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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsReview: Marvel's Jessica Jones is the complex (super) heroine we’ve been waiting for
he Marvel Cinematic Universe has never exactly shied away from darker themes, but for the most part its in the business of wonder and adventure. The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy are both essentially sunny visions of the same fantasy; put a group of special people together, and theyll do amazing things. Netflixs Daredevil flipped that script, setting the action in Marvels underbelly and exposing the fantasy for a lie. Sometimes our greatest heroes fail, and its regular people who must live with the consequences. Its what helped make the show one of Marvels finest efforts across TV and film when it launched.
Jessica Jones, the comics companys second Netflix series, returns to Daredevils dark corner of the Marvel Universe, and things only get bleaker. In a modern twist on film noir, the series follows its title character as she tries to solve a case while dealing with her terrible past. And its excellent, just as brutal and uncompromising as its predecessor. But by placing its stellar female cast in this murky underworld and letting them shine in a way Marvel has never done before, it stands head and shoulders above the companys other marquee properties to become one of the best new shows out this year. Daredevil was great by Marvel standards. Jessica Jones is just great.
Jessica Jones stars Krysten Ritter as the titular Jessica Jones, a failed superhero-turned-private-eye working in New York City. Based on the Alias comic series by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos, the show casts Jessica as the hardboiled gumshoe a role usually filled by classic tough guys like Sam Spade. Sticking true to noir canon, Jones relies on narration and a jazzy score to set the tone, both of which can come across as a little too on the nose at times. But the same cant be said for Ritter, who is brilliant in the role, playing a hard-drinking, damaged cynic who only happens to have super strength. Shes armed with a wry wit and real disdain for peoples bullshit, but its also clear that she helps others for just a little more than paying rent. Ritter conveys Jessicas complexity with grace, letting the characters pain simmer just under the surface as she juggles trying to protect those around her with coping with past trauma.
Trauma is a central theme for the series, and every character even the terrible ones has to contend with it. And as much as the series is about Jessica herself, its also about the people around her, all mostly just trying to get by in a world suddenly filled with superpowered madmen. Theres Trish Walker (Rachael Taylor), Jessica best friend and confidante whos seen her at her worst. Theres Jeri Horgath (Carrie-Anne Moss), the shark of a lawyer who gives Jessica cases to work. And theres Luke Cage (Mike Holter), a bartender with secrets of his own. Each of these characters is given a chance to shine in unique ways, and Jessicas relationships with them are all layered and complex. The show is paced deliberately, even slowly, teasing out each of their backstories in a way that connects organically back to Jessica, deepening the investment in each character with every reveal.
http://www.theverge.com/2015/11/19/9760514/jessica-jones-review-marvel-netflix-krysten-ritter
NV Whino
(20,886 posts)I really love the graphic novel look to the show. The direction, sets, art direction are spectacular. I love the subtle humor. And I love Carrie-Ann Moss. I think Krysten Ritter may grow on me.
MrScorpio
(73,630 posts)Nac Mac Feegle
(969 posts)Been looking forward to this for months. Had it on the Calendar app of my 'Auxiliary Brain' (padd).
I get home last night, sit down to light up the T.V., and the damn HDMI cable between the streaming box and the T.V. has failed.
NO F@#$%ING PICTURE OR SOUND.
Have to wait for Amazon to deliver a new one, and a spare or two.
That repetitive squishy noise you hear in the background? That's me banging my head against the wall.
jrandom421
(999 posts)how she could be any darker and more complex than Black Widow's past trauma, present chaos and future uncertainty. Still waiting for a Black Widow stand alone movie.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)Will watch the rest. I love the film noir feel.
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)How is Jessica connected to the bus accident? I didn't think Jessica Jones had any telekinectic powers, and I didn't see her throw the bus.
Response to hedgehog (Reply #6)
RandySF This message was self-deleted by its author.
Initech
(100,038 posts)NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)I'm about halfway through the season - Krysten Ritter, David Tennant and Mike Colter have been excellent. Ritter is very believable as the hero haunted by her traumatic past.
RandySF
(58,488 posts)A combination of street smarts, diligence, homework and common sense wrapped into one big (and good looking) brain.
RandySF
(58,488 posts)he is so creepy, it's scary. Great job by David Tennant. Truly a slimeball.
Initech
(100,038 posts)Although I do love Tom Hiddleston in that role.