A Review of Marvel's Jessica Jones

By Justin Annazone on November 27, 2015

Jessica Jones is the latest Marvel character to receive an adaptation and it also might be the best.  I know many people are getting tired superhero films and I mostly agree, but Jessica Jones still deserves a look.  This is the most mature and adult adaptation Marvel has done to date and proves that Netflix is the place to go for the best Marvel entertainment.

Marvel/Netflix

Jessica Jones follows the titular Jones, a former superhero turned private investigator.  Jones is a loner, an alcoholic, and suffering from PTSD due to a traumatic event.  The past comes back to haunt her when Killgrave, a man with the power of persuasion, returns to get payback on Jessica for what she did years ago.  Rounding out the cast is Jessica’s best friend, Trish, her addict neighbor next door, the strange twins that live above her, and Luke Cage, a man who is indestructible.

Right from the beginning of the first episode it is clear that the creators were going for a classic film noir tone.  New York City is a perfect place to do this with high-rise apartments, dark alleyways and millions of people with their own interests to protect.  Jones’ cases mostly consist of taking pictures of cheating spouses, but when Killgrave comes back and the bodies start piling up, she takes on something much bigger.

Marve/Netflix

Each episode builds in a satisfying way and the story never feels like it is moving too slow or too fast.  My only complaint is that towards the end of the season, the game of cat and mouse becomes a little too redundant with Jessica catching Killgrave only for him to escape through some bit of luck.  I would go further into the plot, but it is better to discover on your own.  Better than the plot is the themes and the adult nature of the show itself.

Jessica Jones builds on what Daredevil started last year with more adult topics and graphic violence.  While Daredevil had some problems fully committing (characters were willing to break arms to the point that the bone popped out, but would not drop a f-bomb) that slightly took me out, Jones goes all in.  Jessica is snarky, and foul mouthed and it really helps make the character feel real.  She is also very deadly when she is forced to fight, though she tries not to.  Graphic violence, language and sex is not necessary for the show to be good, but it helps achieve the adult nature and darkness of the story.  The story is pitch black with themes of abuse, addiction, rape, and suicide.  Jessica Jones is completely unforgiving with all of the characters being forced to do things they could never imagine and Killgrave may be the most evil villain of any superhero film.  What’s more is all the characters are haunted and feel guilt over the things Killgrave makes them do.  This is the most human project Marvel has ever done.

Marvel/Netflix

Lastly, the acting in the show is absolutely superb.  Kyrsten Ritter is perfect for the role of Jessica.  She manages to seem vulnerable and completely impenetrable at the same time.  She delivers her quips and one-liners in just the right way and they almost always land.  Opposite her is David Tennant as Killgrave and he may be even better than Ritter.  He is smooth and if he didn’t commit such terrible crimes, he would be incredibly likable.  He remains calm whenever he is telling people what to do and the aloofness he uses in telling someone to stick his hand into a blender is incredibly disturbing.  The few times that he looses his cool are equally frightening.  The other performances are great, but the show lives or dies with these two characters.  If they were not so well cast, the show might not have worked.

Jessica Jones is up there with Daredevil and Captain America: The Winter Soldier as the best Marvel has to offer.  The acting, writing, and directing are all top notch and will absolutely suck any viewer in.  The show may get a little redundant as it approaches the finish line, but that may just be a casualty of having to stretch the story to a full season of television and the nature of binge watching.  Still, this will not get in the way of enjoying the show and if the Netflix Marvel series continue to trend in this direction, the best is yet to come.

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