15 Greatest Performances In Marvel Cinematic Universe TV Shows
3. Jon Bernthal - Frank Castle (Daredevil)
Many have tried. Many have failed. For whatever reason, whether it's the story, direction, or the actor's performance itself, no one has truly done justice to one of Marvel's baddest 'good' guys, The Punisher.
At least, not until Jon Bernthal.
Bernthal made a real name for himself on The Walking Dead as Shane, and there's definitely a similarity here in just how unhinged and uncompromisingly violent Frank Castle is.
However, it also shows that Bernthal has continued to improve, and this represents his best screen work. He's a killing machine, but one fully aware of what it is he's doing, and with a clear reason for it as well.
It's those shades that help him bring depth to the character, and mean you root for him even while at the same time it's clear his method is wrong. He could be a monster, he could be totally unsympathetic, but Bernthal ensures that's never the case.
His performance ensures that, while we understand just how far the Punisher will go, and how many people he's willing to kill, that he's not a villain. There's raw emotion there, to accompany the menace and phsyciality, that means while we're enthralled by the Punisher, we also get to see the very human Frank Castle underneath.