With a total of 12 films and three television series delving into the shared Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it’s fair to say Marvel-fatigue is beginning to set in. “Jessica Jones,” the second series of a five-show deal between Netflix and Marvel, has had tough shoes to fill after the dark and wonderful “Daredevil.” However, the show is completely different from any other MCU adaption: it's Marvel’s first dark female property.
The titular character, played by Krysten Ritter, is a superhero-turned-private-investigator after a traumatic past experience. Jones is now an alcoholic with a short temper, but as soon as she is about to finally move on from her troubles, a devil from her past resurfaces with a vengeance.
The show seamlessly blends genres and creates a riveting well-plotted story that complements the bingeing capabilities of Netflix. Netflix has excelled in creating this different Marvel tone, with “Jones” continuing in the steps of “Daredevil” as an extremely dark and noir-ish superhero show.
Ritter is perfectly cast for the role of Jones, with just the right amount of humor to balance the dark tones of the show. Ritter shines, despite having the difficult task of making the character — who has gone through intense emotional and physical assault — into a victim. As more viewers discover the character’s past, the more they respect her.
The supporting characters are just as complex as Jones herself. David Tennant shines as the villain Kilgrave, who develops as a genuine and scary foil to Jones. Mike Colter plays Luke Cage, who is set to have his own Netflix television show next, and Carrie-Anne Moss, the MCU’s first lesbian character, plays Jeri Hogarth, a corporate lawyer.
“Jones” was originally developed for ABC, but the show thrives under the Netflix model, where it stays true to the adult comic book material and embraces more graphic content, including explicit sex scenes, drug abuse, rape and violence.
“Jessica Jones” is everything a fan could want in a superhero show. The villain is more than a hell-bent paper cutout, and the supporting cast is equally as strong as its lead. “Jessica Jones” combines everything good from past Marvel shows: it has the episodic fun of “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” the feminist overtones of “Agent Carter” and the dark and noir tones of “Daredevil.” Marvel’s “Jessica Jones” is not only a great superhero show, but is one of the best television shows of the year.
Read More
Early Visions at The Fralin facilitates creativity through artistic mentorship
By Delaney Coppola | 21 hours agoThe 10 week-long after-school program brings together children from the Boys and Girls Club of Central Virginia with University student-artistic mentors.
Around the world in three stories — recommendations from Language House residents
By Gretel Brown | 2 days agoThese works of international fiction — all originally written in languages other than English and set in countries other than the United States — are the perfect getaway for students looking to put the semester behind them.
The Filmmakers Society is the heart of student filmmaking on Grounds
By Zachary Geller | 3 days agoThe Filmmakers Society, or FMS, is the University’s only filmmaking-based Contracted Independent Organization.
