TV Review: “Jessica Jones,” Season One

Photo Courtesy of wavegirl
Photo Courtesy of wavegirl

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first superheroine.

Rating: 4.0/5.0
Created by Melissa Rosenberg
Starring Krysten Ritter, David Tennant, Rachael Taylor, Mike Colter, Carrie-Anne Moss
Release Date: Nov. 20, 2015

You’ve probably seen the purple-splashed “Jessica Jones” banner on Netflix and thought: “Another Marvel show? Seriously? When are they going to stop?” Not for a while, apparently.

It’s true — the Marvel Cinematic Universe is an franchise behemoth, and its expanding monopoly over the comic book industry is growing incredibly ambitious.

Building on the success of ABC’s Marvel series, 2015’s “Daredevil” was Marvel’s first venture into the world of Netflix Originals. Violent and grim, with meticulously choreographed fights, “Daredevil” is the first ever Marvel show to receive a TV-MA rating.

Melissa Rosenberg’s “Jessica Jones” is a different sort of first. As the second installment in the “Defenders” saga, it’s refreshingly different from Marvel’s usual fare. And with actor and character diversity becoming increasingly important in modern entertainment, “Jessica Jones” represents a progressive step forward in an overwhelmingly male-dominated MCU.

Photo Courtesy of Polygon
Photo Courtesy of Polygon

The show follows troubled private investigator Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) and her struggle to rebuild her life and career. But it’s more of a dark, disturbing drama than a serialized mystery show like one would expect. Yes, there are still superpowers involved, and yes, there are a few action scenes. But compared to “Daredevil’s” kinetic martial arts showdowns, the fights in “Jessica Jones” may seem awkward and poorly shot. Fortunately, that’s not the point.

Krysten Ritter’s complex portrayal of Jessica is the crux of a season revolving around themes of rape, assault and trauma. Rachael Taylor’s Trish Walker and Mike Colter’s Luke Cage (who’s slated to star in yet another Netflix-Marvel show) are equally impressive in this regard, displaying a wide range of acting chops that propel the story. But David Tennant’s Kilgrave is undoubtedly a standout mention. Fans of BBC’s “Doctor Who” may recognize the 10th Doctor here, and in a very, very different role. To avoid spoilers, Marvel’s Kilgrave is probably one of the most terrifying villains ever conceived. As a general idea, imagine the creepiest stalker you can think of (or know, but hopefully not). Then, imagine that stalker with the power to do whatever he wants… including whatever he wants others to do. In a show dealing with sexuality, assault and its consequences, Kilgrave is the endgame, playing a seemingly unstoppable destructive force.

Photo Courtesy of Collider
Photo Courtesy of Collider

The interplay between Krysten Ritter and David Tennant’s characters creates a constant dread that permeates each scene. It’s a slow, slow burn with 13 episodes to binge, but there’s always another “holy shit” moment lurking just around the corner. And while it might not be as action-packed and frenetic as “Agents of SHIELD” or “Daredevil,” the tension is wholly satisfying.

At times, the show’s heavy subject matter and noir atmosphere makes it hard to remember that it takes place in post-Chitauri invasion NYC. Or that it exists in literally the same universe as a talking racoon and his talking tree friend. Or that meanwhile, Ant-Man is off fighting Yellowjacket on a Thomas the Tank Engine playset. There are a few off-handed references to the Avengers here and there, but the show is so self-involved, so standalone, that it’s hard to imagine that it’s Marvel. But it is. “Jessica Jones” is stylish, bold and different. And while it stumbles from some pacing issues and a story spread slightly thin, it’s a strong first season. It might even be Marvel’s strongest yet.

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