This review may contain minor spoilers regarding season one of Jessica Jones.
After a 13-hour binge, I've completed Marvel's latest Netflix series Jessica Jones. Jones, played by Krysten Ritter, is a private investigator with a complex background who is trying to make a living in Hell's Kitchen, New York. It is clear that Ritter wanted to fully embody this character on every emotional and physical level. After a few episodes in, Ritter settles into her character and delivers an unforgettable, fun and witty performance.
Marvel's universe is in desperate need of strong female characters outside of Black Widow and Jones fills that need, but in a different way. Jones isn't a traditional hero and doesn't go through the typical setup. She is much more of an anti-hero but through her relationships and friendships, she embraces who she is, for better or worse.
Jessica Jones wastes no time setting up the main villain and plot. Upon completion of episode one, it is clear that Ritter will have to go head to head with David Tennant's Killgrave. Tennant is easily the main standout of this show. He doesn't play a typical villain. Instead of using brute strength, Tennant uses subtleties, charm and mental prowess to bring this villain to life in a haunting and terrifying way. The chemistry between Ritter and Tennant helps elevate this series from a traditional comic book show into a series that has depth, character development and emotional complexity.
Jones also introduces audiences to another famous Marvel book character, Luke Cage (Mike Colter). Cage will be receiving his own series on Netflix, but plays a major part in this series.
Ritter's performance is strongest when she is acting against characters that bring out an emotional, caring side to her character. Sparks fly instantly between Ritter and Coulter when they are on screen. The chemistry that she has with Colter is very different compared to her Tennant.
The other characters, aside from Killgrave or Cage, help bring out the many layers of Jones' character. This is the type of writing and development that Marvel has done so well on Netflix. This new platform brings out complete character arcs quicker, since we can watch more than one episode at a time.
For anyone who watched Daredevil, Jones is a departure. Despite a quick cameo from a Daredevil regular, Jones and Daredevil don't intersect, despite them being in the same city and within the shared Marvel Universe. This is a missed opportunity for Jones, since interacting with more characters from Daredevil could've added a lot to this show and made the universe seem more cohesive.
Despite some flaws, Jones is worth the entire watch because it is something new and different from Marvel. From its color scheme to the characters, this takes a left turn from The Avengers and is a darker, more aggressive look at what a female super hero can become. This isn't a show about a typical super hero, this is about a girl who wants to change the game and play by her own rules.