Stars: 5/5
The snarky remarks, super strength and devil-may-care attitude that brought me to love the first season of Netflix’s “Jessica Jones” had me desperately waiting for a second season. Netflix tried to quell the need for their superhero shows with “The Defenders,” but the addition of Iron Fist brought down the charisma balance of the rest of the cast. Thankfully, “Jessica Jones’” second season carried me right back into the rapture and suspense the first season left me in.
From the start, “Jessica Jones” held strong to its confrontation of social issues like sexual assault, sexism, drug and alcohol addiction, mental illness and so much more. Topics like these are bound to bring anyone down, but the endearing cast of characters and their development give viewers relief from the moments where things may get too heavy.
While Killgrave, the first season’s main villain, is dead and gone, the ripples of his influence still echo throughout the season. One facet I particularly enjoy is the realistic repercussions for the various heroes’ actions and how those repercussions heavily shape the environment the hero has to work in. It keeps the story constantly engaging, and adds a major character point to the season: Jessica has to weave through a community that either admires her for her actions against Killgrave and his vicious sadism, or condemns her for acting as a vigilante.
This second season delves deeper into the mysteries of Jessica’s past. Clues that had arisen in the first season – and were occasionally hinted at in “The Defenders”– about the origin of Jessica’s super-strength and the appearance of other super-powered individuals brought the reluctant hero back onto a path filled with more than its share of unexpected twists. What was most exciting for me, however, was finally getting the true extent of how Jessica Jones ended up as a P.I. in a less-than-savory part of New York City, constantly drinking to forget.
“Jessica Jones’” motley crew of supporting characters make their own reappearances, each with a story arc of their own. It’s not hard to get drawn into these side-stories, especially since they flow so seamlessly into the main story.
Trish Walker, Jessica’s adoptive sister and best friend, struggles with her own past, and works throughout the season to match her outer image of a cutesy child star turned radio show host with her true desire to uncover the constant injustices occurring around her.
Malcolm, Jessica’s charming neighbor-turned-employee, works through his own struggles of recently getting clean from his drug addiction. Now with his life back on track, Malcolm has taken up working as Jessica’s P.I. assistant and informant while constantly enduring Jessica’s rebuffs of his friendship and help. Throughout the season, Malcolm is given all new opportunities to prove himself.
Lastly, Jeri Hogarth – a high-power attorney who will hire Jessica every-so-often to help out her clients – returns in full-force. After enduring the death of her ex-wife in the previous season, Jeri is diagnosed with ALS. Through the second season, Jeri helps Jessica and her team with their endeavors, though she always make sure there’s something for her waiting on the other end.
It’s Jessica, naturally, who receives the brute force of realizations in this season, and each episode ending brought the immediate desire to continue on to the next. Without spoiling the major twists and turns, the catalyst behind who Jessica has become has become is revealed, and the surprise of the answer left me in need of a moment to just stare at the ceiling in shock.
“Jessica Jones” continues to hit the mark on all of my favorite qualities in characters – realistically flawed yet still admirable, appropriately serious yet still holding a sense of humor – while keeping up a dramatic and dynamic storyline that keeps me on the edge of my seat.
