Jessica Jones Review: AKA Crush Syndrome (Season 1 Episode 2)

Two episodes in, here’s what I know about Jessica Jones:

Killgrave is a very, very bad dude – a comic book villain with a real life power that’s enough to have us quacking, the ability to compel people to do his bidding.

Luke Cage has abs of steel. And I’m talking literally here.

Tricia Walker is the kind of best friend we all hope we had.

Jessica thinks the world would be better off if she didn’t care about anything, but it’s the fact that she does care that draws us to her.

A lot happens in this episode, and yet, it seems like Jessica Jones is going to be one of those shows that takes its time, let’s you get attached to characters. In this day and age, that’s a rare and wonderful thing. Some people might say this show is slow, I say it has character. You want quick resolution? Binge-watch. They’re all there for you. You want to savor it? Give it a few days between episodes, like me. Either way it’s an enjoyable ride.

By enjoyable I mean dark (both kidneys, Killgrave, really?), edgy and groundbreaking. You could even say this is a bleak show that’s moving slowly, if decidedly towards hope. But, of course, that’s only because we haven’t really seen Killgrave yet. We’d already figured out what this episode made painfully obvious, that he, at some point, controlled Jessica. With eleven episodes to go, we’re pretty sure that’s going to happen again. And yet, because Jessica seems determined to fight back this time, we feel that hope.

We believe that she can find love with Luke Cage, not only because he’s literally invincible, but because, somehow, someway, it seems like these two broken people understand each other. We want to see more of her friendship with Trish, because there’s a lot to be said for the people who won’t let you hate yourself, even when you might deserve it. And we want more of this world that she so deftly inhabits, even if that world comes with bad guys, and annoying neighbors.

That’s the one thing about Jessica Jones , for a show that you could, conceivably, watch all at once, it always leaves you wanting more.

Other things to note:

• Carrie-Anne Moss brings a certain presence to her character that begs for more screen-time. But if they’re going to give me more of her, make it more of her being a lawyer. I don’t care about her affair.
• Jessica’s neighbors continue to be the one source of amusement in this show.
• For someone who doesn’t know the comics, the scene where all those guys try to beat up Luke might have been cause for concern. For me? I was rubbing my hands gleefully.
• “God didn’t do this. The devil did, and I’m going to find him.” Paints a very clear picture of what Killgrave is going to be, when we actually get to meet him.

What did you think of this episode of Jessica Jones? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Jessica Jones Season 1 is available on Netflix right now.

Lissete Lanuza Sáenz

Lawyer. Writer. Columnist. Geek. Falls in madly in love with fictional characters. Hates the color yellow, misogyny, and people who are late. Can always be found with a book. Watches an absurd amount of TV every week, often, while eating coffee ice cream. She has no regrets. You can check out her blog here: Absurday. Lissete is a senior writer for Tell-Tale TV. Follow @lizziethat