Marvel Cinematic Universe: Every 2017 Project Ranked Worst To Best

One thing about the Netflix shows that seems to be universally agreed upon has been the spot-on casting of Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle. After debuting in the second season of Daredevil, wherein he stole the show from its own titular character, it didn't take long for Netflix to give the character his own show, which arrived last month.

Though some may disagree, one of the strongest aspects of the first season of The Punisher turned out to be its willingness to stay away from just devolving into nothing but blood and bullets. Daredevil really allowed The Punisher to shine, whereas this show allowed Frank Castle to shine, exploring this broken man's relationship to a world he doesn't feel a part of anymore and the people in it rather than having him suit up to slaughter mafioso every episode. Bernthal, of course, delivered, but he was complimented by a cast that held their own against his performance, including Ebon Moss-Bachrach's lovable Micro and Ben Barnes' slimy, treacherous Billy Russo.

And when the show inevitably did get violent, whether it be through Frank raking someone's face down broken glass or beating someone in with a sledgehammer, it was brutal, and the series' dive into the consequences of war and violence, like the PTSD issues of and contrast between the untethered Lewis and grounded Curtis, was a welcome exploration in the world of the MCU. It excelled at doing right by Frank Castle and stands not just as the best Netflix show of the year but as one of the MCU's best single TV seasons yet.