WiC Watches: The Punisher season 2
By Corey Smith
Episode 203: “Trouble the Water”
As Episode 3 opens, our heroes are still under arrest in the backwoods of who-knows-where, Michigan. Before we get to the good stuff, let’s pause for a second and wonder why there’s a sheriff station by itself in the middle of nowhere. Shouldn’t it be in town?
Okay, back to the action.
Frank continues to try and convince Sheriff Good Guy (does his name matter?) to let him go, if only to spare the lives of his deputies. It isn’t long before creepy Preacher guy shows up with a lawyer in tow, but Sheriff Good Guy gives them the bureaucratic middle finger. Frank knows what’s coming, though. The sheriff remains firms even as the power, phone lines and radio are cut, but once creepy Preacher appears outside the building for a parlay, he comes around.
Deputy Sheriff Good Guy attempts to go find help but is wounded by a sniper, and we’ve officially entered Netflix’s remake of Assault On Precinct 13. Isolated cops defend criminals but some want to give up their charges and save themselves; it’s perfect. One assault results in the rescue of Marlena, the female thug being held alongside Frank. But the Preacher, unhappy with Marlena’s failure to capture Frank or Rachel, immediately executes her.
When we are away from the station, its to catch up with Billy Russo and Agent Madani. Russo gets agitated, temporarily kidnaps his therapist, and escapes the hospital. Madani learns of his escape and believes it to be just another step in his evil master plan. I’m not so sure, though. Ben Barnes is doing a great job of playing Russo’s torment ambiguously. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.
“Trouble the Water” also begins to unravel the mystery behind the Preacher, who we learn is not only deeply religious but also some sort of former white supremacist — note the faded body tattoos. We aren’t sure what their game is yet, but it seems our preacher assassin is working for the Schultzs, the ultra-rich benefactors of his local church. Also, Eliza Schultz (Annette O’Toole) and Anderson Schultz (Corbin Bernsen) care for the Preacher’s sick wife, Rebecca.
Back inside the station, our good Sheriff finally sees the light and unleashes Frank on the armed gang. Frank is a Tasmanian devil with a machine gun, and runs amok among the thugs who stand no chance. The Preacher manages to evade Frank’s assault and is on the verge of putting a few rounds into him when Madani shows up in a Homeland Security chopper.
After the Preacher disappears, Madini passes everything off as a Homeland Security investigation, and Frank and the Good Sheriff say their begrudging goodbyes. Madani whisks Frank and Rachel off to New York, hoping to enlist Frank’s help in tracking down Russo.
It’s another solid episode, even if it felt too much like watching an ultra-quick remake of Assault On Precinct 13. Watching the sheriff struggle with releasing Frank is at the core of what the series is all about. The sheriff can follow the law, keep Frank in jail and watch his people die; or he can unleash Frank to save their lives but foreswear his oath. On the flip side, Madani isn’t interested in Frank’s help in order to put Russo behind bars, but to put him down permanently. In either case, people are using Frank’s talent for violence for their own ends, although Frank doesn’t seem to mind.
The action in this episode isn’t quite as brutally in-your-face as usual, although it is loud. That’s not to say it’s boring, just a little different.
Finally, while Bernthal is still at the top of his game, watching Barnes work through Russo’s memory loss is a delight, and I hope we get more of it. The series benefits when it’s not just Frank entertaining us.