Jessica Jones Review: AKA Smile (Season 1 Episode 13)

Of all the ways I could have started this, my final chance to wax poetic about Jessica Jones, the only one that feels true to my emotions in this moment is to go with a gif:

Because, wow, that happened. And with wow I mean, wow this series, not just wow, that ending, though the last one also applies. Everything about Jessica Jones feels like the dawn of a new era, one where superheroes look like regular people, are just as messed up as we are, and yet, they still manage to save the day.

Somehow.

As the show that launched this whole era, Daredevil fell a little bit short. Don’t get me wrong, I liked it, but I wasn’t emotionally invested. Now I am. Jessica first, and then Luke, have stolen my heart. I’m Team Defenders all the way, and I’ll fight against The Avengers if I have to.

Though it’s probably better if they’re the ones fighting. Against the bad guys — not each other.

What worked in Jessica Jones? Why did I fall in love with her? Was it because we met a victim and left her a hero? Was it because we saw her grow from “It’s all on me” to “I’m not guilty. It’s not my fault”? Or was it because I’m a woman, and I understand how hard it is to be though and yet vulnerable?

Or is it all the above, and a little bit more?

Jessica Jones is certainly not only a show for women. It’s not a show for men, either. It’s a show that, in keeping with the world of today, is not tailored to one gender or one race. But, from my perspective as a woman, it’s pretty damn awesome that there is a show like this. It’s pretty damn awesome that Jessica fought, in every possible way, that she was down, she got up, she took on Luke Cage, and won. It’s pretty damn awesome that she came up with a brilliant plan, and, in the end, faced Kilgrave, not armed with guns or tricks, and not helped by another person with superpowers, but accompanied by the one person she loved and trusted the most.

The story of Jessica and Trish is the real love story of Jessica Jones. Even Kilgrave realized it, in the end.  And that’s not only awesome, as I said before, it’s liberating. Female friends are not all about mani-pedis and gossip. Women can be badasses, women can be strong, and they can be so together. They can prop each other up instead of bringing each other down.

They can be heroines.

We already knew that, I think, but it’s good of you to remind us, Jessica Jones. And it’s even better to know that you’ll be back for Season Two. Just in case we ever forget.

Other things to note

• Rosario Dawson should be in everything.
• “If you got taken down, we are all in the shit.” Is possible the best line ever. Malcolm is a delight, and I really hope he’s back for Season 2.
• Since Season 2 is apparently all I can talk about, this seems like a good time to mention that I doubt we’ve seen the last of David Tennant as Kilgrave. I mean, I know he’s technically dead and all, but no one really dies in comic books, and the little glimpse of him turning purple makes me believe they’re laying down the groundwork to bring him back at some point, even if it’s not on Jessica Jones, but on The Defenders. Can’t say I disagree, Ritter was outstanding, but it was the combination of her and Tennant that made this show a must-watch.
• End of the season favorite watch: Trish wins, by a mile.
• Mike Colter is perfect as Luke, and I’m now looking forward to his own series more than I expected to be.
• I even feel like I need to give Daredevil another shot, that’s how MUCH I liked Jessica Jones.

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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