Jessica Jones has problems. She wants to be a hero but can't seem to get over her disastrous past. She has a drinking problem. She has no friends. She hates herself. She was manipulated into killing her lover's wife. She's also super-strong and can jump high. Between her constant self-loathing, she finds out others' dirty secrets and gets paid for it. She really hates herself.
And it's into this World we are slowly submerged. The story telling a slow drowning into her horrid life. When we first meet Jessica, she's on the case to find a young girl who may have been abducted. Before the first episode is over, things have gotten pretty bad. Really bad. We are also introduced to the movers and shakers and a few of their problems: Trish Walker, Gerry Hogarth, Luke Cage, Kilgrave, Malcolm.
As Jessica tries to redeem herself and keep an innocent girl out of jail, the show goes from film noir to horror. A bit like Chinatown or Angel Heart except with superpowers and far more violence. The show really hits its stride in the second act when a game of cat and mouse plays out with some horrific consequences and dirty mind games. The horror the show has only hinted at comes out of nowhere and the pace doesn't let up til the finale.
However, the finale is a bit of a letdown after such a strong climb. It seems the writers or producers had no imagination (or not enough episodes) to really bring about the destruction they wanted their incredible villain to rain down. It's rushed and a little clunky and a little unbelievable but for everything that has come before, you can almost forgive it.
The cast are great. Krysten Ritter flexing muscles I didn't know she had. She plays sarcastic bitch well but I didn't know she could also do incredibly vulnerable, self-hating soul. Her best friend Trish is played by Rachel Taylor and their chemistry is great. They are a really good antidote to all the masculinity Marvel indulges in. Two very realistic women who are having to fight twice as hard. The supporting cast including Carrie Ann Moss is a delight. Moss' character, a shark of a lawyer, is a great foil to both the villain Kilgrave and Jones. She's in it just for herself and while she is happy to help Jones, her decisions to get something out of it are purely believable and the consequences for her and others are deserved. However, the star of the show is David Tennant as Kilgrave. A delightfully unhinged psychopath whose only motive is to make Jessica fall in love with him. Not interested in blowing up a city or gentrification or making money (his power supersedes all desires) the only thing he can't have is Jessica and he really, really wants her. Watching him manipulate everyone to get her attention and watching him fail to keep her time and again is a remarkable thing. When he finally launches into a series of violent murders, it's almost like some twisted explosion of sexual tension and his idea of a love letter to her.
The other attraction is the story. It starts slow but as we move along, we learn that every little detail meant something. This adds a severe level of gravitas to the final episodes and rewards your viewing. Not a contrived story or moments of shocking revelations, everything is pulled together as their mind games are played out.
I've heard a lot of complaints and I suspect it's due to the show being focused on females. I think, compared to all other superhero shows around, Jessica ranks in the top. A believable hero. A cast of interesting and flawed humans. The ability to shock without resorting to tricks. Some kick ass action and a nasty, nasty villain. I'd heartily recommend Jessica Jones.
And it's into this World we are slowly submerged. The story telling a slow drowning into her horrid life. When we first meet Jessica, she's on the case to find a young girl who may have been abducted. Before the first episode is over, things have gotten pretty bad. Really bad. We are also introduced to the movers and shakers and a few of their problems: Trish Walker, Gerry Hogarth, Luke Cage, Kilgrave, Malcolm.
As Jessica tries to redeem herself and keep an innocent girl out of jail, the show goes from film noir to horror. A bit like Chinatown or Angel Heart except with superpowers and far more violence. The show really hits its stride in the second act when a game of cat and mouse plays out with some horrific consequences and dirty mind games. The horror the show has only hinted at comes out of nowhere and the pace doesn't let up til the finale.
However, the finale is a bit of a letdown after such a strong climb. It seems the writers or producers had no imagination (or not enough episodes) to really bring about the destruction they wanted their incredible villain to rain down. It's rushed and a little clunky and a little unbelievable but for everything that has come before, you can almost forgive it.
The cast are great. Krysten Ritter flexing muscles I didn't know she had. She plays sarcastic bitch well but I didn't know she could also do incredibly vulnerable, self-hating soul. Her best friend Trish is played by Rachel Taylor and their chemistry is great. They are a really good antidote to all the masculinity Marvel indulges in. Two very realistic women who are having to fight twice as hard. The supporting cast including Carrie Ann Moss is a delight. Moss' character, a shark of a lawyer, is a great foil to both the villain Kilgrave and Jones. She's in it just for herself and while she is happy to help Jones, her decisions to get something out of it are purely believable and the consequences for her and others are deserved. However, the star of the show is David Tennant as Kilgrave. A delightfully unhinged psychopath whose only motive is to make Jessica fall in love with him. Not interested in blowing up a city or gentrification or making money (his power supersedes all desires) the only thing he can't have is Jessica and he really, really wants her. Watching him manipulate everyone to get her attention and watching him fail to keep her time and again is a remarkable thing. When he finally launches into a series of violent murders, it's almost like some twisted explosion of sexual tension and his idea of a love letter to her.
The other attraction is the story. It starts slow but as we move along, we learn that every little detail meant something. This adds a severe level of gravitas to the final episodes and rewards your viewing. Not a contrived story or moments of shocking revelations, everything is pulled together as their mind games are played out.
I've heard a lot of complaints and I suspect it's due to the show being focused on females. I think, compared to all other superhero shows around, Jessica ranks in the top. A believable hero. A cast of interesting and flawed humans. The ability to shock without resorting to tricks. Some kick ass action and a nasty, nasty villain. I'd heartily recommend Jessica Jones.