Jessica Jones: The Enduring Woman

S P O L I E R S

Jessica Jones is the toughest of all the Defenders. I say that knowing full well everything Luke has gone through, the training of Danny, the unrelenting resolve of Matt. Actually, I think that is why Matt and Jesse get “paired off” in the first couple episodes of The Defenders. These two together are the most resourceful and strongest: ironic, given that Danny is the billionaire and Luke lifts literally everything he tries to. Both Jesse and Matt have a way of navigating the world outside of their superhero selves, both have strong connections to long-held friends. But here we are talking about Jesse, so shoo Murdoch.

I admit I was nervous watching Jessica Jones. It is quite an investment for me to spend my few peaceful hours on a show that I am not at all sure I would enjoy. DareDevil is in my top 20 superheroes, Luke Cage’s marketing left no doubts, but I knew nothing about Jessica Jones whatsoever. And, I can say honestly, I wasn’t really sure if I could enjoy a female-centric series. But I watched season one anyway ‘cause it was the next one in the timeline, and now I cannot wait for season two in March 2018.

Jessica is a drinking, cursing, rules-breaking, destructive and manipulative woman. She deals not at all professionally with the lawyer who (seemingly) gets her all of her work. Her oldest friend wonders out loud what the hell she wants the first time they meet on screen. Her neighbors are damaged as they get drawn into her troubles without much effort on her part to set things right. All in all, she is cast as an unlikeable person. Also she wears the same clothes a lot so she’s probbly pretty stinky.

Just like with all the (mostly excellent) villians in Book One, it is Killgrave that gives us insight into what Jessica Jones season one is really about. Jessica is a rape victim, her client is a pregnant rape victim, her best friend is a survivor of her mother’s abuse, her neighbor is made into a drug addict by the villian, her other neighbor’s brother is murdered by the villian. None of the many victims that are seen throughout season one escape unscathed, though a good number survive. And that is what Jessica Jones is about: survival.

Kilgrave is excellently cast just as Kingpin was. This villain is not super smart or super rich, but he is “super”. He has mind control. Whatever he says, you have no choice but to obey. The victims almost feel as if they want to obey. And they remain under his spell for hours after he leaves. As is always the case, the technical explanation of his powers dampens the effect. Although of all the attempted scientific explanations of supernatural phenomena I have ever heard, this one is among the least offensive. It is used to explain Kilgrave and advance the plot well enough.

Killgrave is the perfect abuser: tho Jesse is technically free from him he haunts her. Even before she knows he is alive we see him suggesting, taunting, invading her head. This helps to show something I hadn’t really considered before: rape is a murder that the victim lives through, and relives everyday for years. It is a violent upsetting of who you are with no promise of any normalcy. Jessica’s rape is worse: she was targeted specifically for her superpowers and made to do things only she could do for Kilgrave's profit. Which of course doesn’t really make her all that keen on using her powers.

In fact, through flashbacks we learn that the first time she actually goes out to fight crime is when Kilgrave captures her. So she sharpens other skills: she is a crack PI that reminds me of the Rockford Files I watched on DVD as a kid. She legit does not need her powers to do her job. Well, you know, save for a busted door here and there.

When she first learns Kilgrave is alive, she wants to run. She packs, she gets cash, she gets in a cab. But then something overtakes her fear. Is it revenge? Is it a realization that she is the only one who can beat him? Is it a realization that he will always be in her head so long as she runs? I’m actually not sure, but it could very well be all of these. And it could be that Jessica starts out for selfish reasons, but finishes the fight because of those she loves and all the people Kilgrave has hurt. This I think is the most likely. She saves his victims. She seeks to capture him specifically to clear Hope’s name. When Hope kills herself, Jessica resolves to kill Kilgrave.

It’s a bit on the nose, but I can still dig the message. Hope is raped and dies. Since there is no hope, the heroes despair in the bad guy ever reforming. Thus, Kilgrave needs to be killed.

The most cathartic scene in all of Netvel Book One comes when Jessica is given a direct command by Kilgrave, and she is free to disobey. That sequence was so thoroughly well done, even I the viewer felt freed.

Given the absolutely earth-shattering experiences Jessica has gone through, I think she comes off as the most “ready” character in The Defenders. Even though she is initially turned off by the whole magic ancient ninjas thing, she comes around quickly enough.

All in all, I quite liked this show. I am genuinely looking forward to season two. I am still digesting some of the plot lines. Jeri Hogarth is excellently acted by Carrie Ann-Moss (so happy to see her in Iron Fist and The Defenders) and really stole every scene she was involved in, dealing with issues of infidelity and lying. Malcom is a favorite character: tragically turned away from his desire to be a social worker, but still hopeful (despite Hope symbolically dying). Trish Walker brought in themes of childhood trauma and how our overcoming of it may give us a false sense of strength. Will Simpson demonstrates what happens when an otherwise strong man loses his mind and subsequently his moral code.

More to talk about, but those are my general thoughts.