User blog comment:Kate.moon/The Punisher Coming to FOX/@comment-61022-20111024040208

And cue the whiners and complainers, the internet age hath maintained it's reputation. Personally, I don't have cable TV because if I wanted to rot my brain, I'd do copious amount of hallucinogenic drugs (that at least would be more entertaining and mind expanding than watching whatever passes for entertainment on TV today)

However, I will point out that a Punisher television series -- at least in theory by the way its presented -- sounds okay to me.

Keep this in mind: The Punisher character -- at least as he is depicted in comics -- is a mass murderer vigilante. In this day and age where the average television watcher (read: moron) who will complain that a show like this is warping the minds of their children or whatever nonsense people spout when it comes to violence on TV, having a character like this on mainstream cable just wouldn't work. It'd turn people off from the show.

Fox, as a network, does not care about fan-bases (See any number of shows that had cult followings such as Firefly, Millennium, The Lone Gunmen, Sliders etc.) they are more interested in what gets the highest ratings. As such they will alter a show and present it in a way they think will get more people watching the show. They are about ratings not telling good stories (or news if you've ever watched Fox News. Bleck) Crime dramas and forensic shows (Dexter, Criminal Minds, CSI, etc etc) are still quite popular, so putting Frank Castle in a role of a police officer who also operates as a vigilante by night -- from a ratings perspective -- makes sense.

As or the gripes below: First of all.. Frank Castle *WAS* a police officer in mainstream Marvel continuity. After Vietnam he joined a police force, hence the reason why his family got gunned down by mobsters. So, having his character remain a police officer in a TV show -- to me -- is not a such a big deal. It makes a logical sense.

Second thing: The violence/gore/whatever that people seem to think will make this series matter (nah, it wouldn't be something like a good cast or story writing. Just guns right?) and don't think Fox has the chops to show some bloodshed and carnage... I'd recommend that you go back and watch some of the later seasons of the X-Files, or Millennium. Those were Fox shows and they were quite gruesome near the end. No, Fox isn't going to show a head shot with brains splattering all over the wall, or show people being chopped up into bits by automatic weapon fire, or being blown up into hamburger from explosives... But it's not going to be that watered down.

However, I maintain that this should not be a gripe with people, because if you want to watch violence for violence sake, you shouldn't give two king size craps about if its the Punisher or not. Or the story. Or whatever. In fact, if you want to see blood and guts, Google can solve that one for you. You should be watching the Punisher for the STORY, not the blood and guts. Or the guns. Because its the story that makes it all interesting, not the guns -- that's window dressing.

And frankly, if you're not going to be able to watch something without complaining how it's not the "same" as another incarnation, then shut the TV off and read Punisher comics. Why gets yourself all worked up over something you wont be interested in. Its a waste of energy.