Warning: This article contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again.
The Punisher could have avoided a majorMCUtragedy if he’d taken on one iconic villain before the premiere ofDaredevil: Born Again, and it doesn’t make sense that he ignored him instead. Jon Bernthal was one of the first actors from Netflix’s originalDaredevilseries who was confirmed to be returning to the MCU inDaredevil: Born Again. Bernthal’s performance asFrank Castle, the murderous vigilante known as the Punisher, inDaredevilseason 2 received huge acclaim, so him reprising the role is very exciting, though it raises questions about his activities in the MCU.
Frank Castle officially returned inDaredevil: Born Againepisode 4, “Sic Semper Systema,” as Matt Murdock finds him after learning that corrupt police officers have been using the Punisher’s logo to carry out their own vigilante justice.The Punisher is expected to have a larger role inBorn Again’sremaining episodes, which will set up his own Special Presentation releasing next year. These upcoming appearances could revealwhat Frank Castle has been doing betweenThe Punisherseason 2 andBorn Again, and explain why he didn’t take down one formidable and terrifying Daredevil villain.
Benjamin Poindexter Must Have Been On The Punisher’s Hit-List After Daredevil Season 3
Bullseye Was A Key Antagonist In Daredevil Season 3
We haven’t seen the Punisher on-screen since 2019’sThe Punisherseason 2, so there is a more-than-five-year gap that Marvel needs to fill in Frank Castle’s timeline. During this time, it would have made complete sense for Castle to go afterBenjamin Poindexter, Wilson Bethel’s sharp-shooting villainwho returned inDaredevil: Born Again’spremiere. ThroughoutDaredevilseason 3,Benjamin Poindexter’s Bullseye threatened Frank Castle’s friends, including Karen Page and Matt Murdock, so he surely would have made it onto the Punisher’s hit-list, but he is still alive in the MCU.
Marvel Perfectly Explained 9 Years Ago Why Daredevil Doesn’t Reveal Where The Punisher’s Base Is After Finding It In Daredevil: Born Again Episode 4
Daredevil: Born Again sees Matt Murdock reunite with The Punisher, and there’s a good reason why Daredevil doesn’t give up Frank Castle’s base.
It’s worth mentioning that, duringThe Punisherseason 1 back in 2017, Frank Castle put United States Army veteran-turned-terrorist Lewis Wilson in his crosshairs after Wilson confronted and threatened Karen Page on the Ricky Langtry Show and later held her hostage with a bomb.Bullseye almost caused Karen Page’s demise inDaredevilseason 3, too, which took place after the events ofThe Punisherseason 1. It doesn’t add up that Castle would protect Page against Wilson but not against Poindexter, which raises serious questions for Marvel Studios to address.
There Is A Huge Missing Gap In The Punisher’s MCU Timeline
Following his rampage on the crime families of Hell’s Kitchen inDaredevilseason 2, Frank Castle set to work taking on Billy Russo and uncovering the real truth of his family’s death.The Punisherseason 2 then saw him trying to stay out of trouble, but ended with him embracing his role as the Punisher, whichDaredevil: Born Againhas already continued.The Punisherseason 2 takes place just beforeAvengers: Infinity Warin 2018, andDaredevil: Born Againkicks off in 2025, leaving a seven-year period in which Frank Castle could have hunted down Bullseye.
This period of time included the five-year-long Blip, andit’s unclear whether either Benjamin Poindexter or Frank Castle, or indeed both, survived Thanos' snap or not. If they both fell victim to the Mad Titan, the events ofDaredevilseason 2, season 3 andThe Punisherwould still be fresh in Frank Castle’s memory, making Bullseye an even more relevant target. If they both survived, it’s confusing why Frank Castle didn’t then find Bullseye. If he had, one of the most tragic events in the MCU’s entire history could have been avoided.
Bullseye’s Death At The Punisher’s Hand Would Have Avoided A Huge Born Again Death
Bullseye Killed Foggy Nelson In Daredevil: Born Again’s Premiere
If the Punisher had found and killed Bullseye as revenge for his threats against Karen Page and Matt Murdock, thenFoggy Nelson’s tragic death inDaredevil: Born Againepisode 1could have been avoided.Benjamin Poindexter shockingly returned in a new costume to murder Foggy and ten other innocent bystanders inBorn Again’spremiere, but was then beaten up and almost killed by Daredevil, leading to his imprisonment. While it was good thatBorn Again’screative overhaul meant Foggy’s death happened on-screen, this was still an untimely and heartbreaking event.
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Elden Henson’s Franklin “Foggy” Nelsonwas Matt Murdock’s long-term best friend and partner as attorneys at law, spearheading Nelson & Murdock, and later Nelson, Murdock & Page. Foggy led the defense of Frank Castle during his trial inDaredevilseason 2 due to Matt Murdock being preoccupied with Elektra’s return and the emergence of the Hand, so Castle should have perhaps had some kind of loyalty towards Foggy specifically.It’s a dire shame that Foggy met his end at the hands of a villain that the Punisher could have taken down years prior.
The Punisher Not Killing Bullseye May Have An Impact In Born Again’s Upcoming Story
Matt Murdock Might Have Something To Say About The Punisher’s Absence
During their brief, heated exchange inDaredevil: Born Againepisode 4, it didn’t seem as though Matt Murdock harbored any strong feelings about Frank Castle letting Bullseye run free. However, the pair did discuss Foggy directly, andit is very possible that, now that Murdock knows Castle has been continuing his career as the Punisher, he could come to realize that something could have been done to prevent Foggy’s death. This could bringDaredevil and the Punisherto odds inDaredevil: Born Again, which is a battle many want to see revived.
Daredevil’s Charlie Cox Addresses Filming Season 2’s Iconic Graveyard Scene Opposite Jon Bernthal’s Punisher
Charlie Cox looks back at one of the most iconic MCU scenes from Netflix’s Daredevil season 2 between Matt Murdock and Jon Bernthal’s Punisher.
Jon Bernthal and Charlie Cox have always had incredible chemistry on-screen as Frank Castle and Matt Murdock. Their exchanges on philosophy and morality inDaredevilseason 2 have become some of Marvel’s most memorable scenes ever, and it would be brilliant to seeDaredevil: Born Againrepeat this. Frank’s apparent refusal to find and kill Bullseye, even though he must be a target, could be at the center of this discussion. This might seriously alter the relationship between Murdock and Castle, and perhaps even set up Bullseye’s death if the Punisher wants to right his wrongs.
