- "Let me be what I'm meant to be."
- ―Frank Castle[src]
The Second Season of The Punisher premiered on January 18, 2019 on Netflix.
Synopsis[]
Former Marine-turned-vigilante Frank Castle has been living a quiet life on the road until he suddenly becomes embroiled in the attempted murder of a young girl. As he is drawn into the mystery surrounding her and those in pursuit of the information she holds, Castle attracts a new target on his back as new and old enemies force him to confront whether he should accept his destiny and embrace life as the "Punisher."[1]
Plot[]
Over a year following the events of Rawlins Conspiracy, Frank Castle sits at a bar in Michigan when he sees a woman, Beth Quinn, getting harassed by a man. Castle stops him and kicks him out. Quinn then invites Castle over her house. Meanwhile, John Pilgrim interrogates Sergei Konchevsky, who gets a call from Amy Bendix telling him that she has pictures of a murder and they need to meet at Lola's Roadhouse. Pilgrim kills Konchevsky and sends his men for Bendix. The following day, Bendix waits at the bar when she is attacked by Marlena Olin and her men. Castle, who was with Quinn, fights and kills them. Bendix then asks for his help. Suddenly, more men attack and Quinn is shot. Castle takes Quinn and Bendix, bringing them to a hospital. After dropping off Quinn, he refuses to let Bendix go free and takes her out of state.
Dinah Madani visits the still injured Billy Russo, who's face is covered with a mask. Russo claims that he doesn't remember her, but Madani doesn't believe him. Russo's aid, Krista Dumont, tells her that it's true. In Michigan, Pilgrim arrives at Quinn's house and forces her to tell him Castle's name, Pete Castiglione, Pilgrim then tracks down Castle. Meanwhile, Castle tries to get information from Bendix at their motel, but is not successful. Later, Dumont has a therapy session with Russo where he tells her about his recurring nightmare regarding a skull. At the motel, Castle sees Olin's van approaching and engages in a shootout until the Larkville Police Department shows up, arresting all of them. Castle uses his phone call to contact Madani, who brushes him off. He then pleads for Officer Roy Hardin to let him go as everyone is in danger, but doesn't work. Suddenly, Pilgrim arrives, looking to kill.
At the hospital, Russo attacks the doctors and asks Dumont to help him. She shows him the way out, which he is grateful for. Madani later arrives at the hospital for questioning, but is stopped by Brett Mahoney who reminds her that it is the NYPD's case. Madani is forced to leave, but decides to enlist Castle's help. At the Sheriff Station, Pilgrim's men open fire which makes Hardin decide to release Olin. Pilgrim then kills Olin, as he believes she is unreliable, and then opens fire again. Castle takes to the woods, ready to kill. However, everything is stopped and Pilgrim retreats when Homeland Security arrives. Madani asks Castle to kill Russo once and for all, he agrees only if they bring Bendix with them.
In the streets, the mentally unstable Russo encounters a bully. Russo has a melt down and kills him. Castle visits Curtis Hoyle, who believes that Russo is actually suffering from memory loss, despite Madani's claims. They then think of places Russo would go since he doesn't remember anything. They remember how he was almost molested by Arthur Walsh and assume he's on his way to kill him. Meanwhile, Russo has coffee with Walsh, who makes fun of Russo's scarring and memory loss. Russo proceeds to kill him. He then goes to Dumont's apartment, asking for help.
Bendix finally tells Castle why she is being hunted. Castle turns to Turk Barrett for help in finding Konchevsky. Seeing this, Madani tells them to leave as she realizes that Castle is more interested in Pilgrim and the Russian Mafia. Meanwhile, Pilgrim's superiors, Anderson and Eliza Schultz, pressure Pilgrim to get the mission done, as they are paying for his wife's treatment. Castle goes to a local gym to get information about Konchevsky, but is attacked. He defeats all of them and gets a name: Nikolai Poloznev. Castle and Bendix then leave Madani's apartment and ask to stay at Hoyle's place. Russo eavesdrops on Dumont's therapy session with Jake Nelson and befriends him.
Castle and Bendix visit Clive to develop the photographs of David Schultz. Clive is a sexual predator, so after they are done, Castle goes to kill him, but is stopped by Bendix. Castle then sets his studio on fire instead. Afterwards, Bendix suggests that she keeps a gun for her safety, but Castle says she isn't ready. Meanwhile, Russo visits Hoyle and says that he doesn't remember, but he knows that he shot him, so he apologizes. Russo then asks who the man with the skull is, but Hoyle doesn't say.
Castle kidnaps Poloznev who tells him about Anderson and Eliza Schultz, who are the parents of David, the man in the pictures. Instead of killing Poloznev, Castle decides to let him go as long as he leaves the United States of America. However, as Poloznev is leaving the country, Pilgrim kills him. Meanwhile, Russo and Dumont start a relationship. Afterwards, Russo gathers up former veterans and creates a team. Hoyle knows this and meets with Castle as well as Madani. He tells them that Russo is top priority.
The next day, Russo leaves as he doesn't want to drag Dumont down with him. Castle finds Nelson and tortures him for information. Madani stops him as she argues that his methods aren't as much better than William Rawlins or Russo. Nelson gives in and tells them about an upcoming robbery. Castle arrives at Russo's hideout only to find no one. Meanwhile, Russo is robbing a bank. Russo and his crew leaves the bank only to hear a person calling his name. Russo turns around and sees castle with his skull vest. Russo stands there stunned and scared as his team tries to snap him out of his trance. The team then leaves and Castle follows.
They two parties engage in a gun fight until the NYPD arrives. Mahoney tracks down Castle in an alley, but Castle gets away with the help of Hoyle. Russo also escapes and kills two members of his team after they try to take more money than the rest. Back at Hoyle's campervan, Bendix practices how to sneak up on an enemy and does so on Castle. Bendix regrets this decision, as Castle lashes out at her for her recklessness. Mahoney visits Madani and they have an argument. Madani insists that Castle has a code and wouldn't kill a police officer. Mahoney says that he is still a murderer. Castle returns to Nelson and starts torturing him again. Hoyle says that he is just like Russo, which causes Castle to think about his actions and he leaves. Hoyle then comforts Bendix saying that Castle doesn't want her to get hurt. Castle arrives at the cemetery and sits by his wife's grave.
Russo's crew begins wreaking havoc across the city. Russo promises Dumont that he would abandon this lifestyle as soon as he finished with Castle. Russo goes to Madani's apartment and asks her why Castle hates him. Madani explained Russo's involvement in the massacre of Castle's family. Meanwhile, Castle realizes that Bendix has left the campervan. Bendix meets with an old friend to help get out of the city. Her friend turns on her and notifies Martin or Bendix's whereabouts. Bendix then contacts Castle for help. As Martin charges at her, Bendix shoots him. Castle then kills the dying Martin so that Bendix doesn't become a murderer.
Madani visits Dumont to get information on Russo. Dumont asks what makes Castle different from Russo, Madani responds saying that if Castle killed an innocent person, he would not forgive himself. Dumont later tells Russo this. Castle and Hoyle infiltrate Russo's hideout and are attacked. Hoyle shoots Phillip and accidentally kills him, which upsets Hoyle. Castle then opens fire on the office where Russo is hiding. He runs into the office to find three women, killed. The police arrive and the horrified Castle lets them arrest him.
Eliza meets with Pilgrim to inform him that his wife had died. However, she pleads for him to keep helping them. At the hospital, Karen Page meets with Castle as his representative from Nelson, Murdock & Page. Castle refuses her help as he believes he deserves to be punished. Madani meets with Mahoney at the murder site and convinces him to let her talk to Castle as long as she hands the Russo case over to the NYPD. Madani and Page examine the dead bodies and see that the bullet holes were at a different angle that to which Castle shot from. She concluded that Russo had shot them prior to Castle. Meanwhile, a police officer and former member of the Kitchen Irish, O'Rourke, tries to assassinate Castle. Madani arrives and saves Bendix as well as Castle, informing him of her discovery. Page pulls the fire alarm so that Castle can get out, which is just before Pilgrim arrives to kill him. They are stopped by Mahoney outside, who arrests Castle.
In the ambulance with Castle, Mahoney is stopped by Pilgrim, who blows up the ambulance, sending it over the bridge. Castle breaks free, but instead of running, he saves Mahoney from the fire. Mahoney goes to shoot him, but decides not to. Russo hears the news of Castle and decides to leave it behind and exit the city with Dumont. At the crash site, Mahoney talks to Madani and is confused on why Castle didn't leave him to die. Madani explains that Castle is a man of honor. Castle kidnaps David Schultz to lure Pilgrim. Meanwhile, Pilgrim finds Hoyle's campervan and interrogates him. Bendix then arrives and sees Pilgrim. Hoyle attacks Pilgrim, giving Bendix a chance to shoot him in the leg before running. Pilgrim then brutally beats Hoyle before leaving. After seeing Hoyle, Castle resorts to interrogating David, who claims to have no idea what he's talking about. Castle explains his parents involvement, which horrifies David. Believing him, Castle tells David to call his parents.
Madani visits Dumont once again, but sees a journal filled with Russo's notes. She realizes that Dumont was helping Russo and confronts her. Dumont attacks, resulting in a fight. Madani throws Dumont out the window, which is the vision that Dumont had feared from her father's beatings as a child. Russo arrives home at this moment with flowers and sees Dumont's body on the ground. He then looks up to see Madani and chases after her. Madani and Russo engage in a fight. Russo strangles Madani, who shoots him three times in the chest before they both loose consciousness. Meanwhile, Eliza and Anderson prepare Pilgrim's children for their mother's funeral when they get a call from Castle saying that David knows of their history. Castle tells them that if they give him an unharmed Bendix, he will release David. The Schultz then call Pilgrim and tell him to do what Castle says, or his children's lives are in danger.
Madani wakes up to see Mahoney. He explains that Dumont is in critical condition and Russo escaped, but won't be alive for long due to blood loss. Mahoney hands her her Homeland Security badge, but she doesn't take it. Bendix manages to contact Hoyle and Castle with her location. Castle arrives and attacks Pilgrim, who takes Bendix hostage and leaves. Back at the campervan, Hoyle believes that keeping David is wrong and hands him over to Mahoney, who agrees to not arrest Hoyle. Castle hears this, but still calls Pilgrim for an exchange. After Pilgrim hands over Bendix, Castle reveals the news. This results in a final fight that ends in Castle winning. Before Castle kills him, Pilgrim pleads for him to spare his children when he inevitably goes after the Schultzes.
At the church and bleeding out, Russo calls Hoyle and asks him to meet. Russo says that although he doesn't deserve forgiveness, he doesn't want to die alone. Later, Russo still sits there when Castle arrives. Russo apologizes for everything despite not remembering. Castle has none of it and simply shoots Russo, ending his pain. In the next few hours, Mahoney, Hoyle, and Madani look over the dead body. Mahoney has no evidence that it was Castle's doing and is forced to end the case.
At the Schultz household, Castle and Bendix arrive. Eliza attacks Bendix, but is killed by Castle. He then gives Anderson a gun and tells him that the conspiracy is out and he either could live with the truth, or die. Anderson then chooses to kill himself and Castle and Bendix walk out. Pilgrim and his children watch from outside and thank Castle, who lets them live a free life. The next day, Castle and Bendix hug one last time before Bendix leaves for Florida to find peace.
Three months later, Castle sits outside of a warehouse when he gets a call from Madani, now at the CIA. Madani asks for help in killing a high profile target, but Castle says he has enough work to do. He then walks into the warehouse and kills two rival gangs with his firearms.
Cast[]
Starring Cast[]
- Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/Punisher
- Ben Barnes as Billy Russo/Jigsaw
- Amber Rose Revah as Dinah Madani
- Jason R. Moore as Curtis Hoyle
- Josh Stewart as John Pilgrim
- Floriana Lima as Krista Dumont
- Giorgia Whigham as Amy Bendix
Special Guest Star[]
Supporting Cast[]
- Royce Johnson as Detective Sergeant Brett Mahoney
- Tony Plana as Director Rafael Hernandez
- Corbin Bernsen as Anderson Schultz
- Annette O'Toole as Eliza Schultz
- Alexa Davalos as Beth Quinn
- Todd Alan Crain as Senator David Schultz
- Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Deputy Director Marion James
- Allie McCulloch as Rebecca Pilgrim
- Zell Steele Morrow as Michael Pilgrim
- Henry Boshart as Lemuel Pilgrim
Episodes[]
Image | Title | Number | Airdate | Writers | Directors |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roadhouse Blues | 2.01 | January 18, 2019 | Steve Lightfoot | Jim O'Hanlon | |
While driving through Michigan, Frank stops for a beer at a roadside bar. But staying out of trouble has never been his strong suit. | |||||
Fight or Flight | 2.02 | January 18, 2019 | Steve Lightfoot | Jim O'Hanlon | |
Frank and a reluctant Rachel go on the run as a menacing adversary gives chase. Meanwhile, Madani pays Russo an unwelcome visit. | |||||
Trouble the Water | 2.03 | January 18, 2019 | Ken Kristensen | Jeremy Webb | |
As Pilgrim's past comes into focus, Frank and Rachel find themselves in police custody, where they're anything but safe. | |||||
Scar Tissue | 2.04 | January 18, 2019 | Angela LaManna | Iain B. MacDonald | |
Rachel recalls the night everything changed and lets Frank in on the truth about her name. Russo sits down with a face from his childhood. | |||||
One-Eyed Jacks | 2.05 | January 18, 2019 | Dario Scardapane | Stacie Passon | |
It's not a trap if you know it's coming: That's Frank's philosophy. Madani opens up and Pilgrim plans a visit to an unholy land. | |||||
Nakazat | 2.06 | January 18, 2019 | Christine Boylan | Jamie M. Dagg | |
Amy (formerly Rachel) develops photographs that point to a conspiracy. Russo reads his own report. Madani's story about Russo comes under fire. | |||||
One Bad Day | 2.07 | January 18, 2019 | Felicia D. Henderson | Jet Wilkinson | |
Madani's quest to ID Pilgrim hits a wall. Russo and his crew put their plan into action. Frank encounters someone from the past. | |||||
My Brother's Keeper | 2.08 | January 18, 2019 | Bruce Marshall Romans | Michael Offer | |
Painful memories take ahold of Russo. Frank's frustration frightens those closest to him. Madani receives a visitor bearing a warning. | |||||
Flustercluck | 2.09 | January 18, 2019 | Steve Lightfoot & Ken Kristensen | Salli Richardson-Whitfield | |
A big bounty inspires New York's worst to pursue the Punisher. A restless Amy seeks help from a fellow grifter. Russo and Krista consider the future. | |||||
The Dark Hearts of Men | 2.10 | January 18, 2019 | Steve Lightfoot & Angela LaManna | Álex García López | |
As Madani and Krista debate who's worth saving, Frank prepares to storm Russo's territory. A brutal encounter pushes Pilgrim back into old habits. | |||||
The Abyss | 2.11 | January 18, 2019 | Laura Jean Leal | Meera Menon | |
Amy rushes to protect Frank, who lies defenseless in a hospital. Pilgrim gets some crushing news, and Karen Page calls in a favor. | |||||
Collision Course | 2.12 | January 18, 2019 | Dario Scardapane | Stephen Kay | |
Buckle up -- Mahoney and Frank are about to take a ride to remember. Amy makes an entrance, Russo cashes out, and Madani comes clean to Krista. | |||||
The Whirlwind | 2.13 | January 18, 2019 | Steve Lightfoot | Jeremy Webb | |
Frank, Pilgrim, Madani, Russo, Amy, Curt and the Schultz family. No bullet is left unspent as season two comes to an explosive conclusion. |
Videos[]
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Trailers[]
Music[]
Song title | Artist | Location(s) |
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Would? | Alice in Chains |
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