WiC Watches: The Punisher season 2
By Corey Smith
Episode 210: “The Dark Hearts Of Men”
Remember when I said that, in the comics, Frank makes a deal with the Devil that makes him virtually unkillable? That would explain a lot about this episode, and getting shot a dozen times and then beat to a pulp isn’t even the worst thing that happens to the Punisher this time. “The Dark Hearts Of Men” is a rebound from last week, but it’s not quite up to par with the season’s best episodes. Let’s jump in!
Last episode, Russo showed up at Madani’s apartment, so she goes to see Dr. Dumont, unaware that Dumont and Russo are involved. Madani is looking for reassurance that backing Frank is the right thing to do. Their chat is amicable and includes a ton of wine. Dumont is clearly probing Madani for something, although it’s hard to tell what. More on that later.
We get an interesting flashback to Frank and Russo’s initiation into the Marine Corps. Their buddies beat them up, and they both seem elated about it; go figure. It jives nicely with what Russo is doing in the present, building his gang of misfits by leaning on the same principles of brotherhood.
Anyway, Preacher John ends up in a wild brawl with his former gang. Afterwards, he falls off the wagon hard, pounding back whiskey, snorting coke and getting oral sex from his hotel neighbor’s prostitute. Our Preacher has demons, but despite a solid performance from Josh Stewart, it’s still hard to care about the characters, or the people he’s serving.
The characters I do care about — Frank, Curtis and Billy Russo — are all conducting stakeouts in the rain: Frank and Curtis are waiting outside Russo’s Valhalla clubhouse, and Russo is watching them from an adjacent rooftop. While waiting, Frank and Curtis discuss what makes Frank and Russo different, with Curtis opining that Frank’s concern for others sets him apart. Frank praises Curtis for wanting to heal people, saying it makes him being better than both Russo and himself. No one says “I love you, bro” but they come close.
Eventually, Frank assaults the Valhalla clubhouse and is ambushed by Russo and his gang. Frank is beaten, stabbed and shot. It’s not looking great. I’m gonna pretend this is where Frank’s deal with the Devil kicks in, because as soon as Russo leaves the room, Frank is on his feet dispatching thugs with John Wick-like efficiency.
But somehow Frank’s ordeal gets worse. Remember Dumont’s conversation with Madani earlier? She learned that Frank would be shattered if he ever murdered someone he deemed innocent, and passes that info along to Russo. (That seems like something Russo should already know, having been Frank’s best friend, but whatever.) Coupled with Curtis’ praise of Frank earlier in the episode, we probably should have seen this episode’s climax coming.
As Russo flees, Frank fires at him, and is later horrified to find that he accidentally killed three women who were friends with some of the gang members, women he thought had left the clubhouse earlier. As predicted, he is destroyed. Jon Bernthal’s shock is heartbreaking; it’s the the best performance he’s given all season. When the police arrive, Frank is still too stunned to even attempt to try to escape. End episode.
“The Dark Hearts Of Men” is a solid episode, although it takes the long way around to get to the end. The stuff with Preacher Man is too little too late, but as we head into the homestretch I’m hopeful that at least Billy and Frank’s final showdown will be worth the wait.