Marvel Television's The Punisher, starring Jon Bernthal as the protagonist, is an absolute belter of a superhero show. Purposely character-driven, Frank Castle, one of the best vigilantes in Marvel Comics, is brought to life and so are his arch enemies, some of whom had a hand in killing his entire family.
There aren't loads of characters in the Netflix Original, but the ones featuring in the series are beautifully written. So much so that when the storyline begins to disappoint, the fans will stay for the characters. While there are some characters that are absolutely loathsome, some touch the hearts of the viewers.
Like: Amy Bendix
A kid who got mixed up with the wrong crowd, Amy Bendix turned out to be another surprise addition to the show in season two. She not only let the fans see the better side of The Punisher, but she also brought a lot of comic relief to the series. Amy had problems of her own. She came from a humble background, losing all of her friends to a job she didn't know anything about. When she had no one to care for her, Frank came to her rescue like an angel.
Can't Stand: Lewis Wilson
Lewis Wilson is someone who just couldn't recover from the traumatic experiences he suffered while he was a soldier. One can say that he didn't want to forget about his army past because there were people around him who cared for him and yet, he decided to go about things like a coward. He took innocent lives just to prove a point and everything he set out to do made absolutely no sense. He came very close to killing Karen Page.
Like: Micro
Micro aka David Liberman is a man whose life story resembles that of Frank Castle, with the only difference being David's background and his family.
Going by the name of Micro, David is an absolute genius with computers as he can into almost anything. His life was ruined due to the Kandahar video and he waited patiently for his time to attack. As soon as Frank surfaced, David made sure that his plan to bring down the people who took his family away from him succeeded.
Can't Stand: John Pilgrim
John Pilgrim had an air of mystery around him. While from the start the fans knew that he was going to be one of the antagonists of season two, there were some things to like about Pilgrim; after all, he was doing everything for his family. But it is unforgivable for someone as intelligent as him to fall for the absolute lies the Schultz's fed him. He is a man who believed in God but in all honesty, he had the devil inside him, waiting and wanting to come out.
Like: Dinah Madani
Homeland Security's relentless detective, Dinah Madani started off as a rebel, who wanted to get to the truth behind the events of Kandahar, whatever it took. But as the series went on, she became more mature, especially after she lost her partner Sam due to her inability to let things go. Billy Russo took almost everything away from her and all she wanted was justice. And, after the dust settled, she understood the need of a man like Frank, who was there to provide her with the justice she demanded.
Can't Stand: Billy Russo
Of all the things in life, a backstabbing friend is something that no one wants to have. Unfortunately for Frank, Billy Russo turned out to be a liar, who only ever cared about power and money.
Even though Frank and his family treated Russo as one of their own, he didn't do anything when his partners decided to murder every single one of them. Russo is really the worst kind of evil because he genuinely believes he is righteous or something.
Like: Curtis Hoyle
One of the most loyal friends anyone could ever wish to have, Curtis Hoyle, is a man who had Frank Castle's back no matter what. Coming from a military background, Curtis is purposeful, smart, caring, and always willing to give people a second chance unless that person has done something incredibly horrific. All he wants is a good life; one in which he doesn't have to look behind his back every second.
Can't Stand: William Rawlins
William Rawlins is evil, greedy, and one of the worst people one could ever wish to meet. He is a top official at the CIA and more often than not, he misuses his power for his personal gain. Because Frank punched him in the face back in Kandahar, Rawlins, like a coward, decided to execute Frank and his family while they were enjoying themselves in the park. He didn't stop at that, as he killed every single innocent person who came in his way.
Like: Frank Castle
Frank Castle is a very complicated character. There's no doubt everyone absolutely adores him, but the things that go on in his head are full of dark thoughts. It's as if he can never have the good things in life. But, to be honest, Frank usually brings danger upon himself by standing up for a stranger because he thinks it is the right thing to do. If The Punisher is by someone's side, the chances of that person surviving increase by a tenfold.
Can't Stand: Krista Dumont
The therapist who got too close to Billy Russo, Krista Durmount was a real surprise package, because no one would have ever guessed the important role she plays in season two. There's a darkness inside of her: a hole which she is desperate to fill and she finds Russo to be the perfect fit. She controls him with her words, making him feel comfortable by giving him a purpose. Also, she is the one who came up with the name Jigsaw, after the brain damage Russo suffered.