The upcoming Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again will bring back not only Matt Murdock, played by Charlie Cox, but also another well-known character from the Marvel Netflix shows—Frank Castle, also known as The Punisher.
Jon Bernthal’s version of Frank Castle first appeared in Daredevil Season 2 before leading his own show, The Punisher, for two seasons. His story involved several familiar faces from Daredevil, including Karen Page, played by Deborah Ann Woll.
Now that The Punisher has been off the air for years, many fans may want a detailed reminder of where the show left off before Frank and other characters return.
Also Read: ‘Daredevil’ Season 2 Ending Explained: Matt Murdock Faces Ninjas, Love, and The Punisher
Frank Castle Becomes The Punisher for Good in Season 2
Many of the Marvel Netflix series, including The Punisher, often showed their main characters struggling with their identities as crime fighters. Some fans felt frustrated by this approach because characters like Frank Castle are usually portrayed in the comics as being fully committed to their missions.
The first season of The Punisher ended with Frank walking away from his violent life after believing he had completely destroyed the conspiracy behind his family’s murder. However, this did not sit well with some viewers, who expected Frank to remain the brutal and relentless vigilante he is in the comics.
Season 2 fixed this issue by allowing Frank to fully accept who he is. At first, Frank hesitated to kill Billy Russo, a former friend who had suffered memory loss after Frank brutally beat him. But after visiting his family’s graves, Frank had a moment of clarity.
He imagined speaking to his late wife, Maria, and realized that she had always understood a part of him craved violence. Even though she did not approve of it, she had loved him anyway. This realization gave Frank the final push to fully embrace his identity.
Frank then told his allies, “Let me be what I’m meant to be,” and put on his bulletproof vest with the signature Punisher skull logo. From that point, he no longer hesitated in his violent mission. He focused entirely on hunting down Billy and the Schultz crime family, who had been targeting a young girl named Amy Bendix.
Unlike Season 1, where Frank tried to live a normal life, Season 2 showed that he had completely accepted his role as The Punisher.
Will Daredevil: Born Again Show Frank Castle Without Restrictions?
The final episode of The Punisher Season 2, titled “The Whirlwind,” showed Frank completely embracing his mission. He finally caught up with Billy, who had already been injured during a shootout with Homeland Security agent Dinah Madani. Frank did not hesitate this time. He executed Billy without any regret, proving that he had no intention of stopping his war on crime.
After taking down the Schultz family, Frank said goodbye to Amy. His friend, Curtis Hoyle, had arranged for her to attend a diving school in Florida, something she had always dreamed of doing. Frank told Amy that protecting her had changed his life. However, the show’s final scene hinted that he had not really changed.
Madani, now working for the CIA, offered Frank a job as an assassin, believing he could be useful for secret government missions. However, Frank rejected her offer. He simply said, “I already got a job,” before storming into a meeting between two rival criminal gangs. In his full Punisher gear, he opened fire, guns blazing, making it clear that he was still dedicated to his violent mission.
This ending confirmed that Frank would not walk away from being The Punisher again. It remains to be seen how Daredevil: Born Again will portray him. If the story takes place several years after The Punisher, Frank may be in a different place emotionally.
However, if the new series tries to add more conspiracies to his backstory, some fans may be disappointed. Many believe that Frank works best as a ruthless vigilante rather than a man constantly chasing revenge for his past.
How The Punisher Left Things for Daredevil’s Supporting Characters
Karen Page, a key character in Daredevil, had a smaller role in The Punisher Season 2, but her one episode appearance was important. After Billy framed Frank for the murder of several innocent women, Frank was arrested and taken to a hospital. Karen visited him, using her connection to Matt Murdock’s law firm to get past security.
During their conversation, it became obvious that Karen had developed strong feelings for Frank. At one point, she told him, “You cannot keep loving people in your dreams!” She wanted him to move on from his grief over Maria and consider a different path.
This marked a shift in their relationship. In Daredevil and The Punisher Season 1, their romantic tension had been subtle. However, in this scene, Karen’s feelings were much more obvious.
Despite this, Frank pushed Karen away. He asked her if Matt knew she was visiting him and told her to rebuild her bond with Matt instead. Frank believed that Matt was a better person than him and did not want Karen to be affected by his violent lifestyle. Even though Karen wanted to help him, Frank refused to let her get too close.
Karen then helped Frank escape, but as soon as he left the hospital, he ran into Brett Mahoney, a detective and longtime friend of Matt. Brett had worked alongside Daredevil in the past, even though he did not know Matt was the masked vigilante.
As Brett was transporting Frank back to the police station, an assassin working for the Schultzes attacked them. Frank saved Brett’s life during the fight. At first, Brett threatened to arrest Frank, but in the end, he let him go.
Brett’s future in Daredevil: Born Again remains uncertain, just like many other characters from the Netflix shows. If he returns, his relationship with Frank will likely be more complicated than before.
What to Expect from Frank Castle in Daredevil: Born Again
Fans are excited to see Jon Bernthal return as The Punisher, but it is unclear how much of his past story will carry over to the new MCU series.
Since Daredevil: Born Again is on Disney+, the level of violence may be different from what was seen on Netflix. However, Frank Castle’s character relies on brutal action, so many viewers hope that the show will not tone him down too much.
The series might also address whether Frank has changed over time. His last appearance in The Punisher showed him fully committed to his mission. But if several years have passed in the MCU timeline, he could be in a different situation. Some fans worry that Born Again may try to rewrite parts of his story or make him more focused on another revenge mission.
Whatever happens, Frank Castle’s return in Daredevil: Born Again will be a major event. Whether he fights alongside Daredevil or against him, his presence will surely bring intense action and drama to the MCU.
Also Read: Daredevil Fights Again, Karen Page and The Punisher Return for ‘Born Again’ Season 2
