By episode’s end, our hard-drinking private detective is a hero reborn.
This is Jessica Jones.
Shes a hard-drinking private detective in New York City.
Credit: Netflix
Shes tough, strong, and waits in dark alleys to take pictures of people boning.
There isnt a mask, only the briefest glimpses of powers and definitely no costume.
But in an interesting way, the first episode is a fairly traditional superhero origin story.
It just happens to be Jessicas second.
When we first meet Jessica, shes found a shaky balance in her new life.
Will Jessica be spying on her boss before long?
Im thinking Chekhovs philanderer.
Theres also the matter of the guy that Jessica might be be stalking.
Yes, there was a sex scene in a Marvel TV show!
And a rather graphic one at that.
(I was half-expecting Leonard Cohens Hallelujah to start playing.)
It comes with the territory, though.
The first tryst between Jessica and Luke is sexy and kind of talky, then a little sad.
Was Luke the subject of a previous investigation, involving the woman in the photo?
The main portion of the episode deals with a job that walks right into Jessicas office.
The police wont do anything since there isnt substantial evidence to suggest an actual crime has taken place.
Oddly enough, someone at the station recommended that the Schlottmans take the case to Jessica.
Unrelated: Whats up with Malcolm?
So far Jessicas overly familiar acquaintance is unfunny at best.
And kind of racist at worst.
Anyway, the search for Hope (ah!)
begins at her apartment, where Jessica finds a pissed-off former roommate.
Apparently, Hope took off without much notice, fawning over a boy.
Theres always a boy.
Main Street, Birch Street, Higgins Drive, Cobalt Lane, she repeats on multiple occasions.
The fuel for these terrors and the flashbacks is Kilgrave, played on the show by David Tennant.
There was even a death certificate.
Theres no way that he could have Hope, but Jessica has heard enough.
Shes heading to Hong Kong the first chance she gets.
If the cops are unable to do anything to help Hope, its up to Jessica.
Youre still the girl who tried to do something, Trish tells her, referencing her super past.
Thats not who Jessica is anymore, though.
Or at least, thats what she thinks as she leaves town in a cab.
Upstairs, as she walks down an all-too-familiar hallway, Jessica can sense something is wrong.
He told her not to move.
That was five hours and 21 minutes ago.
With Hope back in the protection of her parents, its time for Jessica to resume her plan.
Smile, Hope tells her, channeling Kilgrave and sending Jessica running for the door.
Or in her case, reborn.
