We’re back with a recap of “My Brother’s Keeper,” the eighth episode of The Punisher’s second season. Let’s get started but be warned: spoilers follow.
1. Curtis is my hero.
In the last episode, Frank told Curtis to stay on the car as he went to confront Billy. I was mystified by the entire exchange, thinking there was no way he would sit things out. It turns out I was right, and Frank was lucky. Billy had a sniper planted on the roof, and it was only Curtis that kept him from killing Frank. It was also Curtis that kept Mahoney from arresting Frank after he cornered him in an alley.
Curtis was a crucial part of the last season, and it’s good to see him back in action in season two. But, he serves as much more than Frank’s wingman. He’s one of the only two rational people on the show. It’s Curtis that tells Frank his war is wrong. He’s the one that wants to go home and try to live a normal life with his girlfriend. It’s Curtis that pulls Frank off of Jake and probably keeps him from beating the man to death. As the violence in The Punisher reaches comic book level, Curtis finally says “this isn’t normal.” Curtis is the keeper in “My Brother’s Keeper,” and Jason R. Moore brings a convincing gravitas to the role.
2. Billy’s flashbacks get more coherent, and better.
“My Brother’s Keeper” opens where the previous left off with Frank pursuing Billy’s “guys” in one of their cars. But, we’re taken into one of Billy’s quick-cut memory flashes of the night at the carousel instead of a by-the-numbers car chase. This stream of images is is a bit easier to follow than the ones we’ve seen in the past, and is a very effective use of the memory sequences. Instead of wondering what I was supposed to take away from it, I immediately understood that Billy was starting to remember what happened.
Later in the episode, another sequence bridges a cut from Frank walking off his rage to Billy brooding in Krista’s apartment. It’s a mix of flashbacks from their time in the military together and at the carousel, and it’s ambiguous as to which man remembers what. It’s one of the most powerful scenes in the season so far, as the similarities between the men are finally brought back into the foreground, if only for a moment.
3. The Punisher deserves a better villain.
This is our second consecutive episode without an appearance by John Pilgrim or the Schultz family. I can only hope that means that Billy will be taken care of soon so we can move back to the ‘A’ story. I appreciate the effort to make Jigsaw a more interesting villain than he was in War Zone, but I still don’t know why he’s considered one of Frank Castle’s best villains. He’s not Frank’s mirror image or even a worthy opponent. He’s a two-bit mobster in the comics, in the movie, and now even in the series. Why not Burt Kenyon? Where’s Rosalie Carbone? How about the Russian?
4. More focus on Sgt. Mahoney.
In addition to seeing more of Curtis, we also see more of Sgt. Mahoney in “My Brother’s Keeper.” He cornersFrank after the confrontation with Billy and establishes his place in The Punisher’s second season. He’s the other rational person. “New York doesn’t need your s**t again,” Mahoney says, cutting Frank off before he can explain why he doesn’t belong in jail after leaving a trail of bodies and bullets over Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. Mahoney’s having none of it. Frank is a maniac.
Later, he confronts Madani and can barely contain himself. “Castle’s got a code. Listen to yourself. The man is a maniac. I don’t care how much s**t got done to him. Just the fact that you’re talking to him should cost you your badge,” he tells her. And he’s right. It’s these scenes, combined with Curtis, that keep the storyline with Billy from descending into 1990’s direct-to-video material.
5. Notable music choices.
Amy returns to The Punisher, and we find out what she’s been doing: trying to keep her self occupied. She practices loading a sawed-off shotgun, reads a book about Australia, and bounces a tennis ball off the wall. While this is going on, we’re listening to The White Stripes’ cover of “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself.” Excellent choice.
The episode wraps up with Frank at his wife’s grave, while Madani, Amy, and Curtis discuss what their next steps will be. The sound fades from Curtis to The White Buffalo’s “Woods” as Frank sits at Maria’s grave and looks close to tears. The song sets the mood perfectly, and White Buffalo sings about disappearing. For the first time since Frank arrived in New York, we have a chance to think about how happy he was as Peter Castiglione. He had disappeared.
That’s five thoughts for “My Brother’s Keeper.” What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
