Superhero TV
| The Boys | Jessica Jones - Season 2 | Daredevil - Season 2 |
| Jessica Jones | Daredevil |
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Jessica Jones - Season 2 brings us back to the angsty, shady life of its eponymous super-strong PI protagonist. After the success of Jessica Jones' first season, the character's return has been anticipated for some time. But the main nagging question has been "How do you top a villain like Kilgrave?" The answer seems to be that you don't try to. Season 2 has plenty of conflict, but in terms of a straight-out villain it’s hard to actually find one. Instead, Jessica and her supporting cast spend much of the 13 hours of this show fighting themselves, fighting each other, and fighting to justify their actions.
The story: Jessica's (Krysten Ritter), adoptive sister, Trish Walker (Rachael Taylor), uncovers information on the mysterious company - IGH - which had something to do with Jessica's superhuman abilities. Jessica, wishing to avoid the painful memories of the past, is resistant, but circumstances force her into an investigation - Trish takes her investigation of IGH to her radio show and becomes a target, Jessica is approached for protection by someone else who claims to have been an experimentee of IGH. As she works to unravel the mystery of IGH, Jessica dives into the past she had been avoiding looking at and finds that it is anything but at rest. Meanwhile, the people in Jessica's life have their own arcs. Trish's history with addiction and what drives that need threatens her life and her relationship with everyone around her, including Jessica. Malcolm (Eka Darville) grows into his role as Jessica's assistant, eventually growing beyond it. Attorney Jeri Hogarth (Carrie-Ann Moss), finds a chink in her armor, and her stages of coping are uniquely human as well as uniquely her.
Season 2 is an extremely character-driven show and some viewers will be put off by this. There is some action but not that much. There is some suspense, but it is mostly as to what the so-called good guys will do. The inner angels and demons of everyone in the cast seem to be closely matched. With a character as unlikeable as Jessica was in her first season to come off as nearly the most sympathetic in this one can be attributed to the humanizing of Jessica and the dehumanizing of Trish, something which none of her prior appearances really hinted at. Had Trish really cared about Jessica all these years or was she just clinging to her because of her "special" status, something she desired for herself?
I've criticized the Marvel-Netflix shows before for being overindulgently long. Apologies to Carrie-Anne Moss fans, but the entire Hogarth subplot could have been excised from the show and it wouldn't have affected the main story one bit. It was the story no one asked for, reminiscent of (but fortunately more interesting than) the entire Meacham family drama embedded in Iron Fist. Most of the other character arcs were repetitive and overly drug out. Where I estimated Daredevil - Season 1 could have been edited down to 8 or 9 hours, I would guess Jessica Jones - Season 2 could be cut down to 4 or 5.
In the Marvel film universe, they have learned through experience just how important a compelling villain is to the plot. It should create conflict and suspense and give the protagonist something to finally overcome. But not much is overcome in Season 2. Instead, there is a lot of struggle which is largely unresolved, simply survived. I came away from the experience largely demoralized. This is not a season which will invite repeat viewing.
An attempt is made to inject some of the first season's quality by including a episode with Kilgrave (David Tennant) as the personification of Jessica's inner doubt that she is a monster. Though this is sparked by a traumatic event, it seems odd that if Kilgrave's memory was truly haunting Jessica, we wouldn't have heard a syllable of it until now. Instead, bringing Kilgrave back just seemed like a cheap trick (actually it was probably quite expensive for them) to exploit the character's popularity.
If you are a fan of Jessica Jones and the other characters in the show, this is must-see viewing. But if you are seeking superheroic excitement, not so much. In my opinion, the show could have benefited from a bit less soap opera and a bit more of a plot with a threat to deal with. We deserve some kind of payoff after 13 hours of viewing besides a nice meal and some Spanada.
- JC
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Fans of the gritty, violent tone of season one will be happy to know that Hell’s Kitchen hasn’t gotten any better since Nelson & Murdock put Wilson Fisk behind bars. The violence and action is even bigger this time around and brilliantly choreographed by Philip J. Silvera, who outdoes himself with even more elaborate fight scenes (including one that rivals the one-take hallway fight scene from season one). While Daredevil has his hands full taking care of two new threats to Hell’s Kitchen; Matt Murdock, Foggy Nelson, and Karen Page attempt to take care of its citizens while dealing with internal group turmoil.
The relationship between Matt, Foggy, and Karen is one of the best, most important parts of the show and it’s something the showrunners have always seemed to understand about its source material. The entire second season perfectly illustrates the different sides of Matt, Foggy, and Karen’s increasingly complicated relationship with one another. At the beginning of Season two, they’re a perfectly compatible team of do-gooders, tirelessly defending the people of Hell’s Kitchen while laughing, cracking wise, and hanging out at Josie’s. Over the course of the season, however, we watch as Matt’s dual life complicates the group’s dynamic and threatens to ruin Matt’s friendships, love life, and legal career. Long time Daredevil fans will recognize the often overused, much maligned “Foggy gets fed up with Matt and threatens to close the firm” trope from the comic books, but in the context of the television series, Foggy’s feelings carry significant weight. This is mostly due to the stellar performance of Elden Hensen, who continues to prove, time and time again, that he was born to play Foggy Nelson. Deborah Ann Woll’s performance as Karen Page is also quite superb and it’s nice to see a television series that spends so much time developing supporting characters into three-dimensional human beings.
A new addition to the cast this year is Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead) as Frank Castle. When he was initially cast, I thought he was the perfect choice for the Punisher. And, while the writers deserve credit for turning an often one-dimensional character into a three-dimensional human being, it turns out I was (mostly) right! That being said, I think the Punisher storyline loses some momentum once he’s arrested by the police. In the same way Hannibal Lector loses some of his scariness when removed from the confines of his cell in sequels to The Silence of the Lambs, The Punisher character feels somewhat castrated after being taken into police custody. While the events that follow serve to humanize the character of Frank Castle, I can’t help but feel like something is missing. That being said, Jon Bernthal’s Punisher is definitely the breakout star of the season. He’s badass and unwavering in his quest, just like The Punisher should be. Additionally, his philosophical argument with Daredevil on the roof is one of the season’s best scenes and second only to Bale and Ledger in terms of a hero and villain matching wits (instead of fists) on screen.
Another new addition to the cast is Elodie Yung (Gods of Egypt, GI Joe: Retaliation) as Elektra. Yung plays Elektra remarkably well, finding the perfect balance of deadly, unhinged assassin, sexy provocateur, and vulnerable antihero. She is a formidable adversary/ally for Daredevil this season and fans of her portrayal in the comic books will not be disappointed by her portrayal on screen. Her introduction feels very ”comic booky” (not in a bad way) in that it comes right as the first part of Punisher’s arc is winding down. In many ways her character and her character’s relationship to Daredevil is the main focus of the season. If people want to refer to Season two as Elektra’s story, they wouldn’t be wrong.
In general, the second season of Daredevil is a step up from the first. It capitalizes on everything the first season got right and adds to it some outstanding performances from its new and returning cast members. We’re also seeing a TV universe being built (albeit subtly), which definitely makes us more excited for Luke Cage, Jessica Jones Season 2, Iron Fist, The Defenders, and, hopefully, tons more Daredevil in the future!
- Michael Trainor
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Jessica Jones may be the most unlikable, unpleasant superheroine you will ever meet. She is in many ways the polar opposite of the Scott Lang character from Ant-Man. Scott does illegal things and yet people still seem to adore him. Jessica, on the other hand, is usually trying to do good things, but her rudeness, snarkiness, and self-indulgence push people away.
Marvel's Jessica Jones is Marvel's second Netflix series after its success with Daredevil last spring. Like Daredevil, the series is comprised of 13 episodes, all released at once. The series mostly centers on Jessica's struggle against Killgrave, an individual - like her - who has "abilities." Jessica's special talents are enhanced strength and perhaps limited flight (though the storytellers seem to be intentionally vague about this). While she is strong, she is not invincible - closer to Captain America than Wonder Woman. Killgrave's power is mental. Simply put, people are compelled to do whatever he tells them to. And it doesn't matter how unpleasant or painful that command might be. As the series progresses, Killgrave commands some pretty gruesome things. In a way, Killgrave is the epitome of evil. Most conquerors don't want everyone dead. They want everyone as their slaves. And this is what Killgrave does without remorse. In the characters' past, Killgrave had had Jessica in his thrall, but she believed him dead. She learns that he is still alive, however, and a struggle begins between them. He seeks to control her again. She, on the other hand, seeks to stop him from controlling her or anyone else. But how does a less-than-invincible superhero-turned-private-eye fight someone who can compell anyone to do anything? As Killgrave wields his power, one realizes how nearly all-powerful he is. With his abilities, he can turn anyone into his slave or his hostage anytime he chooses.
Good points: The dilemma of how to deal with a character like Killgrave is interesting. First, how to confront someone that dangerous and then, what do you do with him? Killgrave is convincingly and chillingly played by David Tennant, well-known as the Tenth Doctor from the Dr. Who TV series. Rachael Taylor is also good as Jessica's foster sister, radio talk-show host, Trish Walker. Eka Darville also turns in a good performance as Malcolm, the junkie down the hall who turns out to be more than he first appears.
Weak points: Again, I was never able to like Jessica, though one could become caught up in her dilemmas. It would have helped if a case could have been made that her past made her so difficult, but in flashbacks she is just as mean and selfish. I don't know whether this was a conscious decision on the part of Krysten Ritter, playing Jessica, or director, Melissa Rosenberg. Either way, I think it was a mistake.
Also, plot threads either never went anywhere or came in at strange points in the story. For example, elements suggesting the origin of Jessica's powers are brought in to the story too late and not satisfyingly explored. A guest star from the Daredevil series is brought in, but so late in the show it seems more like an afterthought than as a planned shared mythology.
Marvel's Jessica Jones is an interesting watch, but not at the level of Daredevil. And some of the "adultness" concerning depictions of violence and sex may actually put viewers off. If you already have Netflix, it's worth watching a while to see if it's your thing. But it's not "must see" TV.
- JC
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And so, Marvel Comics continues its gradual takeover of the media landscape with the Netflix debut of Daredevil. The grittier, street-level superhero is the first of several Marvel titles that will be presented on Netflix. Daredevil will be followed by A.K.A. Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and eventually The Defenders. Given the somewhat limited acceptance of Marvel's attempt to spin their film properties to TV (Agents of SHIELD) they appear to be taking a page from DC's book, dividing their characters up between the movies and TV (Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman in film and Flash, Green Arrow, and Atom on TV).
Daredevil, as will be familiar to comic-book readers and those who have seen the 2003 film, is set in New York City's "Hell's Kitchen," a low-income, high-crime section of Manhattan. The series is an interesting edgy, noirest approach to superhero storytelling. It is just as much a crime/legal drama crossed with the story of a very down-to-earth man-in-a-mask vigilante. It's like Law and Order crossed with Zorro, with a bit of a flavor reminiscent of The Dark Knight. Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), the blind hero with super-heightened senses, martial arts skills, and the abnormal gift for taking a beating, is still a very vulnerable and limited hero. As you watch this series be prepared to see our hero sustain some pretty bloody damage on more than one occasion. In fact, this series would probably be R-rated for the violence and blood alone.
Daredevil's 13-episode extended story follows our hero, as he begins his career as masked vigilante and also crusading defense attorney in practice with his long-time friend Franklin "Foggy" Nelson (Elden Henson). They are joined in the first episode by Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll), a girl in trouble who ends up joining their new firm. Throughout the series, they must battle the villainous, power-hungry Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio) and his cadre of dangerous associates, including Russian gangsters, Japanese ninja types, and some particularly ominous Chinese.
Charlier Cox is good as Matt/Daredevil. He plays the role as a soft-spoken young man who is actually raging on the inside - enraged at the loss of his father, the abandonment of a mentor, and the rise of evil in the neighborhood he grew up in. It takes a lot of righteous anger to drive a mortal guy to put on a mask and take fighting injustice into his own hands night after night. Given all of Matt's conversations with various people in the series, one would think more would have been said about his innner motivations, but oddly, not so much. Elden Henson lends heart and humor as Matt's law partner "Foggy" Nelson and Deborah Ann Woll may provide the deepest performance as Karen Page, the pair's traumatized first client, then secretary, who - it is teased - has a troubled, though yet undisclosed, past. Vincent D'Onofrio portrays Wilson Fisk (the "Kingpin" in the comics) in a somewhat stilted way - he seems like a man who at once has aspirations to grandeur, but also sees himself as a victim battling inner demons that make him insecure and always on the brink of savagery. It's an interesting take on a character rarely characterized with much humanity.
What's good about Daredevil? The plot is fairly intellignet, with enough twists and turns and characters with various agendas to make the story engrossing. The performances are also high enough quality to keep a sometimes implausible story believable. As to the fighting, the action is fun to watch. Our masked man is quick, agile, and has quality skills, but he's not at all invincible and that allows some element of suspense and tension in the action - you aren't always sure he is going to be OK.
Quibbles? Sometimes the pace of the stories drags. There are a numerous dialog scenes that seem to drag on too long. Some of the fights even seem too long. For a series released all at once, intended to be binge-watched, the 13 episodes probably could have been edited down to less than 10 if the writers and directors had told the story a bit more economically. But 13 episodes is a bit of a magic number for cable series seasons these days.
At one point, as the dangers of Hell's Kitchen under Fisk's influence are brought to bear on Karen, she exclaims, "I don't see the city anymore - all I see are its dark corners. All I see are threats." I give the series a lot of credit for building dramatic tension up to the end of the episodes with its complex plot and characters. While not perfect, this is a pretty good take on Daredevil and I hope we see more of the "man without fear" in the future.
- JC