Episode 3: “New York’s Finest”
“Soldiers don’t wear masks.” This great line from a great scene is a good summation of why Punisher is not really a superhero. Hell, he pushes the moral boundaries of anti-hero to their breaking point. He forgoes the secret identity and the moral compass in favor a soldier’s ruthless efficiency and a complete lack of empathy.
While some people think Daredevil’s basically Marvel’s knockoff of Batman, I find his low-rent persona is actually what makes him appealing. Daredevil is far more relatable than Batman, for billions and billions of reasons. And that’s what makes the Punisher who, unlike Daredevil and Batman is a killing machine, such an excellent foil.
Back to the episode, The moral philosophizing between Frank and Matt on the roof reminded me of classical theater and it was complimented wonderfully by the biggest fight scene yet – a torrid sequence of Daredevil fighting his way through the Dogs of Hell down through an abandoned building. Echoing last year’s famous Episode 2 hallway fight, this was too filmed to appear as one take because not only has Season 2 reupped on tone and drama, but also its the fight game and it is awesome. I think this is the best of the initial bunch.
