THE PUNISHER Season 2: Every Easter Egg, Reference, And Cameo You May Have Missed - SPOILERS

THE PUNISHER Season 2: Every Easter Egg, Reference, And Cameo You May Have Missed - SPOILERS

Season two of The Punisher is now on Netflix and we're breaking down the show's biggest Easter Eggs, references, and unexpected cameos from the wider MCU. Hit the jump to check out the full breakdown...

Feature Opinion
By JoshWilding - Jan 24, 2019 07:01 AM EST
Filed Under: Punisher
The Punisher returned to Netflix last Friday with little fanfare as the online streaming giant continues wrapping up its Marvel commitments thanks to the planned launch of Disney+ this year.

Reviews have been mixed and ratings are reportedly pretty low but there are still a fair few Easter Eggs for us to delve into in the show's second season despite how much it veers away from the source material. After all, it became clear that Jigsaw would be a disappointment the second he was revealed! 

Despite that, there are some solid homages both to the source material and the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

To check these out, all you guys have to do is click on the "View List" button below. You'll also find a recap of the official images which have been released from the Marvel series to date. 

Amazing Spider-Man #129



When Russo finally breaks out of the hospital he's being kept in, the villain forces her through a door with the number "129" emblazoned on it. This has to be a reference to Amazing Spider-Man #129, the classic issue which introduced Frank Castle as one of the wall-crawler's foes. 

The Punisher later got his own series, of course, but this is a nice way to pay homage to where the character originated from. 
 

A Happy Ending



Daredevil may not be getting a fourth season but at least we (sort of) know that Matt Murdock got a happy ending. Season two of The Punisher is presumably set after the events of that show's third batch of episodes and Frank namedrops the Man Without Fear when he tells Karen Page that she shouldn't throw what she has with him away because she's chosen to come and track him down.
 

Amy Bendix



Season two of The Punisher features a lot of newly created characters but Amy Bendix has been taken straight out of the pages of the comic books. She first showed up in 1994's Punisher: War Zone #24 as a child who witnessed the vigilante taking out some criminals before vowing to keep that a secret.

In the show, however, she's been aged up and doesn't really have much in common with her comic book counterpart. 
 

Assault On Precinct 13



Episode three might just be the best instalment of season two and it's clearly meant to be a homage to John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13. Frank and Amy end up being trapped inside a sheriff's office and are forced to team up with the local cops as the villainous John Pilgrim closes in. 

There are some cracking action scenes and the tension is high from start to finish and it feels like a love letter to that classic movie.
 

Sergeant Brett Mahoney



Just like Karen Page, another character from Daredevil's world makes an appearance in The Punisher in the form of Sergeant Brett Mahoney. He's become something of a constant in these shows and was introduced in Marvel Comics Presents #1 back in 2007.
 

Peter Castiglione



This familiar Easter Egg crops up almost immediately when Frank is referred to as "Pete," a pseudonym he also used in season one. 

This is, of course, a reference to the name he's frequently used during his comic book adventures and that surname comes from "Castilogne," his family's original Italian name before they moved to the states. If you're not familiar with the source material, this may have been lost on you! 
 

"Fortunate Son"



Episode ten features a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's classic "Fortunate Son," a song which is obviously closely associated with the Vietnam war. In the comic books, that was originally the war Frank fought in before returning home to see his family slaughtered by gangsters. 
 

The Mennonite



The season's big bad - John Pilgrim - may appear to be an original creation at first glance but he shares a lot in common with a Punisher villain called The Mennonite. 

That character was an Amish farmer rather than a devout Christian but the similarities are clear enough to see and the changes made do actually make a lot of sense.
 

"Jigsaw"



When Billy Russo wakes up, he claims not to have any memory of the fight with Frank that landed him in the hospital. Now, Marvel has faced a fair bit of backlash since it became clear that this version of Jigsaw wouldn't be as hideously scarred as his comic book counterpart but we do at least get a reference to his moniker. 

Billy's doctor tells him that he has to "put together the jigsaw" and that's about as good as it gets throughout the entire season! 
 

Turk Barrett



Another familiar face in this corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Turk shows up here and is caught right in the middle of Frank's feud with the Russians when the vigilante threatens the hapless gunrunner into becoming his liaison with them. They part ways on relatively good terms but this could be his final appearance on the small screen. 

Stan Lee



Stan "The Man" Lee never made a physical appearance in these Netflix TV shows and there's obviously no sign of him throughout The Punisher season two. However, at the end of the finale, a message comes up on screen reading, "In Loving Memory Of Stan Lee."

We'll presumably see something similar when Captain Marvel is released in theaters this March.

Continue reading below to check out all the officially
released stills from The Punisher season two!


SEASON 2, EPISODE 1
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Giorgia Whigham
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 2
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Ben Barnes, Floriana Lima
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 2
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Ben Barnes, Floriana Lima, Amber Rose Revah
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 3
PHOTO CREDIT: David Lee/Netflix
PICTURED: Jon Bernthal
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 3
PHOTO CREDIT: David Lee/Netflix
PICTURED: Jon Bernthal
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 3
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Ben Barnes
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 3
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Ben Barnes, Floriana Lima
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 4
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Amber Rose Revah
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 5
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Amber Rose Revah, Jason R. Moore
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 5
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Jon Bernthal
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 5
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Jon Bernthal, Rob Morgan
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 6
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Josh Stewart
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 6
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Josh Stewart
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 7
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Jason R. Moore, Amber Rose Revah, Jon Bernthal
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 7
PHOTO CREDIT: David Giesbrecht/Netflix
PICTURED: Jon Bernthal, Jason R. Moore
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 7
PHOTO CREDIT: David Giesbrecht/Netflix
PICTURED: Jon Bernthal, Jason R. Moore
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 7
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Jon Bernthal
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 7
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Ben Barnes
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 7
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Jon Bernthal
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 8
PHOTO CREDIT: David Giesbrecht/Netflix
PICTURED: Ben Barnes
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 8
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Jon Bernthal
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 8
PHOTO CREDIT: David Giesbrecht/Netflix
PICTURED: Ben Barnes
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 9
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Ben Barnes
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 10
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Jon Bernthal
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 12
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Giorgia Whigham
 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 13
PHOTO CREDIT: Cara Howe/Netflix
PICTURED: Jon Bernthal, Giorgia Whigham
 
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HeavyMetal4Life
HeavyMetal4Life - 1/24/2019, 7:34 AM
"Season two of The Punisher is presumably set after the events of that show's third batch of episodes"

Not presumably, it IS set after DDs3. That's a fact.

I'd also say that Alice in Chains being used was an Easter Egg, since one of their most famous songs, "Rooster" is about the Vietnam War. The song used in the finale though was an acoustic version of "Would?"
HeavyMetal4Life
HeavyMetal4Life - 1/24/2019, 7:36 AM
Loved Detective Mahoney this season, Royce Johnson did a great job and it was awesome to see the character receiving so much screen time and really get fleshed out even further. A definite highlight for the season.
HeavyMetal4Life
HeavyMetal4Life - 1/24/2019, 7:42 AM
@ShaggyCipher - well this, coupled with his DDs3 episodes, was all about Mahoney realizing that sometimes good people do bad stuff for a good reason. He essentially was realizing that there was an important gray area.

And I think the assumption/indication is that Matt has retired from being Daredevil, for at least the time being. So probably no reason to call Matt.
blackandyellow
blackandyellow - 1/24/2019, 7:46 AM
I'm 6 episodes in and this show is losing steam fast. They lost me when Frank didn't kill the pornographer when they were developing the pictures. Bullshit move.





whynot
whynot - 1/24/2019, 7:50 AM
@blackandyellow - agreed
HeavyMetal4Life
HeavyMetal4Life - 1/24/2019, 7:51 AM
@blackandyellow - it would bother me if we didn't have the reasoning essentially explained to us on screen.
blackandyellow
blackandyellow - 1/24/2019, 7:55 AM
@HeavyMetal4Life - And it was a bullshit explanation completely counter-intuitive to the ethos of the Punisher.
HeavyMetal4Life
HeavyMetal4Life - 1/24/2019, 7:56 AM
@blackandyellow - then you clearly didn't understand it
knocturnalzen10
knocturnalzen10 - 1/24/2019, 7:57 AM
@blackandyellow - that's why we're bothers in arms you know comics!!!!!!!! no one gets why frank is the way he is unless you read it ......... well done sir and i love the part when he was who said you're under arrest lol lol like he came there for business and resolution, NOT TRIAL
knocturnalzen10
knocturnalzen10 - 1/24/2019, 8:00 AM
@HeavyMetal4Life - Nah he's right honestly what the show will show and it's just apart of the dynamic of screen .... franks not someone you should like , cheer for , or understand.... he died with his family . he's made peace with that . the things he does don't have great reason to it unfortunately , like cap called him several times "mad dog"

he seriously just punishes those he deems wicked
HeavyMetal4Life
HeavyMetal4Life - 1/24/2019, 8:03 AM
@knocturnalzen10 - I mean I'm not disagreeing with what you said right there, that's all perfectly fine.

But Amy became in a way a surrogate daughter for him, that was one of the big themes this season, their relationship. If people can't understand that, then they clearly weren't getting what was going on. Frank beat the shit out of the guy, broke both his arms, broke his nose, and then burned down his studio. And people are saying "nah, I'd only be happy if he got a bullet in the skull." Its a big nonissue.
knocturnalzen10
knocturnalzen10 - 1/24/2019, 8:04 AM
@ShaggyCipher - if you read alot of it he only tortures the top dogs like when he hooked barracuda's balls to a car battery lol lol or the female top of the mob smashing her face into a bullet proof window til it cracked smh
blackandyellow
blackandyellow - 1/24/2019, 8:09 AM
@knocturnalzen10 - Yes! That scene you're talking about with the woman is from The Slavers. One of the best Punisher arcs and one I wish they'd adapt into a movie.
HeavyMetal4Life
HeavyMetal4Life - 1/24/2019, 8:10 AM
@ShaggyCipher - Karen tried to stop Frank, and not only was a) that personal, but b) Frank was in a different place in season 2 of Daredevil than he was in season 2 of Punisher.

And yes, I understand that he would normally kill someone like that, but doing so RIGHT. IN. FRONT. OF. AMY. would have completely negated any development of relationship, understanding between the two characters. And everyone seems to not realize that. If this was episode 1, 2, or 3, then yes Frank would have wasted no time killing that guy. But it wasn't.
knocturnalzen10
knocturnalzen10 - 1/24/2019, 8:12 AM
@HeavyMetal4Life - i do get what you mean honestly tho
HeavyMetal4Life
HeavyMetal4Life - 1/24/2019, 8:13 AM
@knocturnalzen10 - THANK YOU!! I thought it was pretty, extremely obvious when it happened on screen, but I guess it wasn't to everyone.
knocturnalzen10
knocturnalzen10 - 1/24/2019, 8:16 AM
@blackandyellow - yes ! it was bloody brutal lol smh and his face never changes which is more unsettling lol he never looks happy, sad , or satisfied ..............just blank
HeavyMetal4Life
HeavyMetal4Life - 1/24/2019, 8:18 AM
@ShaggyCipher - I didn't enjoy it, but it didn't bother me because they tell us why it happened, and we already had been having character development between Amy and Frank up to that point. The reasoning is there and it makes sense in context of everything.
knocturnalzen10
knocturnalzen10 - 1/24/2019, 8:34 AM
@ShaggyCipher - i completely agree lol screw that ! especially when it comes to kids
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 1/24/2019, 7:51 AM
I didn’t know Amy was a canon character. That’s cool. Giorgia Whigham killed it and owned the role though, she made Amy relatable and also very endearing and also allowed Jon Bernthal's Frank to breath more and appear more vulnerable.
WakandanQueen
WakandanQueen - 1/24/2019, 7:52 AM
OT: Deadpool 2 is expected to make $25M in China during opening weekend; will probably pass $800M when all is said and done.
https://mobile.twitter.com/gavinfeng97/status/1088251719320924160?s=19
whynot
whynot - 1/24/2019, 7:56 AM
was hoping for some fresh Easter eggs I didn’t already know. I’m sure there’s more then what we know. I don’t think Jigsaw was as much of an Easter egg or reference we may have missed. I think everyone is pretty disappointed with how little scarring they choose to give him. I understand the limited scarring a bit with advanc plastic surgery but wish they would have had his face beaten in more throughout the season so by seasons end he would have been mutilated. Also his death was underwhelming. That being said I really enjoyed this season
TheUnworthyThor
TheUnworthyThor - 1/24/2019, 8:07 AM
I’m shocked that these shows Netflix has long stopped heavily promoting have been getting lower ratings.
HeavyMetal4Life
HeavyMetal4Life - 1/24/2019, 8:11 AM
@TheUnworthyThor - who would have thunk that if you sabotage your own show, you get lower viewership??
IronMandarin
IronMandarin - 1/24/2019, 8:46 AM
Binged all of season 2 last week.

Glad to see he wears the skull more this season, but I was annoyed that even after Daredevil S2 and Punisher S1, they're still using this as an origin story for the Punisher.

I am so goddamn sick of characters coming up to Frank and telling him that he isn't suppose to be a killer. Frank was already exactly what he's supposed to be in Daredevil S2 and he was clearly never going to change.

Which makes the final shot of the season all the more frustrating since the show is most likely going to be cancelled and we'll never get to see Frank fully embrace the mantle of the Punisher and go up against a different villain like Barracuda.
gonzor
gonzor - 1/25/2019, 3:00 PM
The first three and last three episodes of season 2 - BRILLIANT! Loses it a bit mid-season, too much talking and explaining, needed more intrigue. Overall think it was a much better season than many give it credit. I for one will miss it.
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