Marvel's continued expansion onto the small screen continued with Jessica Jones. Do her super powers manage to capture our imagination and will we want to see more?
Who:
Starring: Krysten Ritter, Rachael Taylor, Mike Colter, Carrie-Anne Moss, David Tennant
What:
Season One
Why:
Part of the greater plan of Marvel in their attempt to dominate the world!
When:
Released 2015
Where:
Takes place in Hell's Kitchen in New York
The Case For:
Jessica Jones is one of those lower level super heroes from Marvel who doesn't have enough pulling power on her own to green light a movie but has enough of a following to warrant the gamble of a small screen debut. Along with Daredevil, Iron Fist and Luke Cage (who is part of the cast here) and also not forgetting Agent Carter as well as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Marvel are certainly expanding into television in a big way.
In a similar vein to the film releases, Marvel have created enough of a difference in the storylines amongst their TV output so you don't feel you are watching the same repetitive tales. It is a clever marketing tool and one that I hope they continue with as each show certainly has its merits and audience appeal.
Again they have shown they are a modern forward thinking company with this show based around a strong female lead. Along with Agent Carter and the forthcoming Captain Marvel film, as well as super heroine Black Widow's many on screen appearances, they are certainly leading the way by putting female role models at the forefront of their products.
Jessica Jones is as much about the people as it is about the heroics. The character studies that take place make this one of the most interesting takes on the genre from the huge array of super hero shows we are inundated with.
There is a strong emphasis on the mental health issues of not only Jessica Jones but also her supporting cast too; Trish Walker, Will Simpson, Malcolm Ducasse, Jeri Hogarth, Kilgrave and any number of others too, all have their problems on display.
Post-traumatic stress disorder plays a huge part in the lives of many of these people, particularly our heroine. We also have drug addiction, anger management, mental torture, bulimia and child abuse addressed during this season. It is so refreshing to have these topics discussed and recognised so openly in a genre best known for focusing on big explosions and plenty of action.
Character development is imperative to engage with your audience when it comes to television. A film can get away with just being entertaining but if you want watchers to keep tuning in each week, you need to have people that are interesting so viewers want to see what happens next in their lives.
This show certainly achieves that. It was very satisfying, for example, seeing Malcolm struggle with his drug problem and trying to overcome it. The same goes for seeing how Trish copes with the trauma from her childhood and gaining the strength and belief to stand up for herself.
Of course Jessica's struggle with coming to terms with the mental anguish that Kilgrave put her through during her time under his influence is the main plot point throughout this first season. Krysten Ritter portrays her as a very capable woman but also one who you can see is clearly traumatised from her ordeal. She uses alcohol as one of her coping mechanisms. It is clear this is a person who has trouble opening up to others. She is not one to cry out for help even if she recognises that it would be cathartic for her.
It's an excellent performance from Ritter, very nuanced and subtle; she can evoke many emotions just from a flicker of her eyes or the curl of her mouth. That's not to say she doesn't kick ass when it is needed. She is no shrinking violet that is for sure!
The relationship she shares with Trish Walker is one of the highlights of the show. Ritter and Rachael Taylor do have excellent on screen chemistry. It is nice to see the support they provide for one another but also display their differences too. In much the same way siblings will disagree, fight and bicker, we see the same from the two of them.
Jessica's love interest Luke Cage makes his on screen debut here before he gets his own show in 2016. Luke gets a good introduction and we basically get enough of his story so once his series does come along, we aren't going to be subjected to half a season of origin story. There is very little explanation for either hero as to how or why they have these super powers. It's a nice touch though, because we don't need to know. The fact they are different from regular people is just something we are left to deal with.
I liked this particular partnering too. Both Jessica and Luke have baggage and issues to deal with. You get a sense that they could be kindred spirits. Each have the burden of trying to hide their abilities from the wider public and this shared agenda helps bring them closer together. There is a connection between the two that I don't want to spoil, but the way this particular story thread is handled throughout the season's run is very dignified. The resolution certainly feels well handled in relation to their shared experiences with Kilgrave.
This brings us to Kilgrave. David Tennant portrays one of the best rounded out super villains we have yet seen in the Marvel universe. One of the benefits of TV is the extra time it allows to develop the bad guys as well as the good guys. Like Wilson Fisk from Daredevil, Kilgrave certainly has his fair share of screen time, which allows us to get a glimpse of why he is the way he is.
Kilgrave is very charismatic with undertones of menace and a temper brimming just below the surface. For someone who doesn't have a group of henchmen at his beck and call, he certainly uses his powers to bring people to his aid when needed.
His usage of his mind manipulation powers bring us full circle back to the mental trauma suffered by many people at his hands. Kilgrave's victims come together to form their own support group that allows us to explore their group therapy sessions. This sort of situation makes you realise you are watching a different type of TV show which isn't afraid to tackle bigger issues.
As the season gets closer to the end we are provided with a hint as to what the future possibly holds. We may see Nuke appear as an enemy our main protagonist has to deal with. There is also the mysterious IGH introduced in the last couple of episodes that requires further investigation. Both of these should have enough intrigue to entice viewers back for season two.
There is a nice crossover character introduced in the last couple of episodes from Daredevil. There are a number of other minor players that we meet here, in addition to the ones introduced already in Daredevil, that all add to that world building that should bear fruit once we get to The Defenders mini-series planned for the future.
The Case Against:
Are we at risk of an over saturation of super heroes? Marvel certainly doesn't seem to think so. The question does need to be asked though, especially when we get shows with characters that have a hard core group of fans but aren't as well known to the wider public.
It does make you wonder if a show based on someone like Jessica Jones is going to have enough appeal. Certainly when you see the quality of what is on show here it should do, but is it going to attract people who will think it is just yet another show about costumed heroes.
Both Jessica Jones and Daredevil have a much darker tone to them than the movies Marvel have released. They are definitely aimed at more mature viewers than the target audience for the films. That's a bold move when you already have the numbers flocking to see your product on the big screen.
It's also a well-planned calculated move though.
There is a certain cynical thought that the TV shows are here in an attempt to widen Marvel's appeal to people who wouldn't be interested in seeing their movies. There would be age groups who would view their output as too juvenile for them. By having more cutting edge TV shows aimed at a mature audience it gives Marvel access to these groups.
By the same token the darker tone and subject matter of Jessica Jones certainly alienates a lot of the younger generation who do flock to see their movies. You would imagine that Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Matt Murdock in their current incarnations won't be showing up in any future films and vice versa, Thor or Hulk aren't going to make an appearance in Hell's Kitchen any time soon.
It is a shame as it does isolate them to their current media. On the other hand it could also be a good thing too. If Tony Stark was popping up all the time to meet with Jessica then the show would quickly become a case of "Guest Starring" each week.
As for Jessica Jones itself there is a distinct lack of action per episode if fans are expecting to see lots of punch ups. Especially as both Jones and Cage are super strong, you would be forgiven for thinking that it will be a full on fight feast every time. It isn't a problem for me as the greater subject matter being covered is far more interesting than seeing fight after fight. There is still a fair share of action anyway but some might think there just isn't enough. For instance I found Daredevil had a fight quota that each episode felt the need to meet, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of that series.
One thing that did amuse me greatly was Jessica's continuous use of her strength to open locked doors. That particular trope must have appeared on average once per episode, so much so you could consider making it into a drinking game. She could certainly get a second job as a locksmith if she was short of cash!
The most frustrating thing that did occur was Kilgrave managing to get away time and time again. Just when you think she has him something would crop up to allow her nemesis to escape once more. Combine this with the door opening powers and you could end up with a drinking game that would make you more than a little tipsy.
Probably the most annoying part of the season was the final resolution. The writers built such a great villain with so much about him to love and hate that it would be nice to see Kilgrave appear further.
What has become a common trait though for Marvel, is they seem to only allow for the bad guys to have one storyline before we move on to the next one. In the comic world it is the opposite though as enemies are brought back time and time again. It would be great if Loki wasn't the only one to appear more than once.
I think they may have missed a trick here with Kilgrave; he has a similar appeal to the god of mischief, certainly with David Tennant's portrayal of him.
Verdict:
She might have been burnt at the stake back in the 1600's for her super power abilities. Today, however, we need to commend Jessica Jones for breaking new ground in a forever expanding genre. No witches here people, just plenty of broken doors that need mending!
Evidence:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2357547/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Jones_(TV_series)
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