Why Jessica Jones Will Be Better Than Daredevil
Set to debut in November of 2015, the upcoming Netflix original series Jessica Jones has got comic book fans pretty excited. There are some obvious reasons for that: it's based on a fan-favorite Marvel series called Alias written by Brian Michael Bendis, one of the most successful comic book writers since Stan Lee. It also follows in the footsteps of Marvel and Netflix's first collaboration, 2015's first season of Daredevil. While a hit like Daredevil may seem like a tough act to follow, it's not hard to believe Jessica Jones will not only match DD's success, but could even surpass it. Here's why.
Less Source Material Means More Freedom
One of the biggest problems plaguing comic book adaptations is the specter of the source material. Just about all of Hollywood's recent attempts to bring comic books to the big screen have carried the baggage of decades of comic book continuity. Jessica Jones, however, is based on a character created in 2001, whose series lasted for only 28 issues. She's appeared in comics since then, but still with nowhere near as many stories as Captain America, Spider-Man, Green Lantern, and the rest. While the show is likely to stay close to the comics—Jones, a former superhero, is now a private investigator with a mess of a life—the relatively scant number of stories will give the producers tons of freedom to go into different, innovative directions.
Krysten Ritter Is Great
Most people first caught the show's lead, Krysten Ritter, as Jesse Pinkman's girlfriend Jane on Breaking Bad. There, we got a glimpse at Ritter's talent: she could handle a complicated and conflicted character like Jane and make it look easy. We hated her and rooted for her at the same time. The same accolades can be given for her turn as Chloe in Don't Trust the B—- in Apartment 23. Chloe was a total garbage person, an unrepentant sociopath who rarely earned the audience's sympathy...and yet, she was a hilarious character who was the show's core. Ritter can clearly do drama and comedy—a super-powered detective in New York should be right in her wheelhouse, too.
Who Doesn't Love David Tennant?
David Tennant won a lifetime pass from geeks around the world when he played the beloved tenth Doctor on Doctor Who, not to mention his role as Barty Crouch, Jr. in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. So when we found out that he'd play the villain Kilgrave—also known as the mind-controlling Purple Man—it was hard not to get super stoked. The Purple Man has the ability to bend people to his will just with his voice, a ridiculously overpowered ability packaged with a just-plain-ridiculous name. But if anyone can make the Purple Man go from stupid to scary, it's probably Tennant.
Mike Colter's Luke Cage Will Tie Everything To Iron Fist And The Defenders
Mike Colter will finally bring the legendary Luke Cage—aka Power Man—to life in Jessica Jones. Cage has been around comics since the 1970s, and it's exciting that we'll finally get a live-action adaptation of one of Marvel's most fun characters. This could be Colter's breakout role after playing scores of supporting characters ranging from Men in Black 3 to ER to a couple of Halo games and series. Moreover, Cage is not only an integral part of Jessica Jones' story, but that of the other two upcoming Netflix series, Iron Fist and The Defenders. Power Man and Iron Fist comprise the super-duo the Heroes for Hire, while Cage is a longtime member of the Defenders in the comics. In a nutshell, there's a lot of power in Power Man.
Finally Some More Marvelous Women
Take a look at all the hugely popular Marvel movies that have come out over the last bunch of years. What do they all have in common? They're all led (and made) by a bunch of dudes. The only female character to get any big screen time at all has been Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow, and there's still plenty of criticism out there about how she's been woefully underused. Fortunately, Marvel has started turning things around, renewing its Agent Peggy Carter TV series for a second season, featuring some awesome ladies in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and greenlighting a Captain Marvel movie about the heroic Marvel character Carol Danvers. Jessica Jones is another step in the right direction that acknowledges that men aren't the only viewers who like action and adventure.
Showrunner Melissa Rosenberg Has Awesome Credits
You might not know the name Melissa Rosenberg, but she's got a list of credits as long as your arm. She's credited with adapting the screenplays for all four Twilight flicks, and she's written for hugely successful shows like The OC, Party of Five, Dexter, and even Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Interestingly, she also has a writing and producing credit on the failed attempt to adapt DC's Birds of Prey into a TV series, making Jessica Jones her second go-round with comics. That's a pretty healthy mixture of serious, silly, and success. There's no question that Jessica Jones is in great hands.
It'll Pick Up Where Daredevil Left Off
After the events of Daredevil, New York's Hell's Kitchen went through some crazy changes. The Kingpin's criminal empire collapsed, there were tons of fires and explosions, and it got a new hero in the form of ol' Hornhead. With Jessica Jones, we can see the ramifications of Daredevil's actions from Jones' point of view. It'll offer an interesting look into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as it continues to evolve. Plus, Claire Temple, played by Rosario Dawson, will show up in Jessica Jones, further linking the two series.
It Can Learn From Daredevil's Mistakes
For all of the positive buzz and rave reviews it generated online, Daredevil left some critics with a bad taste in their mouths. Its plotting wasn't as tight as it could've been, and it missed some crucial character opportunities in the form of Ben Urich, Foggy Nelson, and Karen Page. Much of that criticism made its way to the web as production on Jessica Jones was underway, so there's a possibility that the showrunners could have taken those critiques into account and adjusted course accordingly. Overall, Daredevil's successes and failures can give Jessica Jones' producers a clear roadmap on how to do things right. Let's hope they follow that map when the show premieres in November of 2015.