What I’m Watching: The Punisher

The Punisher: Season 1, Episode 8 “Cold Steel” (B+)

Now this was an intense episode that really got things going and showed that this show isn’t interested in wasting any time. Previously, we thought Billy was just someone who was on the wrong side but not necessarily a bad guy. Seeing him at the start of this episode tormenting his bedridden mother and keeping her immobile because she gave him up was a window into this extent of his cruelty, and watching him get some satisfaction from killing Sam and then help Dinah wash his blood off of her suggests that he’s completely evil and merely capable of simulating empathy and kindness. Frank didn’t want David to call Dinah because he wasn’t sure if they could trust her, but honestly she needs to realize that looking for bugs in her office isn’t going to do anything if she’s sleeping with the enemy and confiding in him. It was good to see Frank and David bond and really enjoy some good times together, but things took a much more serious turn when David started thinking about how he wasn’t able to be with his family. Sarah kissing Frank was hardly surprising but David didn’t take it well, and the fact that she then called him with a legitimate problem even when it was awkward showed how much their connection has meant to her. Trying to scare Zach into submission didn’t quite work, but it did reveal how he felt, leading to some sweet football-tossing that fortunately didn’t result in David revealing himself to be alive in that moment, something that can’t be too far off now.