Marvel's The Punisher
Series, 2017, Marvel Television, Set in New York
Marvel's The Punisher is #23 of 69 in release order and #69 of 69 in chronological order in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The story
A former Marine out to punish the criminals responsible for his family's murder finds himself ensnared in a military conspiracy.
Marvel's The Punisher recap
In season 1, Frank Castle, presumed dead, works construction in disguise after killing the gangs who murdered his family. Micro, a former NSA analyst who faked his own death, draws him back out with evidence that Frank's family was killed because of Operation Cerberus, a heroin smuggling scheme by Frank's old commanding officer, William Rawlins, in Afghanistan. Homeland Security agent Dinah Madani investigates the same operation. Frank's war buddy Billy Russo, now the head of a private military company, turns out to have been part of the scheme. Frank kills Rawlins and smashes Billy's face into a mirror. In season 2, Frank protects Amy Bendix, a young grifter hunted by John Pilgrim, a religious enforcer working for a powerful family, while Billy, scarred and with memory loss, escapes from hospital and builds a gang of veterans.
Marvel's The Punisher ending explained
The series ends with Frank killing Billy Russo, shooting him in his hideout, and then going after the Schultz family who sent Pilgrim, killing the parents and sparing Pilgrim so he can care for his sons. Madani gives Frank a way to work for the government, and in the final scene he massacres a criminal gang. Netflix cancelled the show after season 2, and Frank returns in Daredevil: Born Again.
Where to watch Marvel's The Punisher
Marvel's The Punisher is streaming on Disney+ and Amazon MX Player in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.4/10, Rotten Tomatoes 64%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Thor: Ragnarok, before Black Panther.
- Chronological order: after Marvel's The Defenders, the last.
What to watch before Marvel's The Punisher
Nothing. Marvel's The Punisher (2017) doesn't continue an earlier version, so it stands on its own. Marvel's The Punisher itself is optional in the Marvel Cinematic Universe order.
Cast
- Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle / Punisher
- Ben Barnes as Billy Russo
- Amber Rose Revah as Dinah Madani
- Jason R. Moore as Curtis Hoyle
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach as David Lieberman / Micro
- Daniel Webber as Lewis Wilson
- Paul Schulze as William Rawlins
- Josh Stewart as John Pilgrim
- Michael Nathanson as Sam Stein
- Jaime Ray Newman as Sarah Lieberman
- Floriana Lima as Dr. Krista Dumont
- Giorgia Whigham as Amy Bendix
Created by Steve Lightfoot.