100 Days of Marvel: Road to Infinity War - Day 35: Jessica Jones (S1 E1-6)

Jessica Jones is so good. Alright, blog post done. Go watch the show.

Kidding aside, this show is amazing. This show strikes a different tone when compared to every other Marvel property - movie or show, because Jessica, while heroic, is not a super hero. Everyone else tries to be heroic, they either consider themselves super heroes, or they want to be. Jessica is different. She doesn't want to be a hero, but just kind of is. She feels responsible, and even has a clearly defined Refusal of her Call.

There are 3 things that make this show a cut above other regular shows and Netflix series. Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Killgrave.

Before there was Marvel's Black Panther film, we had (and still do") Luke Cage. FINALLY a Black character who isn't a side kick or assistant character, but who is a strong leading role. Deserving of his own show, and powerful in this one. He was really great in this show, and I can't wait until I get to my Luke Cage re-watch. I loved how they developed his character through his connection to Jessica, and the moment when he is on his vengeance mission to kill the bus drive, not knowing it was Jessica who killed his wife, the tension! "Time's Up!" I wonder if someone saw this show and thought "I need to use that once we drag Harvey Weinstein into the light." With what happens in this show, it is kind of fitting. But I digress, "You touched me with the same hands that killed my wife." Luke freakin' Cage everybody. I can't wait to see him in Defenders because I still have not watched it either. In due time...in due time.

Jessica, as the protagonist, is wonderful. She is cast perfect. Krystn Ritter does such a great job with this role. As a character who has suffered trauma, rape, and mental abuse, it would have been easy to ruin this role and make it come across as preachy and pointed. However, that is not the case with Ritter's performance. She captures every emotion perfectly, and does not fail to capture the nuance needed in every moment.

Lastly, we get to Kilgrave. A very under developed antagonist by any standard. We spend a large portion of the show not knowing why he does what he does, and we do eventually learn that it is unrequited love, but his character still works for this series. It serves the purpose to change up the steriotypical villains, but he is just as strong, if not stronger. It is funny because Loki does a similar thing in the first Avengers film. I am sure Hawkeye has a similar sort of PTSD to some degree, but considered the time we have to flesh out this narrative, Killgrave has more time to use his powers, and we get more time to see the ramifications of mind control on his victims. It is very intense, and really makes the viewer question the implications of powers and their drawbacks. Usually, the best powers have some sort of draw back for the caster, but in this case his ramifications all come from the victim.

Tomorrow night I plan on completing season 1, and I will talk about more of the characters, and over all plot of the season. This re-watch was perfectly timed to precede the release of season 2, so now I just need to work season 2 into my watch schedule.