I was really looking forward to Netflix/Marvel's "Jessica Jones" even before the second trailer was released. After my nerve damage flared up into the highest pain zone almost two weeks ago, (when doctors ask you to give them a number between 1-10 on how much it hurts. I was an 11), I binge-watched seven episodes. I was very grateful because it was as good as I hoped for and it helped me get through a tough weekend.
(Some Spoilers Below)
What I loved about this series was that it was a much more realistic look at what would happen to a person who suddenly gained some incredible superabilities. But that's only a jumping off point, because the series is much more than that. It delves into the shattered psyche of a woman who was physically and emotionally abused by a man with mind control powers and how she attempts to deal with the aftermath. But his unabated control over her also forced Jessica to perform horrific actions on others she came in contact with, and it's one incident in particular that haunts her much more than all the rest.
It's obvious that Jessica Jones is suffering from PTSD, but she's also dealing with the kind of self-loathing that usually puts a person at the end of a rope or a bullet. Although I would never describe Jessica's personality as sunny before she met Kilgrave, whatever spark of life she had left after the death of her family was snuffed out by that sociopath, who's only interested in fulfilling his narcissistic needs from moment to moment. And Jessica Jones was the primary target of his unfiltered proclivities.
She fills her days and nights with alcohol to try and drown out the trauma, regret and pain of her past with Kilgrave, but alcoholism only deepens the agony and shame she's left to deal with after escaping the madman.
David Tennant, best known to Sci Fi geeks as the tenth Doctor Who, makes an incredible villain, maybe the best one Marvel has put on screen. And what makes him so ominous is that he doesn't believe he has done anything wrong, ever, because he is the real victim of it all.
He was tortured by his parents as a child and is only acting accordingly. It's not his fault that every word he utters can make a person do really bad or good things (depending on your perspective). How can he be responsible for any untoward outcomes? And he's not a sadist because he says he doesn't gain any pleasure out of hurting people (mostly) because their lives are of no significance to him. He treats his puppets as a child treats an anthill with a magnifying glass.
The chemistry between the lead actors is terrific and although there are some problematic B story lines, the overall series is a smashing success for Netflix and the Marvel multiverse.
