'Jessica Jones', the TV version of the Marvel comic book series now airing on Netflix, has been acknowledged by critics as the grittiest, realistic, and adult superhero shows seen on TV. The titular character played by Krysten Ritter might have superhuman strength and can literally leap tall buildings in a single bound, but she is tormented by a deep trauma following her subjugation to the manipulation of the villain Kilgrave (David Tennant).
Business World describes Jessica Jones as smart, gutsy, and street smart. She tried the traditional superhero way of saving the world and gave up on it, choosing instead to become a private investigator. Though not seen, other Marvel characters that came out in other series and movies like The Hulk and Captain America are alluded to. And the one entity that Jessica is vulnerable to is not a super-villain organization like Hydra or an evil monstrosity like Ultron, but a seemingly ordinary guy who can get into her mind and mess around with it.
The review of the Sydney Morning Herald also points out that Jessica's recovery from abuse, emotional and physical, is neither fast nor pleasant. Memories of those times as Kilgrave's captive trigger pain, doubt, and other insecurities. Despite her innate physical strength, she is also running scared from her past and takes to drinking as an escape. This is another film noir series, cast after the mold of Netflix's other dark and down-to-earth superhero series, 'Daredevil,' which has already captured a loyal following.
The AV Club review says that 'Jessica Jones' even smartly turns on its head the superhero trope of great power being accompanied by great responsibility. It says that Jessica and Kilgrave's constant war to wield power over each other soon evolves into a 'revenge fantasy' for the anti-heroine.
'Jessica Jones' can be seen on Netflix.
