#there will NEVER be a better Frank Castle than Jon Bernthal

[shaylixie]

Just finished season 1 of The Punisher and shiiiiit!!!! Chills.😩

#there will NEVER be a better Frank Castle than Jon Bernthal #I love this show sm #RENEW IT #shay's words

[megsmulti]

I am officially caught up on Daredevil and I have some thoughts!!

-FOGGY AND KAREN BETTER BE IN THE REBOOT! You can’t have Murdock without Nelson and Page! Their last scene together in the show was amazing and I hope that we get to see more of them!

-I have so many questions right now, mainly about Kingpin. Now that he’s MCU canon and I’ve seen Hawkeye, I’m even more curious.

-There was no bad villain written in this show. Every one of them was compelling and added some complexity to their dark sides. They were more so anti heroes than anything else. (Well, except Fisk. He displayed true villain behavior)

-Speaking of villains/anti-heroes, CAN WE TALK ABOUT FRANK CASTLE?!?! Now, I don’t condone his methods of obtaining justice, but my god, I want to give that man all the hugs in the world! He lost his family in one tragic accident and he was never the same again. The scene with him and Matt as DD talking in the graveyard from 2x04 (I believe?) is one of my favorite scenes from the entire show. Jon Bernthal KILLED IT as Frank, and I sure hope that the rumors of The Punisher making his way to the MCU are true!

-As I’ve said before, Foggy and Marci are so cute together! She did tease marrying him in the finale, so PLEASE let that come to fruition!

-Ben Urich, Father Lantom, and Ray Nadeem’s deaths were the saddest ones on the show. That is all.

Basically, what I’m trying to say is that I can’t wait to see where they take the Daredevil crew in Phase 5 onward!!

#daredevil #matt murdock #foggy nelson #frank castle #nelson murdock and page #marvel

[daredevilexchange]

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What’s your fannish ID? Hello there! 👋🏻 I am AndanielLight but you can call me 'An'. I go by she / her pronouns, and I've only joined one (1) organized fandom event all my life where I was one of the content creators. And... Oh, by the way, English isn't my first language.

What types of fanworks do you create? I've been writing and posting my amateur fanworks on AO3 (link: https://archiveofourown.org/users/andaniellight) since 2015 - I've never used a Beta for all of them, so it's been just me and me alone all this time. Meanwhile, I started doing digital drawing with Medibang software since 2020, and am a self-taught digital artist ever since.

What are your favourite types of fanworks, when you’re not creating? Honestly? Absolutely everything, no biggie. Creating something, or to try something new in order to sate your own desire on I Wish This Thing Exists, is *hard* my dudes. So I'll take whatever handed to me, cause, I find that every creations are admirable on their own respective ways. Endearing. Effort always counts in the most unironic ways, tbh. And as long as all the creators out there realize that whether the result is likeable or not (to the creators themselves), at least they've past this step that is much more important than "attracting audience that they can interact with", which is: They're progressing better at handling themselves. So, keep 'em coming! Keep creating and be a God! 😄

What do you like in particular about this fandom? Not going to lie, I am - really intimidated by Marvel fandom, or just- Marvel in general, I guess. I only consume and observe from afar, not wanting to get close at all. I don't read their infinite comics, nor their lores, so I don't know what the fuck is going on outside of what's happening on those boxoffice movies either. Their universe is just - too big for me to navigate, so. There's that.

As for Daredevil... I just started binge-watching the series in January this year, while I had some spare times from work. I didn't have access to watch the series before until I finally got a job. I heard a lot of crazy stuff about it years ago, which is WILD to know there were people being dead-silent on Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock cameo on the NWH and its screening too?????? Unbelievable. But anyways, I finished Daredevil in less than a week, I guess? And then moved to The Punisher, because Jon Bernthal appearance on DD S2 tripped me into shipping Matt and Frank. Their bickerings and banterings never fail to crack me up 💀 Alas, there's no cameo of Matt Murdock in The Punisher, but oh well. [Opens AO3 and stays up late at night reading and scrolling on Frank Castle/Matt Murdock fanworks] Not an unfixable problem.

Other than Frank and Matt, Foggy has a very special place in my heart. I'd love to be his friend, honestly, so that we can go have a walk and order take-away food to talk about - whatever. Maybe side by him if he argues with Matt, too, because we all know that guy needs help more than he'd (never) admit.

Do you like participating in fan events? Mmm, I'd love to? I've only ever joined one (1) organized fandom/ship event, and it's back in 2021. It's also because there were A LOT of enablers, too, at the time, when at the same time still so few of content creators while I still had some time to do it myself? Something something I am cursed with always-intrigued-and-choosing-rare-ships something something. So, yeah. Again, I'd love to, but I'm afraid I won't have enough energy and time, because of work, these days. Maintaining interaction and/or communication with people (online or offline) is also not what I'm good at doing exactly.

What about your creating process? Oh, yeah. Writing and/or drawing while listening to music usually goes hand-in-hand like garlics in most delicious cuisines in general to me. And I'm not Italian, by the way. Meals with garlics are just- [cheff kiss]

Usually, to focus on making something, I listen to Instrumental Progressive Metal kinds of music (like this one, for example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONwLlBMeu0s). My particular influences on keeping the juice flowing is centralized in conceptualization that snatch my entire attention until I fixate on it for maybe a whole week or months or something, honestly. I don't know how to explain that, but it's the kind of "symbolism" (listen, everything I did was mostly self-taught, so I have no artistic background, never have taken art class or anything fancy like that) - like these:

1) https://twitter.com/Sykine_R/status/1497270891432247297 2) This twitter thread of daredevil and how its posters' trilogy is inspired by (17th-century baroque artist) Caravaggio's oil paintings of religious saints https://twitter.com/616FRANKCASTLE/status/1481472002418528257 3) This close-up kind of baring concept https://twitter.com/loika/status/1322512727663763456 4) Or excerpts that I've been piling on my blod tagged with "quotes" (link: https://andaniellight.tumblr.com/search/quotes) 

Do you interact a lot with other fans? Um, yeah.... I used to - I used to interact, or talk to other people who ship/shipped the same ship I ship (shipped?) on several fandoms. Now, however, I'm just sticking around with my oldest fandom-friends on discord who I got to know from watching and hyperfixating on this thrilling, gruesome K-drama from 2019 on Netflix titled "Kingdom".

Is there anything else you want to tell us about yourself? I usually share my fanarts on my tumblr (link: andaniellight.tumblr.com), my twitter (link: https://twitter.com/DefyAnSpite) and on Instagram (link: https://www.instagram.com/andaniellight/)! :D

Where can your fanworks be found? Unfortunately, because of how stupid and forgetful I can be sometimes, I don't tag my own art because I Simply Forgot and can't care less. But, so far, for Daredevil-related alone, I've made at least these fanarts:

1) The things I've made for Frank/Matt when I didn't know their more-preferable ship name is "Fratt" : https://andaniellight.tumblr.com/tagged/Mastle

2) First solo-Frank art: https://andaniellight.tumblr.com/post/674762558144659456/repost-after-i-a-mistakes-maker-noticed-a

 3) Every Matt Murdock fanarts: https://andaniellight.tumblr.com/tagged/Matthew%20Murdock 

Thank you, @andaniellight !

banner by @context-is-for-kingpins !

[ID on a white background, four black triangles that look like spotlights from above. Each illuminates one of the Defenders silhouetted in white: Jessica, Luke, Danny, Matt. A hand on the left is holding a pen writing the words Content Creator Spotlight. There is a little Punisher skull on the pen. End ID]

#the punisher #frank castle #daredevil #fratt #punisher #Matt Murdock #marvel #Content Creator Spotlight

[snarkwrites]

-- about my writing --

I’m currently taking requests / asks for headcanons [ can be either NSFW or just in general or a specific idea ] or fluff/filth Alphabet letters. These are the only requests I plan on taking. If you send me prompts / one shot ideas.. I won’t do them, sorry.

To see what the questions are for the fluff / filth alphabet, see [this post]

[ To my thots anon whomst I love with every cell in my body... Your thots are all going to fall under NSFW headcanons so please.. By all means.. Feel free to send me all the thots you want because I really really really really really enjoy writing them!!! Also, you can find the thots you’ve sent me on my nsfw masterlist, they’re not going anywhere. They were so good I had to add them to a masterlist somehow, I couldn’t resist. At everyone else out there, the same applies to you guys.]

So.. Here’s the thing.. I’ve decided that I’m going to be taking 3 kinds of requests. Those are as follows: Headcanons { filthy, fluffy or themed specifically at your choosing }, fluffy alphabet and filthy alphabet letters. These are the only kinds of request I answer so don’t send me prompts / one shot requests or ideas unless I specifically say otherwise.

Bearing the above in mind, I have some guidelines.

I’m only accepting headcanons (nsfw / fluff / specific theme &/or reader), fluffy or filthy alphabet letters. If you send me one shot ideas or prompts, I’m going to delete them because I don’t do one-shots.

One character per ask. I don’t care how many asks you send. But I ask that you only send one character per ask because that makes things a lot more simple for me.

You can send up to 4 letters in each ask if you’re asking for either version of the alphabet. Be sure to let me know whether you want filth or fluff or a mix of both. IE, you could send me something like this; character name - a, b {filth} & j v {fluff}. I’m not saying your ask has to look exactly like this but it does need to clearly state which version you’re asking for. The format I just did above was just the easiest way that came to mind for me.

The more precise you are with the headcanon requests you send, the better I can tailor them to you. If you just want an overall NSFW headcanon or overall fluff, that’s totally fine. But if you want a specific scenario ( friends to lovers, date night, weddings, the sky is the limit here) you need to tell me that. The same goes for if you want a specific reader (POC, plus size, sick, shy, virgin, imprint, etc) then I need to know that. It’s like I said.. The more specifics you give me, that’s more I have to work from.

As far as headcanons go, the things I won’t write are rape, incest / huge age gaps between reader / character. I’ll only write abuse if someone is getting their just desserts at the hands of character on readers behalf. Any asks containing rape / incest / huge age gaps are going to be deleted.

All asks must come to my inbox. I don’t take requests through DM or in comments on a post. If it helps, my anon is on, so you can request to your hearts content.

If the ask box is closed, this means I’m currently not taking headcanon or fluff/filth alphabet requests. This will also be noted on my blog bio and possibly a post stating why/for how long. Anything sent in after the ask box is closed will either be gotten to the next go around or it’ll be deleted, depending on the situation.

First of all... My content is meant strictly for adults. I do write some things that people underage can safely  read, but that is not always the case. I realize that I can’t stop minors from reading my work, but I can tell you outright that I’d rather you skip over it if you’re underage and it clearly states that it’s not written for anyone underage. Again.. I can’t do anything to stop minors from reading my NSFW content beyond just choosing never to post writing on the internet. And I don’t plan on stopping, so.. yeah.

I put warnings on everything. Reading those will definitely save you time and upset. If you keep reading something I’ve written and it upsets you in any way, I’m sorry but I can’t help. I warned you. You chose to take the risk -and most likely, you chose to skip the warning I gave before the post even started... It’s strictly on you now. It’s out of my hands. Any complaints or things of that nature are gonna be laughed at and deleted out of my inbox because I’m not here to argue or censor myself. I’m not your parents, just a peer. If you as a minor choose to look at me, an adult adjacent person, as an authority figure of any sort... First of all, why? Ya’ll.. no.. please don’t. I’m a hot mess, okay? To look at me like any trust worthy authority figure is... A huge error on your own part. Secondly, please don’t. I’m here to enjoy my favorite fandoms / post content for them. I’m not here to please people / censor myself and my content to make everyone else happy... Let me repeat. I put warnings on everything I post. If you keep reading and you read something you’re not supposed to this is now solely your own problem. Sorry, I guess?

I’ve seen other adults saying that they block minors on here. While I’m not gonna do that.. I will not tag minors in my NSFW content knowingly. If I find out you’re a minor and I’m posting something NSFW for a fandom you’ve asked to be tagged in, I will not be tagging you. Sorry. As much as I say I’m not here to parent you and I’m just your peer and you need to think of me like that instead, I’m also not willing to risk anything, either. I’m truly sorry in advance.

While I’m talking about tagging people / my taglist...If you want me to tag you in my writing, you need to be on my taglist. The taglist can be found [ here ] or you can dm / send an ask telling me you want to be added and I will be more than happy to do so. Don’t be afraid to ask me. I don’t mind at all! 

Every now and then, I’ll tag my friends in things I write. If I tag you in something and you don’t want me to, let me know. I won’t do it anymore. I’m not here to overwhelm or annoy anyone and I don’t want to come off as pushy, either. SO.. if you’re getting tagged or whatever and you want me to stop tagging you, all you have to do is let me know.

If you’re not on my tag list (or I don’t know you well enough to know whether you’d potentially want to read something) I will not be tagging you. If you’re a minor and I know for sure/think  you are and it’s smut, I will definitely not be tagging you.

Content I’m not willing to write or  you probably won’t find here: Incest and Rape. Those are my hard no’s. Just the thought of writing something like that makes me feel gross. I’m also not going to be writing huge age gaps in romantic stories either. (the closest I’ll come is like.. 18/19 and up to 24...) I mean absolutely no offense against people who can and do write things like this, I just can’t? 

American Horror Story; tate langdon, ben harmon, kit walker, kyle, dandy mott, jimmy darling, james patrick march, michael langdon, xavier plympton and night stalker.

Arrowverse; oliver queen, john diggle, slade wilson/deathstsroke, barry allen, cisco ramon, ray palmer, mick rory.

Bands / Celebrities; ask before sending because I haven’t done many of these and I’m still adjusting… Off the top of my head I’ve written for / feel comfortable with Nick Groff (ghost adventures), Jon Bernthal.. There are lots of others but alas, I’d stretch this out so badly if I added too many more names.

Boondock Saints movie; Connor Macmanus Murphy Macmanus & Rocco.

Breakfast Club movie; John Bender.

Castle Rock tv series; Dennis Zalewski, The Kid.

Criminal Minds; Derek Morgan, Spencer Reid, Hotch, Tobias Hankel & Adam/Amanda.

Crybaby Movie; wade walker.

CSI tv series; Greg Sanders, Nick Stokes, Warrick Brown, Gil Grissom, Tim Speedle, Ryan Wolfe, Eric Delko, Danny Messer, Don Flack, Mack Taylor.

Dazed & Confused movie; Randal Pink Floyd, Mike Newhouse, Ron Slater, Fred O’Bannion and Kevin Pickford.

DC Cinematic; Digger Harkness.

Detroit Rock City movie; Tripp, Lex, Hawk and Jam.

Fast & The Furious series; Dom Toretto, Han.

Four Brothers movie; Angel, Jack or Bobby Mercer

Friday Night Lights tv series; Tim Riggins, ,Matt Saracen, Landry Clarke, Bobby Riggins, Vince.

General Hospital tv series; Sonny Corinthos, Jason Morgan, Johnny Zacarra, Dante Falconeri, several other of the guys on here…

Ghostbusters 80′s version movie; Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler , Peter Venkman, Winston Zeddemore.

Gotham tv series; Jerome Valeska, Jim Gordon, Joker, Riddler.

Harry Potter movies; Sirius Black, Severus Snape, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Neville Longbottom.

Horror movies various; Billy Loomis/Scream, Charlie Walker/Scre4m, Wade/ House of Wax, Tom Hanninger/My Bloody Valentine + others. Trust me, there are... So many others. I just didn’t have the brain power to think of them all at the moment.

Law & Order tv series; Barba, Carisi, Stabler.

Lucifer tv series; Lucifer Morningstar.

Luke Cage; Luke Cage, Shades Alvarez.

Marvel Cinematic; Bruce Banner/hulk, Captain america/steve rogers, bucky barnes/winter soldier, eric killmonger, hawkeye/clintbarton, thor, loki, pietro maximoff, venom/eddie brock, starlord/peter quill, ironman/tony stark, wolverine.. I’m a marvel ho.

Mayans MC tv series; Angel Reyes and Ez Reyes.

NCIS tv series; Anthony Dinozzo, Timothy McGee, Marty Deeks, Greg Callen.

On My Block tv series; Spooky Diaz.

Punisher tv series; Billy Russo, Frank Castle.

Riverdale tv series; Jughead Jones, FP Jones, Reggie Mantle, Sweetpea, Archie Andrews.

Shameless tv series; Lip Gallagher.

Sons of Anarchy tv series; Jax Teller, Chibs Telford, Clay Morrow, Juice Ortiz, Opie Winston.

Stranger Things tv series; Jonathan Byers, Billy Hargrove, Steve Harrington, Jim Hopper.

Star Wars movie series; Han Solo, Kylo Ren, Ben Solo, Poe Dameron, Finn.

Supernatural tv series; Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Crowley, Benny Lafitte, Kevin Tran.

Teen Wolf tv series; Stiles Stilinski, Scott McCall, Derek Hale.

The Crow movie series; Eric Draven and Jimmy Quervo/Wicked Prayer.

The Lost Boys movie series; Edgar Frog, Allen Frog, David, Michael Emmerson, Sam Emmerson.

The Outsiders book/movie; Two Bit Matthews, Dally Winston, Darry Curtis, Soda Pop Curtis, Johnny Cade, Steve Randle.

The Walking Dead tv series; Daryl Dixon, Shane walsh, Rick Grimes, Negan, Glenn Rhee.

The Vampire Diaries tv series; Klaus Mikaelson, Kai Parker, Kol Mikaelson, Jeremy Gilbert, Damon Salvatore.

Twelve Rounds 3 movie; Detective John Shaw.

Twilight movies/books; Jasper Hale, Emmett Cullen, Jacob Black, Paul Lahote, Embry Call.

I’m gonna be honest here. I post on my own time, at my own pace. Some days I post constantly, sometimes it’s days or even weeks, and occasionally, a month before I post anything. So.. Now ya know.

If I’m not on and posting, odds are I’m busy, taking a break or whatever. But I’ll come back! I always do. 

Basically, what I’m saying here is I have no set posting schedule. At all. I post what I want when I’m in the mood to do so. Just something to keep in mind when you’re asking for headcanons / nsfw alphabet letters with characters.

#about the writer #psa #multifandom writer #multifandom about page

[anna-hawk]

Rules: Answer 30 questions and tag 5 blogs you are contractually obligated to know better.

Tagged by: @darlingshane 🧡🧡

Name/nickname: Steffi, Stef

Gender: Female

Star sign: Pisces

Height: 5'11

Birthday: February 23rd

Time: 11:36AM

Favorite bands: Muse, Linkin' Park, Maroon 5, Arctic Monkeys

Favorite solo artists: P!nk, Sam Smith, James Arthur and soooo many more. It really depends on the song tbh.

Song stuck in my head: huh... none for once. My brain is a sleepy mess rn.

Last movie: not really sure. Haven’t watched any movies in the last 2 weeks. Maybe Alien vs Predator.

Last show: Vikings... dang I can't wait to wacht S6.

When did I create this blog: 2013 I think

What do I post: a LOT of Jon Bernthal and then about all my other obsessions like the fandoms I'm into, food (yes obsession) or super random stuff. Whatever I like really.

Last thing googled: 😅 Hank Anderson (Detroit - become human) tattoos (that fandom for example is my latest obsession)

Other blogs: none

Do I get asks: from time to time.

Why I chose my url: trying to make it short: hated the previous handle I used in my earlier twenties and came up with this sort of alias. "Anna" is a name I've always loved and "Hawk" is part of my actual last name in German.

Following: too lazy to check but less than last year after getting rid of some dead blogs.

Followers: a fair few more than last year after finding so many lovely people here when I returned to tumblr.

Average hours of sleep: hahahahaha... 2hours here and there. Whatever I get with a 2 week old baby 😅

Lucky number: 7

Instruments: piano

What am I wearing: sweatpants, maternity shirt and thick cardigan (comfort is the only important factor here)

Dream job: librarian or pastry shop owner.

Dream trip: Japan, South Korea, Canada.

Favorite food: that's a tough one cause I love eating and food in general. Asian food, burgers from my fav burger joint, pizza, Italian and French food.

Nationality: German (but born and raised in France)

Favorite song: how am I supposed to answer that? It's never just one so I'll pass.

Last book read: Ready Player One this summer. So much better than the movie. Such a good read. Otherwise it's fanfiction.

Top three fictional universes I’d like to live in: Teen Wolf, Detroit become human, Marvel (Frank Castle is my dream man)

Tagging: @ravensfreckles @kteague @allinourprivate-traps @myletternevercame @lilassparks

#about me #30 questions #tag meme #baby cried just when I was done 😆

[moonlightcrossesonyourbody]

Save Daredevil

Recently there have been cerain movements concering trying to get back on some of our dearest shows.

A mass letter is being sent to the people in charge of some of our favorite shows and i wanted to share my own

Dearest heads of Marvel's future,

We, the fans, know that funding for shows isn't always available for everything we need. However if or hopefully when, there is chance to revive shows like the Daredevil or the Punisher you can count on us to bring in the viewings.

The small and big screen alike have been filled with content not really meant to stimulate creative and critical thinking these past few decades, but nowadays things have started to shift and shift in a direction that can only help more people. There are new shows circulating that are starting much needed conversations. 

Some very important and well respected people in the business have recently made some comments about how superhero movies are lowering the quality of cinema and aren't stimulating the brain besides showcasing explosions and action sequenses. But we KNOW that that couldn't be further from the truth.

Daredevil changed my life. I was filled with aggression. I felt that further violence could be a justifiable, even a needed, consequence of violence. I believed that faith in second chances and in the system was not only misplaced but more than that, dangerously naive. Frank Castle resonated with me because I shared his aggression and his anger. Matt Murdock saved me from myself. The Matt Murdock that Charlie Cox portrayed saved me from myself. 

It's no secret that we are swallow creatures and on a basic and first look level so is this industry. It's based on looks and charm that depend on the character. Charlie Cox made me give Daredevil a chance but Matt Murdock is the one I stayed for. He's been through so much and more than half of it we never even got a chance to learn. And we need to. That man, that boy is more than just a representative for blind people. Matt Murdock is dark. He is human, he is hurt, he is intelligent, he is insecure as hell and you better believe he's damn angry. His anger is justified too and he has had every chance to let loose on scumbags who would very well deserve it. But Matt Murdock also has faith. Not just in some obscure deity but faith in a the systems and faith in humanity and I believe that now more than ever it's vital that we have that sort of influence in our lives. I could never call Matt Murdock weak. So how could I call other people who shared his opinions so? By making me love him my eyes were opened in varying degrees of both multiple belief systems and of tolerance towards different opinions. Matt Murdock taught me that my anger won't only ever be vindicated if it lasses out catastrofically. And I couldn't thank you enough for giving me a chance to learn from him.

At the same time can you comprehend how much hopes he gives to people? I'm a middle class relatively broke college student in rural Greece growing up in both a recession, an economic crisis and a refugee crisis. I started thinking that I would never be able to get out. To chase my dreams. Matt Murdock, with or without hightened senses is a beacon of hope for people like me. A catholic blind orphan who never let himself stay down. It's not about how many times you're knocked down. It's about how many times you get back up. And this, dear writers and producers and whoever else is reading this is us being there to help Matt Murdock get back up. We were knocked down a year ago but you better believe we haven't been lying on the ground since. We have been writing fanfictions. There are real works of art on these sites. People coming through those stories. We have been flooding each and any platform we could find starting conversations about anything and everything from how services are compensated( legal consult payed for in bananas) to gun control and the death penalty. The Punisher and Daredevil but more importantly Matt Murdock and Frank Castle have given us healthy outlets for our feelings and thoughts. They have brought us together and let us know that we are NOT alone.

So please if you're reading this know that one: we love you for proving us with such an outlet and for blessing us with such brilliant performances.

And two: we will not stay down on this. We have already stood back up. We have dragged each other back up. We are now supporting each other in standing, so please join us. Let us, no help us, start running again.

Thank you for everything,

Your ever faithful fans and family

People this is important. I know that we all believe the systems are rigged. I know we all think that in the gramd scheme of things when it's us against corporations and money we belive we never stood a chance but people that's the qick fire way to make that a reality instead of a belief.

COME ON!! We spend our time yelling and compaining that someone should do something, well guess what? This may come as a surprise but we ARE SOMEONES. If you care about something you need to fight for it. Don't let petitions like this just float on by. Defend your interests. Defend your characters, defend your actors!!!! They gave themselves to us through their performance. They took a chance and put themselves out there. Jon Bernthal has been telling anyone and everyone that HE WANTS TO PLAY FRANK CASTLE, so has Charlie Cox. I think it's about time we had their back don't you?

#savedaredevil #savepunisher #daredevil #punisher #matt murdock #frank castle #marvel #MCU #superheroes #jon bernthal #charlie cox #petitions&campaigns

[vampirkaninchen]

Well, here it is; I want to say things about The Punisher’s season two, and why I felt so sadly let down by it. I won’t rant about Billy’s looks (you’ll never see me complain about Ben’s face ever), or about that uncomfortable patient-psychiatrist relationship. Instead, I want to argue that this season had very fundamental storytelling issues, which is surprising given how excellent the first season was. Before I do though, let me say that I’ll always love the interplay of rage, violence, and vulnerability with which Jon Bernthal plays Frank, and that I was absolutely floored by Ben’s portrayal of Billy - I thought he was brilliant, and he really got me invested in the character - which makes it all the sadder that the season just doesn’t work as a whole.

I’m going to focus on Frank and Billy here, and one reason for that is that the entire Amy-to-Pilgrim storyline failed to draw me in. I really liked Amy and I’ll always be here for Frank softening for spunky youngsters, but even their relationship remained a bit rocky and had moments that really alienated me (Frank threatening Amy with a gun in the trailer, for example.) The entire plot seemed randomly grafted onto the rest, spliced in with no feeling for narrative flow: mysteries went unexplained for too long, characters were introduced too late, and the stakes were too low (political blackmail over homosexuality? Really?) Long story short: I lost the thread and I lost interest - which is sad because season one brilliantly intertwined the storylines to complement Frank’s struggles, his desires, regrets, and developpement. This time seemed like an excuse for bloodshed. That said, where season one, like all three Daredevil seasons really shone was in escalating things. I’ve always admired how they would take an event, see it through in one episode, and let the characters deal with the fallout in the next, letting both events and stakes get bigger and bigger. They lost all this in this season because the storylines were not interconnected. We see this also in Dinah Madani, who has no storyline at all - her dealing with her trauma from season one manifests in a few drinks and some half-hearted comments to Frank. Likewise Karen, who I know has had a big story arc in Daredvil season 3 but is still an important part of Frank’s story, only appeared to do a bit of pining, it seemed. That, to me, is a lot of wasted potential, because both women had integral parts in the first season; Dinah crucially influenced the plot with her decisions and Karen represented that human connection so essential to Frank Castle. In the same vein, then, that the show wasted so much story potential by not following up on the fallout of the Dinah-Billy relationship (a few nightmares don’t count), the connection between Frank and Billy was vastly distorted. I really liked the flashback leading up to Billy confronting his abuser (a scene that was heart-wrenching and really well done, I thought). Perhaps more flashbacks about Frank and Billy’s now-lost friendship would have grounded the story, especially against Billy’s arc of (literally) putting himself back together. Because that weird, warped vendetta we got did not work at all, and I’ll try to explain why. So; debonair sociopath Billy Russo has lost his memory of everything he did in season one, and with it why he deserved Frank’s punishment- to let him live with what he had done and what he had lost. And so we follow Billy dealing with his trauma, loss, and confusion in heart-wrenching ways, enhanced by Ben’s superb acting (my fav part of the season, let’s be honest). Not only does this arouse my sympathy as a viewer much more than it lets me emphasize with Madani’s casual drinking and Frank’s gratuitous murder sprees, it means that season-two-Billy is in no state or place to be held accountable for what he did before, not ethically, and not from a storytelling perspective. Exploring the Frank-Billy friendship from Billy’s new/old frame of mind would have given us tension and emotional depth, because we know Frank is in a vastly different place. They wasted that opportunity, and for me that damaged the story. Because, what does Frank do? He kills his way through a storyline I don’t much care about and repeatedly talks of ‘putting Billy down’ - for what? What exactly has Billy done since his punishment that merits this intention of Frank’s? The fact that he survived and made a surprising recovery (sort of)? We watch Billy painsakingly re-assmble himself with that combination of rage, confusion, and vulnerability that is usually Frank’s trademark (well done Ben, you’re doing great), and somehow Frank decides that this is not what he intended with the season one face-bash finale? That Billy isn’t suffering in the right way, or enough? You can’t dole out judgements and punishments until you’re satisified. That’s not how the law works, and while we all know Frank doesn’t give two figs about the law, it’s not how storytelling works, either. Even poetic justice must be earned. And this is where my main problem lies: Frank repeatedly asserts to Amy how ‘some people just need killing’, again and again he stubbornly claims Billy needs to die, waving aside the hesitant ethical reservations of Dinah, Curtis, and Karen alike. This is not exploring a theme, this is setting an intention: we know this season ends with Billy dead, but we’re not sure why. Somehow, he is blamed for Frank’s, Curtis’, and Dinah’s ongoing trauma from season one, while having little to none contact with either of them, nor remembering having caused that trauma. They hold him accountable for how they feel, but not only have they already tried and judged him in season one, and shouldn’t get do-overs, but Billy is not even aware of their trauma- he has his own trauma to deal with. Multiple things happen here: Billy becomes a scapegoat, not a villain, Frank doesn’t really get a character arc, and the stakes are lost. What are the stakes of Frank not killing Billy? What are the stakes of Billy getting killed? We know there is no redemption for him, he has nothing left to lose and nowhere left to go. Neither have Frank, or Dinah, or Curtis. What are the emotional stakes? What terrible thing happens if Billy lives? I don’t have answers. Meanwhile, Billy’s headcount doesn’t even rise from one to ten until episode eight, whereas Frank’s own headcount has been at least fifty from episode one. This is disproportionate. “This was always what I was”, asserts Frank, “I can do things other people can’t.” This, admittedly, is a killer line - but nothing new. Moreover, it’s ill-timed: This kind of (self-)revelalation demands build-up, demands a struggle against it first. If Frank had spent the season desperately trying not to be that killer machine the Punisher is, while repeatedly getting drawn into defending himself and others... that might have worked. But Frank has gleefully killed people since he went into that bathroom in the pilot, claiming to be “an asshole who doesn’t know better” (or whatever he said there). What’s more, that kind of big talk necessitates a strong, chaotic antagoistic force, and one that escalates until no law may stop or contain it anymore. Something like the cancerous organised crime of the previous season, a conspiracy, or an unstoppable, walks-away-from-explosions Vendetta Billy Russo. That kind of big talk demands strong opposition, build-up, and proof. Show, don’t tell, remember? The Billy we see is a petty criminal with the potential to escalate - but but mainly he’s busy coming to terms with himself. “This has to end” claims Frank. What is “this”? What and where is that monumental chaotic thing that cannot be stopped, contained, or made right without Frank’s unbrideled violence? It is certainly not the Billy who frequently relapses into utter confusion, and even the Billy whose thugs kill some people after Frank has already had his ‘epiphany’ is not enough. You can’t retroactively justify your character’s decisions. That’s not good storytelling at all. My point is; Billy’s and Frank’s storylines are out of joint. One does not complement or justify the other, I get tired with Frank’s vendettas if I’m not also shown that they’re necessary, and in the end, I don’t want to see Billy die, because his is the only story arc I’ve actually cared about. His death isn’t earned, Frank’s justice isn’t justice, it’s not resolution, or restoration, or anything that makes me feel good at the end of a story. Billy mainly dies because the other characters don’t know how to move on, and they blame him for it. That’s not enough.

#punisher spoilers #billy russo #frank castle #the punisher #storytelling #i had to leave this somewhere #*sighs deeply* #i tried

[madamrogersstorytelling]

Day 5: Three favourite movies/series

This is quite easy, actually. For change. After suffering for two days with extremely hard topics, I’m very happy about this. I had my answers ready already. 

I haven’t seen all his works yet. I’m kinda new to his filmography anyway, but I’m going to watch everything (I tend to do that with all my favorite actors). So this list may change some time later, but let’s not care about that yet, let’s focus on his works I actually have seen. 

1. Jackie & Ryan (2014)

Directed by Ami Canaan Mann

Starring Katherine Heigl, Ben Barnes, Clea DuVall, Emily Alyn Lind

“A modern day train hopper fighting to become a successful musician, and a single mom battling to maintain custody of her daughter, defy their circumstances by coming together in a relationship that may change each others lives forever.” 

I’ve said it a few times now, but Ryan has a special place in my heart. I said in my post ‘Madamrogers Storytelling’ that I had this one moment I realized many things; that moment was after seeing this movie. It was a little over a month ago. 

Ryan made me realize that if there is a thing I want to do, something I want to accomplish, something I hold dear... I should not get stuck. I have to go towards it, no matter what. I think I somehow can identify with Ryan; I don’t write songs or play music, I write stories. There is still the same agony, the same will to succeed and being able to do what you love. And I’d love to have that same kind of courage as Ryan has, that same way of approaching life. 

There are two moments that make me cry. They always make me cry; I’ve watched the movie like five times now and those moments still make me cry. They’re both because of Ryan’s words. In the first one he says to Jackie: “He is not going to take Lia from you. Because you won’t let him.” He sounds so sure, so strong and reassuring that I take it. Something happens inside me. The other moment is when Ryan says: “I always ask myself where am I gonna go next, how am I gonna get there.” I’ve taken that. I ask myself that quite often now. And it helps. I can tell you, it truly helps.

I love Ben in this film. Ryan is so kind, a bit shy, helpful, strong and inspiring character, and Ben’s way of portraying him goes right into my heart. I realized his talent during this film. He tells so much without even saying a single word. I can feel all the emotions he’s showing. And don’t even get me started with his singing voice! I’ve always loved men who sing and play an instrument, especially a guitar. There is something about the way a guitar changes a person; they may be this nice person without it, but when they take a guitar, they change completely. They become deeper, more tender, there is something extremely beautiful in them, more than before. I love all the songs in this film, but Southbound. I fell in love with it during the first note and never stopped falling.

I cannot say that I’m a friend of romantic movies. Especially romcoms make me feel quite bad because they often show love and life so wrongly, like both of them were full of roses and laughter all the time. I’m a bit cynical, to be honest. The reason may be that I’ve never actually been in love. I like honest, meaningful movies that have no fear of showing life and love the way they really are. I have nothing against romance in movies, don’t get me wrong. I just want it to be realistic. And in Jackie & Ryan, this ugly and cruel side of life is shown. Not exactly so clearly, but it’s still there under all those layers. You can see it. I like it how friendly and kind this movie is at the same time as it’s honest and shows you that if something bad happens, often something good comes after it. It’s like when winter dies and spring begins. People’s choices matter. This movie is not just a romantic movie. This is, like Ben said in an interview, a movie about people. I’ve seen that people don’t like it because nothing happens in it. In my opinion, quite a lot happens. This is one of my Go To movies and I’m happy that I found it. It always makes me feel better. I believe in myself. Would probably need someone like Ryan in my life, someone so inspiring and someone who isn’t afraid of telling me the truth. But, for now, this movie’s Ryan will do.

2. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)

Directed by Michael Apted

Starring Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, Ben Barnes, Will Poulter

“Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world.”

I’m actually glad that I watched Narnia films as an adult. I knew what Narnia was as a child, I probably got to know it around the same time as Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings but never really watched the movies or read the books. I remember getting this book with a movie cover from a book club. I forced my mom to let me keep it, and gladly I succeeded because I found the book a few weeks ago and it made me so happy. There were happy tears involved. That was the moment I remembered I had wanted to see the film. I also remembered looking at Caspian when I was just a girl and thinking ‘there is something in that one’. Never saw the film, sadly. 

But a while ago I sat down and watched these movies (with my mom, actually) and I just fell in love. Especially with this third one. Why am I glad that I watched these films as an adult and not as a child? Mostly because nostalgia hurts me instead of actually making me happy. I remember how much better life was back then. (It hurts to look at Ron Weasley sometimes... He was my first fictional crush.) And because now I have a place I can go, the place I got to know as the person I am now. I have Hogwarts, Middle-earth and all the other worlds I’m not letting go of, but this feeling that there is a place for me. It’s funny, really. The ending song of this movie is just so beautiful. There is a place for us. This movie reminds me of that; there is a place for me. I just haven’t found it yet. 

I also love Caspian’s character. I find similarities with myself. Funny enough, my mom even calls me Caspian sometimes (that’s because I have similar hair as he had in Prince Caspian, but mom said once that we’re quite similar in a way). He seems like someone who could make you feel better in mere seconds. The way he speaks, the way he is, and also his hugs must be the best ones in all Narnia. I could go for one of those right now. He is exactly like a person I’d respect. And I respect him, even when he’s just fictional. But he’s a King anyway. And Ben as Caspian, so beautiful. I could say the same things as I did when talking about Ryan, but he has so many emotions in his eyes and body. The way he holds his hand could tell more than a sentence. 

We’ve had this common joke “let’s go to Narnia” with my mom long before we even saw the films. But now, after watching them, the joke is even more common. It’s not even a joke anymore. And I know that till the end of my days, these movies and Caspian will remind me of my mom. 

3. The Punisher (2017)

Marvel

Created by Steve Lightfoot

Starring Jon Bernthal, Amber Rose Revah, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ben Barnes

“After the murder of his family, Marine veteran Frank Castle became a vigilante known as "The Punisher" with only one goal in mind, to avenge them.”

I suck at watching Marvel’s tv series. I’ve seen almost all the movies of MCU and the new X-Men films and Deadpool, but these tv series I’ve pretty much neglected. I tried to watch Daredevil back in the day but didn’t continue. Then, through my dear friend @accio-rogers, I found out about this show and that Ben Barnes is starring in it as a man called Billy Russo (I had no idea who Billy even was). I went to check the series from IMDb and saw that the main role was played by Jon Bernthal, who I had seen before in The Walking Dead. This started to feel like a safe choice, and during the same day I started to watch it. I was also having an awful summer flu back then, so what else could I have done than watch Netflix? Nothing. Didn’t have energy for anything else. 

Turned out that this choice affected on me more than I could’ve expected. 

This was the series which made me fall in love with Ben Barnes.

I probably have said this before, but instead of hating him, I love Billy Russo. I find him interesting. He is psychological, he has an interesting backstory. And I’ve always been interested in psychology, so I love this kind of characters. I don’t love everything he does or all his choices, no. No, no. I think he really is a bad man, but in this very interesting, captivating way. I’m unable to hate him. I understand why people hate him or refuse to write soft and sweet things about him. But still, in my deepest thoughts, hopes and fantasies (that came out wrong) - and probably headcanons - I can see that Billy really has a softer side. He is a psychopath, but maybe there is a side of him that is a bit softer? Maybe all of this is just his way of protecting himself? We know he had a tragic childhood. There must be tons and tons of armor on him, he has made stone walls around himself. Maybe there is someone else under those. No one, not even him anymore, can break those walls and armors. I’m more than willing to accept the fact that he is just a psychopath, as well. It makes him interesting. 

There is something about Ben playing the bad guy. He is so bad, but you cannot hate him. Billy is the perfect example. He is almost like a perfect villain. And the way Ben portrays him is magnificent: so much emotions in a blink of an eye. He’s phenomenal, a masterpiece. Billy Russo is my favorite antagonist of all time; he has this certain energy that makes him a bit frightening but likeable at the same time. He is well written. Full of layers and psychology. I cannot wait to see where Billy’s (or should we call him Jigsaw now?) story goes in season 2.

_________

If I could’ve list four, Westworld would’ve been the fourth. I spent quite some time finding out do I actually love or hate Logan; decided eventually that I love him, that hottie-naughty cowboy. And I’m only in season 1! Yikes. 

Happy Ben Barnes week!

@benbarnesweek

#benbarnesweek2018 #ben barnes #ben barnes appreciation week #day 5

[allofthefeelings]

*waltzes into your inbox* Jewish Frank Castle thoughts (befitting Jon Bernthal being Jewish) because explicitly Jewish Punisher, let's pretend the "frank is Catholic" thing never happened

OKAY SO THE BIGGEST THING HERE is that racists and neo-Nazis hate the Punisher. Like I know the problem is the real world more than within the MCU, but it’s impossible to not bleed over, so:

Racists and neo-Nazis fucking hate the Punisher.

No one can take him as some type of authoritarian symbol anymore. His logo isn’t painted on police cars; it’s emblazoned on posters at protests. Frank Castle represents to bigots basically everything wrong with the country. They see him as part of a vast Jewish conspiracy to undermine white America. As a result, you know how he tends to run into a lot of shitty people? In this universe, the shitty people are disproportionately bigots who don’t want His Kind to have any power.

So this Frank Castle is still invested in vigilante justice, but because of who he interacts with, the people he violently takes down are almost entirely white supremacist fucks who aren’t smart enough to figure out that even bigots should be careful around someone with that much weaponry.

(Not that it would matter. You attack one, you attack ALL. Jewish Frank Castle is standing up for his people. But somehow a lot of them still come for him specifically. It’s fucking unbelievable, honestly.)

Judaism doesn’t believe that everyone deserves forgiveness. We believe it has to be earned, and that some things are beyond forgiveness. That means two things:

(1) Frank has no sympathy for these people. They crossed the line. They crossed ALL the fucking lines. There’s no obligation to feel bad for what he does. They made their choice.

(2) Frank does not have quite the same level of guilt Catholic!Frank might have. If he’s beyond forgiveness, there’s no amount of repenting that’s going to fix it, and he better make the most of what he’s already done with his life. Beyond that, I mean, Jews don’t have Hell. The threat of eternal damnation isn’t hanging over his head. Frank does the same things, but his mindset about them is very different.

Beyond these actual changes to him, please consider a very important mental image:

Frank Castle making dismissive comments in Yiddish over the corpses of the white supremacist fucks who tried to take him down.

#allofthereplies #russianspacegeckosexparty #*aggressively headcanons* #Jewish headcanons #The Punisher #Frank Castle #just to be safe I'm going to tag this #antisemitism #racism #bigotry #but only in the context of Frank Castle taking those motherfuckers out

[crzcorgi]

Love on Board

Jeffrey Dean Morgan x Reader x Jon Bernthal

5200 words

Warnings ~ NSFW

Who would think that a cruise could change your life?

tagging ~ @namelesslosers @walkingdead96 @chelseafartnoise @yedi16 @mypopculturediva @londoncapsule @xsophiaxox @hobobilbo @dramaqueenarg @sarahlee8793 @trees-and-ink

   I couldn’t believe it. I was finally living my dream. My bestie Suzy and I were on The Walking Dead cruise. A boat full of other fans as crazy for the show as we were. And we were joined by a handful of the show’s stars. Which is why I was here.  Actually, I was here to see 3 of those stars specifically. 3 breathtaking men that turn every red blooded woman crazy with lust. Suzy and I were getting ready for a panel with one of those men, the other two having a panel later on.

 Once we were dressed, our swimsuits on under our sundresses, we headed down to the deck that held the panels.

   A last minute change in panels caused them to place the 3 men I was most eager to meet, the men that haunted my dreams, together. Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Norman Reedus and Jon Bernthal.

 “Can you believe this?!” I whispered to my best friend, Suzy. “It’s like a dream come true!” I worked my way through the crowd, hoping to get closer to the stage. It was like the clouds parted as I was  able to reach the edge of barricades separating the crowd from the stage.

 “Desperate much?” Suzy jabbed my side, a smirk on her face. I laughed her off, I was way too excited to care.

 Just then the moderator stepped up on the stage, walking to the middle. “Is everyone ready? Can I hear some ‘Hell ya’s?!’” The crowd erupted in cheers, me included.

 “Let’s give it up for some of our favorites from the Walking Dead world. First up, you know him as Rick’s partner, Shane Walsh, and now starring as Frank Castle, The Punisher, Mr. Jon Bernthal!

 As he stepped onto the stage, I couldn’t help but swoon a bit, he was, after all, my first Walking Dead crush. My bestie whispering, “He’s better looking in person!” I didn’t want to miss a thing so I just nodded in agreement, my eyes never leaving the stage.

 “He’s everyone’s favorite lovable redneck, Daryl Dixon, Mr. Norman Reedus!” As Norman stepped on stage, the crowd erupted in hoots, a chorus of “I love you’s” and whistles, Suzy quickly joining in. He was her favorite so no surprise.

 “He’s the bad guy everyone loves to hate, or hates to love, the man with the bat, Negan, Mr. Jeffrey Dean Morgan!”

 The crowd, which hadn’t calmed down from Norman’s entrance, became much louder and rowdier. And I, of course, joined in.

 “Calm down y/n!” Suzy grabbed my arm, acting like she was disapproving but quickly joined in.

 “I’m sorry Suzy, but he is freaking gorgeous! They all are!” As I was staring at Jeffrey, I kept taking quick glances at Norman and Jon. As the men began joking with each, I became utterly enthralled. These men, honestly took my breath away.

I wasn’t even sure I took in what they were saying, just watching them, each one so amazingly handsome in their own way. But you always seemed to gravitate back towards Jeff & Jon.

Norman, though not conventionally handsome, had a certain rough around the edges charm. Very handsome in his own right.

Jon was swoon-worthy, so very manly, a masculinity that just made me gasp.

 Jeffrey, he was the whole package. The whole sexy swagger, manly man, rugged as fuck, that made your panties wet. His lip-licking, nose crinkling, adorably dimpled damn face that you just couldn’t look away from.

 Yes, I had it bad.

 “Y/N, what next?”

 “Huh?”

 “It’s over, whatta we doing next?”

 Looking up on the stage I realized it was over, the men standing up, chatting with each other.

 “Can we just hang out here, poolside for a bit?”

 Suzy began giggling. “Oh, just want to watch them? I get it, they are all sights to behold! Sure why not. I’ve got a bit of a buzz and am in a good mood.”

 We made our way to a couple of lounge chairs, making sure we could still see the stage.

 “You know you’re practically drooling there, y/n?”

 “Oh, pffishh! I am not!”

 I tried not to stare, but how could I ignore them? These men were gods, or at least, god-like. A little bit of heaven on earth. And I was this close to it. And I wanted them. Badly.

I closed my eyes, the afternoon sun feeling so nice on my face. Falling asleep, I began dreaming, a wonderful dream featuring those beautiful men. But I was soon rudely awakened.

 “Wake up! Let’s go back to the cabin and get ready for the party tonight. I haven’t a clue which outfit I’m wearing and I need your help.”

 Back in our cabin, trying on outfits, enjoying some nice wine, I all but forgot about my desire.

 Heading down to the deck the party was on I started feeling excited. It had been awhile since I’d been out. I missed it, the parties, fun crowds, the drinking. I never drank to excess, but feeling that fun high from just a bit too much was so fucking enjoyable.

 We made our way through the crowd finding an empty table. “I’ll go get our drinks.” Suzy said as I climbed up onto the bar stool.

 I took a look around at the crowd. There were people of all ages, everyone mingling, chatting, laughing. It seemed a bit more laid back than the usual bar scene, everyone there for the same reason, their love of The Walking Dead bringing them together in a different kind of friendship.

 I was looking down, noticing one of my freshly manicured nails had a tiny chip, making me frown.

 “Shit!” I muttered to myself.

 “I’m sorry?”

 I knew that voice, but couldn’t believe it. Wasn’t sure I wanted to lift my face to see him, to look into those eyes. This had to be a dream. He cleared his throat, trying to get my attention thinking I must not have heard him. I had to look at him. And so, I did, slowly lifting my head to face him.

 And I choked, on nothing but air. There he stood, all 6 foot 2 inches of fucking manliness.

 “You okay sweetheart?” He placed his large palm on my back, patting it lightly, then rubbing it softly. I could feel the heat radiating off it. It felt so good.  

Breathe, breathe! I had to will myself to keep up bodily functions that normally would be automatic. I knew I needed to speak, but how? But I was saved when Suzy appeared, drinks in hand.

 “OMG! Hello! Uh, we love you!” She put the drinks down, non stop giggling as she sat next to me.

 “I’m afraid I scared your beautiful friend.” Jeffrey told her. “I was just going to ask if this seat was free, I’m so sorry darling, I’ll just be on my way.” He removed his hand from my back, making me audibly sigh.

 “No, uh, please, this seat is free!” I squeaked out, my voice so much higher than usual.

 “Are you sure?” He leaned down, so much closer to my face, looking directly into my eyes.

 “We’re sure!” Suzy chirped, kicking the extra stool out with her foot.

 He moved away from me just enough to grab the stool, pulling it directly next to me and sitting down.

 “So, how are you enjoying the cruise so far? No seasickness right?” He smiled, those damn dimples on full display.

 Suzy spoke up. “Nope, we’ve been juuuust fiiiine!” She giggled, obviously the wine she’d had earlier plus the whiskey she just downed, going to her head.

 “That’s good. Don’t want this beautiful lady sick in bed.”

 Was he talking to me?! I couldn’t wrap my head around it. So I just smiled nicely at him, grabbing the glass of god knows what Suzy had brought me, and downed it in one shot.

 Jeff grabbed my hand, causing me to squeak. “Easy there sweetheart! You’ve gotta pace yourself. We have plenty of night left!”

“Fuck dood! We’ve been lookin’ for ya!” It was Norman Reedus. And behind him, pulling away from eager fangirls, was Jon Bernthal.

 I’m drunk and dreaming, that’s it. Because this can’t be real. I can’t be sitting here with Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jon Bernthal and Norman Reedus. Nope.

 “Mind if these gentlemen join us dolls?” Jeffrey looked right at me, those hazel eyes boring into me.

 “Oh, of course they can!” Suzy hiccuped, covering her mouth and giggling. “Come sit here Norman!” She patted the stool nearest her.

 I began to feel braver, figuring if I was dreaming, why not enjoy myself? No one would be the wiser as it would all be safe inside my head.

 We all began chatting, Suzy and I peppering them with TWD questions. And they answering us both happily. It was like we were old friends just catching up.

 “Can I let you in on a little secret doll?” Jeff had leaned into, almost whispering into my ear, the vibrations from his deep baritone heading straight to my core, making me rethink my panty choice.

 “Um, sure?!” I was almost afraid to ask.

 “We saw you from the stage. All 3 of us.” He winked, his tongue darting out across his bottom lip. “We know how you feel about us.”

 My eyes must have grown 3 sizes bigger. How could he possibly know that?

 “Uh, you saw me?”

 “I most certainly fucking did. And I pointed you out to Bubba and Jon.” His eyes never leaving mine as his hand landed on my bare thigh.

 I tried to stay calm. But all I could think of, what I realized, was that his hand, on my leg, was most certainly not a dream. It was real. Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s hand was touching my bare skin, very close to my… UGH!

 “So…” He had now moved impossibly closer, his lips grazing my ear. “what do you say to going somewhere much more private?”

 I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, so afraid I might make a noise, panicked my body would betray me and he would know exactly what he was doing to me. I wanted, needed, to look cool, unaffected by his moves.

 “Uh, but I’m here with my frie…” I looked up to see Suzy was gone, Norman too. “What the?!”

 “Looks like she saw what she wanted and fucking took it. That leaves me and Jon. All alone doll.” He gave me this sad puppy dog look, pouty lips and all. I couldn’t help the giggle.

 “Whatta say sweetheart?” Jon was suddenly standing behind me, his hands reaching out lightly to massage my shoulders.

 Something inside me switched, on or off, I’m not sure. All I know is in that moment, that glorious moment, I decided to throw caution, and god willing, my panties, to the wind.

 I began to stand, both men attempting to help me. Jeff taking my hand while Jon pulled my bar stool back.

 “So where to gentlemen?” I winked in both their directions. A smirk on my cherry red lips.

 “How about my stateroom Doll?” Jeffrey purred in my ear.

 Not counting on my voice, I just nodded. We left out of the bar, heading straight for the elevator. As the doors opened, we stepped inside, Jeff’s hand landed on my lower back causing shivers to run up and down my spine.

 “Nervous darlin’?” Jon asked, startling me out of my thoughts.

 “Kind of?” I wasn’t sure how to answer, I didn’t want to scare them away with the wrong words.

 “No need to be.” Jeff whispered in my ear, causing another wave of shivers.

 “But we also want to make sure you are sure of this?” Jon motioned between you all.  

 “Yes, I’m sure.” I glanced up at them both, a shy smile on my lips.

 “You are fucking adorable doll face!” Jeffrey pulled me tightly into his side making me squeak.

 “We’re sharing Morgan.” Jon snickered, leaning down to kiss the top of my head.

 Whoa, wow.

 The elevator chimed, letting us know we reached Jeff’s deck. The doors opened and Jeff gently guided me out the door.

 “To the right sweetheart, fifth door on the left.”

 We reached the door, Jeffrey bringing his keycard out to open it. I stepped inside, taking in the opulence.

 “Wow! This is so nice!” I couldn’t help it. It was a beautiful room.

 “They do set us up nicely.” Jeff spoke, leading me over to a sofa. “Sit doll.”

 I sat down, Jeff sitting next to me, right next to me. So close our legs were touching, his body heat sinking into my bare thigh. I closed my eyes, trying to calm my rapidly beating heart.

 “I gotta use your bathroom Morgan, pour me a glass?” Jon yelled as he stepped out of the living area.

 “I’m not your fucking bartender Bernthal!” He stood up, turning quickly to offer me his hand. “Come help me y/n, I’ll pour us all a little something.”

 I stood, making sure my too short dress was hiked up too far. I followed him to the bar, still a bit wobbly from the drinks I already had.

 “So what will your poison be sweet thing?” Jeff’s tongue darting our across his lips, causing my thighs to clench together tightly.

 “I think maybe I should pass, I’m still a bit tipsy.” I giggled. I turned to look out the window noticing the huge deck. I jumped when Jon’s hand landed on my ass, just a light slap.

 “Fuck girl, you are smoking hot from behind!”

 Giggling again, my voice almost a whisper as I thanked him. Hoping he didn’t notice the blush forming on my cheeks.

 “Let’s head out on the patio.” Jeff led the way outside to a grouping of soft seats.

 I sat down in a chair, both men just staring at me. Shit, did I have something on my face, in my hair?

 “Y/N, why are you sitting by yourself, get that sweet ass over here!” Jon patted the empty seat between both of them. I swallowed hard, standing to make my way to them.

 And then it happened, so quickly I couldn’t stop it. I tripped. Landing right into Jeff’s lap, my face that is.

 “Sweetheart! Are you okay?” Jeff was pulling me up and onto his lap. And I was trying so hard not to cry, the tears beginning to form. “Oh sweet girl, it’s okay! Are you hurt?” He began rubbing my back, pushing my loose hair back from my face.

 “I’m…okay, I’m just, so embarrassed!” I brought my hands up to hide my face. Humiliated.

 “No, no need to be embarrassed sweetheart, that rug is loose, any one of us could have tripped.” Jon took a hold of my feet, pulling them up into his lap, taking my shoes off and rubbing them. And fuck if that didn’t feel good.

 Jeff was now wiping the few tears that had made their way onto my cheeks, surprising me when he leaned in to kiss all over my face rapidly finding my mouth. It was such a sweet gentle kiss that turned heated when his tongue snaked its way over my lips and into my mouth. Our tongues began dancing the dance of domination, Jeff quickly winning. I brought my hands up behind his neck and into his short waves.

 I was so into our ministrations that I almost didn’t feel Jon’s hands slowly massaging their way up my legs, reaching my dress hem and sneaking underneath. He continued moving upward, my dress bunching up, until he reached his destination.

 “Silk, my favorite.” He growled as he ran his fingers over my now damp panties. “May I?” He had a hold of the lace waistband, asking permission to remove them.

 As we pulled away for air, I looked down towards Jon.

 “Yes.” I panted.

 Jeff was now nipping at my neck, finding that sweet spot where my neck melds into my shoulder. One hand grasping at my still clothed breasts, the other reaching around to my back, unzipping my dress.

 Jon’s fingers pulled at my panties, sliding them down, not stopping to touch me, just drawing it out, taking his time.

 I felt so many sensations at once, it was almost an overload. Jeff’s nips and licks on my neck, shoulder. His hands pulling my dress down, one hand undoing my bra hook. My bra falling, my breasts freed, my nipples becoming hard from the cool night air. Jon’s fingers gently tugging my panties down my legs, the delicate feather touch causing goosebumps to erupt all over my over sensitive body.

 As quick as it all began, it ended.

 “Can you stand up baby?” Jeff asked in his gravelly voice causing me to shiver.

 “Yes? I think?” I was a bit confused as to what was going on. My dress was around my waist now, my panties in Jon’s hands. My bra god knows where, my breasts exposed.

 I slipped my feet off of Jon’s lap, dropping them to the floor. As I stood, my dress slid the rest of the way down my body, pooling at my feet. I stepped out of it, pushing it aside. And there I stood, completely bare, my naked body fully exposed. In front of two men that I adored.

 “Fucking breathtaking baby, fucking breathtaking.” Jeff breathed out.

 “Gorgeous darling.”

 I felt self conscious, on display, bare, all of me. It must have shown on my face because both men leaned forward, each taking one of my hands.

 “It’s okay y/n. Let’s go inside.” Jeff stood, as did Jon, Jeff taking the lead while Jon waved me ahead. When we got back inside, Jeff spoke.

 “Bed?” He looked hesitant, but I nodded yes. I wanted them, I did. And I wouldn’t let my self doubt or nerves stop me from this once in a lifetime experience.

 As I made my way towards the bed, I glanced over my shoulder at both men. How did I ever end up here? My own fucking personal heaven.

 I crawled up onto the bed reaching the headboard and turning around. Both Jeff and Jon standing at the end of the bed, watching my every move. Their eyes lust blown and so very dark. Glancing down their bodies I notice both are quite “ready” for what was coming, in more ways than one.

 Their “looks” sent a wave of different feelings, sensations, through my mind, body. I felt totally exposed, on display. But I was not at all self conscious from it. They looked at me as if I was the most beautiful, most glorious creature they had ever laid eyes upon.

 “You are fucking marvelous darlin’, a sight to behold.” Jon spoke, a smile a mile wide upon his handsome face.

 “Amen brother. A piece of art, a fucking masterpiece doll. And as much as I would love to stand here drinking you in, I have a few other things I would fucking rather be doing with you right now.” Jeff growled, his tongue running over his amazingly white teeth.

My desire for both men causing me to become suddenly, and extraordinarily, bold.

 “How about you both give me a bit of a show?” I sat forward, beginning to crawl down the bed to where they stood. Reaching the end, I sat back on my feet, my hands itching to touch them.

 They laughed, a gruff throaty sound coming from both.

 “Wanna see us strip doll?” Jon winked at me as he backed up to sit down in a plush chair across from the bed. He slipped his boots off, socks next.

 Jeffrey did the same thing, dropping into a chair that was in the opposite corner. His eyes never left mine as he began to undress, boots, socks, pants, shirt. Until he was left in a pair of black boxer briefs.

 I wasn’t sure where to direct my eyes. Jeff stood, walking back over to the bed, his gaze never wavering. And I was staring at his very obvious bulge.

 “Like what you see sweetheart? Wanna touch?” He purred, his hand reaching out to cup my chin, tilting my face upward. “Now, as much as I would enjoy your delicate hands on my very hard cock, I need to touch you, every fucking gorgeous inch of you.”

 Jon appeared beside him, completely naked. I tried not to show the surprise, the shock, but my face betrayed me.

 “S’ok sweetheart, you can look, no need to be shy.”

As Jon spoke, and I unabashedly stared, Jeff climbed on the bed unbeknownst to me, his arms slipping around my waist, his lips on my neck causing me to yelp in surprise.

 In a muffled voice, Jeff laughed, his face now buried in me. “Sorry baby, I couldn’t wait.”

I felt the bed dip as Jon joined us, his hand running up my leg. Jeff’s hands coming up to my cheeks. “I need to taste you y/n, may I?” He sounded almost out of breath, desperate.

 “Yes, yes.” I blurted out.

 “Can you lay back doll, let us take care of you?” Jon asked.

 I nodded my head, crawling backwards up the bed, my eyes watching them both, not wanting to be surprised.

 Jon followed me up the bed, laying beside me. I sighed, he was so handsome up close and I just wanted to take it, him, all in.

 “Fucking gorgeous.” Jeff growled, his hands on my calves, slowly moving upwards. Taking his time, drawing out the delicious pleasure of his touch.

 Jon’s fingers began threading through my hair, his eyes gazing at me. I felt so special, so loved. Jon leaned in, his face inches from me. He lips brushed over mine, just barely touching. His tongue tickling my lips, requesting entrance. Which I gave willingly. Our tongues intertwining, tasting each other.

 Jeff’s hands now at that oh so sensitive spot that can make a girl beg for more. His fingers crawling closer to my core. Suddenly he pulled his hands away, his face replacing them. I could feel his warm breath on my damp center, making me twitch with excitement.

 “Be careful darling!” He snickered as he placed his hands on my thighs, propping them open.

 Jon’s hands were now on my breasts, squeezing each one with a featherlight touch, slipping upward and delicately tweaking each nipple into a hardened peak. His lips were now on my neck, my ear, licking, nipping, kissing my over sensitive skin, causing shivers all over.

 Jeff’s face was now right at my entrance, just sniffing, breathing me in. “Fuck baby girl! You smell like fucking dessert! And I’m gonna enjoy myself!” He dove in, causing me to jump, almost knocking Jon off of the bed.

 “I’m so, uh… l so sorry!” I gasped, his tongue running back and forth between my clit and pussy, driving me mad. I wanted to squirm, tried to. But Jeff’s large hands had a death grip on my thighs.

 Jon was laughing at my reaction, making me a bit self conscious. I frowned, imagining that he was rethinking his decision to be here.

 “I’m sorry y/n, I wasn’t laughing at you,” his hands clutching my neck. “it was more of a nervous laugh. I’d never laugh at you beautiful.”

 Both men had stopped their action, Jeff now moving up towards the head, a look of concern on his face.

 “Baby doll, are you second guessing this? We would never force you to do anything you don’t want sweetheart, you understand that right?” Jeff was now on my right, his hand running up and down my arm, the heat building up.

 “Jeff’s right sweets, say no and we’ll stop. I won’t lie and say I won’t be disappointed. But shit doll, speaking for myself, I want you to be happy with whatever is going down.” He leaned down, lightly kissing my temple.

 “Ditto everything Jon’s said, darlin’. This is all about you. But fuck, the things you are doin’ to me!” He licked his lips, moving to place a soft kiss on my lips.

 These men were everything I dreamed and more. I hadn’t been treated very well by men in my past, causing me to be very much gun shy. But Jeff, Jon, the way they looked at me, spoke about me, like I was someone to be revered, adored, loved.

 “I want this,” I whispered “whatever this may be.” I closed my eyes, sighing. “Just please don’t break my heart.”

 “Oh fuck, sweetheart, I’d never do that. You are a princess, and should be treated as such.” Jeff pulled me completely into his arms. “And I want nothing more to show you the effect you have had on me in such a small time.” He nuzzled into my hair, kissing my head, his lips staying there.

 I could feel Jon’s hands on my back, a gentle caress. “You are way to amazing, a stunning beauty that can fucking steal a man’s heart with one glance. Doll, don’t ever doubt that. Fucking kill me if I ever do anything to hurt you.”

 I don’t know what came over me. Maybe it was truly feeling love for the first time. Maybe it was the being in the arms of two incredibly handsome, sweet and sensitive men. Maybe it was the salt air, I didn’t know, and honestly didn’t care. I just knew what I wanted, what I needed. And I would get it.

 “Take me, please!”

 I could tell they were silently communicating with each other, feeling a thickness in the air. Jeff took a hold of my face, our lips meeting in an instantly hot and heated kiss, his tongue discover mine and fighting for dominance. Jon’s hands moved downward from my back, over my curvy hips to grasp a hold of my ass, squeezing tightly and making me squirm.

 While Jeff and I continued our kiss, Jon grabbed my hip with his left hand, his right squeezing between my clenched thighs, urging my leg upward. His fingers finding my wet and wanting pussy, causing me to moan into Jeff’s mouth.

 Jeff pulled his hands away from my face, placing them on my breasts, rapidly squeezing and tugging at my nipples. Our lips pulling apart only to catch a quick breath.

 Jon slowly entered me with two fingers, another slipping forward to find my eager clit. I writhed around as much as I could with their heavy bodies pinning me in place. I was nearing my end, quicker than I ever had before. As I came, each man slowed their ministrations, just light touches and soft whisper kisses all over my body.

 “I don’t know about Jon, y/n, but I need you, now.” Jeff growled in my ear.

 “Fuck yeah. Are you up to both of us sweetheart? I promise to be gentle and will stop the minute you say so.” Jon spoke into my hair, causing shivers.

 “Yes, yes, please. I need you both.”

 It happened so quickly, a whirlwind of movements arms, legs, lips, delicate touches and both men were well seated inside me, moving slowly, soothingly, as if I might break. But it felt like heaven.

 They began quickening their pace, moving in perfect unison. As Jeff joined our lips once again, Jon began nipping at my neck, quickly finding out how much I enjoyed that small spot where my shoulder meets my neck. His tiny licks and nips driving me wild.

 I felt a change of pace, both men nearing their ends, Jeff was now slamming up, his tip hitting my cervix and causing me to whimper from the pleasure. Jon was keepers by his pace steady, trying hard not to be too rough, but I could take it. I reached back to grasp his neck, whispering “it’s okay.”

 Upping his speed, I wondered if it was possible to die from too much pleasure. Soon the cabin became full of moans, grunts, sighs and screams. I was a bundle of hyped up nerve endings, shocks, sparks, shakes and shivers running up and down me, head to toes. I felt a great warmth entering me as both Jeff and Jon came, filling me up with their seed. It became surreal, almost otherworldly, the pleasure, the overwhelming feeling of love.

 We laid together, a big mess of sweaty legs and arms intertwined together. But it felt wonderful to me. The smell of each man, Jon, a strong manly cologne mixed with liquor and mints. Jeff, a lighter clean smelling cologne, with a hint of leather, coffee and cigs.

               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 I was startled, trying to sit up but realizing I couldn’t move, a heavy weight on me. What the hell? And then it all came rushing back. The panel, the bar. Jeff, Jon. I turned my head to see Jeffrey, sleeping with both arms encircling me, his head against mine.

 “Morning darlin’. Sleep well?” His gruff voice turning me to mush.

 “Uh, good, great actually. You?”

 “Like a fucking baby.” He pulled me tightly, causing me to roll over onto him. “That’s better.” He began rubbing my back. “Jon had early morning ops so he left after you fell asleep. Said he see you later.” He kissed my forehead. “But not if I can help it.”

 I tilted my head to look up at him, silently questioning his comment.

 “Last night was a one time thing. I’ve never done that and don’t plan on doing it again.”

 I was stunned. I mean, I knew that this was just a fling, a shipboard romance. I understood that. But wow, what he said, so blunt and to the point. It stung. And he must have seen the look on my face.

 He sat up, bringing me with him, pulling me into his lap. “Fuck! Sometimes I speak before I think! NO! I didn’t mean that WE are a one time thing! I mean sharing you, Jon, THAT is a one time thing.”

 Tilting my head again to look at him, “I’m confused?”

 “Sweetheart, I had an amazing night with you. I didn’t care if I had to share, if that’s the only way I could fucking be with you, then so be it. You did something to me, the minute I first laid eyes on you. And I knew I had to pursue you, couldn’t let you get away. And I would like to find out what it is between us.”

 Was he saying what I think he was saying?! “Uh, yes, yes, I’d very much like that. I feel it too. No one has made me feel like this, so special, like I matter.”

 “You matter y/n, to everyone. But most especially to me.” And then he kissed me. A sweet deep kiss that almost sucked the air right out of me.

 When we finally came up for air, he placed me beside him on the bed, standing up.

 “I’ve gotta shower, join me doll?” And he gave me the triple threat, a wink, dimples on full display, and the tongue dart out.

 And I knew I was in trouble.

#jeffrey dean morgan #jon bernthal #jeffrey dean morgan fanfiction #jon bernthal fanfic #jeffrey dean morgan x reader #jon bernthal x reader #jeffrey dean morgan x reader x jon bernthal #jdm x reader #the walking dead au #crzcorgi writes #crzcorgi crz 4 jdm #walker stalker cruise

[sweet-villain]

Him & I 

Victoria Leahey is just a women living her life. She’s ordinary, living in an apartment with a simple job. Nothing to special. But what’s something special in life. Someone special by the name of Jon Bernthal. They are just friends or that’s what Victoria thinks until Riley shines a light that makes her sees Jon in a total different way. 

@lclb13 @bruiserw8 @noscetiipsum @i-ship-it-okay @newjapan @laziestgirlintheworld@wrestlingfangirl2593 @indywrestlinglover-life  @leahbvbfan-blog@ohcristimhookedonhavocimsodunne @lindseyannex @earl-01 @ghostofviper @princess3733 @lunaticfringe216 @thedeboniardevistation

Tell me if you like it or not!

I had my mail in my had as I climbed the steps to my apartment. I had recently moved into a new apartment.

 I didn’t really much talk to anyone else living around here.Every once in a while it would be a small “ hello” as I pass them by.

“ Victoria! Nice to see you” Jack, the guy living next door waved as he passed by. I was in a bit of a hurry on my way to my apartment but I didn’t want to be rude. I flashed him a smile showing him that I heard him.

 “ See you around, Jack,” I replied to him. I ran all the way to my apartment, not paying attention that I was making loud noise with the sound of my converse hitting the floor.

 I rushed inside and put my mail on the living room table before changing into another jacket and rushed back out. I made way outside, putting on my hood as I walked in a fast pace. 

Jon was probably sleeping like always. He must of gone in last night late from filming Season 1 of the Punisher. 

He played Frank so well. He deserved this roll. I slipped into my car and put my hood down, taking a deep breathe. I had a rough week with work and seeing Jon again would make everything better. 

The car roared to life as I started it. Something about starting the car made me smile. I love driving on the road. 

Basically anywhere. It gave me the feeling of freedom. A feeling of relief. After a few minutes of driving, I parked the car and glanced up at the house. It was a small house which was surprising for Jon to live in. 

I knew where his extra key was. I took from underneath one of his plants and unlocked his door. It’s very quite. He must be sleeping still. I don’t blame him. He must be exhausted from his trip. 

His house is pretty big, with a homy type of feeling. I walked through his living room and to his bedroom. His door was opened. Inside, he was laying on his bed with one hand underneath the pillow. The sheets covering his lower half while his back was exposed.

I made my way over to him and shook his shoulder. 

He lets out a groan, not even uttering an eye open. I trace his spine with my fingertips. At my touch, he shivers as he flutters his  eyes. He lets out a groan.

“ What is it?”His voice rough and deeper than usual.

“ You told me you wanted to see me as soon as you came back from filming” I tell him. He lifts up his head, revealing his dark eyes that lack sleep. “ Oh, yeah..” He mumbles, he runs a hand down his face. 

“ I can go” I motion to the door feeling bad that I woke him up. He shakes his head as he sits up on his knees. How late did you get in?” He rubs his eyes, “ Pretty late..” 

I shook my head, “ and how much did you sleep?”

He rubs his eyes again, “ Not much.” 

“ Do you want some coffee?” His face beamed at the mention of “ coffee” 

“ You know me”

“ I do very much so. I’m going to go make it meanwhile you get ready or whatever you do to make yourself look presentable”

“ Yes ma’am,” he said, using his “ Frank Castle” voice with a grin. I began to walk out the door when I heard him call out to me.

“ Oh V?” I turned to look at him. He gave me another grin, “ You need to stop surprising me like this.”

“ Never going to happen, Jon.” 

 I made Jon coffee just the way he likes it, I already had some in the morning before I started to rush into things. 

I carry the cup to his room. As I reach his room, he’s no longer in bed but walking out the bathroom in fresh clothes. He gives me a small smile when I had him his cup of coffee. 

“ Thank you, sweetheart” he takes a sip of the steaming hot coffee, “ you always know how to make it good.” 

“ You always say that” “ Because it’s true”

“ It’s one of many things I’m so good at,” I say. “ Riley and I are going to go for lunch later” I decided it was good to change the subject and mention Riley since he hasn’t seen her in awhile. 

He’s good friends with her too. 

“ Tell her that I miss her. That kid is something else when she talks” 

“ Since your not doing anything ,why don’t you join us for lunch?”

“ V-“ I cut him off.

“ I know. You have this and that to do.” 

“ I wasn’t going to say it like that but I guess that way is good too” he laughs. The crinkle near his eyes making his eyes brighter. I nodded.

“ Maybe we can get together before this year ends” 

“ What’s happening by the end of the year?” He asks. 

I shook my head, “ Leave it be, Jon.” 

“ You never told me, how can I leave it?” 

“ For now. Please”

“ Just tell me” Jon says. I looked at him and realized it might hurt him if I tell him. He’s very different person when he’s upset or mad. I didn’t want to ruin his mood. 

“ I’ll tell you soon, I got to meet up with Riley soon” I take his finished cup and make my way over to his kitchen to wash it before putting back where it was.

“ What’s the problem with telling me right now?”

“ Later, got to go” I told him, bopping his nose before walking out his car and getting into the car. I missed him. 

It was so nice to see him again after months of just face timing and calls and texts. He is always busy either with family or friends or doing something like an interview. I miss hanging out with him.

I understand that he’s busy but I just miss him so much. But Jon is doing what he loves. He needs his own time.

 I get it. My phone pinged before I drove off. I took it out of my pocket and turned the screen on to see Jon had texted me. 

“ Don’t forget to tell Riley I said hey, it was so nice seeing your face again, sweetheart” I glanced out the window to see Jon standing there with his phone, waving at me. 

I shook my head and drove off to see Riley. 

#jon bernthal #imagine jon bernthal #jon bernthal imagine #sparrow writes #sparrowimagines #World Of Sparrow's Writings

[esonetwork]

Why Marvel and Netflix are telling some of the best superhero stories today

New Post has been published on https://esopodcast.com/why-marvel-and-netflix-are-telling-some-of-the-best-superhero-stories-today/

Why Marvel and Netflix are telling some of the best superhero stories today

There’s a scene in the middle of the new season of Marvel/Netflix’s “Luke Cage” where Mariah Dillard, the season’s main villain, displays a rare moment of extremely vulnerable honesty. Now, Mariah is a truly terrible person. The former politician has committed horrible crimes during her quest for power, and by the end of the season, I’m sure most viewers would agree that she deserves all the bad things coming to her.

And yet…in this one moment, where she reveals a painful emotional scar from her past, we do genuinely pity her. She remains a terrible person, but the tragedy she experienced is real and heartbreaking, and you can’t help but imagine the better person she could have become if she’d grown up in better circumstances.

Nuanced characters like Mariah Dillard is one of the key strengths shared by the Marvel/Netflix superhero shows (well, most of them, at least). I finished up the new season of “Luke Cage” this past weekend, and since then I’ve been thinking about all the Marvel/Netflix shows and how, overall, they’ve done a fantastic job adding to the Marvel universe we know and love. Some of the best superhero storytelling today is being done on the small screen, and Marvel/Netflix’s partnership is a true standout.

I remember starting the very first Marvel/Netflix show, “Daredevil,” back in 2015 and wondering how it would compare to the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. Sometimes it’s tough to capture that same epic, sweeping feel on a smaller screen with a smaller budget. Thankfully, the Marvel/Netflix shows don’t try to replicate what we’re seeing in the MCU. Instead, they use their smaller scale to their advantage. The whole world isn’t in peril; maybe it’s just one neighborhood in New York City. But through this more narrow focus, we have a chance to dive really deeply into a lineup of fascinating heroes AND villains.

Matt Murdock/Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Danny Rand/Iron Fist, and Frank Castle/Punisher are all completely different people. Some, like Matt and Luke, are able to claim the moral high ground as superheroes (at least at first), while others, like Punisher, tend more towards the antihero end of the spectrum. But each are fascinating in their own way, and the shows have their own unique tone and themes. Perhaps that’s why, at least to me, the Marvel/Netflix team-up series, “The Defenders,” didn’t work as well; it lost the unique flavor that made each of the individual shows stand out.

Now, some of these individual series are more compelling than others. I never finished “Iron Fist,” and I felt the back half of “Daredevil” season 2 suffered after the Punisher’s arc on that show wrapped up. I tried the first episode of “Jessica Jones” season 2, but it didn’t grab me like the first season did. Maybe I need to give it another shot.

Still, there’s some really excellent character development in these shows, and not just for the heroes. The villains are just as fascinating (and in some cases, even more fascinating!) than the heroes themselves.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been criticized in the past for some of its more lackluster villains, who are more of an obstacle for the hero to overcome than a fully realized character. That’s why Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, the main villain in “Daredevil” season 1, felt like such a revelation. He was definitely a bad guy, and I wasn’t really sorry to see him go to prison. However, the show made him a compelling villain by giving him flashes of humanity, including a surprisingly tender and genuine relationship with his girlfriend, Vanessa. He was by no means a stereotypical “mustache-twirling” villain.

For the most part, all the Marvel/Netflix shows have followed that trend. By showing us the flaws in the heroes and the humanity in the villains, the shows become more real and thought-provoking. All the characters have hurts that haunt them.

Due to the shows’ format, they’re able to tell darker stories than the MCU is able to. I’m okay with that, really. I don’t necessarily want/need the MCU to be gritty; I like that they are family films that are accessible to a wide audience. But it’s nice to see some heavier superhero storytelling as well.

Although these shows work on a surface level as compelling action/dramas, there are some really relevant themes to chew on as well. When I first heard about “The Punisher” series, I was excited, because I loved Jon Bernthal’s performance as the character in “Daredevil” season 2. However, I was a little worried about how they would handle a character centered around guns and violence, especially with all the tragic real-life headlines we continue to see. Thankfully, they approached the subject with sensitivity and nuance. The show also touched on another important issue: what happens to veterans after they return from combat.

“Jessica Jones” addressed domestic violence and abuse, “Luke Cage” tackled racism, and so on. I hope that the fans who watch these shows are inspired to have real-life conversations about these issues. That, I think, is the real power of entertainment: to get us to look at the world through a different lens than our own. In our increasingly politically-charged world, I think pop culture has a real opportunity to break down barriers and tell stories that have the power to bring real-world change.

On a lighter note, the shows’ practical effects and well-choreographed fight scenes are also a nice change of pace from CGI-heavy blockbusters (even though if you know me, you know that I love big-budget special effects). 🙂 And the shows also use music really effectively to help tell the story, particularly “Luke Cage.”

If you haven’t tried any of these shows yet, I’d highly recommend them. I know some fans who’ve watched all of them, and others who have tried a couple and just stuck with their favorites. Although as previously mentioned, there have been a few bumps along the way, overall the Marvel/Netflix partnership has definitely been a winning one.

#Daredevil #Iron First #Jessica Jones #Luke Cage #Marvel #Netflix #Punisher #superhero

[midcing]

okay so i have some New Kids.... they are all trash but some of them are trying their best which should honestly count for something imho... i’ll probably bring some more muses in at some point during this week bc i legit have 25 apps in my drafts right now and i just didn’t apply for all at once bc didn’t want to overwhelm myself... honestly tho? i want all the plots.... so like... pls like this and i’ll im you or come to me throwing ideas at my face so we plot and have some connections and threads ?? love my new trash sons pls ?? thanks !

JAMES WEST looks an awful lot like CHARLIE WEBER. HE is THIRTY NINE and while they’re LOGICAL, they have a tendency to get pretty CONTRARY. You’ve probably seen them around Kola listening to POLARIZE by TWENTYONEPILOTS.

inspired by ;; frank delfino from htgawm, walter white from breaking bad and jaime lannister from game of thrones. 

a lawyer

has 2 daughters.

would probably start a war for both of them if they asked him to.

thinks his daughters are angels who can do no wrong. if he saw them murdering someone in front of him, he would probably come up with a reason why they were doing it and defend them which isn’t great bc they are both like wild kids who are not actual angels ( wc ?? anyone ?? i’m trash for families ngl )

sketchy morals at best? ? doesn’t think of himself as someone who would do anything wrong but if something wrong is being done for his benefit he is sure as hell not gonna stop it

got into an ivy league school because his father - criminal known for money laundering, corruption, and fraud - donated a huge sum of money to the college. will die pretending he got in on his own merit 

the older brother of my character mark west bc i love families sue me

would probably google ‘how to know if i am a dilf’

says thing like ‘lit’ and ‘on fleek’ to relate to the youth

pretends everything is fine until it blows up in his face

wants to much ! a perfect life, a perfect house, a perfect family, a perfect wife, a perfect job ! pretty good ? nah. not good enough for james west. scratch that and start again. everything must be 10/10

wants to be everybody’s dad even tho he isn’t a great dad to his two kids

will make your life choices for you if you let him

will bail you out of jail but only if he is allowed to give you a 3 hour lecture on Responsibility 

will logic his way out of moral conundrums

the kind of person that turns a blind eye to corruption if it benefits him in some way

tries his best, which really honestly can only be said about 5% of my characters, so i would give him some credit

if you ask him a question he doesn’t want to answer he will just straight up ignore the question and change the subject 

feels guilty about the way his helps criminals and does wrong stuff for his benefit and the benefit of the people he loves but also doesn’t try to change

aesthetics — watching the sunset through the office window, loud alarms playing an hour later than it should, unrecognizable reflection in the mirror, child laughter and the heavy feeling of stress in your chest, hushed whispers of assertions amidst a crowd, old wedding rings saved away after the divorce, big houses and empty space, thousand dollar watches, the smell of jail permanently stuck to a three piece suit, painfully happy memories, ignoring the way guilt makes it hard to breath, arguing in a favor of a guilty party.

FRANK HAMILTON looks an awful lot like DAVID HARBOUR. HE is FORTY ONE and while they’re DEVOTED, they have a tendency to get pretty UNPRINCIPLED. You’ve probably seen them around Kola listening to SEDATED by HOZIER.

inspired by ;; hank from detroit become human and chief hopper from stranger things

                                                              tw: gambbling, alcoholism

a mess trying to pass for a functioning human being

he is a dirty cop that accepts bribes to let people off the hook and gets money from gangs to look the other way when he knows they will be doing something wrong somewhere bc he truly cannot bring himself to care

honestly i have no excuses for his behavior

has a huge problem with gambling. 

born in kola. lived in kola for almost 30 years. moved out after his marriage fell apart, but has recently moved back

the kind of human being who thinks blood and gasoline are sexy

the kind of person that goes All Fucking Out for things and then when things don’t turn out exactly how he expected them to he makes a fuss about it and goes like “why did i even bother?”

will call you out on your bullshit and then act like people just throw shit at other’s face like that. stare you in the eye after exposing you and ask ‘what?’

says stuff like ‘i might be a shitty person but at least i’m upfront about it’ and ‘i prefer not to get involved in people’s lives.’

there is no such thing as a acquaintances. frank either loves you with all his heart and would kill a man for you OR he hates you and the fact that you are able to talk annoys him

you’ve heard of overachivers ?? well frank  is here to present you A True Underachiever. he tries to do the bare minimum amount of work possible 

the personification of /r/notmyjob

would probably go to an underground fighting ring for fun

channels his unhappiness into unhealthy habits. drinks too much, smokes too much. doesn’t do anything to change the fact that he is unhappy

gambled his marriage away by which i mean he gambled everything owned away and kept trying to find excuses for it until she was done and left . he still loves her but he feels like shit and he doesn’t wanna drag her back into his shitty life ( wc ? pls ? )

moved away from kola when his marriage ended and went to las vegas. lived there until he got in dept there too and he couldn’t find anywhere else to play then came back to kola 

at some point was wide-eyed and hopeful and interested in helping people but slowly became unhappy with how he didn’t go anywhere, didn’t become better, greater, didn’t do more and then slowly things just went to shit

aesthetics — casual cruelty in the name of honesty, cigarette buds collecting on an old ashtray, crumbled dollar bills found between couch cushions, falling asleep at three o’clock and waking up the next day, bloody knuckles, handcuffs and police siren, the smell of alcohol in your breath at ten in the morning, unironed shirts and old cologne, knowing something is wrong but doing it anyway, ignored calls from concerned family members, remembering you have to do something just as it is too late to do it, the thrill in heartbeat when you land a punch in someone’s face, drunk steps stumbling out of the bar, begging people for one more chance.

SEBASTIAN “BASH” VANCOOP looks an awful lot like LIAM PAYNE. HE is TWENTY TWO and while they’re CHARMING, they have a tendency to get pretty SELFISH. You’ve probably seen them around Kola listening to PLAY ME LIKE A VIOLIN by JEREMY.

inspired by ;; hakeem lyon from empire and aaron burr from hamilton

that one sort of famous person that is always shirtless in other famous’ people instagram stories

treats people like things he can use and drop when he gets tired of

fake af. will say he likes you and then shit talk about you behind your back

that one person that goes ‘ooooooooooh you are gonna let them talk like that about you ?? ’ when other people are fighting 

only wears prada chanel and gucci

can actually be really nice if you get to know him but how ? when there are three hundred walls up ??

thinks people are gonna take advantage of him or make fun of him so he just doesn’t trust anyone. can’t get betrayed if you never let anyone in right ??

doesn’t understand internet culture

was born in an insanely rich family. his father was a famous movie producer and his mother was a famous movie star. picture like spielberg as his dad and kate winslet as his mom 

hates when people say like ‘Oh So You Are [    ]’s son?’

the first movie he was ever in was when he was about 5

he was in a bunch of movies from ages 5 to 12 but it was never really anything big. he was just the main character’s kid or that one kid that doesn’t get much screen time in movies like goonies

he never really liked acting but what else woUld he do ?? look at his family !! look at his legacy !! [ cue ‘wait for it’ from the hamilton soundtrack playing in the background ]

when he was 20 his father produced and directed a movie in which he stared. it was like his first Real role in hollywood action blockbuster. before the movie was out there was this whole hype about him and his dad working together and wow it’ll be awesome but it pretty much bombed. picture like After Earth bomb. everyone shit talking about him and the movie and how dumb it is on youtube bomb. the movie doesn’t get money to pay for itself bomb.

despite the fact that his parents said it didn’t matter. it was just a bad movie. everyone making fun of him and people shit talking about how he didn’t have his parents’ talent got to him real bad. he stopped acting all together.

his parents keep telling him to Do Something but he just doesn’t

is living in kola bc LA is a dumb of reminder of everything he thinks he did wrong

aesthetics — the blinding lights of camera flashes, the light feeling of being drunk, loud songs blaring through club speakers, interviews stopped halfway through, rude comments and anger, crowded parties in expensive summer homes, the overwhelming feeling in your chest when someone gets too close to fast, feigned charm and stranger’s company, running out of things to say after you have known someone for a while, wasted champagne dripping off a tilted bottle and loud laughter coming from the other room, the slow but continues pain in your heart that reminds you you are disappointment.

MATTHEW “MATTEO” DECKER looks an awful lot like JON BERNTHAL. HE is FORTY TWO and while they’re WILLFUL, they have a tendency to get pretty BLUNT. You’ve probably seen them around Kola listening to SEVEN NATION ARMY by THE WHITE STRIPES.

inspired by ;; frank castle from daredevil, frank castle from the punshiner, frank castle from the born comics series. ( they are three different people, fight me ) seeley booth from bones in season five

                                       tw: alcoholism, ptsd, mention of army, and war

former us marine

mostly goes by decker. his family used to calls him matteo but when other people do it it’s like .. “no”

you have been heard of resting bitch face ? matteo is here to show you the resting i fucking hate you face

swears too much like Wayy too much

he can be honestly really fucking soft i’m ngl but then you gotta be that one person that breaks down walls and again ? who has the time for that ? in the twenty first century?

wants to take care of everyone but pretends he is not interested in people bc he “Knows” everyone is gonna die or leave so there is no fucking point

actually just pretends he isn’t The Absolute Softest for everyone and tries to keep them all at arm's length but then people say ‘hi’ and are nice to him and he is like ‘Fuck me now i like them’

can actually laugh and make jokes which is Impressive imo

but then goes back to being bitter and angry at life

too straight up about things : could heavenly benefit from learning how to read social cues

you have to Tell him things if you want him to understand it. you can’t go around dropping hints. he won’t get it.

drinks his coffee black and without sugar

enlisted when he was eighteen bc patriotism and american dream and red white and blue stars but then that slowly stopped being the point. then he was just doing it bc He had been doing that for years what else would he do ? and then at some point he just saw too much … and then when he was discharged he just Never came back

after he came back he couldn’t find a job and he didn’t know what else to do and he slowly started getting involved with shady stuff and now he sells drugs to pay the bills

disappointed in who he is right now. 

he is honestly Trying his very best.

aesthetics — punching a wall until your hands stings and your chest doesn’t anymore, the pleasant light feeling of holding back laughter, completed tasks and unachievable peace of mind, low chatter in dive bars in dark parts of town, questioning your belief system, roadside motels and failing neon lights, moonlight coming through the bedroom window, leaving the morning after, combat boots, loud honking cars and shaky hands, fighting the urge to shove someone away when you feel their touch against your skin, quiet places and pleasant loneliness, old dusty books and rock music, waking up multiple times in the middle of the night, whiskey mixed with coffee

OCTAVIANUS BRUNO GENTILLE looks an awful lot like FRANCOIS ARNAUD. HE is THIRTY SIX and while they’re ROMANTIC, they have a tendency to get pretty UNREALISTIC. You’ve probably seen them around Kola listening to SOMEONE NEW by HOZIER.

inspired by ;; jay gatsby from the great gatsby, romeo from romeo and juliet, tom hansen from (500) days of summer, a slam poem i saw on youtube once

                                              tw: bullying, mention of learning disabilities and stutter

romanticized every bad thing that happened in his life.

will romanticize every bad thing that ever happened in your life.

the kind of person that says “things happen for a reason…”

goes by his middle name. honestly thinks his first name is the Most Stupid Thing In The World if you call him octavianus he’ll be legit annoyed. kids used to make fun of him at school all that jazz. just call bruno

he is legit in love with italian culture and history. his father was italian and he just highkey Cannot Shut Up About It

art history professor in kola’s college

the kind of professor that just loves what he is doing… you know when the professor like kinda looks excited that he is talking or sharing knowledge or just talking about shit they truly like ? that is bruno

a nerd but pretends he isn’t

could not do a one night stand without catching feelings if his life depended on it

loves people too much too fast with all his heart

there is an argument to be made for him not actually falling in love with people and just with the idea of love that he made up in his mind but let’s get to that when we get to that

will spend the entire lesson arguing with one student about how inaction in our current political climate is just as harmful as supporting people who are doing harm when he was supposed to be talking about impressionism or something like that

thinks people have a soulmate and he is just trying to find his

100% not only Shows up to slam poetry sessions but Helps organize them

real political. the type of person that rallies when things are wrong and gets others to do it

has too many exes

posts pictures with his current girl/boyfriends on instagram and then doesn’t delete them when they break up bc ‘that’s who i was at that moment’

can recite poetry for you in italian but do not let him trick you. he’ll only be around for the honeymoon phase of the relationship then he’ll be like wow this isn’t perfect. time to end it

loves art !! all type of art !! is terrible at all of it : writing, panting, photography. but he loves it and he does it despite being bad and he tells people to do what they love !! and follow their dreams !!

his parents got a divorce when he was 7 and it was pretty bad. his dad was italian and moved back to italy shortly after. his mother was from kola and he stayed with her.

it was as if his world had fallen apart at that. bruno had never even seen his parents fight and then one day his father just moves out to Another Country he was pretty lost and confused

bruno moved back and forth between italy and the u.s. throughout most of his childhood and adolescence. never spending a lot of time in one place.

though his parents tried to remain friends after the divorce for his sake it never really worked out. his father wanted his mom back while his mother moved on and got married again.

growing up, he had a lot of trouble with accents and language. his father used to speak only italian at home. and his mother used to speak only english.

he developed a learning disability and a stutter after his parents got divorced

kids in school used to make fun of him. the way he talked and his name specially.

doesn’t stutter anymore but when he is talking about something that is hard to talk about, he talks really slowly to make sure the words come out properly

aesthetics — ukulele songs playing softly in a room with echo, piano recitals with ten people in the audience, walking around aimlessly, kissing greek statues, being happy that you are sad because it means that you are alive, cheering on others success, lacking ambition and living the present, old songs hummed in the shower, waking up early and staying in bed until 10am, cuddling under warm blankets, failing in love with a stranger, laughing loudly with new friends, white wine, beautiful paintings in an empty museum, admiring something for way too long,

ANTHONY MILLER looks an awful lot like JOSH DALLAS. HE is THIRTY NINE and while they’re PATIENT, they have a tendency to get pretty SELF-RIGHTEOUS. You’ve probably seen them around Kola listening to JACKIE AND WILSON by HOZIER.

inspired by ;; prince charming from once upon a time, ned stark from game of thrones, bob belcher from bob’s burgers

                                                                      tw: cancer

cannot talk about his feelings . cannot accept his own mistakes . cannot show weakness . at any point. no matter the subject . cannot let anyone take care of him.

Must be the best at all times for everyone and take care of everyone

self-care is a myth anthony does not believe in

works too much

he needs glasses to read stuff but he pretends he doesn’t so he does that squinting and pulling things close to his face thing. at which point you would probably ask ‘anthony if you don’t want to wear glasses wouldn’t it be easier ? to just ? wear contact lenses ?’ and yes it would it definitely would but anthony likes to make things harder for himself

slow to anger but he has that temper that you literally cannot see coming. he looks serious and stoic and then wow thunderfucking storms breaking chairs and stuff

loves beers and american football

the type of person that says this generation is lost

might smoke too much but he doesn’t talk about that

he doesn’t talk about anything actually

although i love him with all my heart. i would not rec

there is a right way to do stuff and anthony as the holder of all the knowledge and morality Must tell you about it

rarely ever smiles bUT when he does ? smiles like a prince. if we had a royal verse he’d be the king of the entire universe honestly.

he was a oldest child in a family of 7. his parents were super wealthy and he was the One favorite child who both parents used to love and cherish and cheer on.

he got his high school sweetheart pregnant. his parents didn’t want him to marry her bc she was Poor and Not up to standards but he chose love over his family and got disowned for that. hasn’t talked to his family since

his dream life was always to have the perfect picket fence house and american dream type of family. it was supposed to be him, his wife, his son and maybe some day he would have a daughter and it would Be great

he and his wife had a son and they named him hendrix bc she loved rock and jimi hendrix and he loved the name even tho he never liked rock. but honestly ? he was so weak for her he would have loved the name lkgjdflajf if she suggested it

a few months after their first son was born tho she was diagnosed with cancer and a few months later she passed away

after that he raised his son by himself. he really threw himself into it. spent most of his life focused on it and work and now his son is going to college and he doesn’t know what to do with himself

the only person he ever Truly dated was his wife and then he just focused on his son and raising him so he never really allowed himself to date bc then he would have to introduce someone else to his son’s life and all that … sO anthony is usually all cool and fine and then you show romantic interest in him and there is like a visible shift ya know? like he goes from anthony to a truly profoundly awkward person trying to pretend it’s cool

aesthetics — organized work tables, color coded to-do lists, trying your very best at all times, mental exhaustion showing through physical symptoms, dad jokes and laughing by yourself, the smell of new books, comfort found in old libraries, forgetting your reading glasses at home, losing your temper and breaking something, old family photos lost somewhere in the attic, pushing someone else on a swing, sundays afternoons lost at the park, working extra hours instead of going home, cold breeze and hugging yourself to your jacket, trying to explain to someone why they are wrong when they don’t want to listen

#fckit:intro #okay i know some of those got really big but i have already played all of them somewhere else at some point so like #i had already developed them a bit

[ethanalter]

Ben Barnes on breaking bad in 'The Punisher'

Ben Barnes as Billy Russo in The Punisher. (Photo: Netflix)

Warning: This post contains spoilers for the second half of The Punisher‘s first season.

When Ben Barnes accepted the role of Billy Russo on The Punisher — the new Netflix series starring Marvel’s famous gun-toting vigilante, Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) — he knew that a dark future awaited his character. After all, in the comic book realm, Russo frequently dispenses and endures punishment as the gruesomely scarred villain, Jigsaw. And though the show changed some details about Billy’s origins — making him Frank’s longtime friend rather than his longtime nemesis, for example — his ultimate fate wasn’t likely to be altered. So for Barnes, the question wasn’t “Will Billy break bad?”; it was “When will Billy break bad?” The show’s producers didn’t mind making him wait to find out. “They were fairly clandestine even with me about any sort of twists and turns,” the British actor tells Yahoo Entertainment. “We were shooting Episode 5, and I was thinking to myself, ‘Is there going to be a turn? Is it going to happen?'”

Turns out that Barnes had to wait only one more episode. At the end of the sixth hour, “The Judas Contract,” Billy emerges as one more member in the conspiracy that odd-couple allies Frank and Micro (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) are working to unwind. That revelation sets the two on a collision course that ends with Frank essentially creating the man who will become Jigsaw.

We spoke with Barnes about the scene that reveals Billy’s true nature, and why his memorable role as Logan on Westworld made him a better bad guy.

Yahoo Entertainment: Were you excited to play the moment where it’s revealed that Billy has been part of the conspiracy against Frank all along? Ben Barnes: We did a read-through of each episode before we started filming them, and I remember the read-through for “The Judas Contract” very specifically. Our showrunner, Steve Lightfoot, was there, and so were some of the executives from Marvel and Netflix. We finish reading the episode, and there’s the reveal of who Billy’s in league with. I remember Steve going, “Billy Russo, you dirty, dirty boy.” I just looked at him and went, “You wrote it!” [Laughs] They were quite excited about that turn because after that point, Frank Castle is battling the powers that be in a more general way, as well as his inner demons and stuff. So it’s nice to get a little bit more specific about it. The truth is that there’s not really any kind of a traditional big bad [guy] in the comic book sense in this particular series. It’s an origin story for both of the characters in a way. While they’re at odds by the end of the series, they haven’t become each other’s nemeses yet.

Once the reveal happened, I wanted to go back and rewatch Billy’s scenes up to that point to see how that reveal was teased in your performance. Obviously, I did know it was coming, and I was asking all sorts of questions about my involvement in things, but they wouldn’t tell me exactly what they had planned for the future. I would want to know what my involvement had been in Frank’s past — I needed to be up to date on that stuff at least. So when I’m playing my game of cat-and-mouse with Dinah Mandi [played by Amber Rose Revah], I could sort of pick and choose as an actor what moments are feeling a little more genuine or whether he’s a ruthless liar through and through. I thought it was interesting to see for the first time in a Marvel series such a slow burn in terms of character. You genuinely don’t know what side this person is on.

What sort of discussions did you have with Jon Bernthal about how much Frank knows, or suspects he knows, about Billy? We had a lot of discussions about their pasts, and we actually shot some scenes that may be being saved for any future seasons that might come about. There was exploration of their history as friends, and we see them together as partners and as “Uncle Bill” in terms of his relationship to Frank’s family. In a lot of these universes, the “villain” has done something that’s wronged the hero in such a way that can never be forgiven, but in Billy’s case, a lot of the other characters have done much worse things in terms of organizing the massacre of his family or trying to keep him at bay. I think that Billy’s betrayal is only keeping information from him, which in the grand scheme of the Marvel universe is not the worst crime that’s ever been perpetrated. However, because of their closeness and their brotherhood, it seems so much more.

Barnes with Jason R. Moore in The Punisher. (Photo: Netflix)

And for my money, Billy is actually kind of broken from when he’s a boy, so Frank is the one man he has respect for. He sees something of himself in him, and I think that’s what makes the betrayal sting for Billy too. Because when you’re playing these characters with such different shades of morality, it’s important in portraying that character to believe everything I’m doing is absolutely on the level. I actually feel a bit sorry for Billy in certain circumstances. What he’s doing is out of self-preservation and love, and it might be for the wrong, but I wanted to play it that he cares very deeply about Frank. I don’t think the story really works unless Frank holds a special place in Billy’s life.

In a sense Billy is already broken, so his final transformation into Jigsaw — when Frank slices his former friend’s face on glass — is a case where he finally looks on the outside the way he does on the inside. Yeah, absolutely. I sort of saw it in stages, like a game of Jenga. Billy was essentially orphaned and abused as a child, and that’s corrupted him a certain way. But from being in the military, he’s built up this kind of incredible mask, which is based on the way he looks, the way he dresses, and the way he treats women. It’s all this giant mask, so the idea of the shattering of that mask is the final thing in terms of losing how he sees himself. That’s part of the idea of using mirrors in our version — as this cautionary tale of narcissism. And that’s stacked up against the idea that he could have brain damage in some way, which they mention in the last episode. I have no idea what they’re going to give in terms of how the Jigsaw character will be revealed, but I certainly have my ideas about how it could work, and how he could be a more traditionally threatening figure in the Marvel universe.

How important was your role on Westworld in terms of transitioning from the heroes you played early on in your career to the more villainous roles you’re playing now? It looks like you’re really enjoying being bad. It certainly helped prepare me in terms of the boldness of my choices. Earlier on in my career, I felt like if any accusations were leveled at me, it was that my performances were a bit traditional and what people were used to. So I made a decision that I’m just going to be a bit braver, and I think that Westworld allowed me the opportunity to do that — to really kind of stretch my legs in terms of mischief. Obviously, the two characters are very different; Logan is more of a pain in everyone’s neck. One thing I asked is that he never say something that wasn’t true. There was one line where he had to [lie], and I told [the writers], “It’s really important to me that Logan never lies.” He’s weirdly a bit of a moral compass for the real world, I think. Of course, I have to be on his side because I have to play him! But yeah, I did want to take some of that momentum through to The Punisher and be a little more broken and evil and malicious. I’m having fun pushing where that can go.

Will Logan be back in Westworld‘s second season? I am back a little bit in the second season, which is not something I necessarily expected! But I am back, and I will say that everything that I’ve encountered so far is different. I have not read full scripts or anything, but it’s certainly flipped me upside down in terms of what I was expecting from the series. No one’s going to be disappointed in terms of it pushing the envelope!

Season 1 of The Punisher is currently streaming on Netflix.

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:

Review: ‘The Punisher’ makes ultraviolence seem inevitable

Review: ‘Marvel’s Runaways’: Cool teens versus villainous parents

6 things to know about ‘Godless,’ Netflix’s star-packed limited-series western

#_revsp:wp.yahoo.tv.us #ben barnes #hbo #westworld #_author:Ethan Alter #netflix #jon bernthal #_category:yct:001000086 #_uuid:925f8cf5-ff9a-31c6-bccf-5fc98fdbf0a3 #_lmsid:a0Vd000000AE7lXEAT #interviews #the punisher

[kanye--westeros]

Just finished The Punisher and, yeah, it's definitely my favorite of the Marvel Netflix series.

Maybe it was the fact that they didn't have to tell an origin story but it was definitely their most surefooted and focused series yet. All of the characters felt like they had purpose, all of the story beats ultimately worked, the themes were well explored. This was a series that could've easily been pure nihilism (and probably would've been if they went with the comic book version of Frank Castle), but thanks to some creative liberties and tight writing the show is as soulfully contemplative as it is uncompromisingly brutal.

I've liked about the characters at the head of the Netflix MCU in the past but I've never connected with any of them as deeply as I have with Frank Castle; and a big part of that is due to Jon Bernthal's fantastic performance. Bernthal expands upon/deepens the wounded dog portrayal of Castle that he showed off in DD Season 2, further humanizing a legitimate killing machine. He's just as comfortable violently dispatching countless enemy combatants as he is showcasing Frank's inner turmoil in quiet moments. One small aspect of his performance that I appreciate the most if this gravelly war cry that he belts out which perfectly illustrates Frank's tortured soul and pierced me in the heart every time I heard it.

Bernthal isn't the only one worthy of praise here though because the whole cast is strong here. Ebon Moss-Bachrach brought a likable twitchy energy to Micro and served as a perfect foil to Frank's brutishness; relative newcomer Amber Rose Revah displayed impressive screen presence as the resolute Homeland agent, Dinah Madani; Daniel Webber took on the tough task of showing the implosion of the show's most tragic character and knocked it out the park; and Ben Barnes brought the charismatic sleaze that we saw in Westworld to Frank's best friend turned mortal enemy, Billy Russo aka Jigsaw. Hell I even felt that Karen Page was utilized to great effect here (she's much better with Frank than she is with Matt). There's more praise that I could throw at the cast but I'd be here all day.

To bring it back home this is the first of the shows that I felt sidestepped the "2-3 episodes too long" trap. While some entries were stronger than others (my personal favorite being the "Rashomon" episode), each of the 13 episodes economically progressed the story and its' character arcs with little to no fat needing to be trimmed. In fact the story was told so efficiently that the announcement of a second season gives me a degree of pause. Like Frank himself I'm scared for what the future holds...but you can bet that I'm excited too.

#MCU #Netflix Marvel #The Punisher #Frank Castle #jon bernthal #ebon moss bachrach #Amber Rose Revah #Ben Barnes #Review

[tiggymalvern]

The Punisher TV series

Review of many thoughts, with a few general spoilers but nothing terribly specific. I really enjoyed the second series of Daredevil, and especially the way it handled The Punisher. Introducing him as a total nut job and then slowly humanising Frank Castle, with all the moral mess that involved for Matt and Karen was a smart move, and it was well executed, with credit going equally to the skill of the writing and the performance of Jon Bernthal as Frank. I was definitely looking forward to him getting his own series, and I was especially intrigued once I found out this was Steve Lightfoot's baby. Before I watched it, I read a couple of media reviews that were distinctly lukewarm, but they also left me wondering whether the reviewers had actually watched much of the series. Because those reviews seemed to focus on whether it was good idea to have a Marvel series whose 'hero' was a gun-wielding mass murderer, rather than on whether it was actually good TV. So I went into the series not really knowing what I was going to get. For starters, what I didn't get was a lot of gun fetishism and glorification of violence, so again I question how much of the series the reviewers watched, or whether they just pontificated at random. And it's realistic when your characters are career military guys. They're around guns all the time, for years - guns aren't fetish objects, they're practical, a tool for doing for a specific job, and nothing more, so that was handled the way it should be. This series is the very opposite of Hannibal in that respect - nobody here is opining that violence and death can be artistic. What I did get was a lot of commentary on war, black ops and government-sanctioned torture. I got a lot of commentary on mental health issues and the lack of support for military veterans. I got commentary on police brutality and over-reach against peaceful protesters. And a gun-wielding murderer whose choices have made him utterly fucking miserable. Bernthal only gets better with the character, and he's good enough that you can see all the disaster-flaws in Frank and still kind of like him, even when he's being a complete arsehole. And he can be a complete arsehole. He spends one entire episode being an unrelenting arsehole to someone who absolutely doesn't deserve it, and while you can understand why he's paranoid (and is it really paranoia if they're all out to get you?), that doesn't change what he does. He's that same old moral mess, and every time you might start to like him too much, you're reminded why you shouldn't. I like the fact that we now have a Marvel series whose male lead isn't pretty. Instead of the clean-cut, attractive superhero (not that I mind looking at Charlie Cox, but, you know...), we've got Bernthal's Neanderthal brows and very distinctive nose. And in a lot of shows without a classic leading man, he would have been given an attractive sidekick to compensate, and instead we have a very average-looking guy in dire need of a shave. More predictably, they didn't extend that virtue to the women, the female lead being gorgeous (and damn, she is gorgeous), but in their favour, they did make her the daughter of Iranian immigrants, so plus points there. I liked Madani a lot as a character. I could see some of the Steve Lightfoot/Hannibal influence creeping through in places, starting with that dramatic slo-mo title sequence. There are some shots that could have been lifted straight from Hannibal (slow-mo super-close-up of blood dripping into water, I'm looking at you) and from directors who didn't work on Hannibal. It makes me wonder if Lightfoot made sure they'd watched some episodes, and then said, 'Okay, we're obviously not going for that much art-house, because our title character's an ex-soldier, not a European Count, but if you can squeeze in a few shots here and there, without blowing the budget...' I was surprised by how little of Karen was in the series, given the relationship they built up between her and Frank in Daredevil. I was expecting her to be a major player, but she really only had big screen time in two episodes. It worked well when they used her, and I don't think the series needed more of her (Karen actually never made much of impression on me), I was just surprised. It's unfortunate that the weakest episode of The Punisher is the season finale. They built up a solid story, with a lot going on, and a mess of internal conflict for several characters, and then it comes to the final showdown between the protagonist and the series villain, and it's all very predictable, by-the-numbers. There was a moment when I thought they were going to switch it up, and then five seconds later, nope, back on schedule. I spent the last episode waiting for a twist that didn't come, which was a real shame, because the rest of the series was damn good, and overall I'd score it 8/10. Will definitely watch another series.

#the punisher #review