Justin Smith

**Spoiler free take** Not bad but not great either. Enjoyable enough. Big fan of the character/comics but the Netflix series suffers from having too many episodes per season. I can't help but think how much meaner and tighter the show would be if each season were 6-7 episodes rather than 12. Redundant conversations and character struggles about right and wrong and love/hate relationships add to the "fat" of the show and kill the pacing. Now, the show excels with its cast. Bernthal is the perfect choice to carry a series as Frank Castle. Amber Revah is both strong and vulnerable all while being believable. Stewart is legit creepy as John Pilgrim and Barnes brings a level of narcissism that makes you want to reach through the screen and smack him. Another thing I found myself respecting is how the show doesn't ignore PTSD and how some veterans go about upon returning home. Sure, this is fiction based on a comic book, but it does a good job of reminding the audience of the pains many veterans suffer upon returning home. Right when it starts to feel a little "preachy," it scales back and we are reminded this is a show about a vigilante who makes violence a fun spectacle. Season 1 is much stronger than season 2. That said, neither has the wow factor of season 2 of Daredevil where we first meet Frank Castle.