There have been many live versions of the Punisher. From Dolph Lundgren to Thomas Jane to Ray Stevenson and, most recently, Jon Bernthal, each actor has brought something different to the character. Everyone will have their ideas on which Punisher is the best, but in this era, Jon Bernthal has taken the mantle of Frank Castle to another level.

The Punisher: One Last Kill is a fantastic entry point for new fans of the Punisher. The 48-minute special gives just the right amount of insight into his backstory. Through a series of hallucinations and monologues, we see how Frank is a tortured soul and wants it all to end. He feels he has no purpose now and just floats in the chaotic world that has been created due to the murders of the Gnucci family.

How is this connected?

From the beginning of the special, we see the lawlessness that has taken over the streets of Little Sicily. Mobs of unruly criminals roam the streets and rob, shoot, and kill people at their will. It kind of makes you wonder where all of the New York-based superheroes are while this is happening. Through a news report, the lawlessness is explained, along with Frank Castle being a wanted man. 

It’s interesting to see how reckless this area of New York is. The crime has completely taken over, and the audience is shown this as Frank walks from a coffee shop. Reminiscent of a dystopian society, even the police are no match for the chaos in the streets. The coffee shop is the one spot of hope in this madness, as we see how the owner (Andre Royo) treats his customers, just trying to get a break from the streets outside. 

Dealing with big issues

In these small moments, we see that some humanity remains in Frank. The special shows the mental struggles that plague Frank and how he tries to fight his demons. Serving in the Marines and losing his family have done a lot of damage to Frank mentally. Pushing his body to the limit and exacting revenge are what keep him going. 

Not to give anything away, but the final act is where all hell breaks loose! Here is where we get what we were waiting for. The Punisher: One Last Kill goes ballistic in the action that is reminiscent of The Raid and John Wick. Seeing Frank use everything around them to survive is a thing of beauty. The creativity with the kills is something that I did not expect on a Disney+ show. The violence in this special is equivalent to what we see in the Netflix show.

What’s next?

While there is a moment that hints at where in the timeline this story takes place, it will be curious to see how this ties in with Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Final Thoughts: This is the Frank Castle that fans have been waiting for. The amount of violence in this is equivalent to the Netflix series and the Frank we have been missing. Jon Bernthal will crush you in some scenes, showing how broken he is due to his traumatic past. This is a perfect introduction of The Punisher to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Violence: There is a lot of violence in this. Be warned!

Kid-Friendly: There is one scene showing a sexual act and a lot of cursing. The violence is brutal and is not suitable for kids under 17.

As Frank Castle searches for meaning beyond revenge, an unexpected force pulls him back into the fight.