Let’s talk Jessica Jones

Jessica Jones, the second installment of the Marvel/Netflix deal was released last Friday to overwhelmingly positive reviews and a tremendous amount of hype. But is the show really all it’s cracked up to be? Well, that really depends. As a show that came from a comic series originally intended for a more mature audience, the creators of the Netflix series were able to leverage that to create a darker, more sinister show, while maintaining the continuity between the other marvel shows in the franchise. However, don’t think for a second that you need to be a super hero fan to enjoy this show. In fact, if you have never even seen a Marvel film or show, this one might just be the one to start with.

Even from the first episode, it is clear this is no Avengers style A-list action film. Far from it. The tone is much more noir and is much more of an intellectual and mental experience than an action flick. The show manages to be almost more of a psychological drama than a super hero show, and honestly, Jessica Jones really doesn’t bust out her kick ass powers all that often.

This is a show far more interested in the characters, their interactions and the effects of past trauma coming back to haunt them. It’s a show that leaves you feeling sorry for nearly every character, and through the use of cinematography and a near perfect performance from the cast, it is a show that will make you sit at your desk after watching it for a good while just processing a range of emotions. Not a small feat to be sure.

Speaking of which, the acting. Let us take a moment to talk about the acting. We’ll start with Krysten Ritter, who plays Jessica Jones. While her performances in the past (Breaking Bad, Don’t trust the B in Apt. 23) have not been at all bad, she truly shows us what she is capable of in her role as the title character. Overall a fantastic performance, but there are three or four scenes that really stood out. I cannot describe them here, (spoilers) but you will know them when you see them. She has the ability to be at once vulnerable and powerful, and the way in which she plays Jessica Jones is truly spot on.

While Krysten Ritter’s performance is phenomenal, I would be remiss to overlook the insanely fantastic portrayal of Kilgrave, played by David Tennant (Doctor Who, Broadchurch). Something about watching Tennant play this sociopathic mind controlling villain is just enchanting. The way that he is able to make one feel complete contempt for the character and immediately after something that nearly resembles sympathy is truly amazing.

I should not focus on only these two portrayals, however. In fact, the entire cast was a joy to watch preform. I really cannot pick out a character that was not well acted. Sure, there are characters that I did not like, but that is quite a different category from being poorly acted.

And really, that is the overall feel of the show. Never a part that I felt was poorly done. Parts that were less intriguing but needed for story development were given enough attention to make them watchable, and the cinematography matched the tone of the show quite nicely.

But is the show really all it’s cracked up to be? Well, that really depends. If you are expecting a super hero show, Jessica Jones is not that. It is a psychological drama that happens to have a few superhero characters in it. Is it good television? Absolutely. In fact, it is likely better than most TV shows out there today. And it’s dark, tackling issues and situations nearly never ventured into by “mainstream” TV networks. It is a fantastic show, but something is, perhaps, missing.

It’s a show that is almost perfect, but just not quite. Something is missing, but one cannot be sure exactly what it is. Nothing is inherently wrong with it, but that key ingredient is somehow, not there. A show that could have easily been the best show of 2015 is somehow only one of the best shows of 2015. What’s missing is unclear, but the hype of the show and the insanely positive reviews are likely somewhat to blame. It is truly hard to live up to an impossible image of what a show might be.

And really, I think this is a show that was hurt more by the hype than by anything else. If this was a show that no one know about and just sort of happened, it would be fantastic. As it is, the show is 99% of fantastic. But, in today’s overly crowded and competitive television arena, 99% of fantastic is about as good as it gets.

The Verdict:

9/10 - Fantastic