By Guest 
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) just got a whole lot grittier, and fans are losing their minds! Jon Bernthal’s long-awaited return as Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, in Daredevil: Born Again has sent shockwaves through the fandom, sparking a massive surge in viewership that’s got everyone talking.
Episode 4 dropped today on Disney+, and the internet is buzzing with reactions—some calling it a “masterclass in raw emotion,” others hailing Bernthal as the definitive Punisher. But this comeback almost didn’t happen, and the behind-the-scenes drama is as intense as the on-screen action.
Jon Bernthal’s Explosive Return as The Punisher in Daredevil
Bernthal, who first embodied the skull-wearing vigilante in Netflix’s Daredevil Season 2 and later headlined The Punisher, initially walked away from Daredevil: Born Again. Why?
He wasn’t sold on Marvel’s original vision for Frank Castle. “I didn’t see the version of Frank they wanted… it didn’t make sense to me and I thought would not appeal to the fans,” Bernthal revealed in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly.
It wasn’t until a dramatic creative overhaul—prompted by the 2023 Hollywood strikes—that he agreed to step back into Castle’s blood-soaked boots. The result? A Punisher so unapologetically brutal and emotionally charged that viewers can’t look away.
The numbers don’t lie. Since Episode 4 aired, Daredevil: Born Again has seen a jaw-dropping spike in streams, with social media platforms like X lighting up with praise.
One user gushed, “Jon Bernthal IS The Punisher—Episode 4 was harsh, unrelenting, and pure chaos!” Another called it “an impending storm of perfection.” The reunion between Frank Castle and Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock—a tense, axe-swinging showdown—has fans screaming for more, with posts on X declaring Bernthal’s return “a landmark moment for the MCU.”
But it’s not just the action driving this surge. Bernthal’s Punisher digs deep, acting as the devil on Daredevil’s shoulder, pushing Matt’s moral boundaries in ways that have viewers hooked. Add in a juicy subplot about corrupt cops idolizing the Punisher’s skull logo—culminating in the murder of Hector Ayala—and you’ve got a recipe for must-watch TV.
Marvel’s clearly banking on this momentum, already greenlighting Bernthal for Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 and a standalone Punisher TV special slated for 2026. “It’s going to be dark… unforgiving, no-holds-barred,” Bernthal teased to EW, promising a “shotgun blast of a story” that’ll leave fans reeling.
The road to this triumph wasn’t easy. After filming six episodes, Daredevil: Born Again hit a wall during the strikes, forcing Marvel to bring in The Punisher alum Dario Scardapane as showrunner.
The revamp paid off, delivering a series that feels like a love letter to Netflix’s gritty roots while pushing the MCU into bold new territory. Charlie Cox himself admitted to EW, “We were headed in one direction… but Marvel knew it wasn’t quite working.” Now, with Bernthal back in the fold, the show’s found its edge—and viewers are eating it up.
Online, the hype is palpable. Posts on X laud Bernthal’s seamless return, with Vulture tweeting, “It’s great to see Jon Bernthal return to the role without skipping a beat—he so perfectly embodies the Punisher.”
Critics agree, with IGN noting Marvel’s finally tackling the “glaring Punisher problem” head-on, confronting real-world controversies around the character’s skull symbol. From corrupt cops to a looming showdown with his “fanboys,” Frank Castle’s arc is shaping up to be the MCU’s most explosive yet.
So, what’s next? New episodes drop Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EDT on Disney+, and if today’s surge is any indication, Daredevil: Born Again is on track to dominate 2025. Buckle up, Marvel fans—Jon Bernthal’s Punisher is back, and he’s bringing the chaos with him. Will this be the MCU’s darkest hit yet? Click to find out!