No shame in bad dreams.
Full Spoilers Following for Marvel’s The Punisher: “Crosshairs.” Make sure to keep up with all of our Marvel's The Punisher binge here.
An episode where Frank Castle doesn’t kill anyone is a rarity, but he managed to complete most of his mission without a single fatality. There’s a message in “Crosshairs” that deals with a bigger issue. The issue of senseless killing.
Some may say that Marvel’s The Punisher is the wrong show at the wrong time. Frank finds it easier to kill when he’s on a mission, but he doesn’t ignore that what he’s doing can have grave consequences.
When Chef David Lieberman is preparing Frank a lovely meal, Frank’s concern over killing US soldiers just doing their jobs made the assault on the military compound more effective. The writers aren’t making a show that glorifies mass murder. There are repercussions to what Frank does and it shows when he has to shoot the young soldier in the tunnel. Frank is angry at the system letting the country down, not the soldiers serving in it.
The Punisher is more of a commentary on post-traumatic stress disorder than it is a superhero show. Can’t it be both? Well, maybe, but the stories surrounding Frank and the other former soldier's reentry into society has been fascinating. Who would have thought a Marvel Netflix series would delve so deeply into such a controversial topic. It’s a difficult matter to discuss, but the writers are doing an admirable job tackling these issues.
Another example of this is Lewis Walcott and his relationship with his father. While there are moments when his story feels detached from Frank’s, it’s still an engaging arc on its own. Lewis and his dad could have their own series. His story is that strong.
The conversation between Lewis and his dad was heartbreaking to watch. Using the Muhammad Ali fight as an allegory for how to live life was a compelling moment. Lewis’ dad was trying to use the legendary fighter’s story as an example of what his son should do, yet Lewis appears to be too far gone to make any sense of it. Taking back control of his life has a whole other meaning for Lewis.
Unlike Billy Russo or Agent Orange, Lewis isn’t being driven by greed or a lust for power. Again, the real issues of what it means to come home after a war aren’t the easiest to watch, but it’s an important story to tell, even in a fictionalized reality where the Iron Fist and Luke Cage exist. What is Lewis going to do with that pressure-cooker bomb?
Thank goodness Madani and Stein found that bug. They’re still the least interesting part of the show, but perhaps without Agent Orange listening in, they can actually do something useful? Stein brought up a great point about Madani that could make for an interesting story in a future episode.
When Stein said Madani reminded him of Castle, I couldn’t help but think about how good the ending of episode 4 (“Resupply”) was. It was one of the few times Madani was a part of the action. Even though Frank only spoke to her once, it was an exciting moment. Madani could be a great character if only she was given an opportunity to do so. When she’s around Frank, she great. Stein’s observation could be an indication of a possible team-up down the road.
Frank’s motivation for taking down his enemies continues to work in the show’s favor, but the villains still feel like cookie-cutter tropes pulled out of a bad 80’s action movie. Agent Orange hasn’t been developed well. Paul Schulze is a wonderful actor, but that cold stare can only get him so far.
Billy Russo has promise, but there’s still a lot to uncover about why he decided to work for the bad guys. Betraying your friends for a cabin in the woods doesn’t seem like a guy who speaks so highly of Frank. Also, did Billy miss Frank on purpose, or is he just that bad of a shot? Ben Barnes oozes charisma when he’s on-screen, so if he does indeed transform into Jigsaw down the road, it’s nice to know The Punisher’s archenemy is in good hands.
The Verdict
“Crosshairs” is a mixed bag of everything The Punisher series does right, and what it gets wrong. Frank and David’s quest for redemption is enjoyable to watch, but many of the side characters get lost in the shuffle. Billy Russo shines, but Agent Orange is less effective as a compelling villain. Overall, this was another solid episode, but far from the best the show has to offer.
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