Jessica Jones SEASON 1 Review (NO SPOILERS)

Better late than never.

For those of you unfamiliar with the property, Marvel's Jessica Jones is a Netflix-exclusive series featuring heroine Jessica Jones and her fight against the evil mind-controlling Kilgrave. Jessica was born with the gift of superhuman strength; she's stronger than Captain America in many respects. The 13-episode season covers the origins of this damaged woman and her ploy to both keep defeat her rival while making peace with those she loves. Along with her for the journey is her adopted sister Trish, former covert ops agent Simpson, and dangerous lover Luke Cage. Together, these people share their experiences and are intertwined courtesy of Kilgrave.

Not all heroes wear capes

That's the basic synopsis. For those of you familiar to the Netflix formula, and even more so if you saw the excellent Marvel's Daredevil Season 1 on Netflix, you'll be familiar with what to expect on this show: dark themes encapsulated by engrossing characters and a conflict that keeps you on the edge of your seat asking "what comes next?" However, unlike Marvel's Daredevil, where the objective was to portray the physical brutality of Matt Murdock's world, Marvel's Jessica Jones is presenting the unsettling nature of her world through mental brutality. Jessica Jones has dealt with the villainous Kilgrave before, as he made her do things she was unable to say no to. This is the story of a rape victim and her struggle to maintain her sanity after the fact. She turns to booze, she steers clear of others, she disconnects herself from the world at large. The only reason Jessica goes public in this show like she does is because Kilgrave is once again on the prowl, and he's using other innocent people to get to Jessica.

Immediately, this conflict has multiple layers that are intriguing on their own even before you meet the characters. Firstly, how is Jessica, with all of her strength, supposed to overpower someone who can make people do whatever he says? From a superhero perspective, this is a conflict that is immediately intriguing to watch progress throughout the 13 episodes. From a narrative perspective, we meet Jessica Jones as she is recovering from a seriously abusive period in her life, and the commentary on the abuse women have received, and still receive, was both bold but respectful, intense and at the same time intellectual, mature and honest, all at once. It's some of the boldest, most grounded, most human storytelling I've ever seen on a television platform, and I was intrigued by every bit of it. These writers certainly aren't lazy; while dead periods certainly exist in the form of a filler episode, or sub-plots that get in the way of Jessica's story, they weren't so boring that I got immediately turned off from them. This show is ultimately a story about the survivors of abuse, and of not just one kind of abuse. The characters have depth, and their stories are human. I loved the writing of this show.

What do you do when you try to start over?

And as for the characters, there's a plethora to enjoy. Jessica Jones is an unlikable introvert at the start of the show, but as you journey through the episodes, you empathize more and more with her. She's on her own, and you don't judge her for being so as you watch. She's headstrong but calculating, and there's a strong presence that she has to her - Krysten Ritter did a great job with the material. Mike Colter's Luke Cage takes the overly-dark tone of the show and brings in just the slimmest light; inherently, Luke Cage is a good man who tries to do the right thing, an area where other characters of this show actually struggle with consistently. Seeing Cage weed through the darkness and emerge just as endearing is wonderful to see happen. And like Vincent D'Onofrio before him, David Tennant makes for a terrifying villain - but in a different way. Where D'Onofrio terrorized through barely-controlled rage and an uncanny control of the Hell's Kitchen gang scene, Tennant is an unbridled bundle of self-deprivation and excess: using his powers, he abuses anyone who he views gets in his way. But also like D'Onofrio, there's more to the villain Kilgrave than first meets the eye. And what makes it great is that Tennant himself flexes his acting muscles by explaining why  he is the way he is, rather than through flashback. This trio forms a great cast, and the supporting roles were confident and strong as well, particularly in Rachel Taylor's Trish Walker, Jessica's adoptive sister and best friend. She provides a different outlook on the show by being open to others and supportive of Jessica, but being equally strong in her own right. These characters are great, but there are weaker ones in the show (which I won't be getting into right now).

Keep your ears covered when you're around him

When it comes to television, you can't do much better than this. If you're a fan of Marvel's Daredevil and want to venture back into Hell's Kitchen, Marvel's Jessica Jones is definitely for you. Be warned, however: in many ways, this program is some of the most adult content Marvel has ever done. This story is very much a psychological thriller, one that will either engage you to the maximum or make you need to take intense breaks between episodes. The show isn't flawless, and one or two episodes focus less on narrative progression and more on filler, but if you've enjoyed Netflix's programming thus far, you won't be disappointed here.

Rating: 9.0 / 10