Marvel series ‘Jessica Jones’ goes even darker in season two
Drew Henderson // A&E editor
Out of all the Marvel Netflix series, “Jessica Jones” has always been a different beast. I have always seen it as a new age noir detective series with superhero elements—never as a superhero show. “Jessica Jones” also covers more mature topics than the other shows. One line from this season really sums up the main theme of this show: “With great power comes great…mental illness.” Season three sees Jessica deal with the aftermath of her final encounter with Kilgrave, as she now has to live in a world where she was able to cross the line and had to commit the ultimate act: murder. The beginning of the season sees her still picking up jobs for her private eye firm, Alias Investigations, but this is not the main focus of the season.
With Marvel properties, a villain that stands out is usually required, whether that be Kingpin, Loki, Kilgrave or Killmonger. However, this season of Jessica Jones does not focus on Jessica’s fight with a villain, but instead the investigation into IGH, the mysterious research group who gifted Jessica with both her powers and her problems. This season acts as more of a character study of Jessica as we get to learn more of her backstory, which goes back to the days before Jessica had her first deadly encounter with Kilgrave. We get to see Trish finally flee from her heyday childhood star status, and we also get to see a Jessica that is a bit happier and still trying to find her place in a world where superheroes exist.
But the past does not just come back in flashbacks. Jessica’s main threat comes from her broken past as well, and this proves different, as the threat does not really feel like a threat in the sense that Kilgrave was. It feels more like a personal bout between the past, which Jessica tries to forget with booze, and the future she is in.
Overall, everyone is firing on all cylinders. Krysten Ritter is always a highlight as Jessica, creating a character that is hardened from past events but always finds humanity and safety in her friends, even if she does not express it in the best way. Rachel Taylor also continues to be terrific as Trish Walker, Jessica’s best friend and the host of a radio talk show, “Trish Talk.” Walker’s storyline this season tries to see her breakout of her former ‘It’s Patsy’ shadow and try to break a the story she has been investigating, helping Jessica solve whatever IGH is doing and stop them from ever doing it again.
But even though a villain is not required for a show like “Jessica Jones,” I wish that there was a more brooding presence like Kilgrave in the future of the series. However, fans of the purple man may see a surprise appearance in the latter part of the season. That is not knocking the threat of this season, and they do a great job, bringing someone close from Jessica’s past while also being completely changed by the same procedures that gave Jessica her powers.
If you are also wondering if any of the Defenders stop by, I will burst your bubble right here. Like in the first season, “Jessica Jones” makes no reference to the bigger world around her, which is disappointing, as I would think that the events in “The Defenders” would have an impact on her series. But beyond that, “Jessica Jones” still remains one of the more accessible Marvel shows Netflix has to offer. Whether you are a fan of the superhero genre or just want to get into a good mystery thriller, “Jessica Jones” will always deliver a great slow-burn thriller mystery.