Meet Jessica Jones

Marvel and Netflix recently released their newest show Jessica Jones, a virtual unknown to anyone who doesn’t read the comics. Everyone has heard of Daredevil, Wolverine, and other significant characters but now Marvel is starting to bring other unsung heroes into the light. One of them being this female anti-hero in what has to be Marvel’s most mature and dark show to date. This is the second show in Marvel’s lineup to their ongoing plans to bring the Defenders to the big screen which is like the Avengers only on a smaller scale. I digress back to Jessica Jones and coming from someone who hasn’t read a comic book since the death and return of Superman, this show was nothing short of a shock.

Daredevil introduced Marvel fans to a much darker side of the franchise which has only been seen by the likes of The Punisher and Blade but with Jessica Jones, Marvel and Netflix took a step further. Being played by Krysten Ritter (Breaking Bad), she brings the dark heroine to life while portraying the victim of a scarred childhood. The only light in her life comes from her sister Trish Walker played by Rachel Taylor (Transformers) who is a popular celebrity in the city and the only person Jessica has to go too. This is my way of saying that Jessica’s world is already portrayed as cold, lonely, and miserable in the beginning of the show. Taking place years after a tragic outcome as a result of her work as a superhero, Jessica took her powers of super strength and flight and used them to less progressive work.

Working as a private investigator, she takes on certain cases until she realizes there is something at play and it involves another meta-human. Once the arrival of the antagonist known as Kilgrave played by David Tennant (Dr. Who), things start to pick up and the blood starts to spill. With his arrival, Jessica must now reprise her role as a hero in order to save the people she cares about from arguably the most dangerous threat the city has had since the events of the first Avengers film. The only problem is who is the biggest threat to Jessica? Is it Kilgrave, her own personal demons, or the people she’s close to like Luke Cage?

Luke Cage is one character that many Marvel fans will be happy to see played by Mike Colter (Salt, Zero Dark Thirty) in this series before he eventually gets his own show which should be out later next year. Matching the comic character with both size and looks, Mike Colter brings the character to life as the popular hero for hire. There are other surprises in the series that hint the foreshadowing of more crossovers from other Marvel characters but there’s no doubt this show stands strong on its own. What’s really unique about this show is it shows a character with powers whose life isn’t all lights and glamour.

Unlike Daredevil who is human, Jessica is a meta-human who chooses to live life at the bottom of the pole so to speak. Someone who has the potential to be something on a grand scale but rather try having a normal life and in a way almost succeeded. Unfortunately, it also shows how some people don’t welcome people with gifts and rather they didn’t exist at all after the events of The Avengers. Jessica Jones gives a one of a kind perspective to the audience to show that not all people with powers want to spend their life fighting the cosmic beings or the meta-power dictators. The problem unfortunately is those who use their powers for the wrong reasons don’t care because that person is a threat regardless.

I give this show a solid 8 out of 10 because this show was slow starting out but after three episodes in then things start to get interesting. The other reason is some issues were dragged out and the awkward characters that leave the audience thinking, “What the hell?” Other than that, the casting is strong because of how they matched the characters and brought them to life for the first time. The story is attractive for fans of the dark or film noir style and David Tennant was a great choice to play the antagonist. Jessica Jones is a name Marvel fans will come to know as the series moves on and they get to know the woman behind the name.