I’m All For the Return of Jessica Jones, But the MCU Needs to Keep This Crucial Aspect of the Netflix Show

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Netflix launched its dark and realistic Marvel universe with what many consider one of the best comic book TV shows ever made. Daredevil hadn’t gotten a truly great adaptation before, and the Netflix series perfectly captured the character’s brooding atmosphere, religious conflicts, and intense action. This success paved the way for other Marvel heroes, like Jessica Jones, a character originally known as Jewel in the comics. The show Alias reimagined her as a troubled private investigator who also had superpowers.

The Netflix show Jessica Jones was a gritty detective story starring Krysten Ritter as an alcoholic investigator. It fit well with the Daredevil series, sharing the same setting but exploring different ideas. However, when Disney bought Fox, these shows—known for their complicated characters and mature themes—were canceled. Netflix essentially ended its Marvel universe, and it’s only recently that these characters have started to reappear in the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe. While Daredevil‘s return has been well-received, bringing Jessica Jones back to live action is more complicated for Netflix, as they need to balance fan expectations with their own streaming strategy.

Jessica Jones Was Defined By Its Dark Themes

Daredevil paved the way for a grittier, more realistic take on Marvel heroes. Jessica Jones easily fit into this world because her story always centered on the lasting effects of trauma. While Daredevil struggled with guilt and a strong sense of justice, Jessica Jones offered a story told entirely from a woman’s point of view. The series showed Jessica at her lowest point, and then spiraling even further. Haunted by her past and set apart by her powers, she turned to alcohol while trying to help those who seemed beyond saving.

Unlike Matt, Jessica wasn’t motivated by a strong sense of right and wrong. She used her powers simply to get by, earning money for food and drinks. As a private investigator, she had a hardened, realistic view of fighting crime. The story of why she became this way unfolded when she took on a case to find Hope Schlottman, a missing girl who was bright, athletic, and had no history of running away. Jessica soon realized the case hit too close to home, mirroring her own past trauma. She was shocked to discover that Kilgrave, the Purple Man, had returned and was once again causing her pain.

I was absolutely floored by the first season of Jessica Jones. It wasn’t just another superhero story; it delved into something really dark and disturbing. Months before the show even started, this guy, Kilgrave, used his powers to completely control Jessica, forcing her into a horrible relationship. He basically owned her, sexually and emotionally, and made her do awful things against her will. He never let her be herself, and even ordered her to kill someone. That moment, the shock of it, was what finally broke his control, but the damage was already done. Jessica remembered everything – everything he made her do – and it understandably pushed her down a really tough path with cynicism and alcohol. It was a fresh, brutal take on the genre that I hadn’t seen before, and it really stuck with me.

The show Jessica Jones explored a frightening idea: what if someone could control everyone else? While many characters believed in using their abilities for good, Jessica Jones focused on the darkest possibilities and how people become villains. Kilgrave, the show’s antagonist, wasn’t naturally evil – his experiences shaped him, making him even more terrifying. This highlighted a central theme of the show, including Jessica Jones’ own personal battles.

The series Jessica Jones stood out as a bold and unflinching portrayal of a woman grappling with difficult issues, particularly the aftermath of sexual assault. It didn’t shy away from mature themes, which was a departure for the superhero genre at the time. Previously, Marvel was known for lighter, more escapist entertainment. While still action-filled, Jessica Jones offered a more complex narrative with sharp dialogue and a darker tone.

Man, when Jessica Jones came out, it was a total game changer. It really went in a different direction than the other Marvel Netflix shows, and honestly, that’s what made it so good. It wasn’t just about superpowers; it tackled some really tough, real-world problems. It was a bummer when they cancelled it after Season 3, and I really hope they bring it back someday. It deserved a better ending.

The MCU Needs to Maintain Jessica’s Origins

While Jessica Jones explored difficult emotions, it wasn’t the only Netflix show to do so. Soon after its release, the streaming service introduced The Punisher. Like Daredevil before it, previous movie versions of the character hadn’t been very successful. Jon Bernthal, recently known for his work on The Walking Dead, was a perfect choice to play Frank Castle, a man driven by revenge after his family was killed. The show respectfully portrayed his military background, placing his story during the time of the Afghanistan war.

The Netflix series tackled difficult subjects like PTSD, something rarely seen in popular shows. These honest and mature depictions were key to the series’ success, making them stand out from previous adaptations. Jessica Jones, as a character, felt more emotionally impactful because of this approach. The first season, especially, dealt with some truly unsettling themes.

The storyline involving Kilgrave and Jessica Jones brought up a difficult topic rarely explored, even in superhero shows. Jessica Jones tackled the issue of sexual assault directly and powerfully. When Jessica first met Kilgrave, he controlled her, making it impossible for her to refuse his commands. While it might have appeared she was consenting, the situation was far more complex than that.

Kilgrave’s abuse of Jessica was simply a violation of her basic right to choose what happens to her own body – the same as any instance where someone takes that choice away. Though the idea of consent can sometimes be complicated, what happened onscreen was very clear. Kilgrave felt no guilt for controlling Jessica, and believed he had the right to control any woman he wanted. His actions were absolutely wrong, regardless of his own issues or reasons.

He repeated this behavior with Hope, hoping to get Jessica’s notice, and it worked – Jessica became fully invested in the case and gave him the attention he craved. Kilgrave was a consistently cruel villain, especially when he forced Jessica to do something truly terrible. That act of violence ultimately justified her decision to kill him at the end of the first season. David Tennant’s performance as Kilgrave was unforgettable, but the season needed to conclude with Jessica overcoming her trauma. Sadly, this created challenges for the show in later seasons.

Jessica Jones Works Best as a Social Commentary

Kilgrave’s death at the end of the first season had lasting consequences for the show. Many of the things that made the first season of Jessica Jones so successful were lost. With Mike Colter moving on to lead his own Marvel series, and Kilgrave gone, the show no longer had the same level of tension and high stakes.

As a fan, I felt like Season 2 rushed past dealing with Kilgrave’s death and really focused on Jessica figuring out where she came from. While it did give us answers, the overall story felt a bit lost. Kilgrave was such a huge, defining villain for the show – he really was the show in a way. The villains they brought in later, like her mom and Trish, were more about Jessica’s personal life, but they just didn’t feel as connected or impactful as Kilgrave did. It felt like the show lost some of its focus.

Even though the Purple Man is gone, the Marvel Cinematic Universe could still benefit from remembering what made the Jessica Jones series so good. Her appearance in The Defenders showed how well she works with Daredevil (Matthew Murdock), and the MCU should explore that connection when Jessica Jones returns. Matt and Jessica offer an interesting contrast – they both deal with the law, but approach it in very different ways.

Daredevil’s first story arc, Born Again, proved that the Marvel Cinematic Universe could handle darker, more mature themes. Jessica Jones deserves that same treatment, and her upcoming series should recapture the thought-provoking social commentary that made her first season so impactful. Specifically, openly addressing difficult topics like sexual assault and feminist issues would be particularly meaningful and relevant now.

Future Jessica Jones stories should focus on compelling themes while finally delivering storylines fans have long requested. Her return also opens the door for Luke Cage to reappear, giving him the spotlight he deserved after his brief time on Netflix. Reconnecting Jessica and Luke romantically – a beloved pairing in the comics – would be a fantastic way to build excitement.

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2025-10-24 17:44