Hmm. Who would have thought Krysten Ritter could (or would) play a superhero? Who would have thought she would be so damn good at it?
Ritter plays Jessica Jones, a former superhero turned private investigator suffering from PTSD and an alcohol problem. Jones can lift cars and leap off the ground, but for the most part she tries to keep her superpowers hidden. Her backstory—why she isn’t a superhero anymore—is only hinted at in the first episode, but unravels as the season progresses.
“Marvel’s Jessica Jones” is Netflix’s second foray into the dark and gritty world of the Marvel universe. (“Daredevil” came out earlier this year.) Created by Melissa Rosenberg, screenwriter of the “Twilight” franchise, the show is a clever, well-written take on film noir. Its style is reminiscent of “Veronica Mars,” a show (and movie) in which Ritter also starred. While the shows are similar (a private investigator, film noir style, narration), “Jessica Jones” is darker, heavier and more heartbreaking.
Jones is haunted by a man called Kilgrave (played by the ever-creepy David Tennant), who can control people with his mind. He’s obsessed with Jones, who left him for dead prior to the series start. He’s out for revenge, and he’s finding ways to get to her.
The perennially sarcastic Ritter is known for her roles as the lead in “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23” and Jesse Pinkman’s ill-fated lover on AMC’s “Breaking Bad.” Ritter’s ability to toe the line between comedy and drama serves her well in this role. She’s great when she’s being acerbic, but she shines when the storyline forces her into more serious situations.
But Ritter doesn’t carry the show on her own. Her supporting cast—mostly female—is strong. Jones struggles to maintain a relationship with her best friend Trish (Rachael Taylor), and she uses a high-powered attorney, Jeri Hogarth (Carrie-Anne Moss), to get cases thrown her way. When Kilgrave comes back, he uses a Nebraska-born track runner named Hope (Erin Moriarty) to get Jones’ attention. Kilgrave is terrifying, and his agenda brings all these women together.
Early on in the first episode, Jones tells the audience that a big part of the job is looking for the worst in people. This is telling because Jones isn’t perfect and the audience can definitely see the worst in her. But by bringing out the worst in Jones throughout the season, it gives us the hope that while Jones isn’t our typical hero, at her core she’s a good person, and she gives us something worth fighting for.
Sara Amato is a RedEye designer.
‘Marvel’s Jessica Jones’
2 a.m. Friday, Netflix
3.5 stars out of 4 stars
