We’ve reached the penultimate episode of The Punisher’s second season. Here are five thoughts on “Collision Course” This recap contains spoilers.
1. Finally, John Pilgrim
Last week wasn’t a tease. We left off with Pilgrim hot on Frank’s trail last episode, and pick up with him in the thick of the action. Moreover, he’s the Pilgrim from early in the season; a stoic warrior that operates with preternatural calm. He carefully places his hat on his head after forcing Mahoney’s vehicle off a bridge. He never raises his voice as he interrogates Curtis, telling him that “it’s been a testing day.”
At the risk of repeating myself, where’s this guy been? He’s a better villain than Billy in almost every way. After hours of hearing about how much Billy is like is Frank, we see his real counterpart in Pilgrim. When it’s time to get to work, both he and Frank are capable of shutting their mouths and getting it done.
2. Does Frank accept his role or the consequences?
When Frank walked away after saving Mahoney, was he sure the cop wouldn’t shoot, or did he accept that he might die? Coming so soon after he surrendered to the cop in the hospital, it wasn’t clear. It’s only after Frank discovers that Pilgrim might have Amy that he returns to Punisher-Mode. Someone needs to be in peril for Castle to get fired up.
3. Madani wises up.
Dumont exposes herself with a bewildering phone call to Madani. New York’s Special Agent in Charge finally figures out that something’s not quite right with the good doctor. In “The Dark Hearts of Men” Madani had to be clueless for their conversation to work. In “Collision Course,” it’s Dumont that plays the fool. She sounds more like a toddler trying to negotiate another five minutes before bedtime than a master manipulator.
On paper, setting up Madani and Dumont as rivals like Billy and Frank makes sense. Dinah is struggling with her black and white world view. Krista has a more flexible definition of good and evil. Both of them have had relationships with Billy. They have different opinions of Frank Castle but started the season feeling the same way about him. It might have been interesting watching the sparks fly as Madani’s opinion changes.
But we didn’t see that. After putting Dumont in direct conflict with Madani at the beginning of the season, it wasn’t until “The Dark Hearts of Men” that they met again, and the set up required Madani to be oblivious to Dumont’s manipulations. Now, in “Collision Course,” their rivalry flares up and immediately comes to a final ending. Another squandered opportunity.
4. That was a little on the nose
After teasing us over and over again with the front window of Dumont’s apartment, she flies out of it. Wow! Who saw that one coming?
5. Moar revenge!
Billy Russo has fallen in love with Dr. Krista Dumont. He’s happier with her than he’s ever been before. We know this because, leaving nothing to chance, the script has him tell us so. First, he tells Dumont. Then he cryptically tells his men that he has found someone as he sends them off with new identities. To drive the point home, the fearsome Jigsaw buys flowers for his girlfriend on his way back to her apartment.
The florist calls him “Mr. Blue” after selling him Dutch Irises. In case you forgot, Mr. Blue is one of the old hands in Reservoir Dogs. He’s an intimidating presence in the film, even though he only has two lines of dialogue. Mr. Blue is all business. He knows how to shut up and get to work. So, as nicknames go, this one is a miss.
In a scene only slightly less expected than Krista going through the window, lovestruck Billy arrives with his Dutch Irises as a crowd gathers around Dumont’s body. He looks up, and of course, Madani is there looking back. She returned to the window to admire her handiwork a second time.
So, Billy is hungry for revenge. Again! This time it’s personal! But it’ll be twice as good the second time!
That’s five thoughts about the “Collision Course.” What are your thoughts the 11th episode of The Punisher’s last season? Let us know in the comments.
