The Netflix version of the Marvel Universe has been street level and grubby from the get go and despite the stumbles (yes you Iron Fist) the quality has been pretty good (and in the case of Jessica Jones, downright excellent). Here we see Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, re-enter the fray after his appearance in Daredevil as he seeks revenge on the people that killed his family. The story deals with loss, betrayal, friendship and the bonds made in war-torn places in a human and relatively realistic way. The other theme is the thirst for justice, whether through the system or despite it (The system would appear to be failing).

There's a lot of room for talk in the 13 episodes, but it rarely feels sluggish or padded (though the pace could have been tighter). when the violence erupts it is fairly brutal with blood and bullet wounds shown in graphic detail.

Frank Castle is not a superhero (although his ability to survive and fight on after being wounded would suggest otherworldly powers) indeed he is barely a hero at all (shooting wounded henchmen in the head ). But he does have a 'code' and frequently saves non-combatants at risk to himself and his mission . I think that's what saves it - he cares about 'normal'people, so we care about him and the supporting characters are interesting enough to carry us along and give some depth to what would otherwise be a two dimensional journey.