Marvel's Jessica Jones | Season 2 on Netflix now
Our favourite reluctant superheroine is back and more relevant than ever.
It’s been two and a half years since Netflix unleashed ‘Marvel’s Jessica Jones’ onto the world. Ever since, we've been eagerly waiting for the continued adventures of Marvel’s super-strong, wisecracking detective.
Sure, she might have been a part of crossover spectacle ‘Marvel’s The Defenders’ but the series was met with mixed reviews and Jessica Jones was forced to share the spotlight with three of New York’s mightiest heroes. The most complex and charismatic of the Defenders bunch, the return of Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) is a welcome relief – and at just the right time.
Amid a wave of sexual revelations and the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, it’s no coincidence that the second season’s release coincides with International Women’s Day. The Netflix phenomenon is an unapologetically feminist series, in front of the camera and behind them. The Melissa Rosenberg-led series hired an all-female directing team for its sophomore outing, and season one featured a 50/50 gender split crew. Through its exploration of abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the first season was a cathartic depiction of triumph over trauma. And if the first season resonated with anyone who has ever experienced assault in their lives, then the second is about living in the aftermath.
In the wake of Kilgrave’s (David Tennant) attack on Jessica and her friends, she’s not only struggling to return to her normal life, but is trying to find out who she is and what life is after finally ridding herself of her biggest demon. She’s still snarky and trying to make ends meet with her detective agency, but the people of New York now know who she is and what she can do; and it’s damn impossible for her to shake her past and the vigilante superhero title she so desperately despises.
Trish (Rachael Taylor), Malcolm (Eka Darville), and Hogarth (Carrie-Anne Moss) are all back for round two; and they’re dealing with the consequences of Kilgrave’s actions, coming into their own as full-fledged characters. With its dark, noir tone, the show’s brightest notes come from Jessica’s interactions with her neighbour-turned-professional-associate Malcolm. Involving him more in the show’s central events is a smart move on the writers’ behalf as Darville continues to shine, bringing a much-needed moral centre to the show. Trish, Jessica’s ride-or-die, was set up to fill that role in the show’s first season but is now on her own mission and battling her own demons. There are also some new faces in the form of Oscar Arocho (J.R. Ramirez), Jessica’s new building superintendent and potential love interest; and Pryce Cheng (Terry Chen), a fellow private investigator.
The biggest challenge facing ‘Jessica Jones’ is the first season’s critical and audience acclaim. Jessica’s battle with Kilgrave was so carefully and perfectly plotted out across the first season’s thirteen episodes that it’s hard for anything else to compare – especially after that season finale. But while the second season of ‘Jessica Jones’ isn’t as urgent and compelling, it still makes for great television and storytelling.
The sophomore instalment also delves deeper into the show’s supporting characters; fleshing out Jessica’s allies and giving them their own value and purpose outside of the snarky protagonist. And coupled with Jessica’s own character development, it’s the show’s greatest strength.
‘Jessica Jones’, however, isn’t exempt from Marvel Netflix’s pacing issues, but the season really starts to kick into gear once audiences are introduced to the season’s central mystery – the origin of Jessica’s powers. There’s no denying that there’s a Kilgrave-shaped hole in the absence of a compelling villain, but shadowy organisation IGH forces Jessica to confront her past and the events that follow certainly set the groundwork for a third season (should one be announced).
Jessica’s story may have only resonated with some of the audience during its freshman season, but its sophomore season is a dynamic exploration of female rage. And with women all over the world fed up and angrier than ever, ‘Jessica Jones’ feels like the perfect culmination of that.
Season 2 of ‘Marvel’s Jessica Jones’ is now streaming on Netflix.
