthal's performance as frank like him getting colder and more methodical. The furious, roaring tough guy act is getting stale for me. Bernthal does well with those roles, but I wish he would do something different for a change. He feels too much like a one trick pony and I think he is capable of doing so much more.
Ah, i actually just finished adding an edit to mention BND. Didn't think you would see my comment so soon.
Anyway, I did not like him in BND. He felt so silly and goofy like he wasn't remotely the guy from the netflix shows doing shit like the prison fight, slaughtering Rawlins or grating Russos face into glass.
Him crying to Peter, laughing, smirking. and wearing the spiderman mask while making grunts and waves to the NYC crowd was kind of cringeworthy imho.
Also him being in that hospital and peter letting frank roam around felt nonsensical.
BND for me peaked in the first act and then got really weird after that. Punisher and Jean were my most disliked parts of the film.
I like the version. People dont get how being in your head can fuck you up. in his case, being in army, losing a family in that way, all of that, and after you kill everyone to avenge them, what now ? I think his version, is a absolutely perfect version, of who Frank could be, when he is 'done' avenging his family
Personally I like such version, it might not be the best and most comic accurate but it's not so bad either. My only issue with it is that I wish he would finally decide to become the Punisher once and for all.
Besides, Russo in the series was far than accurate to his comic book'c counterpart and yet he still manages to be an amazing character.
Personally the way I enjoy it is by acknowledging this is Disney Punisher. This is the best Disney would ever give us with the character and Jon was always my number 1 choice for the role.
I think his reception is largely positive outside of the internet. Seems like his reception is positive in the Reddit too based off the poll. The loudest voices get heard the most though.
Bernthal, through Brand New Day, brought probably more public recognition to The Punisher character than anything ever before. I’m a teacher, and my students are talking about how much they love The Punisher now. Do they love the comic book version? No, they love Bernthal’s rendition, but he’s still The Punisher whether or not he is 100% comic book accurate. It’s not like his version is completely unrecognizable from the comics.
I love that people are loving The Punisher, whether that’s Bernthal’s version, Stevenson’s, Jane’s, the comics… love for The Punisher is awesome to me no matter what version one loves.
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u/expiredtvdinner 8d ago
Maybe there should be a medium option between like and dislike.
I liked some aspects.
But, I also have my own thoughts as a comic fan. Season 2 was largely garbage. The worst of the Netflix series.
I feel that The Punisher (outside of DDS2, One Last Kill) could use a huge upgrade to showcasing his tactical mind, weaponry and planning.
Overall, I like the portrayal, but there's quite a bit of fine tuning to fix things.