Rather than opening the second season with a straightforward continuation, The Punisher chose to touch on an issue that fans of Marvel Netflix shows often raised — the main characters frequently made attempts to abandon their crime-fighting identities, distancing themselves from their costumes and missions.
Daredevil already connected Frank Castle’s family’s murder to a deep conspiracy, which went beyond the simple tragedy portrayed in the comics, and The Punisher Season 1 expanded on that angle by bringing in new enemies.
A quiet walk away leaves questions in the shadows (Photo: The Punisher Season 2/ABC Signature, Disney-ABC Domestic Television, and Marvel Entertainment)This decision made some sense, especially for those who hadn’t followed Frank’s earlier story in Daredevil, giving them a fresh entry point. Still, when the first season wrapped up with Frank walking away from his
Punisher identity because he believed the conspiracy was over, long-time comic fans expressed disappointment, as they were used to seeing Frank portrayed as a man completely consumed by his war on crime, with no end in sight and no need for personal closure.
This concern was tackled directly in the storyline of Season 2. Frank, who initially holds back from killing Billy Russo — a former ally who now suffers memory loss after Frank beat him near to death — visits the gravesite of his family.
Later, he speaks to those close to him, reflecting on a moment where, while imagining a conversation with his late wife Maria, he comes to terms with the fact that even during their time together, she recognized that a part of him had developed a hunger for violence.
Despite this, she still loved him deeply. Frank then makes a strong request to be allowed to follow what he feels is his true nature, saying, “Let me be what I’m meant to be.”
With that, he begins wearing the Punisher vest again, marked by its trademark skull symbol from the comics, and resumes his pursuit of Billy and the Schultz family, who are threatening a teenager named Amy Bendix.
Hopefully ‘Born Again’ Lets Frank Castle off His Leash
In the last episode titled “The Whirlwind”, Frank tracks down Billy, who had already been wounded by a gunshot during a standoff with CIA agent Dinah Madani. Frank does not hesitate to kill him. After this and successfully taking out the Schultzes, Frank parts ways with Amy.
Curtis Hoyle, Frank’s old friend, had already arranged through a military contact to get Amy into a diving school in Florida — something she had always hoped to do. Frank tells her that their relationship and the time he spent protecting her had made a big impact on him.
However, the very final moment of the show presents something different — it shows Frank returning to his usual routine. When Madani, who now works for the CIA, approaches him with an offer to join the agency’s covert missions, Frank turns her down, replying, “I already got a job.”
The scene that follows shows him storming a meeting of two rival gangs, fully suited as The Punisher, and opening fire. This scene strongly points to the fact that Frank has now embraced his role without hesitation.
Still, when Born Again eventually presents him again, the character might be in a different situation — especially if the gap between that show and the end of The Punisher is as long in-universe as it has been in real-time.
Many viewers would likely be displeased if Born Again or another Marvel Cinematic Universe production revisits or stretches out the conspiracy behind Frank’s family’s death, as it would appear forced and unnecessary.
That move could give the impression that the writers are, once again, more focused on building a personal revenge story rather than staying true to the darker, morally complex vigilante from the original comics.
How Did ‘The Punisher’ Leave Things for Its ‘Daredevil’ Characters?
Rather than appearing throughout the season as she did before, Karen Page only features in one episode of The Punisher Season 2, but that single appearance carries major weight for her relationship with Frank.
This episode marks her last on-screen presence in the role before Born Again since Season 2 of The Punisher aired after the final season of Daredevil. In this episode, Billy Russo frames Frank for the killing of several innocent women, and he ends up under arrest.
Letting go of the mission feels like breaking character (Photo: The Punisher Season 2/ABC Signature, Disney-ABC Domestic Television, and Marvel Entertainment)While he’s being treated in a hospital under guard, Karen gains access by reminding security that she belongs to Matt Murdock’s law office, which has handled Frank’s legal matters before. During their conversation, it becomes very clear that Karen has developed deep emotional feelings for Frank.
She tries to push him away from clinging too much to the memory of his wife Maria, pleading with him, “You cannot keep loving people in your dreams!” This comment marks a change from their earlier interactions in Daredevil and Season 1, where their connection was more subtle.
Frank, in turn, asks her if Matt knows she came and gently encourages her to reconnect with Matt instead, as he believes Matt is a much better man, and he fears the damage his violent lifestyle could do to someone like Karen.
Karen still helps Frank escape from custody, but his freedom is short-lived. He is quickly stopped outside the hospital by Brett Mahoney, a detective in the NYPD who grew up with Matt and occasionally assists Daredevil without knowing his true identity.
Brett arrests Frank and begins driving him to the police station. On the way, they are ambushed by an assassin hired by the Schultzes. Frank ends up saving Mahoney’s life in the chaos. While Mahoney initially threatens to shoot Frank to stop him from fleeing, he ends up lowering his weapon and lets him go.
Whether Mahoney will make a return in Born Again is still uncertain, like many of the secondary characters from Daredevil, but if he does, his connection to Frank will likely carry more layers than it did before.
