Fri, 05 Apr 2024 14:33:13 -0700WeeblyFri, 04 Dec 2015 17:04:18 GMThttp://jbrenthill.com/old/netflix-jessica-jones-mini-review-season-1Image by Netflix and Marvel

This series is a bit hit and miss, but I felt it hit more often than missed...

Pros:

• Acting: I think the acting in this show is excellent, especially from Krysten Ritter, who plays Jessica--she's incredible!
• Character development: Strong writing and character work overall; only the last few episodes fall short in this regard.
• Concept: There are plenty of super hero shows out there, so two things that make Jessica Jones stand out are it's more realistic tone, and the conflict at the heart of the story. The personalities and powers of Jessica and Kilgrave are so opposite each other, creating great drama, and the stakes feel high and real.

Cons:

• Ending: The ending is satisfying in that it wraps up loose ends and doesn't leave the viewer hanging, but I was disappointed that most of the character development ends before the final few episodes begin. The finale had the potential to be much more powerful.
• Adult content: While being reflective of its source material, I still wish the sexual content could have been toned down. I feel the show sometimes suffers from bedroom TMI and occasionally gets gratuitous in its portrayal of sex. I feel the same story beats and information could have been shared in a more discrete manner without hurting the show or removing its real life, gritty feeling.

I enjoyed Jessica Jones overall, but I wouldn't recommend it without offering a strong warning about the adult content: be prepared. As good as it was, if you're looking for a gritty, realistic super hero show, I would first recommend Netflix and Marvel's Daredevil. It has a similar tone, excellent acting, less adult content, and more action. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Jessica Jones a lot, but for me it didn't quite edge out the excellent Daredevil.

Luckily for me, the next Netflix Marvel show to hit in the coming months is Daredevil, season 2! I'm sure I'll blather on about that one too--watch out!

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]]>Thu, 03 Dec 2015 03:42:16 GMThttp://jbrenthill.com/old/netflix-jessica-jones-mini-review-ep-13Image by Netflix and Marvel

This is it: the final episode. It wasn't my favorite episode, but it was good overall and was a fairly satisfying ending.

Pros:

• Characters: Almost every major character from the show got some satisfying screen time, and it didn't feel forced or overstuffed
• Wrap up: Most of the important story threads were tied up or acknowledged, leaving me reasonably satisfied with where everything ends up
  

Cons:

• Underwhelming: I was underwhelmed by Jessica and Kilgrave's final showdown. There wasn't a lot to it, it didn't add any character development to either of them, it just kind of happened. We spent so much of the series being terrified by Kilgrave, but in the end he didn't turn out to be that scary.
• Lack of drama: Most of the series' drama was played out before this episode. Most of the decisions and character development are finished...we know what everyone wants and were it's all heading. Things play out as expected, which is understandable, but it would have been more satisfying if they had amped up the tension and drama.
  
  

It really wasn't a bad ending, I was just expecting a bit more because of the show's previous high points. It could have been epic, but it settled for good (and I don't mean world changing epic, just character changing epic).

P.S. I'll post one more review with my final thoughts on the series as a whole.

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]]>Wed, 02 Dec 2015 23:25:23 GMThttp://jbrenthill.com/old/netflix-jessica-jones-mini-review-ep-12Image by Netflix and Marvel

This being the penultimate episode, I was expecting a little more to happen than actually did. There were good character moments, but I guess I was ready for more action after last episode. The ending gave me some of that.

Pros:

• Unexpected: I was surprised by some of the developments, and I have no idea where the final episode is going (besides some kind of inevitable confrontation)
  
• Action: The action scene at the end was both exciting and emotional

Cons:

• Weaker villain: Technically, Kilgrave is more of a threat than before, but Jessica actually overcomes the biggest thing he's thrown at her by the end of this episode. That, plus Kilgrave running once again, makes Kilgrave seem like less of a threat--not the feeling I want going into the last episode. What else can he toss her way? Here's to hoping he'll pull out all the stops in the finale!
• Lost purpose: Some of what was driving Jessica as a character is gone. That hasn't stopped her, but it has changed her. Maybe that's not a 'con,' simply part of the story? I hope she regains some of her sense of purpose again by the end of the series!

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]]>Wed, 02 Dec 2015 18:22:32 GMThttp://jbrenthill.com/old/netflix-jessica-jones-mini-review-ep-11Image by Netflix and Marvel

Sorry to say it: this episode was a big let down after the heights of the last few episodes. It certainly wasn't bad, but the show really lost its momentum for most of this one...

Pros:

• Acting: The usual great acting by the main characters, plus some very strong performances by actors playing younger versions of the cast
• New villain: Jessica deals with someone other than Kilgrave, leading to...
• Action: Some awesome fighting! This show can be light on action, so it was great to see Jessica battle someone as strong as she is

Cons:

• No Kilgrave: His presence can be felt, but he's not actually in this episode at all, which is a shame after all of the screen time he had in the preceding episodes
• Treading water: Worse than set up is: nothing happening! The first half of the episode felt like they were mostly filling time to get to the set up story beats at the end.

Happily, with only two episodes remaining, I have a feeling there won't be any more time wasting!

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]]>Tue, 01 Dec 2015 22:45:34 GMThttp://jbrenthill.com/old/netflix-jessica-jones-mini-review-ep-10Image by Netflix and Marvel

No 'cons' this time--just a really great episode!

Pros:

• Set up: Believe it or not, this is a set up episode that actually works! It is clear that events are building for what is to come, but even taken on their own the contents of this episode are important and intense!

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]]>Tue, 01 Dec 2015 16:56:13 GMThttp://jbrenthill.com/old/netflix-jessica-jones-mini-review-ep-9

Another solid episode! It didn't reach the same highs for me as episode 8, but it was still quite powerful.

Pros:

• Characters: Many of the supporting characters get more screen time in this episode, and some interesting new characters are introduced.
• Gray areas: A deeper look into who the characters are, what they stand for, and what is the line between right and wrong...
• Dramatic Ending!

Cons:

• Set up: This was a very well executed set up episode, but there is still a feeling that the events of this episode are mostly to prepare us for what is to come.

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]]>Tue, 01 Dec 2015 04:33:34 GMThttp://jbrenthill.com/old/netflix-jessica-jones-mini-review-ep-8Image by Netflix and Marvel

This was The Best episode! Seriously.

Pros:

• Characters: A deep look into both our hero and our villain
• Writing: Very dialogue heavy, which is often a con, but with writing and acting this good, it was amazing! More please!

Cons:

• Nit picking: This doesn't hurt the story at all--and it's actually one of the most powerful scenes in the series so far--but there is some video camera footage from a character's past that has some gorgeous editing and multiple camera angles...extremely unlikely given the context.
  

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]]>Tue, 01 Dec 2015 03:18:03 GMThttp://jbrenthill.com/old/netflix-jessica-jones-mini-review-ep-7Image by Netflix and Marvel

Overall, a great episode...and also I rant some more...

Pros:

• Plot: Unexpected twists and turns
• Conflict: Jessica and Kilgrave come face to face

Cons:

• Sex: I may be a prude, but toning down the sex scenes wouldn't hurt this show a bit. I can get behind 'edgy' if it serves the story, but pushing boundaries for the sake of pushing boundaries is dumb.

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]]>Tue, 24 Nov 2015 18:28:41 GMThttp://jbrenthill.com/old/netflix-jessica-jones-mini-review-ep-6

Episode six, "AKA You're a Winner!" is a winner (I didn't lose sleep coming up with that line). For me, it was the best episode of the series so far, and made me glad I didn't give up after my issues with last episode...

Pros:

• Drama!
• Action!
• Romance! (without graphic sexual content!)
• Kilgrave: He has always been scary, but now his character is getting interesting! (turns out the comic spelling is 'Killgrave,' but the show is 'Kilgrave'--apologies for my previous misspellings)
• Payoffs: A lot of previous set up paid off in this episode, which made this episode very entertaining and satisfying

Cons...I got nothing.

P.S. Luke Cage is fabulous in this episode, and finally convinced me that he should have his own series (which is in the works).

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]]>Tue, 24 Nov 2015 01:10:40 GMThttp://jbrenthill.com/old/netflix-jessica-jones-mini-review-ep-5

Did I mention these episodes have pretty great titles? Episode 5's is "AKA The Sandwich Saved Me." This episode had the highest highs and lowest lows for me. Overall it was excellent, but there is one thing that I don't like about this series...(you can probably guess)...

Pros:

• Backstory: Five episodes in seems to be a better time for flashbacks! We have a lot more reason to care now, which makes Jessica's past more meaningful to the viewer. I think it's a great way to treat a super hero origin.
• Killgrave: We finally get more than a tease of our villain! His influence is everywhere, but it is satisfying--and scary!--to finally get some decent screen time with David Tennant's character. I love how his plan/motives are still very mysterious.
• Take that!: Our heroes finally got the upper hand on Kilgrave--first time ever!

Cons:

• I complain once again: I am really bugged by the sexual content in this series. This episode has the most unnecessarily graphic scene yet. I'm okay to know that characters have sex, but I'd rather not know the intimate details. Plus, this particular scene was also unnecessary for the story. Bleh.

Of course, despite my reservations, I'm a super hero junkie, so I'll continue watching...am I a dummy?

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