Jessica Jones Review: AKA Sin Bin (Season 1 Episode 9)

You’re such a bitch, Jessica Jones, Kilgrave says, and he doesn’t mean it like a compliment.

They never do. After all, women have been called bitches for ages, for offenses that range from knowing too much, having an opinion, expressing it, and even for saying no. You’re a bitch, Jessica, he says, and it’s not a good thing that he’s saying. At least he doesn’t think it is.

But Jessica Jones is not about to be defined. Not by a man, and not by a word.

The ninth episode of Jessica Jones  doesn’t only break the mold, it shatters it. This wasn’t a light show before “Sin Bin” by any stretch of the imagination, but after, we can kiss the idea of Jessica being a female version of the superheroes we know goodbye. Neither of them would let a woman die just to get their proof of Kilgrave’s powers. And you can argue neither did Jessica – but she was willing to take the chance.

Sometimes, that’s all it takes.

Jessica Jones is no Captain America, no Daredevil. She’s something else. Something darker, something different and perhaps, something stronger.

And someone who might be able to fight back.

There are a few woah moments in this episode, from Simpson not dying (And Oh, God, he is coming back as a villain. I knew I shouldn’t have gotten attached, I knew it), to the real story behind Kilgrave’s parents all the way up to the part where Hogarth still seems to be on Jessica’s corner despite everything. But nothing absolutely nothing, tops the last frame, when Jessica finally, finally realizes she can resist Kilgrave.

Which means she can stop him.

It’s both liberating and awful to realize that you not only can do something, but you probably could before. You just didn’t know it, didn’t try it. It not only frees you, but it enslaves you. Yes, you can fix it. You will. But why didn’t you before? Why couldn’t you before? Why did you fail?

Why were you so …human?

Humanity is what dooms everyone in this episode. We look at Kilgrave, and we want to hate him, we do hate him, and yet, we feel strangely bad for him. We don’t have excuses, no, but we have explanations. He had a lousy childhood. No one ever taught him to be good. In a way, though we’re not being controlled, we fall into his trap. And then he pulls the rug from under us. Then we crash back to the ground.

But this isn’t over yet. Kilgrave might have pulled a fast one on us, but Jessica, she’s pulled a fast one on him. He just doesn’t know it yet.

Other things to note

• Trish is a really good shot.
• I know Hogarth isn’t really a saint, and if I were in Wendy’s place I’d be doing the same, but I hate Wendy. I hope Jessica gets some dirt on her.
• David Tennant is a brilliant actor. I both want to hug him and run as far away as I can.
• I miss Luke. I get the feeling he’s not coming back. April can’t come fast enough.

What would Jessica Jones do? She’d find a way. That’s who she is.

Reviewer rating:

User rating: 

Jessica Jones Season 1 is available on Netflix right now.