*This review contain a few major spoilers*
“Jessica Jones” season 2 starts off a bit slow and uneven, but it grows compelling in the home stretch and ends with some emotionally impactful moments.
The first season of “Jessica Jones” started things off by introducing the villain, Kilgrave. The stakes and the threat were quickly established. In the second season, we’re given a good look at the new dangers, but the secretive killer is not fully revealed until the halfway point of the season. Initially, the narrative falls flat. There’s no stopping the bad guy’s evil plan. The fate of the city isn’t up to Jessica Jones. It’s just a story about family, and redemption, and when you need to let go off someone you love that has become a danger to society. Besides the main plot, there a quite a few storylines and side characters that go nowhere. This show could’ve really benefited from losing two or three episodes and dropping some of the excess. For example, Trish’s boyfriend and that entire story arc seemed unnecessary, and her character could’ve got to the same point without most of those elements.
“Jessica Jones’” strongest point is its characters, and as expected, Krysten Ritter as the lead owns the show. She has that bravado that keeps everyone at arm’s length, but when you see the cracks in her emotional armor, it makes it that much more compelling. And even though much of her superhero action is just breaking locks and door handles, she looks believable doing it. Rachel Taylor plays a version of Trish Walker this time that switches from juiced-up and hostile, to strung out and sickly and then back again. Despite truly wanting to be a superhero and help people, she becomes a catalyst that brings about most of this season’s biggest catastrophes. While Eka Darville has more to do this time around then just be high on heroin, he still doesn’t have much to do until the later episodes where he take more initiative. Jeri Hogarth’s side story is mostly unessential, but Carrie-Ann Moss has a few opportunities to really shine, and her arc has a strong conclusion. The biggest surprise this season is Janet McTeer. While she initially seems one-note as an unhinged, super powered killing machine, she becomes increasingly more sympathetic as we see glimpse of the woman she was before the accident that made her the way she is.
This brings me to the big spoiler section. This becomes the heart of the show. Once McTeer is revealed to be Jessica’s mom, the show slowly begins to click. The more they continue to bond, the more depressing it become once you realize there can be no happy ending for these two. And it gets that much worse after Jessica and her mom unite and use their powers to save people. And even more devastating, it the shocking moment when it all ends, and Jessica reveals who pulled the trigger.
“Jessica Jones” season 2 starts of spinning its wheels while they search for a mysterious killer, but the show finds its groove when it becomes a story about a emotionally damaged woman who’s second chance to have a family might be too dangerous for everyone around her.
Season’s best episode: “AKA I Want Your Cray Cray” (Episode 7): The flashbacks here of Mrs. Jones recovery and search for Jessica are emotional and riveting.
Season’s worst episode: ” AKA I Want Your Cray Cray” (Episode 7): Jessica’s retconned-filled portion of the flashbacks aren’t as interesting as they should be, and create too many questions about why none of these life altering events ever got mentioned before this.
*** out of *****