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breakinglight11Apparently John Bernthal's performance in Daredevil season 2 on Netflix was so well-received that fans are calling for him to get his own solo series. And that is an absolutely terrible idea.
Now, I acknowledge Bernthal was really good, and easily the best representation of the character. I like but don't love the Daredevil series-- can't really put my finger on why, because I thought I would love it, and I can't exactly articulate what doesn't satisfy me about it --but I agree that Bernthal was one of the best parts of season 2. The thing is, the Punisher doesn't work as a character unless he's not the main focus.
Think about it. He has one of the lamest, most clichéd, dated stories of current superheroes. His family was fridged and now he kills everyone. There's not that much there. Plus, he doesn't GROW. His whole concept requires him to never grow or change in any way. If he does, he... has no schtick at all. He doesn't even have an interesting personality. A protagonist has to have something, some journey, some character to him! He has nothing to sustain a series that is interesting.
The Punisher only works if he's contrasted against another, more central character. He's supposed to make a protagonist question their own position in comparison to him. He did that on Daredevil, and that's a big reason, besides Bernthal's performance, why he worked. But on his own, what the hell would the series even be about? Just him killing lots of people? If he ever stops his mission, he has no point, and if he carries his mission on, who cares? What's interesting about a dude who just murders everyone with no personality?
So yeah. Fans deserve the ear of the creators of the properties they love. But they shouldn't be catered to, because they don't always judge with artistic concerns in mind.
Now, I acknowledge Bernthal was really good, and easily the best representation of the character. I like but don't love the Daredevil series-- can't really put my finger on why, because I thought I would love it, and I can't exactly articulate what doesn't satisfy me about it --but I agree that Bernthal was one of the best parts of season 2. The thing is, the Punisher doesn't work as a character unless he's not the main focus.
Think about it. He has one of the lamest, most clichéd, dated stories of current superheroes. His family was fridged and now he kills everyone. There's not that much there. Plus, he doesn't GROW. His whole concept requires him to never grow or change in any way. If he does, he... has no schtick at all. He doesn't even have an interesting personality. A protagonist has to have something, some journey, some character to him! He has nothing to sustain a series that is interesting.
The Punisher only works if he's contrasted against another, more central character. He's supposed to make a protagonist question their own position in comparison to him. He did that on Daredevil, and that's a big reason, besides Bernthal's performance, why he worked. But on his own, what the hell would the series even be about? Just him killing lots of people? If he ever stops his mission, he has no point, and if he carries his mission on, who cares? What's interesting about a dude who just murders everyone with no personality?
So yeah. Fans deserve the ear of the creators of the properties they love. But they shouldn't be catered to, because they don't always judge with artistic concerns in mind.
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